"And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness, the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us. But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief. "

Khalil Gibran (How I Became a Madman)

Lübnan Marunîleri / Yasin Atlıoğlu

NEWS AND ARTICLES / HABERLER VE MAKALELER

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

In Syria, Tensions Persist between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda Loyalists- Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

In early February 2019, the Syrian insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which evolved out of Syria's al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, and al-Qaeda loyalists represented in the group Hurras al-Din came to an agreement to put aside a dispute over ownership of weapons.
The two sides also agreed to cease attacks on each other in the media, as there have been multiple disagreements between the two sides that have played out on the internet. For instance, the al-Qaeda loyalists argue that HTS' breaking ties with al-Qaeda was illegitimate and constituted disobedience to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. They also argue that HTS' strategies for the future survival of the insurgency and cause of jihad in Syria are mistaken.
Glossing over these disputes, the February agreement highlighted supposedly common ideological ground by affirming that the two sides are 'mujahid groups on the manhaj striving to establish the religion through dawa and jihad'.
More recently, HTS has reportedly attempted to conciliate the al-Qaeda loyalists on the ground in north-west Syria. Indeed, HTS allegedly offered payments of $100 for each slain enemy fighter to Hurras al-Din and Ansar al-Tawheed (the latter the successor group for the al-Qaeda-loyalist elements of Jund al-Aqsa, which fractured because of Islamic State sympathizers in its ranks) for operations conducted in Aleppo and Hama provinces. In total, these payments purportedly amounted to $400 for Hurras al-Din and $3,000 for Ansar al-Tawheed.
A member of HTS's 'Red Bands' unit affirmed the reports of these payments, describing them as a "step to conciliate the hearts. And God willing there will be unity with time." He elaborated: "The aim is to bring together all the fighters to repel the aggressor, especially in the stage that we are in." However, the general military official for Ansar al-Tawheed deniedthat any payments were made to the group by HTS for a recent raid conducted in northern Hama.
Even if these supposed HTS payments are true, more partisan pro-al-Qaeda types are not convinced by apparent HTS gestures of conciliation, reflecting the fact that the February agreement did not resolve the more fundamental disputes between HTS and the al-Qaeda loyalists. The foremost case in point is the Telegram channel Shibl al-Aqeeda. Commentingon the initial reports of the payments, Shibl al-Aqeeda published the following on the assumption they were true (the channel subsequently circulated the denial by the Ansar al-Tawheed official):
"Let us be fair and start out with the words of the Prophet: "Whoso does not thank the people, does not thank God." So may God reward best the one who undertook this matter. But let us also be honest with ourselves and all, because there are many question marks about this deed, and what is the secret in the timing of this publicizing and broadcasting!

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Russian Warplanes Carry Out New Wave Of Airstrikes On Northern Hama. Putin Says Military Operation In Idlib “Not Expedient”- South Front

In the afternoon of April 27, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a series of airstrikes on terrorists’ positions in the vicinity of the town of al-Lataminah in the northern Hama countryside.

Earlier, Russian attack helicopters targeted terrorists’ positions, vehicles and gatherings in al-Lataminah and the nearby town of Kafr Zita.

These intense airstrikes appear to be an attempt to deter the terrorists, who launched a barrage of Grad rockets at the Russian Hmeimim airbase a day earlier. The attack was a major violation of the Russian-Turkish demilitarized zone on Idlib, which was reached last September.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said earlier that a large-scale military operation against the remaining terrorists Idlib “is not expedient now.” However, the president didn’t rule out the possibility of such operation in the future.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Petrolle ya terbiye ol ya terörize! (Fehim Taştekin- Gazete Duvar)

