Visiting Libyan official says discussed energy, migration with new Syria leader

Visiting Libyan official says discussed energy, migration with new Syria leader
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, center, meets with Walid Ellafi, third right, Libyan minister of state for communication and political affairs, in the presidential palace in Damascus on Dec. 28, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 28 December 2024

Visiting Libyan official says discussed energy, migration with new Syria leader

Visiting Libyan official says discussed energy, migration with new Syria leader
  • Syrians fleeing war since 2011 and seeking a better life have often traveled to Libya in search of work or passage
  • Power in Libya is divided between the UN-recognized government based in the capital Tripoli and a rival administration in the east

DAMASCUS: A senior official from Libya’s UN-recognized government met Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Saturday and discussed issues including diplomatic relations, energy and migration.
“We expressed our full support for the Syrian authorities in the success of the important transitional phase,” Libyan Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs Walid Ellafi told reporters after the meeting.
“We emphasized the importance of coordination and cooperation... particularly on security and military issues,” he said, while they also discussed cooperation “related to energy and trade” and “illegal immigration.”
Syrians fleeing war since 2011 and seeking a better life have often traveled to Libya in search of work or passage across the Mediterranean on flimsy boats toward Europe.
Ellafi said they also discussed “the importance of raising diplomatic representation between the two countries.”
“Today the charge d’affaires attended the meeting with me and we are seeking a permanent ambassador,” he added.
Power in Libya is divided between the UN-recognized government based in the capital Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar who also controls the south.
Representatives of Haftar’s rival administration in March 2020 opened a diplomatic mission in Damascus.
Before that, Libya had not had any representation in Damascus since 2012, following the fall and killing of longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising.
It was not immediately clear whether the charge d’affaires had been appointed since Sharaa’s Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions toppled Assad on December 8 after a lightning offensive.
Also on Saturday, images published by Syrian state news agency SANA also showed Sharaa meeting Bahrain’s strategic security bureau chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa.
No details of the discussions were provided.
On December 14, top diplomats from eight Arab countries including Bahrain called for a peaceful transition in Syria with United Nations and Arab League support following Assad’s overthrow.
A day earlier, the official BNA news agency reported that Bahrain’s King Hamad had told Sharaa that his country was ready to “continue consultations and coordination with Syria.”
Damascus’s new authorities have received envoys from across the Middle East and beyond since taking control as countries look to establish contact with Sharaa’s administration.


Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners being freed being leaving Israeli prison

Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners being freed being leaving Israeli prison
Updated 3 sec ago

Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners being freed being leaving Israeli prison

Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners being freed being leaving Israeli prison
  • Israeli military will take custody of the hostages and transport them onward to Israel

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Two Red Cross buses carrying Palestinian prisoners being released as part of Monday’s exchange began leaving Ofer Prison as Israel’s military said that all of the living hostages once held by Hamas had returned to Israel.

The military made the announcement after the final group of 13 crossed the border.

Their return was a key part of the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire now being marked by a visit to Israel and Egypt by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israel is due to release over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.

Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands.

The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.

Families and friends of the hostages who gathered in a square in Tel Aviv broke into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that the hostages were in the hands of the Red Cross. Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.

Later, Israel released the first photos of hostages arriving home. Among them was a photo of Gali and Ziv Berman with expressions of disbelief as they reunited with each other. Hostages previously released said the 28-year-old twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.

In the initial photos, those released appeared less gaunt than some of the hostages freed in January.

Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. In the West Bank, an armored vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd waiting near Ofer Prison. As drones buzzed overhead, the group scattered.

The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. Israel’s military did not respond to questions about the flier, which The Associated Press obtained on site.

While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.

The ceasefire is also expected to be accompanied by a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.


Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to attend conference in Egypt

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to attend conference in Egypt
Updated 14 min 19 sec ago

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to attend conference in Egypt

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to attend conference in Egypt
  • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected at the international summit

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel Monday to a conference in Egypt.
That’s according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected at the international summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
The summit is co-chaired by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi and US President Donald Trump and will be attended by over two dozen world leaders.
There was no immediate comment from Israel on the Egyptian announcement.
Trump earlier Monday landed in Israel to address its parliament.
As he entered the Knesset (parliament), Trump said Palestinian militant group Hamas would comply with a provision under his plan for it to disarm, though it has ruled this out.
Speaking to reporters before beginning his speech, Trump replied “yes” when asked whether Gaza’s war was over.
The Gaza ceasefire plan envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority — something Netanyahu has long opposed. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform program that could take years.
The plan also calls for an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, along with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It said Israeli forces would leave areas as those forces deploy. About 200 US troops are now in Israel to monitor the ceasefire.
The plan also mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state, another nonstarter for Netanyahu.


‘A new era’ beckons with inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup in Qiddiya City

‘A new era’ beckons with inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup in Qiddiya City
Updated 13 October 2025

‘A new era’ beckons with inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup in Qiddiya City

‘A new era’ beckons with inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup in Qiddiya City
  • Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor drive Saudi team Jameel Sport to victory in the first-ever hydrogen motorsport event

QIDDIYA CITY: Jameel Motorsport’s Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor were on Sunday crowned champions of the first-ever FIA Extreme H World Cup.

The first hydrogen-powered motorsport competition sanctioned by the FIA, brought together eight international teams, all male-female driver pairings, for three days of racing featuring a new format which included Time Trials, Head-to-Head duels, and an eight-car final.

Racing against the backdrop of the Tuwaiq Mountains, the cars were powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells, proving that zero-emission racing can deliver world-class performance.

After topping the standings through the early rounds, Hansen (SWE) and Taylor (AUS) dominated the final from pole position.

Hansen built a commanding lead in the opening laps before Taylor brought the car home for a decisive victory, finishing 7.068 seconds ahead of Carl Cox Motorsport, with Team EVEN completing the podium.

“To win the first-ever FIA Extreme H World Cup is probably the biggest achievement of my career,” said Hansen. “Standing on pole for a Saudi team, knowing winner takes all, it was huge pressure, but it feels incredible to make history.”

Teammate Taylor commented: “It’s been a pretty emotional day. It’s been such an intense week, particularly the last three days. It's pretty hard to describe. You have to be on it every step of the way.

“It feels very sweet to be able to deliver this, for Jameel Motorsport, for all our crew, we all banded together to make this happen.”

The FIA Extreme H World Cup is designed to demonstrate how hydrogen can play a major role in a sustainable, high-performance future, while also promoting gender equality — with every team fielding one male and one female driver competing on equal terms.

Across the three days, Team KMS took the first medal in the Time Trial, STARD triumphed in the Head-to-Heads, and Jameel Motorsport sealed the ultimate prize in the eight-car final.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and Saudi Motorsport Co., said: “From the heart of Qiddiya City, we write today a new chapter in global motorsport.

“The launch of the FIA Extreme H World Cup marks a transformative milestone, showing how competition, innovation, and sustainability can move forward hand in hand.

“Let’s celebrate a new era: powered by hydrogen, driven by ambition, and built for the future.”


Syrian Kurdish leader says reached first deal on merging forces with regular army

Syrian Kurdish leader says reached first deal on merging forces with regular army
Updated 13 October 2025

Syrian Kurdish leader says reached first deal on merging forces with regular army

Syrian Kurdish leader says reached first deal on merging forces with regular army
  • SDF leader Abdi said that military and security delegations from his forces are currently in Damascus to discuss the mechanism for their integration

