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Syrian militant supporters hoist flags at embassies abroad

Supporters of militants who ousted President Bashar Assad on Sunday have entered some Syrian embassies abroad to hoist their flag, as seen here in Greece. (Reuters)
Supporters of militants who ousted President Bashar Assad on Sunday have entered some Syrian embassies abroad to hoist their flag, as seen here in Greece. (Reuters)
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Updated 08 December 2024

Syrian militant supporters hoist flags at embassies abroad

Syrian militant supporters hoist flags at embassies abroad
  • Supporters of the militants entered embassies across Europe

DUBAI: Supporters of militants who ousted President Bashar Assad on Sunday have entered some Syrian embassies abroad to hoist their flag, while insurgents also entered the Italian envoy’s residence in Damascus.

Following are incidents at several embassies:

SPAIN
About 150 people cheered and shouted “Freedom!” as a man at the Syrian embassy in Madrid threw the Assad government’s flag to the ground and hoisted the black, green and white flag with three stars used by the militants.

“This is a memorable day for the whole Syrian people. The 8th of December 2024. We are going to create a free country for all the Syrian people,” Bilal Kutaini, 32, a dentist, said outside the embassy.

GREECE
Supporters of the militants entered the Syrian embassy in Athens and hoisted their flag from the rooftop. Police entered and detained four people, but left the flag flying.

“Our joy is indescribable, 55 years of horrible dictatorship has finally ended,” said Alompeint Marouf, 59, among people celebrating outside.

Protesters also tore down Assad’s portrait in the embassy, Greek media said.

ITALY
Militant group supporters entered the residence of Italy’s ambassador in Damascus to search for pro-Assad troops or relevant documents and fired a few shots against a wall, but did not harm him or security staff, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.

“They took away only three cars and that was it,” he said.

SERBIA
Several supporters of the Syrian opposition laughed and hugged each other in front of the embassy in the capital Belgrade and raised the flag on a pole in the courtyard.

SWEDEN
At the Syrian embassy in Stockholm, the three-starred “Syrian revolution flag” was raised, broadcaster TV4 said.

SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

Syria’s Foreign Ministry said its diplomatic missions abroad will serve all citizens in a “new page” of national history that would unite people without one opinion dominating.

INDONESIA
The Indonesian embassy in Damascus said it had taken steps to ensure the safety of its citizens, including preparing for potential evacuation.

HUNGARY
Hungary’s embassy in Damascus is temporarily closed with citizens being attended by its mission in Beirut, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.


Sultan of Oman, Iranian president discuss Israeli strikes, diplomatic solutions

Sultan of Oman, Iranian president discuss Israeli strikes, diplomatic solutions
Updated 6 sec ago

Sultan of Oman, Iranian president discuss Israeli strikes, diplomatic solutions

Sultan of Oman, Iranian president discuss Israeli strikes, diplomatic solutions
  • President Masoud Pezeshkian says while Iran faces Israeli aggression, it supports diplomatic solutions
  • Sultan Haitham bin Tarik condemns damage caused by Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure and facilities

LONDON: Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman held a phone call on Monday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to offer condolences for the Iranian victims of Israeli airstrikes and discuss the latest developments.

Sultan Haitham condemned the damage caused by Israeli strikes to infrastructure and facilities, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured Iranian citizens. He stressed the need for de-escalation from both sides and called for negotiations and dialogue to prevent the ongoing conflict from deteriorating, the Oman News Agency reported.

He reaffirmed the Omani government’s commitment to activate diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, prevent its escalation, and establish fair and just settlements that restore normalcy.

Pezeshkian said that while his country is facing Israeli aggression, it supports diplomatic solutions through dialogue and negotiation, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law and respecting Iran’s sovereignty, the ONA added.


38 Palestinians killed in new shootings near food distribution centers, medics say

38 Palestinians killed in new shootings near food distribution centers, medics say
Updated 16 June 2025

38 Palestinians killed in new shootings near food distribution centers, medics say

38 Palestinians killed in new shootings near food distribution centers, medics say

KHAN YOUNIS: Gaza’s Health Ministry says 38 Palestinians have been killed in new shootings in areas of food distribution centers in the south of the territory.
The toll Monday was the deadliest yet in the near-daily shootings that have taken place as thousands of Palestinians move through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach the food centers. Witnesses say Israeli troops open fire in an attempt to control the crowds.
There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military on Monday’s deaths. It has said in previous instances that troops fired warning shots at what it calls suspects approaching their positions.


Erdogan tells Putin that Israel threatens regional security

Erdogan tells Putin that Israel threatens regional security
Updated 16 June 2025

Erdogan tells Putin that Israel threatens regional security

Erdogan tells Putin that Israel threatens regional security

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of threatening security in the Middle East, which he said cannot tolerate another war, in a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday, his office said.
Erdogan was quoted saying: “The spiral of violence that began with Israel’s attacks on Iran has put the security of the entire region at risk, (and) that the lawless attitude of the (Israeli premier Benjamin) Netanyahu government poses a clear threat to the international system, and that the region cannot tolerate a new war.”


UN rights chief decries ‘horrifying’ suffering in Gaza and urges leaders to pressure Israel, Hamas

UN rights chief decries ‘horrifying’ suffering in Gaza and urges leaders to pressure Israel, Hamas
Updated 16 June 2025

UN rights chief decries ‘horrifying’ suffering in Gaza and urges leaders to pressure Israel, Hamas

UN rights chief decries ‘horrifying’ suffering in Gaza and urges leaders to pressure Israel, Hamas
  • The UN human rights chief says Israel’s warfare in Gaza is inflicting “horrifying, unconscionable suffering” on Palestinians
  • olker Türk made the comments at the opening of the latest Human Rights Council session on Monday

GENEVA: The UN human rights chief said Israel’s warfare in Gaza is inflicting “horrifying, unconscionable suffering” on Palestinians and urged government leaders on Monday to exert pressure on Israel’s government and the militant group Hamas to end it.
Volker Türk made the comments at the opening of the latest Human Rights Council session on Monday, in a broad address that also raised concerns about escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the fallout from US tariffs, and China’s human rights record — alongside wars and conflict in places like Sudan and Ukraine.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has regularly spoken out about bloodshed in Gaza and called for the release of Israeli hostages held by armed Palestinian militants, used some of his most forceful words yet to highlight the Mideast violence.
“Israel’s means and methods of warfare are inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering on Palestinians in Gaza,” Türk told the 47-member-country body, which Israeli authorities have regularly accused of anti-Israel bias. The Trump administration has kept the United States, Israel’s top ally, out of the council proceedings.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It says that women and children make up most of the dead but it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
“The facts speak for themselves. Everyone in government needs to wake up to what is happening in Gaza,” Türk said. “All those with influence must exert maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas, to put an end to this unbearable suffering.”
The rights chief noted an increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine, nearly 3 1/2 years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. He also denounced executions without a fair trial and “wide-scale sexual violence, including against children” in Sudan.
Without mentioning President Donald Trump by name, Türk likened the US tariffs he imposed in April to “a high-stakes poker game, with the global economy as the bank.”
“But the shockwaves of a trade war will hit Least Developed Countries with the force of a tsunami,” he said, warning of a potentially “devastating” impact on exporters in Asia, and the prospect of higher costs for food, health care and education in places.
Türk expressed concerns about US deportations of non-nationals, including to third countries, and called on authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly.
The council session, which has been shortened by 2 1/2 days because of funding issues at the UN, is set to run through July 9. The Geneva-based council is the UN’s top human rights body.


Iran says parliament is preparing bill to leave nuclear non-proliferation treaty

Iran says parliament is preparing bill to leave nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Updated 16 June 2025

Iran says parliament is preparing bill to leave nuclear non-proliferation treaty

Iran says parliament is preparing bill to leave nuclear non-proliferation treaty

DUBAI: Iranian parliamentarians are preparing a bill that could push Tehran toward exiting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty the foreign ministry said on Monday, while reiterating Tehran’s official stance against developing nuclear weapons.
“In light of recent developments, we will take an appropriate decision. Government has to enforce parliament bills but such a proposal is just being prepared and we will coordinate in the later stages with parliament,” the ministry’s spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, when asked at a press conference about Tehran potentially leaving the NPT.
The NPT, which Iran ratified in 1970, guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forego atomic weapons and cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

Israel began bombing Iran last week, saying Tehran was on the verge of building a nuclear bomb. Iran has always said its nuclear program is peaceful, although the IAEA declared last week that Tehran was in violation of its NPT obligations.
President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Monday that nuclear weapons were against a religious edict by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s state media said that no decision on quitting the NPT had yet been made by parliament, while a parliamentarian said that the proposal was at the initial stages of the legal process.
Baghaei said that developments such as Israel’s attack “naturally affect the strategic decisions of the state,” noting that Israel’s attack had followed the IAEA resolution, which he suggested was to blame.
“Those voting for the resolution prepared the ground for the attack,” Baghaei said.
Israel, which never joined the NPT, is widely assumed by regional governments to possess nuclear weapons, although it does not confirm or deny this.
“The Zionist regime is the only possessor of weapons of mass destruction in the region,” Baghaei said.