Savaş ortamında da olsa petrol nerede bir açık varsa oraya akmanın yolunu buluyor. Silah gibi. SDG kapısı bir şekilde açıldı. Bölgenin insanı petrolü yürütmede ustadır. Bu maharet son 8 yılda inanılmaz boyutlara ulaştı.
Suriye’de petrol istasyonlarının önünde uzayan kuyruklar ve dışa vuran öfke ‘buruk devrim’ hayallerini yeniden karıncalandırdı. Fakat bu seferki kurgu devirmekten çok evirmekle ilgili.
Suriye sahnesinde bir süredir “Cephe savaşlarından kurtulabilirsin ama ekonomik savaştan çıkamayacaksın” diyen yaklaşımın yakıcı-yıkıcı yansımaları görülüyor. İran’ı, petrol satışını sıfırlayıp ekonomik çöküşe sürükleme stratejisiyle bağlantılı olarak, Suriye de kıskaca alındı.
İran ve Rusya’nın desteğiyle Suriye yeniden toparlanmaya başlayınca Batı-Körfez bloku geçen yıl havuç-sopa taktiğiyle yeni bir stratejiye yöneldi. Havuç kısmı, Devlet Başkanı Beşşar el Esad’ın kulağına şunu fısıldıyordu: “İran’la bağlantıyı kes, Hizbullah’ı gönder, Filistin’le ilgilenme, Golan’ı hepten unut ve İsrail’e düşmanlığa son ver. Karşılığında diplomatik köprüleri kuralım, Arap Birliği’ndeki koltuğunu iade edelim ve yeniden inşa sürecine destek olalım.”
Stratejinin sopa kısmı ise “Suriye’nin yeniden inşasını imkânsız hale getiririz, ekonomik çöküşü daha da hızlandırırız ve sana boyun eğmekten başka şans bırakmayız” diye buyuruyordu.
Şam kapısında diyalog denemeleri olurken çöküş senaryosu da yoldaydı. Bu minvalde Eylül 2018’de yaptırım listesi güncellendi. Kasım 2018’de Suriye’ye petrol temin etmek üzere 5 kişi ve 4 şirketten oluşan bir ağ kara listeye eklendi. Ocakta ‘2019 Caesar Suriye Sivil Koruma Yasası’ ile Suriye hükümeti, güvenlik teşkilatları ve merkez bankası ile iş yapan herkes yaptırım kapsamına alındı. 25 Mart 2019’da Hazine Bakanlığı, Suriye’ye petrol taşıyan gemiler, bu gemilerin sahipleri, işletmecileri ve yöneticileri, gemileri sigortalayan şirketler, bu transferde lojistik şirketler ve para transferine aracılık eden finansal kuruluşların Amerikan yaptırımlarıyla yüzleşeceği uyarısında bulundu. 2016’dan beri Suriye’ye petrol taşıyan onlarca geminin listesi yayımlandı.
ABD ve AB’nin zaten Suriye’ye petrol ambargosu vardı. Ama yeni tehdit bütün dünyaya yönelikti.
Bu arada Suriye’ye giden İran gemileri birden bire Süveyş Kanalı’ndan geçemez oldu. Suriye Başbakanı İmad Hamis nisan başında, Mısır’ın Süveyş’ten İran gemilerine izin vermediğini ve altı aydır tanker gelmediğini açıkladı.
Bunlara ABD’nin Suriye Demokratik Güçleri’nin (SDG) kontrolündeki El Ömer ve Cafra yataklarından Suriye hükümetine petrol satışını engellediğine dair spekülasyonlar eklendi. Bu yataklar Suriye petrolünün önemli bir kısmını teşkil ediyor. Bu tesislerin hükümete devri ya da paylaşımı konusundaki pazarlıklarda ilerleme sağlanamadığı gibi Amerikalılar da Şam’la diyaloğa taş koyuyor. (SDG’nin petrolü sattığı aracı konumundaki Muhammed ve Hüsam Katırcı kardeşlere ait Katırcı şirketi, 6 Eylül 2018’de ABD’nin yaptırım listesine alınmıştı. Katırcı aynı operasyonu bölge 2014-2017 arasında IŞİD’in elindeyken de yürütüyordu. Yerel bağlantılarını kullanarak petrol işine giren ve bir savaş ağasına dönüşen Hüsam Katırcı 2016’da Halep’ten milletvekili seçilmişti.)

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Car bomb hits Damascus, killing civilian and injuring others- Muraselon

One civilian was killed and five others were injured after a car bomb went off in a Damascus neighborhood on Wednesday.
The bomb was reportedly planted inside a car in the Nahr Aysheh district in southern Damascus suburbs and the driver was killed in the attack.
The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said ‘the blast was caused by an explosive device planted by terrorists.
Soon after the attack, a militants group call themselves Saraya Qasioun claimed responsibility for the explosion saying they targeted an officer in the State Security branch with IED in his car.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Damascus Opens Airspace to Qatar Airways- Naharnet

