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Israel launched over 60 airstrikes on targets in Syria, Lebanon urges Syrians to leave

Senior Arab diplomats call for peaceful transition of power, Qatari delegation arrives to meet new rulers

Dec 15, 2024 04:14 134

Israel launched more than 60 airstrikes on Syrian territory overnight, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.

In less than five hours on Saturday night, Israel fired 61 missiles at Syrian military sites, the non-governmental organization said.

This brings the total number of Israeli airstrikes on Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime almost a week ago to 446, it added.

"Israel continues to intensify its airstrikes against Syrian territory, aimed at completely destroying tunnels that are storage facilities for ballistic missiles," according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. human rights observatory. These tunnels contain ballistic missiles, ammunition, mortar shells and other military equipment.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that Israeli strikes were carried out on the southern Syrian cities of Daraa and Sweida.

Senior diplomats from a number of Arab countries, as well as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, called for a peaceful transition of power in Syria during a meeting on the country's future in Makkah, Jordan, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.

Their position comes nearly a week after Syrian rebels seized Damascus in a lightning offensive and ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"We all support Syria in its recovery phase after years of killings," said Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

Assad, who ruled Syria for more than two decades, fled to Russia after rebel forces led by the Islamist group "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" advanced.

Foreign ministers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar met in Jordan with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Aqaba to discuss Syria's future, but no Syrian representatives were present.

The Jordanian foreign minister described the fall of Assad's regime as a historic moment.

"We will do everything in our power to support the launch of an inclusive and comprehensive political process," he said, adding that the world does not want Syria to descend into chaos.

Safadi also condemned Israeli airstrikes on weapons depots in Syria, as well as the deployment of Israeli troops to the buffer zone around the Golan Heights, an area considered part of Syria under international law.

Parts of the Golan Heights have been occupied by Israel for decades, but Israeli forces have taken control of more territory in recent days.

Jordan's foreign minister accused Israel of trying to take advantage of a power vacuum in its neighboring country.

The EU was represented at the Maccabi meeting by the union's new high representative for foreign policy and security policy, Kaia Kallas.

The EU wants to see a stable Syria, Kallas told DPA.

"We want a peaceful country. And we want all minorities to be respected, without reprisals or retaliation," she added.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the US was in direct contact with the leading rebel faction in Syria, "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham".

According to him, the process of transition of power must be led by Syria, and an "inclusive and representative government" must be formed.

""The rights of all Syrians, including minorities and women, must be respected," Blinken said.

Humanitarian aid must be able to reach the people who need it, he added, stressing that "Syria must not be used as a base for terrorist groups that threaten the Syrian people, its neighbors or world".

A delegation from Qatar will visit Syria today for meetings with representatives of the transitional government following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, BNR reported.

It is expected that the necessary steps will be taken during the visit to reopen the Qatari embassy in Syria. The strengthening of aid deliveries will also be discussed.

Doha closed its diplomatic mission in Damascus and recalled its ambassador in July 2011, after the uprising against Bashar Assad's government escalated into a civil war.

Unlike other Arab countries, Qatar never restored diplomatic relations with Syria under Assad, who was overthrown on December 8 after an offensive by Islamist-led rebels that captured major cities and then reached the capital, Damascus.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on Syrians who sought refuge in his country to return home after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.

"The consequences of the Syrian war have made Lebanon home to the highest number of refugees per capita, with a third of our population made up of refugees from Syria," Mikati said during an official visit to Italy. In Rome, he attended a rally of the "Italian Brothers" party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"The strain on our resources is significant, worsening existing economic problems and creating fierce competition for jobs and services", said the Lebanese Prime Minister.

"Today, after the political transformation in Syria, the best solution to this issue is for the Syrians to return to their homeland," Mikati said.

According to him, the international community, especially Europe, must help return the Syrians to their homeland.

Meanwhile, the Italian government's website reported that during talks between Meloni and the Lebanese Prime Minister, the two discussed the situation in Syria. Meloni stressed the need to preserve the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as the importance of ensuring the inclusion and protection of minorities.

She also emphasized the urgent need to create conditions for Syrian refugees to return voluntarily and safely to Syria.