The US on Monday said it did not agree with the Arab League's decision to readmit Syria to the body amid its continuing civil war, which began when security forces cracked down on a pro-democracy movement in 2011.
Washington said that President Bashar Al Assad did not deserve to have relations normalised after brutally suppressing protests and besieging cities.
“We do not believe that Syria merits readmission to the Arab League at this time,” US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said.
“We continue to believe that we will not normalise our relations with the Assad regime and we don't support our allies and partners doing so either.”
The Arab League on Sunday voted to end its isolation of Syria.
It was a conditional readmission on the basis that Mr Al Assad would formulate a solution to the conflict. It also demanded Syria ensure the safe return of refugees and address drug smuggling.
“We share a number of the same goals with our Arab partners with respect to Syria, including reaching a solution to the Syrian crisis that is consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” Mr Patel said.
The resolution is a road map for a Syrian political transition that was outlined by the UN in 2015.
“We believe that there's a strong need to expand humanitarian access to all Syrians, build security and stability to ensure ISIS cannot resurge, create safe conditions for the eventual refugee returns and releasing the clarifying fate of those that are unjustly detained and missing,” Mr Patel said.
He highlighted hopes for an end to the Captagon drug trade and Iran's role in the region through Damascus.
The US has been steadfast in its opposition to rapprochement with the Assad government.
Over the years, it has consistently placed sanctions on Syria and enshrined in domestic law that reconstruction assistance should not be sent without accountability for war crimes.
Half a million people have been killed in the Syrian civil war and millions displaced both internally and internationally.
Cases of war crimes are being investigated and tried globally with the support of the UN.
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HAEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS EXPLAINED
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
