Syrian and Israeli officials held talks on de-escalating the situation in Syria during US-mediated discussions in Paris on Thursday, US special envoy Tom Barrack said.
“I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that,” Mr Barrack said in a post on X. “All parties reiterated their commitment to continuing these efforts."
Hundreds of people have been killed in the southern Syrian province of Sweida amid clashes involving Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces. Israel launched air strikes on Syria in what it said was a move to protect the Druze.
Mr Barrack did not name the officials involved in the talks. But Axios quoted two Israeli officials as saying their country's delegation was led by Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani represented Damascus at the meeting.
It had initially been thought that the talks would take place in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.
It was the first meeting between the parties since the crisis erupted last week in Sweida and Israel launched strikes on Damascus.
It would also mark the first ministerial meeting between the new Syrian government and Israel. The two countries have technically been at war since 1948 and Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967.
Mr Al Shibani held a separate meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Mr Barrack, the French Ministry said in a statement. The US, France and Syria agreed to "engage quickly on substantial efforts to ensure the success of Syria’s transition", as well as the country's stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry added.
The three countries also agreed to ensure "Syria’s neighbours do not pose a threat" to the country's "stability and that, in turn, reaffirm Syria’s commitment not to pose a threat to its neighbours, for the sake of stability across the region". The ministry added that Paris, Washington and Damascus would "support efforts to hold perpetrators of violence" in Syria accountable.
Israel launched air strikes on Syrian government positions in the Druze-majority province, saying it wanted to protect the minority community after the violence erupted. Israel also struck Damascus, hitting an area of the presidential palace and the army headquarters.
Syrian government forces left Sweida under a ceasefire announced by the authorities.
Before the violence, Syrian and Israeli officials had met in Baku, sources said, which coincided with a visit to Azerbaijan by Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara. The meeting addressed southern Syria and touched on the potential for a broader peace deal, the sources added.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
ACC 2019: The winners in full
Best Actress Maha Alemi, Sofia
Best Actor Mohamed Dhrif, Weldi
Best Screenplay Meryem Benm’Barek, Sofia
Best Documentary Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki
Best Film Yomeddine by Abu Bakr Shawky
Best Director Nadine Labaki, Capernaum
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15 (First Test)
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24 (Second Test)
July 8: New Zealand v Lions (Third Test) - kick-off 11.30am (UAE)
ENGLAND SQUAD
Team: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements 16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell
SHAITTAN
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
If%20you%20go
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Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
