English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest world news

Syrian Forces Recapture Areas in Dara’a, Civilians Flee

Published

on

Syrian Forces Recapture Areas in Dara’a, Civilians Flee

UN Chief calls for immediate cessation of army operations

The Syrian government forces have managed to regain control over several towns and villages in the strategic southern Dara’a Province and killed scores of remaining terrorists. Israel has raised alert level in occupied two-thirds of  Golan Heights, under its occupation since six-day war in 1987.

According to Syrian official SANA news agency’s Friday report, the army has retaken al-Herak, Rakham, al-Soura, Alma, al-Mliha al-Sharqia and al-Mliha al-Gharbia in Dara’a countryside.

The Syrian military’s engineering units later started combing the area in order to dismantle mines and IEDs planted by terrorists before they fled towards neighbouring areas. Army would continue its operations in Dara’a until the eradication of terrorism; a military official was reported saying.

A Syrian war correspondent reported that the army units secured the families in their houses and enhanced military points in the liberated villages and towns to use them as a launch pad for continued military operations “to eradicate terrorist presence” in the entire Dara’a province.

Read More: US airstrikes on Syrian army near Daesh frontline

Meanwhile AFP reports that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a new call on Friday for ‘an immediate cessation” to military operations in southwest Syria “where the government forces are attacking rebel-held areas”.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN chief, said in a statement that Guterres is “deeply alarmed by the military offensive in south-western Syria and its devastating toll on civilians.”

Syrian Forces Recapture Areas in Dara’a, Civilians Flee

He further said, “The secretary-general recalls that the southwest area of Syria is part of a de-escalation agreement between Jordan, Russia and the United States. Guterres calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law to protect civilians and facilitate safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access.”

Read More: Iraqi jets hit Daesh targets in Syrian territory

On June 19, the head of the world body made a similar call after Syrian forces began attacking opposition-held parts of Dara’a province.

Separately, SANA reported that foreign-backed militants in the villages of Um Walad, Jbib and al-Aslaha in Dara’a’s eastern countryside had agreed to lay down arms and reconcile with the Syrian government.

A Syrian military commander, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that the army’s gains had left the anti-Damascus militants with “no choice” but to surrender. “The terrorist groups are heading towards settlement and reconciliation,” he added.

Read More: Bashar say US, French, Turks, Israeli troops occupying Syria

In another development, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the head of UN Human Right Commission, has on Friday, warned of a looming “catastrophe” in southern Syria as it raised the number of people fleeing a fierce government offensive to 160,000.

He said that there was a “grave risk that intensified fighting will see many civilians trapped”, condemning “[how] civilians in Syria continue to be used a s pawns by the various parties”.

Qatar based Al-Jazeera network, which has been allegedly supportive of the Syria’s rebel forces, reports, “With backing by Russian air support, forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have retaken territory and continue to progress southwards where the last pocket of opposition remains”.

Read More: Israel and Syria exchange most extensive missile strikes

Israel’s leading newspaper Jerusalem Post has reported that fleeing Syrians near the Golan have pleaded for Israel’s help. It said that a child held a sign reading “Assad, ISIS, Iran and Hezbollah gangsters are the heads of terrorism in the world”.

It referred to a video post, having a doctors’ speech along with a dozen men and children holding signs calling help from Israel and the US, saying they had been abandoned by the world. One of the signs requested that the UN forces return to their bases near the demilitarized zone between Israeli forces and Syria.

Jerusalem Post further reports, “Up to 60,000 civilians have fled fighting in southern Syria in the last week as the Syrian regime, backed by Russian airpower, has launched a major offensive. Thousands arrived at the border with Israel over the last 48 hours.” It further said that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has “delivered 300 tents and tons of food and humanitarian supplies for children on Thursday night”.

Syrian Forces Recapture Areas in Dara’a, Civilians Flee

In another important development, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, in an exclusive interview with British Channel 4, on Friday said that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad isn’t just defending Syria, he is defending the entire region against terrorism.

SANA reports that Lavrov said that Assad is defending Syria’s sovereignty and unity, and on a wider scale he is defending the entire region against terrorism.

Read More: Saudi Crown Prince, Trump Together Staring At Syrian Exit Door

According to Russian official TASS news agency, Lavrov also said that Moscow sets no artificial deadlines for the withdrawal of its troops from Syria as this process depends on the situation on the ground. He said, “We don’t like artificial deadlines. We have been consistently reducing our military presence in Syria”.

Speaking about the situation in southern region in Syria, Russian top diplomat said, “Some remnants o f ISIL (Daesh) are still there. Jabhat al-Nusra is still there. They are now preventing the deal on Syria’s southern de-escalation area to be implemented fully.”

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had withdrawn 13 warplanes, 14 helicopters and 1,140 troops from Syria in the past few days.

Russian has supported the internationally recognised government headed by Bashar al-Assad since the beginning of the conflict in 2011, politically with military aid, and since September 2015 through direct military involvement.

Latest world news

India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

Published

on

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

Published

on

Modi trump

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

Continue Reading

Latest world news

US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

Published

on

Donald Trump

The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com