Syria's government has agreed to allow planes from regional aviation giant Qatar Airways to fly over the country after eight years of conflict kept its planes at bay.
"Transport Minister Ali Hammoud has agreed to allow Qatar Airways to cross Syrian airspace, based on a request from the Qatari civil aviation authority," the ministry said late Monday in a statement.
Most airlines stopped flying over Syria after war broke out in 2011, instead taking longer routes to circumvent the war zone.
But the conflict has largely wound down in recent years, after major regime advances against rebels and jihadists with Russian military backing since 2015.
"The agreement came on the principle of reciprocity, as SyrianAir crosses Qatari airspace and never stopped flying to Doha throughout the war," it said.
The use of Syrian airspace would see "increased revenues in hard currency for the benefit of the Syrian state", it added. 
Qatar, a small Gulf state that has traditionally supported the Syrian opposition, suspended its ties with Damascus after the war broke out.
Syria was suspended from the Arab League in November 2011, as the death toll was escalating and several regional powers bet on President Bashar al-Assad's demise.
But his regime today controls almost 60 percent of the country.
Fellow Gulf states the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have reopened their missions in Damascus.

Nasrallah: No new war with Israel- Daily Star

BEIRUT: Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah Monday denied a widely circulating media report that he had warned of a likely war with Israel this summer. “Usually when there is something written in a newspaper, I don’t respond because most of it would be based on wrong information,” Nasrallah said during a televised speech on the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Imam al-Mahdi Scouts.
“But now I feel I am obliged to respond to this, given that many local media outlets picked the story up. I never said that during summer there would be an Israeli war on Lebanon; this has never happened in any meeting.”
Nasrallah was responding to an article published by Kuwait’s Al-Rai newspaper over the weekend and that claimed Nasrallah had told his commanders that Israel was planning for a surprise war on Lebanon.
“In my personal opinion, I rule out that Israel will launch a war on Lebanon,” he added Monday.
Hezbollah and Israel engaged in a 34-day war in July 2006. Although the border has been relatively calm since then, in recent years several reports have come out warning that another war was likely to erupt.
On previous occasions, Nasrallah has said Israel was unlikely to launch a war due to its own internal matters. He reiterated this Monday.
“Currently it is out of the question that any war can be carried out by the air force only,” he said. “Any upcoming military operation should be done through land, and there is a lot of talk in Israel that the Israeli land brigades aren’t ready.”
The Hezbollah chief, however, warned that Israel remained the enemy and this meant “all possibilities should remain on the table.”
Nasrallah said that in addition to the “wrong” content of the article, it came at a “bad” time. He questioned why the story would be published as Lebanon nears the summer tourist season, and called on media outlets to be more careful in picking stories up.
“I know some do it because they want the scoop, but I want to warn everyone that there is something that is happening and that is part of a systematic campaign,” he said. “We should be aware of everything is being said and written, especially if it has to do with Hezbollah. What is written in media outlets should be read with doubt, especially if it is coming from a Gulf newspaper.”

Sunday, April 21, 2019

The new proxy war in Syria: Iran and Turkey vs. Saudi Arabia and Russia- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:10 P.M.) – As if the Syrian Conflict couldn’t get any more complicated, a new proxy war is brewing between several foreign powers in the northern part of the country.
Speaking from Damascus on the condition of anonymity, a government source told Al-Masdar that two new alliances have emerged in northern Syria, with one led by Iran and Turkey and the other Saudi Arabia and Russia.
According to the source, Turkey and Iran have forged a pact to not only carry out a joint operation in northern Iraq, but also, potentially, in northern Syria.
Meanwhile, Russia and Saudi Arabia are attempting to work out a deal that would see the Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces reach a peaceful settlement.
Saudi Arabia maintains close ties with several Arab tribes allied to the SDF, including the Shammar Tribe, who arguably the most powerful tribe in northern Syria.

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Rai urges against austerity measures affecting citizens- Daily Star

BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai Saturday warned against austerity measures affecting Lebanese citizens who already have “financial burdens.”
“[We must] look first to the rich and capable, before demanding anything from citizens who are weighed down by financial burdens,” he said in his Easter message, broadcast on local TV.
In order to reduce Lebanon’s budget deficit, Rai called for an end to the wastage of public funds and for the state to crack down on smuggling and illegal importing.
He urged politicians to forget their personal interests and extract themselves from “the state of mistrust” that they find themselves in, proposing that politicians instead busy themselves with “development projects of all types” that would not be “forcibly imposed on the citizen.”
Politicians’ self interest “has manifested in sectarian rule in ministries and public administrations, sectarian semi-states and political interference in public administration, appointments, the judiciary and the bypassing of some security apparatuses,” Rai said.
This has driven some to find sanctuary in the church, he continued.
“The church cannot remain silent before the attacks its children are being subjected to. [Lebanese citizens] find refuge in [the church] because they have lost faith in the political class. The church does not wait for praise but simply asks that the state perform its duties.”
He praised the “commendable efforts to help rebuild Notre-Dame,” referring to the 900 million euros (about $1 billion) pledged in the two days following the fire that ravaged the iconic Parisian cathedral.
He said that the money raised should inspire the Lebanese diaspora to think about playing a larger role in giving aid to Lebanon to help fix its budget deficit in order to prevent the “structural collapse” of the Lebanese state.