HASAKEH: Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi has announced to AFP that he had reached a “preliminary agreement” with Damascus on the integration of his troops into Syria’s military and security forces.
Abdi, who heads the powerful Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), had met Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Damascus last week, along with US envoy Tom Barrack and US commander Brad Cooper.
While the Kurdish forces — who control large swathes of Syria’s oil-rich northeast — had signed an agreement with the new Syrian authorities in March to merge their civil and military institutions, the deal’s terms were not implemented.
“What is new in our recent talks in Damascus is the shared determination and strong will to accelerate the implementation of the terms” of the agreement, Abdi told AFP in an interview at a military base in the northeastern city of Hasakah on Sunday.
“The most important point is having reached a preliminary agreement regarding the mechanism for integrating the SDF and the (Kurdish) Internal Security Forces within the framework of defense and interior ministries,” he added.
The Washington-backed SDF and Kurdish security forces consist of around 100,000 male and female members, according to them.
The SDF played a vital role in the fight against the Daesh group in Syria, which ultimately led to the jihadist organization’s territorial defeat in the country in 2019.
Abdi said that military and security delegations from his forces are currently in Damascus to discuss the mechanism for their integration.

- Disagreements -

After the fall of longtime leader Bashar Assad in December, Sharaa announced the dissolution of all armed groups, to be absorbed by state institutions.
Abdi explained that “the SDF will be restructured through its integration into the defense ministry,” as part of several formations.
However, some disagreements remain.
“We demand a decentralized system in Syria... we have not agreed on it,” he added, as they are “still discussing finding a common formula acceptable to all.”
He stressed that they “agree on the territorial integrity of Syria, the unity of national symbols, the independence of political decision-making in the country, and the fight against terrorism.”
“We all agree that Syria should not return to the era of war, and that there should be stability and security. I believe these factors are sufficient for us to reach a permanent agreement.”
During the last meeting with Sharaa, Abdi said he had called for “modifying or adding some clauses to the existing constitutional declaration” announced in March, particularly those related to “guaranteeing the rights of the Kurdish people in the constitution.”
“There was a positive response to this matter, and we hope this will happen soon,” he added.
Abdi also expressed his gratitude to the United States and France for facilitating negotiations with Damascus.
Asked about Damascus’s main backer Turkiye, which has always been hostile to the SDF, Abdi said “any success of the negotiations will certainly depend on Turkiye’s role,” expressing hope that it will play a “supportive and contributing role in the ongoing negotiation process.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the SDF on Wednesday to “keep their word” and “complete their integration with Syria.”
When questioned on the region’s fossil fuel reserves, Abdi noted they “have not yet discussed the oil issue, but it will certainly be addressed in upcoming meetings.”
“Oil and other underground resources in northeastern Syria to belong to all Syrians, and their revenues and revenues must be distributed fairly across all Syrian provinces.”


Hamas deploys fighters as hostages released, in show of strength

Hamas deploys fighters as hostages released, in show of strength
Updated 13 October 2025

Hamas deploys fighters as hostages released, in show of strength

Hamas deploys fighters as hostages released, in show of strength
  • Dozens of Hamas fighters line up at a hospital in southern Gaza

CAIRO: Hamas deployed fighters in Gaza on Monday as a release of hostages seized in the October 7 attacks was under way, Reuters footage showed, in an apparent show of strength by the militant group which President Donald Trump says must disarm.
Reuters footage showed dozens of Hamas fighters lined up at a hospital in southern Gaza, and an armed man wearing the insignia of the Hamas armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. His shoulder patch identified him as a member of the elite “Shadow Unit,” which Hamas sources say is tasked with guarding hostages.
Israel has pummelled Hamas during its two-year-long Gaza offensive, killing thousands of its fighters and many of its leaders in the onslaught that turned much of the Palestinian territory into a wasteland.
Israel’s military said it had received the first seven of 20 surviving hostages after their transfer out of Gaza by the Red Cross.
The remaining 13 confirmed living hostages, along with the bodies of 26 dead hostages and another two whose fate is unknown, are also expected to be released on Monday, along with nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners.
The release of the remaining hostages in Gaza along with the Palestinian prisoners is the first stage of Trump’s plan for ending the Gaza war. A ceasefire has been in place since Friday.
The next phase of negotiations must address demands for Hamas to disarm and end its rule of Gaza, the territory it has controlled since expelling President Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority in 2007.