The Syrian rebel forces have seized control of much of Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo, following a rapid advance that resulted in the deaths of dozens of government soldiers, posing a significant challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, CNN reported on Saturday.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchanged Eid Al-Fitr greetings during phone calls today with His Excellency Bashar Al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, and His Excellency Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq.
Union Minister of State, V Muraleedharan’s “productive” visit to Syria has provided an opportunity to take the bilateral cooperation between the two nations to a higher level, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
What is surprising is that Bashar al-Assad did not show any willingness to make concessions or reciprocate or at least promise to facilitate the return of refugees to their homes without fear of persecution.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Presidential Court, held a meeting today with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria on the sidelines of the 32nd Arab League Summit.
Apparently, most Arab governments see that they have to recognize Assad's rule as a reality and as a means to avoid further destabilization in the region.
According to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, as quoted by Al Jazeera the raids on early Sunday were the third in recent days and came just one day after another attack on Friday that resulted in the deaths of two Iranian Revolutionary Guards military advisers.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been shunned by Arab leaders, due to the crimes perpetrated by his regime against Syrian citizens, is now expected to be welcomed back to the fold and we may soon see him taking part in Arab summits and the Arab League from which he was suspended