SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

Syrian and Saudi officials recently held talks on anti-corruption cooperation and enhancing supervisory efficiency in both countries.

Chairman of the Syrian Central Commission for Inspection and Control, Amer Namis al-Ali, discussed with the deputy director for International Cooperation at the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), cooperation on supporting anti-corruption efforts. They also focused on enhancing supervisory efficiency in both countries.

At the meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the two sides reviewed key institutional experiences and practices related to regulatory performance.

A week ago, Chairman Amer Namis al-Ali met with the President of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, Mazen bin Ibrahim al-Kahmous, in Jeddah. They discussed ways to cooperate in combating corruption, recovering assets, and enhancing the exchange of oversight expertise between the two sides.

The Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday that the Anti-Narcotics Department in Aleppo arrested two individuals involved in drug trafficking, following the intensive monitoring and investigation of their criminal activities.

In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Ministry reported that Anti-Narcotics forces seized one kilogram of the narcotic substance “H-Buz,” 158,000 Captagon pills, and equipment used for drug consumption and trafficking during the operation.

The two individuals were referred to the competent judicial authorities for the necessary legal action.

The Ministry affirmed that this operation is part of its ongoing efforts to combat narcotics and protect society from their destructive effects.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the continued implementation of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, calling for its consolidation and transformation into lasting peace in the region.

According to a press statement from Guterres’s spokesperson, the UN Secretary-General welcomed the ceasefire as a glimpse of fragile hope of calm for the people of Gaza and Israel after months of devastation and stressed that the United Nations and its partners are rapidly scaling up aid operations across Gaza.

He commended the governments of Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkey for their persistent mediation efforts and acknowledged the indispensable role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in ensuring that all releases take place safely and humanely.

The Secretary-General called on all parties to consolidate the ceasefire and transform it into a lasting peace.

He appealed to regional and international actors to seize this moment of respite to restart a credible political process that can deliver the outcome of two independent, sovereign, and democratic states—Israel and Palestine—living side by side in peace and security.

The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip commenced on Friday through Arab and international mediation, and an international summit on Middle East peace was held on Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli detention facilities.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that the expansion of humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip is underway and has already made some progress. The office urged donor countries to increase their contributions.

According to the UN News Center, Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated from Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday: “An additional $11 million has been allocated to support the immediate scale-up of humanitarian aid in Gaza through the Central Emergency Response Fund.” However, he warned that continued delivery of essential assistance will not be possible unless the fund receives new contributions.

Under the humanitarian plan for the first sixty days of the ceasefire, the United Nations and its partners will deliver life-saving aid and services to Gaza’s residents, including food, water, healthcare, shelter supplies, hygiene kits, protection, and other forms of assistance.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the United Nations, stated during a daily press briefing that they had received Israeli approval to allow additional aid into Gaza. The approved supplies now total 190,000 metric tons as of Sunday, and they are ready for transport.

On Monday, an international summit on Middle East peace was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, attended by leaders and representatives from over 31 countries, as well as international and regional organizations. At the summit, leaders from the United States, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt signed a comprehensive document outlining the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Additionally, more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli detention centers.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdulsalam Haykal announced that the Zoom video communication platform is now operational in Syria for the first time since its establishment.

In a post on x platform, Haykal said: ” I thank Communications and Information Technology team responsible for following up U.S. restrictions. I express deep appreciation for all those in the Syrian technical community and the whole world who are supporting these efforts”.

Zoom is a communications platform offering video, audio, phone, and chat services, enabling people to meet and collaborate virtually from anywhere with an internet connection. Based in California, USA, it also offers video conferencing software used for remote meetings, work, education, and social interaction.

Tuhama alsaidi /Abdul Rahim Ahmad

An international summit on peace in the Middle East was held Monday in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, jointly chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and U.S. President Donald Trump, with the participation of leaders and representatives from over 31 Arab and foreign countries, as well as international and regional organizations.

