NEW YORK: The UN Security Council on Thursday condemned Israel’s airstrikes on Doha, expressing “deep regret” over the loss of civilian life in the attack on “the territory of a key mediator” in ongoing efforts to end the war in Gaza.
In a statement released after closed consultations, the 15-member Security Council voiced solidarity with Qatar, reaffirming support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with the UN Charter.
Council members also underscored the need for de-escalation and emphasized the critical role Qatar plays in regional mediation, particularly alongside Egypt and the US.
“The Council recalled its support for the vital role that Qatar continues to play in mediation efforts in the region,” the statement read, adding that the release of hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and ending the suffering in Gaza “must remain our top priority.”
The statement comes two days after a series of strikes hit the Qatari capital on Sept. 9 in a rare, alarming escalation beyond the immediate conflict zone. The strikes have been widely condemned by international actors, with fears they could derail fragile diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire.
Qatar has been at the center of international mediation since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out nearly two years ago. The Gulf nation has hosted indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas officials and has worked closely with Cairo and Washington to try to secure a durable truce.
The Security Council urged all parties to “seize the opportunity for peace” and reiterated its backing for continued diplomatic engagement to end the conflict.
The attack marks the first direct strike on Qatari soil by Israel since the start of the current conflict in Gaza, which has left more than 60,000 people dead and many thousands more injured, facing famine and displaced in the coastal enclave.
UN Security Council condemns Doha strikes, reaffirms support for Qatari mediation efforts
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UN Security Council condemns Doha strikes, reaffirms support for Qatari mediation efforts
- Council members also underscored the need for de-escalation and emphasized the critical role Qatar plays in regional mediation
- The statement added that the release of hostages, including those killed by Hamas, and ending the suffering in Gaza “must remain our top priority”
Washington presses Syria to shift from Chinese telecom systems
- Syria is exploring the possibility of procuring Chinese technology
- It was unclear whether the United States pledged financial or logistical support to Syria to do so
DAMASCUS: The United States has warned Syria against relying on Chinese technology in its telecommunications sector, arguing it conflicts with US interests and threatens US national security, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The message was conveyed during an unreported meeting between a US State Department team and Syrian Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal in San Francisco on Tuesday. Washington has been coordinating closely with Damascus since 2024, when Syria’s now President Ahmed Al-Sharaa ousted longtime leader Bashar Assad, who had a strategic partnership with China.
Syria is exploring the possibility of procuring Chinese technology to support its telecommunications towers and the infrastructure of local Internet service providers, according to a Syrian businessman involved in the procurement talks.
“The US side asked for clarity on the ministry’s plans regarding Chinese telecom equipment,” said another source briefed on the talks.
But Syrian officials said infrastructure development projects were time-critical and that Damascus was seeking greater vendor diversity, the source added.
SYRIAN OFFICIALS CITE US EXPORT CONTROLS AS TELECOMS BARRIER
Syria is open to partnering with US firms but the matter was urgent and export controls and “over-compliance” remained an issue, according to person familiar with the meeting in San Francisco.
A US diplomat familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the US State Department “clearly urged Syrians to use American technology or technology from allied countries in the telecoms sector.”
It was unclear whether the United States pledged financial or logistical support to Syria to do so.
Responding to Reuters questions, a US State Department spokesperson said: “We urge countries to prioritize national security and privacy over lower-priced equipment and services in all critical infrastructure procurement. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
The spokesperson added that Chinese intelligence and security services “can legally compel Chinese citizens and companies to share sensitive data or grant unauthorized access to their customers’ systems” and promises by Chinese companies to protect customers’ privacy were “entirely inconsistent with China’s own laws and well-established practices.”
China has repeatedly rejected allegations of it using technology for spying purposes.
The Syrian Ministry of telecommunications told Reuters any decisions related to equipment and infrastructure are made “in accordance with national technical and security standards, ensuring data protection and service continuity.”
The ministry said it is also prioritizing the diversification of partnerships and technology sources to serve the national interest.
Syria’s telecom infrastructure has relied heavily on Chinese technology due to US sanctions imposed on successive Assad governments over the civil war that grew from a crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011.
Huawei technology accounts for more than 50 percent of the infrastructure of Syriatel and MTN, the country’s only telecom operators, according to a senior source at one of the companies and documents reviewed by Reuters. Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Syria is seeking to develop its private telecommunications sector, devastated by 14 years of war, by attracting foreign investment.
In early February, Saudi Arabia’s largest telecom operator, STC, announced it would invest $800 million to “strengthen telecommunications infrastructure and connect Syria regionally and internationally through a fiber-optic network extending over 4,500 kilometers.”
The ministry of telecommunications says that US restrictions “hinder the availability of many American technologies and services in the Syrian market,” emphasizing that it welcomes expanding cooperation with US companies when these restrictions are lifted.
Syria has inadequate telecommunications infrastructure, with network coverage weak outside city centers and connection speeds in many areas barely exceeding a few kilobits per second.
