Syrian refugees return home after 13 years of civil war
On February 11, refugees from Syria's 13-year civil war began to return home after the opposition appointed an interim prime minister
Earlier, Al Jazeera reported on December 10 that the Syrian opposition had appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as interim prime minister to lead the transitional government until March 1, 2025.
After a brutal 13-year civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, rebuilding Syria will be a huge task when it comes to overcoming the severe economic downturn under the Assad regime, as well as solving the livelihoods of the people.
As many European countries suspend accepting asylum applications from Syria, some of its citizens seeking asylum in Turkey and others have begun to return to their homeland.
On the same day, Ala Jabeer, a Syrian refugee, burst into tears on the way from the Turkish border to return to Syria with his 10-year-old daughter, after 13 years away from the country.
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Speaking to Reuters, the person said the most important reason he chose to return was to reunite with his mother who lives in Latakia.
The collapse of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad seems to offer a bright glimmer of hope to the painful war that Syria has endured for more than a decade.
In the capital, Damascus, banks and shops have resumed operations since December 9. Traffic went on as usual, with fewer soldiers carrying weapons on the road
In response to the news that the opposition has appointed a new interim prime minister, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the new government must "make a clear commitment to fully respecting the rights of minorities, facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and at the same time prevent the possibility of Syria being used as a terrorist base or threatening neighboring countries."
Reuters quoted US deputy national security adviser Jon Finer as saying that Washington is planning foreign policies towards the Syrian opposition. However, the White House has not yet approved this official change.
Israel begins to withdraw its troops from Lebanon
Israeli troops have left a town in southern Lebanon to return home, beginning the process of withdrawing troops under a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.
The Lebanese army announced on December 11 that it had begun deploying forces to the town of Khiam in the south of the country in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), after Israeli forces withdrew.
The Lebanese military warned the country's residents not to go near the town until they had finished clearing the remaining explosives.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later confirmed that its 7th Armoured Brigade had "finished its mission" in Khiam. The IDF said it was still maintaining troops in other areas in southern Lebanon and would continue to work against the threats.
Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), was there to oversee Israel's first withdrawal. "This is an important first step in the implementation of a long-term ceasefire and lays the foundation for further steps," Kurilla said. CENTCOM is the U.S. military's operational unit in the Middle East.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the deployment of his country's troops in Khiam was an important move to increase the Lebanese army's presence in the south under the ceasefire agreement. "We welcome the military's efforts to establish stability in the south," Mikati said.
Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has been going on almost daily since fighting in the Gaza Strip broke out in early October 2023. The armed group attacked the enemy to show support for its Hamas ally in the Gaza Strip, prompting Tel Aviv to strike back.
Israel began intensifying its air strikes in Lebanon on September 23, mainly targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the east, south of the country and the area south of the capital Beirut, then sending troops into the territory of the neighboring country. Israel carried out multiple airstrikes to kill the Hezbollah leader and a series of high-ranking members.
At the end of November, Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States and France. The agreement stipulates that Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon within 60 days, while Hezbollah ends its armed presence south of the Litani River, about 29 kilometers from the border with Israel.
