CAIRO // Arab foreign ministers held heated discussions last night on the use of international force in Syria at a meeting overshadowed by Barack Obama's decision to delay striking the Assad regime.
Inside the Arab League's headquarters in Cairo, diplomats heard passionate speeches from some of Bashar Al Assad's bitterest critics, including members of the opposition Syrian National Council and nations backing the Syrian rebels.
Saud Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, called on the world community to take all necessary steps to deter Syrian government violence.
"It's time to call on the international community to take on responsibilities to put an end to this tragedy," he said.
The Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmy also called for the Syrian regime to be punished, but seemed to stop short of endorsing western strikes, and said Egypt opposed foreign intervention.
The US secretary of state John Kerry said yesterday that samples of blood and hair from last week's chemical weapons attack on the eastern edges of Damascus indicated the presence of the nerve gas sarin. A preliminary US assessment said 1,429 people were killed in the attack, including at least 426 children.
In the Syrian capital, state media crowed at what they called "the start of the historic American retreat" after the US president's decision to wait until September 9 to consult Congress on whether to deploy weapons in Syria.
Al Thawra newspaper said Mr Obama had signalled this retreat by "prevaricating or hinting", rather than deciding alone to strike Syrian military targets.
But in Cairo last night Ahmed Jarba, leader of the Syrian opposition coalition, said Syrians had asked him to call on the Arab world to support a military operation against the Assad regime and its "terrorist allies" Iran and Hizbollah.
"What I'm asking is a sincere stance, and a sincere support for this military strike, and then afterwards, the Free Syrian Army will finish the situation," he said.
Several Arab leaders, many of whom had been pushing privately for western action in Syria, had been confused and disappointed by Mr Obama's announcement on Saturday to postpone military action, according to analysts.
"We have a president in Obama, who was leading these efforts regarding punishing Assad for using chemical weapons and we have a president who has changed his mind," said Salman Shaikh of the Brookings Institute in Doha.
"I believe the Arab states understood that Obama was going to do a strike - possibly overnight … but now, there will be a lot of head-scratching in Arab capitals."
Before the meeting, US allies in the Arabian Gulf reacted with surprise and frustration to Mr Obama's decision.
"Obama threw a wrench in everything. The decision took a lot of people by surprise," said Abdullah Al Shayji, head of political science at Kuwait University. "It will send the wrong message to the Syrian leadership and to Iran and Hizbollah, who already think that Obama is not really serious about this strike."
Before the announcement, several Gulf countries had argued in private for more assertive intervention in Syria and had been expected to push for a strong resolution in Cairo - perhaps even one that could have fulfilled Mr Obama's request made on Saturday for allies to "stand publicly behind" US action.
The Gulf Cooperation Council under-secretary general made the most explicit case so far for military intervention yesterday, saying that Syria warrants invoking the "Responsibility to Protect", a UN-endorsed doctrine that allows for international intervention when a country fails to provide - or intentionally denies - security to its citizens.
"The Syrian regime is acting as a sectarian militia supported by like-minded Hizbollah and Iranian forces, and unbound by rules of war or civilised behaviour," Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg wrote in Saudi Arabia's Arab News. "It has become incompressible while the international community has yet to move to protect Syrians from annihilation."
Youssef Al Qaradawi, a Sunni imam in Doha who is close to Qatar's leadership, also gave his implicit support for a US intervention. He told worshippers at Friday prayers: "We wish we were able to take revenge for our brothers who have been killed … in their hundreds, but God prepares those who would take revenge for them".
Analysts say Gulf countries may now be less likely to publicly support US military action, if and when it comes.
"There won't be any GCC initiative or participation in any military exercise - as a result of or substitute for - or even in conjunction with - US military action. The delay is looked upon from many corners of the world that there is a weakness in the US position," said Kuwait University's Mr Al Shayji.
Many of Mr Al Assad's fiercest critics in the Gulf worry the limited strikes proposed by the US administration would have a limited or even detrimental effect on the Syrian rebellion.
A one-off attack could strengthen Mr Al Assad's position and "mobilise supporters around him", wrote the Saudi columnist Khalaf Al Harbi in Saudi daily Okaz yesterday. He argued for a more robust military operation that would allow rebels to "pounce" on the regime.
Despite the delay in possible US military action, fears of a broader regional conflict are growing more palpable across the Gulf. In Kuwait, several MPs called for parliament to hold an emergency session on the crisis over the weekend.
afordham@thenational.ae
edickinson@thenational.ae
* Elizabeth Dickinson reported from Abu Dhabi
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
How to help or find other cats to adopt
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
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TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
How to help
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2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
