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Israel Links Return of Lebanese Displaced to Security of Its Northern Communities

                                A dog looks on next to displaced people at the corniche after rainfall, in Beirut, Lebanon. Israel has stated that tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians will not be able to return to their homes in southern Lebanon until Israeli residents evacuated from the country’s north can safely go back to their own communities. The position underscores how deeply intertwined the two displacement crises have become amid ongoing cross‑border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli officials argue that any long‑term arrangement must guarantee security along the northern frontier, where months of exchanges of fire have forced widespread evacuations on both sides. They maintain that Hezbollah’s military presence near the border remains the primary obstacle to restoring stability. Lebanese authorities, meanwhile, have warned that prolonged displacement i...
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UN Security Council Lifts Sanctions on Syria’s New Leadership Ahead of Historic US Visit

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in this handout released on May 14, 2025.


In a landmark decision, the United Nations Security Council voted to lift sanctions against Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, signaling a shift in international engagement with Syria’s new leadership.

The resolution, drafted by the United States, passed with 14 votes in favor and one abstention from China. It removes both officials from the ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, effectively ending travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes that had been in place since their association with the former jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Al-Sharaa, who assumed power in December 2024 following the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on November 10. The visit marks the first time a Syrian president has been officially hosted in Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946.

The move is largely symbolic, as sanctions had been routinely waived for diplomatic travel. However, it reflects growing international recognition of Syria’s political transition and Washington’s strategic pivot toward supporting stability in the war-torn nation.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz stated, “With the adoption of this text, the council is sending a strong political signal that recognizes Syria is in a new era since Assad and his associates were toppled.”

The decision has sparked cautious optimism among observers, though concerns remain about HTS’s legacy and the challenges of rebuilding Syria after 13 years of civil war.

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