SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

The European Union and Canada reaffirmed on Wednesday their commitment to supporting early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, and enhancing efforts aimed at achieving a just and peaceful solution to the Palestinian cause.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the joint statement was issued at the close of the fourth EU–Canada ministerial meeting, held in the Canadian city of Niagara, with the participation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

Both parties expressed appreciation for the diplomatic efforts and mediation undertaken by regional states to achieve a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, stressing the importance of all sides adhering to every phase of the agreement and refraining from actions that could jeopardize its success.

The statement emphasized that a just and lasting peace must be founded on the two-state solution, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the outcomes of the High-Level Conference on Resolving the Palestinian Cause, hosted in New York last September under the auspices of Saudi Arabia and France.

The “Two-State Solution Conference,” held in New York from July 28 to 30, was chaired by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and France, with broad international participation and Palestinian representation, to advance the process of international recognition of the State of Palestine. On Sept. 12, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration, which calls for recognizing the Palestinian state and promoting the two-state solution as the path toward a peaceful settlement

The Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday that Internal Security Forces in Tartous Governorate had arrested members of an outlaw group hiding in mountainous areas and seized quantities of weapons and ammunition in their possession.

In a statement released on its Telegram channel, the ministry said that the Tartous Security Command carried out a well-planned operation following close surveillance and investigation. The operation targeted a hideout used by the outlaws in the mountain region and resulted in the seizure of various types of weapons and ammunition and the arrest of the group’s members.

The ministry added that the detainees are being interrogated by the competent authorities to uncover the circumstances of the case and determine the sources of the confiscated arms.

Israel faced questioning before the United Nations Committee Against Torture over two days this week, as the body reviewed the country’s human rights record following multiple reports alleging systematic torture of Palestinian detainees, including children, particularly since the start of the war in Gaza.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Committee rapporteur Peter Fedele Kessing said: “The Committee was deeply alarmed by the large number of reports from diverse sources indicating that torture has become a deliberate and widespread tool of Israeli policy, practiced at multiple stages from arrest to interrogation and imprisonment.”

Kessing cited information from UN bodies and Israeli, Palestinian, and international human rights organizations, reporting that torture and ill-treatment have risen to “unprecedented levels” and are carried out with impunity. The accounts describe severe beatings, electric shocks, stress positions, starvation, water torture, sexual humiliation, and threats of rape.

The Committee Against Torture, composed of ten independent experts, monitors implementation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The panel seeks to hold states accountable for human rights violations and systematically investigates reports of torture to ensure justice and prevention.

Authorities continue pursuit operations after armed clash in Ain Shaqaq area, Jableh countryside, Latakia Province

Three members of the Internal Security Forces were wounded in a clash with an outlaw group in the Ain Shaqaq area of the Jableh countryside, a security source told SANA.

The source said the competent authorities are continuing operations to pursue the fugitives and comb the area to restore security and stability.

The Council of Arab Justice Ministers opened its 41st session Wednesday at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo under the chairmanship of the Sudanese Justice Minister, with the participation of Syria’s delegation led by Justice Minister Mazhar al-Weis.

In his address before the council, convened at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Minister al-Weis stressed Syria’s high priority on reinforcing legal and judicial cooperation with Arab countries, describing it as “a cornerstone for protecting rights, consolidating stability, and confronting common challenges.”

Al-Weis said Syria “continues with determination and confidence its path toward internal peace, strengthening security, uniting its land and people, and combating terrorist organizations and armed groups,” adding that Syria has now regained its rightful place and natural role among its Arab brothers.

He highlighted Syria’s progress in the file of missing persons, saying:
“Syria takes pride in the national institutional work launched recently in this field, in cooperation with official bodies, civil society, and international organizations, to uncover the fate of the missing, achieve transitional justice and accountability, assess damages, and pursue comprehensive national reconciliation.”

The minister explained that independent national bodies were established for this purpose, operating under principles of transparency and respect for human dignity and rights.

Al-Weis also pointed to the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize Syria’s judicial system through capacity-building, infrastructure rehabilitation of courts, and the launch of advanced training programs for judges and prosecutors, alongside expanding the use of digital and judicial technologies.

He emphasized the importance of alternative dispute-resolution methods such as arbitration, mediation, and reconciliation, to reduce court burdens, stating these measures are part of a comprehensive vision aimed at delivering swift justice, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding human rights.

