Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters

More than 44,708 Palestinians have been killed and 106,050 injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had left office and departed the country after giving orders there be a peaceful handover of power. In a statement, the ministry did not say where Assad was now and said Russia has not taken part in the talks around his departure. “As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. “Russia did…

Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, according to a statement published on Sunday. The diplomat urged all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future.

The head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, told Al Jazeera Mubasher TV on Sunday that they would meet with Arab and European countries and the United Nations to agree on next stage for the country.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan discussed Syria with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday and Fidan said the Syrian regime should enter dialogue with the opposition and initiate a political process, a foreign ministry source said. Fidan said in the phone call that all actors in the region should play a constructive role and that terrorist organisations should not be allowed to benefit from the chaotic environment in Syria, the source said. Measures should also be taken to prevent chemical weapons possessed by the Assad regime from becoming a risk for the region and that it was important…

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its forces had taken Berestky, a small village close to the embattled town of Kurakhove in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said after meeting his counterparts from Russia and Türkiye in Doha on Saturday that the three countries agreed that the fighting in Syria should be immediately halted, Iranian state media reported. In remarks largely similar to those of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Araqchi said: “The most important thing is to start political talks between the Syrian regime and legitimate opposition groups.”

One person died, three were injured and an unknown number of people were missing after a building in The Hague collapsed on Saturday following explosions and a fire, the mayor of the Dutch city said. Jan van Zanen told a news conference those missing were believed to be buried under debris. “The chance that living people will be found is very small,” he said. The cause of the disaster, which took place shortly after 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), was not known. Van Zanen said that there had been a small explosion, followed by a larger explosion. Police called…

Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad used Russian and Iranian firepower to beat back opposition forces during years of civil war but never defeated them, leaving him vulnerable when his allies were distracted by wars elsewhere and his enemies went on the march. The anti-regime groups’ lightning advance through western Syria marks one of the most serious threats to half a century of Assad family rule in Damascus, and a seismic moment for the Middle East. Statues of Assad’s father and brother were toppled in cities taken by the anti-regime forces, while pictures of him on billboards and government offices have…

Hamas released a video claiming to show Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker in captivity on Saturday. In the video a man who introduces himself as Matan Zangauker, 24, can be seen pleading with the Israeli leaders to make a deal that would bring captives being held by Hamas in Gaza back to Israel. Mediating countries, including Qatar, see increased momentum for a possible deal that could allow the 100 hostages being held in Gaza to be released in exchange for scores of Palestinian prisoners, after Israel signed a landmark ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon last month. Donald Trump’s Middle East…