CAIRO: Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, France and Cyprus on Monday expressed their regret over the escalation of violence in Libya, and considered that Turkey’s agreement with the government of reconciliation threatens regional stability.
A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, France and the UAE said that the latest worrying developments in the eastern Mediterranean were discussed, in addition to a number of regional crises that threaten peace and stability in that region.
The ministers stressed the strategic importance of strengthening and intensifying their political consultations, and praised the results of the Cairo meeting on Jan. 8, 2020, to enhance security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, and expressed their deep concern over the current escalation and the ongoing provocative moves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Ministers condemned the illegal Turkish movements taking place in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone and its territorial waters, for the apparent violation of international law in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
This is the sixth attempt by Turkey, in less than a year, to conduct illegal excavations within the sea areas of Cyprus.
The ministers also condemned the escalation of Turkish violations of Greek airspace, including flights over populated areas and territorial waters, in violation of international law. Moreover, the ministers condemned the systematic exploitation of civilians by Turkey and the attempt to push them toward illegally crossing the Greek land and sea borders.
They demanded the Libyan parties to commit to a truce during the holy month of Ramadan, and affirmed their commitment to work toward a comprehensive political solution to the Libyan crisis under the auspices of the United Nations, and they expressed their keenness to resume the commitments of the Berlin process, including political, military, economic and financial.
Egypt, UAE, France, Greece and Cyprus condemn Turkey's actions in Libya, Cyprus
https://arab.news/g5vjq
Egypt, UAE, France, Greece and Cyprus condemn Turkey's actions in Libya, Cyprus
First responders enter devastated Aleppo neighborhood after days of deadly fighting
- The US-backed SDF, which have played a key role in combating the Daesh group in large swaths of eastern Syria, are the largest force yet to be absorbed into Syria’s national army
ALEPPO, Syria: First responders on Sunday entered a contested neighborhood in Syria’ s northern city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led forces. Syrian state media said the military was deployed in large numbers.
The clashes broke out Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main Kurdish-led force in the country, failed to make progress on how to merge the SDF into the national army. Security forces captured Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.
The fighting between the two sides was the most intense since the fall of then-President Bashar Assad to insurgents in December 2024. At least 23 people were killed in five days of clashes and more than 140,000 were displaced amid shelling and drone strikes.
The US-backed SDF, which have played a key role in combating the Daesh group in large swaths of eastern Syria, are the largest force yet to be absorbed into Syria’s national army. Some of the factions that make up the army, however, were previously Turkish-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces.
The Kurdish fighters have now evacuated from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF. However, they said in a statement they will continue to fight now that the wounded and civilians have been evacuated, in what they called a “partial ceasefire.”
The neighborhood appeared calm Sunday. The United Nations said it was trying to dispatch more convoys to the neighborhoods with food, fuel, blankets and other urgent supplies.
Government security forces brought journalists to tour the devastated area, showing them the damaged Khalid Al-Fajer Hospital and a military position belonging to the SDF’s security forces that government forces had targeted.
The SDF statement accused the government of targeting the hospital “dozens of times” before patients were evacuated. Damascus accused the Kurdish-led group of using the hospital and other civilian facilities as military positions.
On one street, Syrian Red Crescent first responders spoke to a resident surrounded by charred cars and badly damaged residential buildings.
Some residents told The Associated Press that SDF forces did not allow their cars through checkpoints to leave.
“We lived a night of horror. I still cannot believe that I am right here standing on my own two feet,” said Ahmad Shaikho. “So far the situation has been calm. There hasn’t been any gunfire.”
Syrian Civil Defense first responders have been disarming improvised mines that they say were left by the Kurdish forces as booby traps.
Residents who fled are not being allowed back into the neighborhood until all the mines are cleared. Some were reminded of the displacement during Syria’s long civil war.
“I want to go back to my home, I beg you,” said Hoda Alnasiri.