Minister al-Weis thanked the Arab states for their principled stances and continued support for Syria, reaffirming his country’s full readiness to strengthen joint Arab legal and judicial cooperation to build a more efficient, fair, and humane Arab justice system.

The council’s current session discusses key items including implementation of Arab conventions on combating terrorism, the Arab Convention against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, and the Arab Convention on Combating Cybercrimes.
It is also reviewing progress on the Arab Convention against Corruption, the draft Arab Convention on the Status of Refugees, and the Arab Convention on Personal Data Protection.

At a joint press conference Wednesday in Ankara, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aaty reaffirmed his country’s long-standing position calling for full respect of Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and rejection of any actions or interventions that could undermine the country’s stability.

Abdel-Aaty said Egypt looks forward to Syria’s return to its active role within Arab, Islamic and international frameworks, adding that this would be achieved through a comprehensive political process, along with continued efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in a way that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.

While Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington as “an important development in the region,” noting Syria’s growing regional and global importance.
Fidan expressed his country’s welcome for Syria’s participation in the international coalition against (ISIS) and said Turkey will continue to support a vision of Syria free from terrorism, enjoying peace, unity and stability.

And regarding the developments in the Gaza Strip, both ministers stressed the importance of upholding the Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement and moving to the second phase of the plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the need for international mobilization to support reconstruction in Gaza.

The first stage of the Gaza ceasefire agreement entered into effect on October 10, following more than two years of Israeli aggression.

Syrian Arab Airlines General Manager Sameh Arabi announced Wednesday that the airlines will open the Aleppo–Doha route within the next two weeks, followed by scheduled flights to Tripoli, Libya. He said the carrier currently operates from Aleppo to Istanbul, Kuwait, Jeddah, and Dubai.

Arabi made the remarks during a meeting with Aleppo’s tourism director and local travel-agency owners, describing it as “an initiative to strengthen cooperation and establish direct communication channels to listen to the challenges facing tourism and travel offices and work together to find suitable solutions.”

Speaking at a press conference afterward, Arabi noted that Syrian Air plans to restore its main office at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo and that the current fleet of four aircraft will be expanded gradually under a phased growth plan.
He affirmed the airline’s openness to all tourism companies, urging broader partnership to advance Syria’s air transport and tourism sectors — “a step that inspires optimism for a new phase of cooperation to revive travel and air services in Aleppo.”

In comments to SANA, Arabi said the initiative “starts from a national principle before a commercial one,” aiming to build trust with private-sector partners and enhance Aleppo International Airport’s operations “to match those of Damascus International, which now hosts more than five airlines.”

Director of Air Operations at Syrian Airlines Ghazwan Sabbagh said Syrian Air is “working to complete the readiness of all its stations,” noting that Aleppo Airport’s flights now reach about 80 percent of Damascus traffic, with efforts under way to increase aircraft, technical crews, and cabin staff.

Regarding European routes, Sabbagh said operations remain contingent on obtaining the Foreign Operator Certificate, adding that the airline is technically ready and awaiting final procedures.

Aleppo Tourism Director Hassan Sweid affirmed full cooperation to stimulate tourist activity, pointing to a plan to activate information centers inside Aleppo Airport and launch informational brochures highlighting the city’s cultural and historical attractions to visitors.

The Ministry of Information announced Wednesday that the licensing deadline for media outlets operating in Syria has been extended until the end of December this year.

According to a statement published on the ministry’s official Telegram channel, the new deadline applies to media institutions licensed prior to Dec. 8, 2024, which are required to renew their licenses, as well as to institutions that have filed new licensing applications and need additional time to complete their supporting documents.

The ministry emphasized that any outlet failing to meet the new deadline will have its license or application cancelled.
The extension follows a June circular issued by the ministry that required all previously licensed outlets under the Directorate of Licensing to renew their permits within three months, as part of ongoing administrative updates in the national media framework.

The Interior Minister Anas Khattab, accompanied by Hussein al-Salameh, head of the General Intelligence Service, presided over an expanded meeting Wednesday at the Deir ez-Zor Governorate headquarters.
The session gathered Governor Ghassan al-Sayyed Ahmad, the governorate’s executive staff, and several senior officials from the ministry.

In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the Interior Ministry said the meeting focused on key challenges facing local administration and the formulation of effective plans and strategies to consolidate stability in the province.

Minister Khattab stressed the importance of enhancing coordination between security and civil institutions to improve performance and raise efficiency in crisis management, thereby ensuring sustainable security and stability across the region.