At the start of the summit, leaders from the United States, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt signed a comprehensive document for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza Strip.

In his opening remarks, President El-Sisi emphasized that peace is a strategic choice for the peoples of the region, stating that decades of experience have shown that this choice can only be built on justice and equal rights.

El-Sisi affirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and freedom, expressing hope that this agreement would close a painful chapter in human history.

For his part, President Trump described the signed document as historic, saying: “Together, we have achieved what everyone said was impossible—peace in the Middle East.” He confirmed that the war in Gaza has ended and that humanitarian aid has begun to flow.

Trump acknowledged that the reconstruction phase in Gaza may be the most challenging and thanked the Arab and Islamic countries that contributed to this breakthrough.

The Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit is part of ongoing Arab and international efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which lasted more than two years, and to promote peace, stability, and regional security in the Middle East.

In addition to Presidents El-Sisi and Trump, the summit was attended by King Abdullah II of Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and many other international leaders.

MAZEN

Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Al-Saleh, met with Tosaka Sota, Director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Middle East Office, and his accompanying delegation to explore ways of enhancing cooperation in the fields of early warning systems, disaster management, and mine clearance.

During the meeting held Monday at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus, Minister Al-Saleh emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise with the Japanese side in disaster response and training national personnel.

He praised Japan’s pioneering experience in building community resilience and enhancing emergency preparedness.

For his part, Sota expressed JICA’s readiness to expand its technical support and training programs in Syria, contributing to the development of disaster management systems and the promotion of community safety.

This meeting comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to strengthen the national infrastructure for rapid response and to enhance cooperation with international partners in humanitarian and development fields.

JICA is considered one of the leading international agencies supporting development and capacity-building programs in developing countries, with extensive experience in disaster management, community preparedness, and mine clearance.

Mazen

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that the recent discussions with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa were constructive, underscoring the importance of strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Aoun made the remarks during a meeting with the Association of Economic Journalists, highlighting that the talks focused on mutual respect, security coordination and economic cooperation.

He noted that last Friday’s visit by Syria’s Foreign Minister to Beirut reaffirmed a set of principles aimed at enhancing collaboration across key sectors.

“We must advance our relationship,” Aoun said, pointing to steps such as appointing a Syrian ambassador to Lebanon and forming joint committees to address critical issues, including land and maritime border demarcation and the review of existing bilateral agreements.

President Ahmad Al-Sharaa met with the Lebanese president on the sidelines of the extraordinary Arab summit- the ‘Palestine Summit’ – held in Cairo last March, and on the sidelines of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in the Qatari capital, Doha, in mid-September.

Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib met on Monday with Bulent Yıldırım, President of the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH)

The two sides discussed strengthening cooperation in humanitarian and development fields as well mechanisms for supporting health, education, and public service projects aimed at improving living conditions and enhancing stability in the governorate.

French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s full support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and emphasized the importance of dialogue to promote peace in the Middle East.

According to the news outlet Youm7, Macron made the statement upon his arrival in Sharm El-Sheikh to participate in the “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit” hosted by Egypt.

He said, “France intends to play a very special role alongside the Palestinian Authority, which must have its rightful place and carry out the necessary reforms.”

He added that the participation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the summit is “a very positive signal… and a recognition of the Palestinian Authority’s role as a legitimate institution.”

The summit, titled “Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit,” is scheduled to be jointly chaired this afternoon by U.S. President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with leaders from more than twenty countries expected to attend, according to the Egyptian presidency.

Syrian and German officials discussed on Monday prosects of enhancing health cooperation and the upcoming projects during a meeting held on the sidelines of the World Health Summit (WHS) that launched its actvities Sunday in the German capital, Berlin.

A delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Health, headed by Director of the Minister’s Office, Dr. Alaa Abdeen, met with Ms. Christine Totzke, Director General of Asia, Europe and the Middle East Department at Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The talks dealt with ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides, including a package of upcoming health projects in Syria and their importance in supporting medical services and improving the infrastructure of the health sector.