ISIS ambush kills over 15 Syrian soldiers in deadliest attack of April- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:45 P.M.) – For the second time in the last 48 hours, the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) has carried out a devastating ambush against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in central Syria.
According to a military source at the ancient city of Palmyra (Tadmur), the Islamic State ambushed a Syrian Army convoy near the Al-Bushri Mountain in the eastern countryside of the Home Governorate.
As a result of this ISIS ambush on Friday, over 15 Syrian Arab Army soldiers were killed in what is considered the deadliest attack of the month.
Prior to this ambush near the key town of Al-Sukhnah, the Islamic State attacks in central Syria had killed over 35 Syrian Arab Army soldiers.
With this latest ambush, the Syrian Arab Army has now suffered over 50 casualties in April alone; this month has now witnessed the largest number dead as a result of the ISIS attack.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Iran's top diplomat in Damascus ahead of Syria talks- SANA

DAMASCUS: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited Damascus Tuesday ahead of a fresh round of talks next week in Kazakhstan towards ending Syria's eight-year civil war.
Iran and Russia are key allies of the Damascus regime, and along with rebel backer Turkey have sponsored the so-called Astana negotiations track to end the conflict.
Kazakhstan is to host a fresh round of talks April 25-26 in its capital, last month renamed from Astana to Nur-Sultan.
In Damascus, Zarif and President Bashar Assad discussed "the next round of Astana talks and the importance of lasting communication between Damascus and Tehran for continued cooperation", the presidency said in a statement.
Both countries are facing a flurry of sanctions by Western nations including the United States, with Washington this month designating Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.
Syria is in the grips of a growing fuel crisis that it blames on these sanctions.
Zarif and Assad accused Western countries headed by the United States of "launching wars and economic terrorism against anyone who did not agree with them" in regional matters, the presidency said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Zarif met his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem.
After the meeting, Muallem told journalists Iran, Russia and Turkey would be focusing on the militant-held bastion of Idlib in northwestern Syria, pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said.
The region on the border with Turkey is held by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and is in theory protected from a massive regime offensive by a Russia-Turkey deal.
The September accord aimed to set up a buffer zone around Idlib, but was never fully implemented as militants refused to withdraw from it.
"The Astana guarantors... need to abide by the commitments linked to the Idlib file," including "disarming terrorists groups and them leaving Idlib", Muallem said, according to Al-Watan.
Regime forces have continued to bombard Idlib despite the deal, increasingly so in recent weeks.
Zarif is expected to visit Turkey after Damascus.
Endless rounds of UN-backed Syria peace talks have failed to stem the bloodshed, and Iran, Russia and Turkey have sponsored the parallel Astana negotiations track since early 2017.

President al-Assad accepts credentials of new Indian and Brazilian ambassadors- SANA

Damascus, SANA- President  Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday accepted credentials of Dr. Hifzur Rahman as Ambassador of the Indian Republic and of Fabio Vaz Pitaluga as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Brazil to the Syrian Arab Republic.


President al-Assad received the two ambassadors separately and wished them success in their missions.
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem and Minister of Presidential Affairs Mansour Azzam attended the ceremony.
The two new ambassadors were received and seen off at al-Shaab Palace as per the usual protocol.

In photos: Hundreds of cars await to fill up gas in Damascus as fuel crisis continues- Al-Masdar News


BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:15 P.M.) – The fuel crisis in Syria has forced the Syrian government to issue rations on gas in order to deal with the ongoing sanctions that are greatly effecting the country.
Over the last two weeks, thousands of cars in cities like Damascus, Latakia, and Aleppo are forced to wait several hours to fill up gas as the lines often stretch 3-5km long.
With Iran under strict sanctions by the U.S., Syria has run into a serious fuel problem that has harmed almost the entire country.
The fuel crisis is not only effecting travel, but also providing electricity to homes in several large cities, including Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Jumblat Decries Bassil Wage Cut Calls, Disagrees with Hizbullah over Meeting Place- Naharnet