As part of efforts to strengthen cultural ties between the Syrian Arab Republic and the State of Qatar, Minister of Culture, Mohammad Yassin Al-Saleh, held an official meeting in Doha with Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Culture of Qatar.

The meeting focused on exploring avenues for cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise in the fields of arts and creativity, reflecting the deep fraternal relations between the two nations.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting joint cultural initiatives and enhancing collaboration between cultural institutions in Syria and Qatar, with the aim of promoting shared civilizational values and fostering cultural dialogue across the region.

The meeting comes within the framework of a visit by a delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Culture to the State of Qatar, responding to an official invitation from the Qatari Ministry of Culture, to participate in the activities of the “Freej Art and Design Festival,” which is considered as one of the most prominent creative platforms.

Health Minister Musab al-Ali said in a meeting with Damascus Industry Chamber on Wednesday that developing pharmaceutical industries is a key pillar of the ministry’s plan, stressing the need to maintain pharmaceutical security —particularly for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, cancers, and autoimmune diseases, who face shortages of specialized medications.

Al-Ali underlined the importance of bridging the gap between local needs and actual market supply, calling for faster registration of pharmaceutical products and the establishment of new factories specialized in medical devices and consumables.
He also urged a re-evaluation of existing plants to improve efficiency and quality standards.

While Mohammad Ayman al-Moulawi, head of the Damascus and Countryside Chamber of Industry affirmed the Chamber’s commitment to developing Syria’s pharmaceutical sector, noting that closer coordination between the ministry and manufacturers could streamline procedures, enhance competitiveness, and better serve national health objectives.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister for Pharmaceutical Affairs, representatives of the Departments of Supply, Pharmaceutical Affairs, Laboratories and pharmaceutical Control, and several senior officials.
According to the ministry, the discussions come within ongoing national efforts to support the domestic pharmaceutical industry and reduce shortages in vital medicines, especially those used for chronic and immune-related illnesses.

The Interior Ministry said Wednesday on its Telegram channel that special units under the Internal Security Command in Latakia “had carried out a qualitative security operation based on precise monitoring and tracking,” which resulted in the capture of Shadi Adnan Agha, a former colonel and commander of the “Liwa al-Quds militia” Jerusalem Brigade during the era of the deposed regime.

According to the Ministry’s statement, initial investigations showed that Agha led several armed operations in different parts of the country, particularly in Aleppo Province, where he headed the operations room for the Nubl and al-Zahraa fronts.

The ministry said those operations caused civilian casualties as a result of systematic shelling carried out by forces under his command.

The criminal has been referred to the competent judicial authorities to complete investigations and face legal proceedings in accordance with Syrian law, the statement added.

The Syrian Ministry of Health signed on Wednesday an agreement with the Syria Recovery Trust Fund aimed at reviving healthcare services in northern Aleppo.

The deal includes reopening medical facilities, installing incinerators for hazardous medical waste, and supplying new ambulances to the region.

The initiative is part of broader reconstruction efforts to restore essential public health services in war-damaged areas and to strengthen emergency response capacity for local communities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Wednesday began his first official visit to the United Kingdom for talks with British officials on bilateral and regional issues.

The minister wrote on X: “Under the guidance of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, we are traveling to the United Kingdom on our first official visit.”

“We carry with us the hopes and aspirations of the Syrian people to build a nation that safeguards the future of our children and generations to come,” the minister added.

Britain lifted sanctions on President Ahmad al-Sharaa last week, following a similar decision by the United Nations Security Council.

The visit comes just two days after President al-Sharaa’s trip to the White House, where he met with U.S. President Donald Trump. In mid-October, he also held talks with the Russian president at the Kremlin.

The Syrian government is intensifying efforts to re-engage with the international community after more than a decade of diplomatic isolation.

Syria and Turkey discussed prospects for cooperation in higher education, universities, and scientific research during a video conference meeting held Wednesday between Syrian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan al-Halabi and Erol Özvar, President of the Turkish Council of Higher Education, with Burhan Kor Oglu, Turkey’s chargé d’affaires in Damascus, in attendance
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The talks focused on academic partnerships, training programs, postgraduate scholarships, and potential joint educational projects between universities in the two countries, as well as the development of existing scientific agreements.

