live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
Saudi Arabia and Qatar will provide joint financial support for Syrian state employees, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced during a visit to Damascus, as regional efforts to support Syria’s reconstruction gain momentum.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said on Saturday that Riyadh and Doha will jointly extend financial assistance to support state employees in Syria, marking a significant shift in regional engagement with Damascus.
"The kingdom will provide with Qatar joint financial support to state employees in Syria," Bin Farhan stated at a press conference in Damascus alongside his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani. While specific figures were not disclosed, the move mirrors earlier Qatari efforts to underwrite Syria’s public sector wages.
The announcement comes just weeks after the United States unexpectedly lifted economic sanctions on Syria’s Islamist-led government, which came to power following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad in December. U.S. President Donald Trump, during his recent Middle East visit, credited the decision to a request by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose country has been a strong advocate for re-engaging with Damascus.
The European Union also recently lifted its economic sanctions on Syria, further opening the door for regional powers to assist the war-torn nation’s recovery.
Prince Faisal emphasized Saudi Arabia’s instrumental role in lobbying for the easing of international restrictions on Syria and reaffirmed Riyadh’s long-term commitment to supporting the country’s reconstruction and economic revival.
He also revealed that he was accompanied by a high-level Saudi economic delegation in Damascus for talks aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation. "Several visits will follow in the coming days by Saudi businessmen to Syria to discuss investments in energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and other sectors," he said.
The financial support initiative and accompanying visits mark a new chapter in Saudi-Syrian relations and reflect a broader regional shift toward reintegrating Syria into the Arab and international community after years of isolation.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
The suspension of two major grain terminals in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk could increase pressure on Kazakhstan’s agricultural market if Russian exporters divert supplies to Central Asia at discounted prices.
Georgia’s Prime Minister says the EU’s inclusion of a major Black Sea cable project on a key infrastructure list is fresh evidence of the country’s importance to regional energy and digital connectivity.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has dismissed Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan and appointed former parliament speaker Alen Simonyan as his replacement.
Central Asia’s economy has surpassed $543 billion, driven by Kazakhstan’s economic weight, strong exports and foreign investment, while growing trade across Asia points to an increasingly connected region.
The United Nations refugee agency is planning a settlement and carpet-weaving workshop for Afghan returnees in Kabul as the country grapples with large-scale returns and growing pressure on housing, jobs and basic services.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment