Russia withdraws diplomatic staff in Syria; The U.S. explores how to shake hands with the Syrian reg
The leader of the HTS force has just won a meeting with the UN special envoy in Syria; The Israeli leader talks to Trump about the situation in the Middle East.
Russia evacuates some diplomatic staff from Syria
Reuters news agency quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying on December 15 that the country had just evacuated a number of diplomatic personnel from the Syrian capital Damascus. The diplomats left Syria on a special air force flight, which took off from the Khmeimim military base.
Not only Russian diplomats, but also Belarusian and North Korean diplomats. Earlier, RIA news agency quoted the Belarusian Foreign Ministry as saying that the country had evacuated all diplomatic staff from Syria.
For the first time, the United States admitted contact with the opposition in Syria
As for Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Crisis Situations confirmed on Telegram that "the work of the Russian Embassy in Damascus will continue."
On December 15, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed to his British counterpart David Lammy that Washington supports "a responsible and representative government" for Syria. The U.S. State Department statement stated: "The Secretary of State underscored the U.S. support for a responsible and representative government chosen by the Syrian people."
Syrian media reported on December 15 that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Shara had a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Damascus on the same day to discuss the political transition in the Middle Eastern country.
According to al-Watan Online, Al-Shara, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, said the political transition in Syria needs to be internationally recognized in line with the current realities in the country, and called for a "new approach" that is in line with Syria's new leadership and changing circumstances.
On December 15, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the government had unanimously approved an $11 million plan to increase the population of the Golan Heights.
The statement said Netanyahu laid out the plan "in the context of the war and the opening of a new front against Syria, and to fulfill his desire to double the population of the Golan region."
The statement quoted Netanyahu as saying: "Strengthening the Golan is also strengthening the State of Israel. That is very important at the moment. We will still hold this land, make the land 'bloom' and settle here." Israel controlled most of Syria's Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967, and in 1981 declared it annexed to its territory.
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