Russia and the United States clashed at the United Nations on Tuesday, accusing each other of supporting terrorism during a Security Council meeting convened over a sudden escalation of fighting in Syria.
Syrian rebels captured Aleppo last week in an attack initiated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Formerly known as the Nusra Front, it was al Qaeda's official wing in Syria until breaking ties in 2016. It is sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood called for a de-escalation of the fighting in Syria and the protection of civilians. He also expressed concern that the rebel offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
"The fact that HTS is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and U.N. does not justify the further atrocities by the Assad regime and its Russian backers," said Wood, accusing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces and Russia of causing civilian casualties in attacks on schools and hospitals.
In remarks directed at Wood, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: "You were unable to summon the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack undertaken against peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities."
"There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism," he said. "To be frank we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you."
Wood responded by accusing Nebenzia of being in "no position to lecture us on this issue" because Moscow "props up regimes that sponsor terrorism around the world."
"The United States has for decades fought the scourge of terrorism and will continue to fight that scourge of terrorism," he said.
At least 11 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed when gunfire erupted at an illegal bar in Pretoria, with police launching a manhunt fo...
Qatar opened the Doha Forum with a stark warning that Gaza ceasefire talks have entered a critical moment, as officials said the current pause in figh...
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, has highlighted Baku’s commitment to advancing long-term peace in the Sout...
America's new National Security Strategy marks a sharp turn away from global policeman ambitions, revives a modern Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemi...
The European Union’s newly adopted Partnership Agenda with Armenia has prompted strong concern in Baku, where officials say several passages depart ...
A railway hub near Kyiv was struck during a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault, damaging the depot and railway carriages, the Ukrainian state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia reported on Saturday.
The 32nd Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial meeting in Vienna exposed a sharp divergence between governance priorities in Brussels and Tbilisi.
December 2025 promises a month full of transformative moments, from significant legal releases and international meetings to cultural milestones and controversial elections. Here’s a look at the key stories set to unfold.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on Friday to expand and diversify trade beyond oil and defence despite Western pressure on New Delhi to scale back its decades-old close ties with Moscow.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
At least 11 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed when gunfire erupted at an illegal bar in Pretoria, with police launching a manhunt for three unidentified suspects.
Qatar opened the Doha Forum with a stark warning that Gaza ceasefire talks have entered a critical moment, as officials said the current pause in fighting cannot yet be described as a lasting halt to hostilities.
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, has highlighted Baku’s commitment to advancing long-term peace in the South Caucasus after taking part in a dedicated panel at the 23rd Doha Forum.
America's new National Security Strategy marks a sharp turn away from global policeman ambitions, revives a modern Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere and recasts China, Europe and long standing alliances through a bluntly transactional lens.
The European Union’s newly adopted Partnership Agenda with Armenia has prompted strong concern in Baku, where officials say several passages depart from factual accuracy and introduce political messages that could damage an already fragile negotiation environment.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment