Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara has called for militias linked to the ousted Assad regime to surrender immediately after two days of fighting in the western coastal region in which hundreds, including civilians, mostly from the Alawite minority, were reported to have been killed.
The fighting in the Latakia and Tartous provinces poses the most serious threat to Syria's new administration after rebels toppled former president Bashar Al Assad in December, ending more than 50 years of rule by his family. It also jeopardises hopes of a return to stability and the rehabilitation of Syria after nearly 14 years of civil war.
“You attacked all Syrians and made an unforgivable mistake. The riposte has come, and you have not been able to withstand it,” Mr Al Shara, the country's interim leader who headed the rebel coalition, said in a speech broadcast on Telegram by the Syrian presidency. “Lay down your weapons and surrender before it's too late.”
He said those loyal to Mr Al Assad were testing the new Syria that “they did not know”. He added: “Today, they are getting to know it again, and they see it as one unified Syria from east to west and from north to south, and if one of its provinces is touched by a thorn, all the provinces will rally to support it and its glory.”
Some fighters loyal to the Assad regime surrendered early on Saturday in the town of Jableh, south of Latakia, according to Syrian state TV.
Hundreds of civilian casualties
On Saturday the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), alleged that security forces and affiliated gunmen killed about 125 civilians during the two-day battle in the coastal region, the heartland of the Alawite minority to which the Assad family belongs.
The war monitor documented several operations by the defence and interior ministries in rural areas of Latakia, Tartous and Hama, including what it described as “house raids, direct targeting of civilians, and large-scale field executions of men and young adults over the age of 18, without any clear distinction between civilians and combatants”.
It reported the mass execution, in one operation, of more than 50 civilians, mostly from a medical family in the coastal town of Baniyas, saying they were systematically killed in their homes.
Several videos have emerged showing the mass killing of men of all ages. In one, dozens of bodies in civilian clothes lie on the ground as tearful women identify them. Other footage shows fighters in military uniforms riding on the backs of men in civilian clothes while mimicking the barking of dogs. The National could not verify these videos.
A Syrian security source quoted by the state news agency, Sana, said “individual violations” had been committed as a result of crowds heading to the coastal region on Thursday. “We are working to stop these violations,” the source said, without attributing responsibility for them.
The United Nations envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, decried “very troubling reports of civilian casualties” and called on all sides to refrain from actions which could “destabilise Syria, and jeopardise a credible and inclusive political transition”.
The fighting began on Thursday after remnants of the Assad regime planned an ambush against government forces in the coastal area. Government forces sent massive military reinforcements to quell the nascent insurgency, using helicopter gunships, drones, and artillery. A curfew was imposed in the Latakia province and neighbouring Tartous.
Widespread reports of reprisals against Alawite civilians following the clashes have sparked panic within the community across the country. “We are very afraid of what is happening, our families in Tartus and Latakia are not safe, no one is helping, anything can happen at any time now,” an Alawite resident in Damascus told The National.
“Many massacres were committed today against Alawite civilians on a sectarian basis and in a brutal manner. No one was spared – not young men, women, children, or the elderly. None of them had any connection to what happened,” another member of the Alawite community said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, another war monitor, put the death toll even higher, saying on Saturday that 300 civilians and more than 200 security personnel and militants had been killed in the fighting since Thursday. It later raised its estimate of the toll to 745 dead.
Security challenges for new leadership
Mr Al Shara also vowed to keep working towards “monopolising weapons in the hands of the state”. “There will be no more unregulated weapons,” he said. “Today in Syria, there is no difference between the authority and the people. Syria means everyone, and it is everyone’s mission to preserve and support it,” he said.
His government faces a huge security challenge as it seeks funds for rebuilding the country. The international community has emphasised the need for Syrian unity amid an outreach of support for the country's new rulers.
Several Arab states, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Qatar and Kuwait issued statements in support of Mr Al Shara's government on Friday. The Emirates expressed solidarity with the Syrian people, and “its support for all endeavours aimed at fulfilling their aspirations for security, peace, and dignity”.
The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation readmitted Syria on Friday after suspending its membership in 2012, a year after the civil war began following the violent suppression of peaceful anti-Assad protests.
“This decision represents an important step towards Syria's return to the regional and international communities as a free and just state,” a Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said after an OIC meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The five pillars of Islam
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
New schools in Dubai
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