The German side reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting Syria’s health sector, emphasizing that it is a key factor in achieving stability and development.

For his part, Abdeen expressed the Ministry of Health’s appreciation for the support provided by Germany, stressing the importance of continuing this cooperation to strengthen the capabilities of the Syrian health system and improve its services to meet citizens’ needs.

The World Health Summit (WHS) kicked off Sunday is considered one of the most prominent international gatherings in the health field, bringing together ministers, experts, and organizations from around the world.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire in Gaza marks not just the end of a conflict, but the beginning of a “historic dawn for a new Middle East,” bringing closure to a long and painful chapter for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Speaking before the Israeli Knesset, Trump stated that after many years of relentless warfare and constant danger, calm has finally prevailed.

The ceasefire marks a moment that “everything began to change, and change very much for the better” in the Middle East Trump said. “The long and painful nightmare is finally over. Not only for Israelis but also Palestinians, the long and painful nightmare is finally over,” he added.

He emphasized that’’ peace is no longer a distant dream but a tangible reality being built day by day, calling Gaza ceasefire a monumental victory for the entire world.’’

Trump urged all parties to shift focus from suffering and loss toward reconstruction and development. He encouraged Palestinians in Gaza to prioritize economic growth and quality of life, expressing his willingness to be a partner in these efforts and announcing plans to help establish a “Peace Council.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed on Monday that a long-term settlement to the Middle East conflict is impossible without establishing a Palestinian state.

Lavrov told reporters from Arab countries that U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict only dealt with Gaza and didn’t deal enough with Palestinian state.

“We have noted that Donald Trump’s peace plan only addresses the Gaza Strip. It mentions statehood, but in rather general terms,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov also stated Russia hoped all the agreements reached between Israel and Hamas under the plan would be implemented.

Last week, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to help peace efforts, using its contacts with all parties in the region.

The Internal Security Command in Hama Governorate, in coordination with the Anti-Terror Branch, arrested two criminals on Monday for their involvement in grave violations against civilians during the former regime, the Interior Ministry announced.

The Ministry quoted Brigadier General Mulham Mahmoud al-Shantout, Commander of Internal Security in Hama, on its Telegram channel as saying that investigations revealed the criminals Bilal Mahrez, nicknamed “The Butcher,” and his brother Saif El-Din Mustafa Mahrez had committed war crimes.

Their crimes included the arrest and displacement of civilians, mutilation of martyrs’ bodies, and sharing images of these acts on social media, the statement added.

The two perpetrators have been referred to the competent judiciary to face justice under the law.

Syrian Minister of Local Administration and Environment Mohammad Anjarani met on Monday with Qatar’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie in Doha, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise.

The two sides reviewed cooperation in environmental issues and climate change and exchanging expertise in environmental sustainability, integrated environmental planning, and addressing the climate change challenges.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the activities of the Third Qatar Real Estate Forum, which was launched on Sunday in Doha with the participation of Syria and in the presence of an elite group of experts and decision-makers in the real estate sector.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said that his country is ready to play a “leading role” in Gaza’s reconstruction, as the region enters critical phase of ending the war.

”announcing about humanitarian funding as part of a broader aid commitment for Gaza.”

‘’Today is the first, crucial phase of ending this war and now we must deliver the second phase, in full,’’ Starmer posted on X platform saying that ”Britain will continue its efforts to establish permanent peace for the entire region.”

‘’Commitment to this plan from all parties will be essential to ending the war and building the foundations for a sustainable path to a long-term peace. The UK will support the crucial next stage of talks to ensure the implementation of the peace plan.’’ he affirmed

Israeli forces arrested 21 Palestinians on Monday during raids across various areas of the West Bank.

Palestinian News Agency WAFA said that the Israeli forces stormed villages and towns in Salfit, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, Al-Bireh, Hebron, and Jericho, they raided Palestinian homes, vandalized their contents, assaulted residents, and arrested 21 individuals.