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat criticized the Foreign Minister’s call to cut wages of the government employees as part of austerity measures, and noted that his recent conflict with Hizbullah arose over the place of a meeting scheduled between the two, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.
“What Bassil is ushering for is a faux pas,” Jumblat told the daily, stressing that the government can impose austerity measures on several other sectors that involve waste of public funds and corruption.
“Many other facilities can be approached that involve waste and corruption,” he said, “there are a million other sources where the government can impose measures other than the wages of these employees.”
Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Jabran Bassil said that cuts to the salaries of government employees must be one of the options to cut spending.
Lebanon’s government gears up to discuss and approve its state budget amid economic woes and a likelihood to cut the salaries of ministers and deputies.
On reported tense ties between Jumblat and Hizbullah due to disagreement over the place of a scheduled meeting between the two, he said that Hizbullah wanted to hold it in Haret Hreik (Hizbullah’s stronghold) but that he prefers it to be held at his place.
“We have agreed on a joint meeting between the two parties this week but disagreed on the location. I understood from (PSP Minister) Wael (Abou Faour) that (Hizbullah official) Hajj Hassan Khalil has asked it be held in Haret Hreik which I frankly refused. The party (Hizbullah) should take the initiative and visit us this time,” said Jumblat, noting that it was pre-scheduled before Hizbullah changed plans.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Military Source Reveals What The Russian Airstrikes Targeted Last Night In Idlib- Murselon

Army military source has revealed what the Russian air force targeted in the massive wave of airstrikes last night in western and southern Idlib countryside.

The military source told Sputnik news agency that the army’s surveillance drones spotted suspicious activities of militants in the surroundings of Ariha city in western Idlib countryside where militants were transporting weapons and ammunition to the area which required immediate response by the army.

The source added that following this development, the Russian air force launched 14 airstrikes targeting the positions and movements of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the area where all weapon shipments were destroyed as result of the operation.

Dima Jamali Wins Tripoli’s By-Elections- Naharnet

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan announced on Sunday that Tripoli parliamentary candidate Dima Jamal has won the Sunni seat in Sunday’s by-elections.
“In accordance with the provisions of Article 107 of the electoral law, we announce the final official results of the parliamentary elections that took place in the smaller constituency of the city of Tripoli on the basis of majoritarian electoral system. As received from the Higher Registration Committee, Dima Jamali has won with a total of 19387 votes,” announced Hassan from the ministry.
Tripoli’s by-elections were held after the Constitutional Council invalidated the parliamentary membership of al-Mustaqbal Movement candidate MP Jamali after an appeal submitted by rival Taha Naji.

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

Syrian Army launches massive assault across northwest Syria after jihadist ambush- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA unleashed a massive assault across the northwestern region of Syria on Tuesday.
Using surface-to-surface missiles and artillery shells, the Syrian Arab Army heavily targeted the positions of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and the Turkestan Islamic Party in the governorates of Idlib and Hama.
The Syrian Arab Army was specifically targeting the jihadist rebels in response for their late night ambush, which was carried out at the key town of Taybat Al-Imam in northern Hama.
As a result of this attack, the jihadist rebels managed to kill at least a half dozen Syrian Arab Army soldiers, while detonating three suicide vests after they ran out of ammunition.
The jihadist rebels claimed that this ambush was in response to the Syrian and Russian airstrikes that targeted their positions in the western countryside of the Idlib Governorate.

Jumblat: Hizbullah Can't Usurp Our Decision Forever, I Don't Agree with Bassil's Strategic Views- Naharnet

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat announced Tuesday that Hizbullah cannot “usurp the decision” of the Lebanese people forever, amid a growing rift with the Iran-backed party.
“Hizbullah defended us in 2006 but it can't usurp our decision forever,” Jumblat said in an interview on LBCI television.
“Hizbullah must listen to criticism and we have the right to speak,” Jumblat added.
Acknowledging that the residents of south Lebanon consider Hizbullah a “guarantee” in the face of Israel's hostility, the PSP leader hoped this “guarantee” will become part of a national defense strategy.
“Due to Arab disunity, Hizbullah considers itself the owner of the Palestinian cause, because the Arabs have abandoned it,” Jumblat said.
A decision by Industry Minister Wael Abu Faour to revoke the license of a cement factory belonging to Pierre Fattoush in the Ain Dara area has strained relations between Jumblat and Hizbullah, with pro-Hizbullah media outlets reporting that the party has decided to “sever” its ties with the PSP leader.
Asked whether Israel might wage a war on Lebanon in the near future, Jumblat told LBCI that he does not believe that the Israelis “want a war to break out.”
Separately, Jumblat criticized a recent visit to Russia by President Michel Aoun and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.
“When each sect resorts to a certain nation for protection, we will only reach an internal war,” Jumblat warned, apparently referring to remarks by Aoun.

