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LONDON: Syrian and Russian officials met on Tuesday at the Tishreen Palace to discuss energy, defence and how to strengthen ties with the new leadership in Damascus following the ousting of former president Bashar Assad, Moscow’s longstanding ally.

The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who is the key figure for energy issues under President Vladimir Putin.

Novak met with Asaad Al-Shaibani, Syria’s minister of foreign affairs and expatriates, who chaired the meeting attended by several Syrian and Russian ministers.

Shaibani indirectly referred to Russia’s backing for Assad, to whom it provided substantial military support.

“Our relationship with Russia is deep and has witnessed periods of friendship and cooperation, but there has never been a balance. Any foreign presence on our soil must be aimed at helping the Syrian people build their future,” Shaibani said.

He said that Syria welcomes “cooperation with Russia in the field of reconstruction, energy, agriculture and health on a fair and transparent basis,” the SANA news agency reported.

He added that Russian backing for Syria’s “new path” will benefit the entire region.

“Damascus is looking for sincere partners ... Syria and Russia are capable of building relations based on sovereignty, justice and common interest,” Shaibani added.

Novak said that Russia attaches great importance to the upcoming visit of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to Moscow to participate in the Arab-Russian summit. He added that the relationship between Moscow and Damascus in this “new historical stage” will be grounded in mutual respect.

Before the meeting, Novak said in an interview with a Russian TV channel that Moscow shares the Syrian government’s concerns regarding “destructive” Israeli actions in the country. He mentioned that Russia could leverage its diplomatic relationships with Israel and various ethnic groups to ensure Syria’s stability.

Analysts noted that although Novak did not mention military facilities, Russia’s key priority in Syria is maintaining access to a naval base and an airfield near the warm waters of the Mediterranean, which bolstered its military presence in the region during Assad’s rule.

DOHA: Israel’s military said it conducted air strikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital on Tuesday, as Qatar condemned an attack on buildings housing members of the Palestinian militant movement.

Qatar, which has been a key mediator in efforts to broker a truce in Gaza, said Israeli strikes targeted the homes of several members of Hamas’s political bureau residing in the Gulf country, where the militant group’s senior leadership is based.

A Hamas official in Gaza told AFP the group’s negotiators had been “targeted” in Doha, though it was not immediately clear whether the attack had caused any casualties.

A video journalist working with AFP in Doha saw a plume of smoke rising from behind a low-rise building.

“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 (2023) massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

“The name of the operation in Doha is Summit of Fire. These were air strikes,” an Israeli military official told AFP.

Qatar condemned the attack, saying it had targeted residential buildings housing Hamas political bureau members.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the political bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a post on X.

Tuesday’s strikes — Israel’s first attack on the Western-backed Gulf state — come less than two weeks after Israel’s armed forces chief vowed to target the group’s leaders based abroad.

“Most of Hamas’s leadership is abroad, and we will reach them as well,” Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on August 31.

“Flagrant violation”

Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar has led multiple attempts to end the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by the Palestinian militants’ unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack.

Despite sealing two temporary truces, the successive rounds of talks have failed to bring a lasting end to the war.

“May all your enemies perish, Israel,” Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar wrote on X.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s targeting of Hamas leaders was a “wholly independent” operation.

“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said, adding that: “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it and Israel takes full responsibility.”

Washington urged nationals in Doha to shelter in place.

“US citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates,” the US embassy posted.

�������� condemned the attack, affirming its full solidarity with and support for Qatar.

The Kingdom called on the international community to condemn this “heinous aggression and put an end to Israeli violations that undermine the security and stability of the region.”

UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned Israel’s “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates also condemned the attack, with the Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi calling it “an extension of the brutal Israeli aggression that threatens the security and stability of the region.”

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed wrote on X his country stood “in full solidarity with dear Qatar.”

Iran, a key backer of Hamas, condemned the attack as a “gross violation of all international rules and regulations, a violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and an attack on Palestinian negotiators.”

Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas in Gaza, also condemned the attack.

The attack came as Israel stepped up a deadly assault on Gaza City, the Palestinian territory’s largest urban center.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video statement addressing residents of the city: “I say to the residents: you have been warned, leave now!

“All of this is just a prelude, just the opening, to the main intensified operation — the ground maneuver of our forces, who are now organizing and assembling to enter Gaza City,” he said.