Meanwhile, settlers attacked Palestinian homes in the village of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, assaulting the residents. They also cut down olive trees in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah.

The Israeli authorities released on Monday 88 Palestinians prisoners from Ofer prison, west Ramallah, as a part of the first phase of Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Earlier Monday, Israel and Hamas began the first stage of their prisoner exchange, carried out through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

(ICRC) announced that it has received total of 20 Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip, and transferred them to the Israeli authorities.

According to the first phase of the agreement, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on October 9 as part of his plan to end the war in Gaza, all living Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip-numbering 20-will be released.

In exchange, the Israeli authorities will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,718 detainees from Gaza who were arrested following the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023. The entire exchange is to be completed within a 72-hour window beginning on Friday, as stipulated in the agreement.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated that reconstructing Syria is a top priority for the state, estimating the cost to be between $600 and $900 billion, and emphasized the need for support from the international community.

In an interview with the program “60 Minutes” on the American network CBS News, President Al-Sharaa said: “The world watched this tragedy unfold for 14 years and couldn’t do anything to stop this massive crime.” “So, the world today should provide support to Syria,” he added.

President al-Sharaa pointed out that’ ”international economic sanctions imposed on Syria are hindering reconstruction efforts” and have to be lifted to give people hope for rebuilding and returning to their homes.

“Anyone who obstructs the lifting of sanctions on Syria is an accomplice to those who committed this crime,” the president said.

He emphasized that Syria deserves living in peace and security, which will serve the region and the world. “Syria deserves to live in peace and security, and the world will benefit from Syria’s new situation,” President al-Sharaa said. “It is a great historical opportunity for the region,” he added.

President al-Sharaa said that ”entire generations of Syrians have suffered severe psychological trauma” as a result of the war waged by the former regime, during which more than one million Syrians were killed, large areas and infrastructure were destroyed, and millions were displaced.

The president clarified that ”the government intends to use legal means to pursue justice” against Bashar Assad, who is living in Moscow since fleeing Syria.

Regarding the events in the coastal region and Sweida, the President said that “This is a Syrian internal matter that should be resolved legally by Syrian authorities,” pledging that the state’s commitment to prosecuting those involved. “I believe that Syria is committed to prosecuting anyone who committed crimes against civilians, of any party or side,” he added.

On the issue of repeated Israeli attacks on Syria, President Al-Sharaa stated that ”Syria doesn’t pose any threat to anyone” describing the Israeli attacks on the presidential palace as “a declaration of war”.

“To target the palace to convey a message, that’s not a message, that’s a declaration of war,” the president said, adding that Syria “doesn’t want to engage in wars, and it doesn’t want to be a threat to Israel or anyone else,” calling on Israeli to withdraw from Syrian territories it occupied after December 8.

President al-Sharaa clarified that ”the operations carried out by “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” prior to liberation were aimed solely at overthrowing the Assad regime, and that the group did not conduct operations outside Syrian territory nor did it target anyone other than regime forces.”

The president reiterated that he had severed ties with both “ISIS” and “al-Qaeda”, saying: “If I had agreed with them, I wouldn’t have left them.”

Responding to a question about entering the presidential palace for the first time, President al-Sharaa said: “Entering this palace wasn’t a very positive experience ..Much evil towards the Syrian people came out of this palace.”

President al-Sharaa stated that ”general elections will be held once infrastructure has been rebuilt and citizens have obtained identity cards and official documents.” He stressed that he wanted Syria to be a place where every person gets a vote affirming his belief in the resilience and strength of the Syrian people, who are capable of rising again.

Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Marwan Al-Halabi met on Monday with his Jordanian counterpart, Azmi Mahafzah, to discuss ways to develop bilateral cooperation in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

This came during an official meeting held Monday in the Jordanian capital, Amman, where the ministers reviewed academic, scientific and research cooperation.

The two sides expressed their desire to exchange expertise, research projects, and joint educational programs.