Wednesday, April 03, 2019

Jumblat Says Handover of Israeli Soldier Body 'Precious Gift' to Netanyahu- Naharnet

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Wednesday described the handover of the body of an Israeli soldier missing since 1982 as a valuable gift to embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections.
“In the game of nations that manipulates the fate of peoples, the handover of the body of an Israeli soldier via unknown mediators is a free but precious gift to Netanyahu for his elections,” Jumblat tweeted.
“A big salutation to the Syrian regime, the spearhead of Arab, regional and global defiance,” the PSP leader added sarcastically.
Israel announced earlier on Wednesday that the remains of a soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon war had been returned to the country, bringing to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis.
"It is one of the most moving moments in all my years at the head of the country," Netanyahu said in a televised address.
"This operation is the result of major diplomatic efforts that we will speak about one day," he added.
Israel's military declined to provide details on how the remains were retrieved, including where they were found.

Maronite bishops condemn US decision on Golan Heights- Daily Star

BEIRUT: The Council of Maronite Bishops Wednesday condemned the United States’ decision to recognize the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as Israeli territory, following its monthly meeting chaired by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai.

The council, which met at the church’s seat in Bkirki, said the decision violated international agreements and denied people the right to demand their land.
U.S. President Donald Trump last week signed a proclamation officially granting U.S. recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, a dramatic shift from decades of American policy. Israel seized the strategic land from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed it in 1981, in a move never recognized by the international community.
The bishops also said it was in Lebanon’s interest to solve the refugee crisis, calling for safe and dignified returns that weren’t tied to a political settlement to the Syrian conflict.
President Michel Aoun has on several occasions called on international bodies and officials to help facilitate the return of displaced Syrians, whose presence is adding strain to the country’s flagging economy and frail infrastructure.
In a statement after the meeting, the bishops also warned against hastily passing legislation that would allow cannabis cultivation for medical use in Lebanon without first conducting sufficient scientific research.
Officials last year announced their intent to legalize cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes. MP Yassine Jaber, who heads a subcommittee of Parliament’s joint committees that is tasked with studying cannabis legalization, said earlier this year the plant would not be legalized for recreational use.

Monday, April 01, 2019

Syrian Government Sends Reinforcements To Homs-Deir Ezzor Desert Following Series Of ISIS Attacks- South Front

The Syrian government has deployed a new batch of reinforcements in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert following a recent series of ISIS attacks in the area.
ISIS cells operating in the desert area in central Syria pose a serious security threat to the government-controlled area and conduct attacks on checkpoints of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). In own turn, the SAA has been attempting to get rid of these cells. However, no success has been achieved so far.
An interesting fact is that ISIS cells operating in the desert rarely attack positions of the US-led coalition and its proxies in the al-Tanf area. Syrian pro-government sources say that this situation is possible because ISIS cells are hiding within the US-occupied area.

Hariri’ye rağmen Lübnan’dan Şam’a ziyaret- YDH

YDH- El Cumhuriye gazetesinin haberine göre Lübnan kabinesindeki Emel Hareketi üyesi Tarım Bakanı Hasan Lakkis, 9 Nisan’da Şam’a giderek Suriye tarım bakanı ile görüşme yapacağı konusunda Başbakan Saad Hariri’yi bilgilendirdi.

Lübnan Tarım Bakanı Hasan el-Lakkis, el-Cumhuriye gazetesine verdiği demecinde “Suriye savaşının bitmesinden ve Suriye ile Ürdün arasındaki Nasib sınır kapısının açılmasından sonra Lübnan’ın ihracat maliyetleri arttı. Suriye’deki görüşmelerimde ele alacağımız hususlardan biri bu. Suriye ile her iki ülkenin de çıkarlarını gözetecek şekilde yasal yollardan ithalat ve ihracatın yeninden planlanması konusunu ele alacağız” dedi.

Başbakan Saad Hariri’nin Suriye karşıtı tutumunu eleştiren Lakkis, “Suriye’ye ambargo uygulanması Lübnan’ın çıkarlarına değil, özellikle de iki ülke arasında diplomatik ilişki varken… Çiftçilerin menfaatlerini siyasi ihtilaflardan uzak tutmalıyız. Ülkenin zorlu ekonomik şartlarında çiftçilerin çıkarlarına öncelik vermeliyiz” dedi.