Minister al-Halabi praised the support that Turkey has provided and continues to provide to Syria, noting the joint work in the field of higher education, and affirmed the ministry’s readiness to support any partnership with Turkish universities to raise the level of higher education and strengthen cooperation in postgraduate scholarships, according to statements made during the meeting via video link.

For his part, Özvar expressed the readiness of Turkish universities to receive Syrian postgraduate students sent according to the specializations and needs identified by the ministry, so that they may return to work in Syria. He also pointed to the possibility of establishing joint educational and research centers that could attract researchers and students from around the world, and emphasized the importance of preparing a draft cooperation agreement in the scientific field.

Attending the meeting were Abdul-Hamid al-Khalid, Deputy Minister for Student Affairs; Mohammad Sweid, Deputy Minister for Private Education; and Namir Issa, Director of Cultural Relations at the ministry.
Damascus University announced last week the opening of a Turkish Language Department within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities for the 2025–2026 academic year, a step aimed at building academic and cultural bridges with Turkey. The university said it is coordinating with the Turkish side to host professors from Turkish universities to teach in the new department

Syria is awaiting a UNESCO ruling in early December on the inclusion of Arab Kohl and the traditional men’s cloak (bisht) in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, during the committee’s 20th session in New Delhi.

The additions would raise Syria’s registered heritage elements to nine, alongside Aleppo laurel soap, Aleppine Qudud music, and shadow theater.

The Ministry of Culture says this move strengthens Syria’s cultural presence globally, while national projects continue to document traditions across all Syrian provinces.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MOH) in Gaza said on Wednesday that three bodies and four injured people were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours.

The ministry said in its daily report that Gaza hospitals received three bodies retrieved from under rubble, while four new casualties were received due to Israeli attacks. Rescue teams remain unable to reach victims trapped under rubble and in the streets due to the relentless Israeli assault, the report added.

Since the ceasefire of October 11, 2025, the ministry has recorded 245 deaths and 627 injuries. Overall, the toll from Israel’s offensive since October 2023 has risen to 69,185 killed and 170,698 wounded, according to the MOH.

The 36th Annual Scientific Conference of the Syrian Gastroenterology Society opened Wednesday at Damascus University, in cooperation with the Syrian Doctors’ Syndicate, with the participation of more than 150 physicians from inside and outside the country.

Society President Majed Sharbek said the conference serves as an annual scientific forum for exchanging expertise and enriching the professional knowledge of Syrian doctors. At the same time, Conference Chairman Dr. Mazen Battah noted that the event presents the latest developments in gastroenterology and strengthens cooperation among specialists to enhance healthcare quality.

The two-day program includes over 50 lectures on liver diseases, endoscopic innovations, inflammatory bowel disorders, pancreatic conditions, and endoscopic interventions for obesity, alongside a medical exhibition featuring the latest equipment and local pharmaceutical products.

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Republican Senator Jim Risch, and committee member, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, have reaffirmed their support for repealing the Caesar Act, citing progress in U.S.-Syria relations.

In a statement on the committee’s official website, the senators welcomed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Capitol Hill for talks on the future of U.S.-Syria relations.

They praised Syria’s emergence as a “constructive partner” and backed efforts to repeal the sanctions imposed by the previous regime. The statement highlighted bipartisan momentum in Congress to pass legislation that would fully revoke Caesar Act sanctions, noting that Syria’s current trajectory could inspire confidence among policymakers and investors.

The senators added that President al-Sharaa pledged cooperation in combating ISIS, which falls within U.S. interests, and said they would continue monitoring Syria’s efforts to dismantle chemical weapons and combat drug trafficking.

Earlier this month, Senator Risch reiterated on X (formerly Twitter) that he is working with fellow lawmakers and President Donald Trump to lift sanctions “so Syria can become a safe and prosperous partner for the United States.”

Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the Syrian government for offering assistance to help extinguish wildfires across Lebanon, describing the gesture as a reflection of the spirit of solidarity between the two neighboring countries.

The Lebanese National News Agency quoted Mitri as saying in a post on X: “Thanks to the Syrian officials who contacted us and offered the Ministry of Emergency Management’s help in extinguishing the fires. This kind initiative reflects the spirit of solidarity that characterizes the relationship between Syria and Lebanon.”

According to Lebanon’s Civil Defense Directorate, firefighting teams have been battling blazes in several areas since November 10. The fires, it said, were fueled by Israeli airstrikes that targeted parts of Nabatieh and Baalbek governorates, as well as by dry weather conditions that contributed to the spread of flames.