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First international flight lands in Syria since overthrow of Assad

By
IFP Media Wire
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The flight from Qatar landed around 1pm at Damascus International Airport, according to AFP correspondents, the first from the Gulf state in 13 years.

A Syrian Airlines flight also took off for Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, at around 11:45am.

“Today marks a new beginning,” airport director Anis Fallouh told AFP.

“We have started to welcome international flights taking off and landing in Damascus.”

Syria’s planes have been repainted to reflect the new national flag that has replaced the Baathist one used under Assad.

This is the first international commercial flight since 8 December, the date Damascus was captured by armed groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Syria’s new administration has been pushing to end the country’s isolation amid continuing concerns over governance and HTS’s former links to al-Qaeda.

During a visit to Qatar on Sunday, Syria’s new foreign minister said US sanctions imposed during the former government were hindering the country’s ability to recover swiftly from years of conflict and called on Washington to lift them.

“These sanctions constitute a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery and development of the Syrian people who await services and partnerships from other countries,” Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said after meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister.

On Monday, the US announced that it would be softening some sanctions on Syria, with the Treasury issuing a general licence lasting six months authorising some transactions, including energy sales and incidental transactions.

The Treasury said that the move did not constitute the lifting of the sanctions, but was meant to ensure they “do not impede activities to meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance”.

Shibani’s first foreign trip was to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, where he met with Saudi officials to discuss ways to support Syria’s political transition.

The Syrian foreign minister will also visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan later this week.

Iran holds commemoration ceremony for victims of Ukrainian flight 752

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The event was attended by Saeed Ohadi, Head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs; Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs; and Fatemeh Mohajerani, Government Spokesperson.

Speaking at the ceremony, Saeed Ohadi recalled his interaction with some of the victims at a mourning ceremony for the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH), in Toronto in 2018.

“Zeynab Asadi Lari, Mohammad Hossein Asadi Lari, and Mohammad Amin Jebelli were present at that event, shedding tears, unaware that two years later, they would no longer be with us,” he said.

Ohadi emphasized, “God has stated not to think martyrs are absent among us. Although we struggle with worldly matters, the martyrs rejoice in the divine blessings and grace bestowed upon them.”

The tragic crash of a Ukrainian Boeing 737 on January 8, 2020, claimed 176 lives, including 148 Iranians, 10 Afghans, and 18 other nationals over the sky of Tehran. Several victims, are laid to rest in the courtyard of Imamzadeh Saleh, in northern Tehran, where the commemoration ceremony was held.

Iranian FM stresses powerful presence of Resistance Front in West Asia

By
IFP Media Wire
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Abbas Araghchi

On Tuesday, in remarks made on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian anti-terrorism icon, Araqchi said that the school of thought of General Soleimani is one of resistance, established by the wise leadership of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and transformed into the Resistance Front.

The top Iranian diplomat pointed out that the Resistance Front continues to maintain a powerful presence in the region and confronts the Zionist regime and the domination forces.

He pointed to recent developments in the Middle East, emphasizing that the Resistance Front has experienced a growing trend throughout its existence. Enemies should not think that the resistance has weakened due to the blows they have inflicted.

The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that undoubtedly, the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon will become stronger and more fruitful after the martyrdom of its late leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Araqchi mentioned field developments, diplomacy, and media as three pillars of the Resistance School, adding these elements complement each other and must work together.

He warned that enemies seek to create despair and frustration among the people and emphasized that the resistance will remain strong in the region.

Trump’s Ukraine aide postpones visit to Kyiv until after inauguration: Reuters

By
IFP Media Wire
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Keith Kellogg

According to the sources who spoke to Reuters, the new date has not yet been set, and it was not immediately clear as to why the trip was postponed.

President Volodymyr Zelensky previously confirmed to journalists in Brussels on Dec. 19 that Kellogg would visit Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration in January, according to a Kyiv Independent reporter.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi stated on Dec. 20 that Ukraine and the US had initially reached a preliminary agreement on the date of a visit to Kyiv by Kellogg — although that date was never publicly revealed.

Reuters reported on Dec. 18 that Kellogg planned to visit Kyiv and several European capitals before Trump takes office on Jan. 20 as part of the new administration’s effort to address Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

Sources confirmed on Jan. 6 that Kellogg remains committed to visiting other European capitals, including Rome and Paris.

Kellogg, a former national security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, is a known figure to Ukraine and “has maintained close ties… in recent years” with Kyiv, Tykhyi noted on Nov. 28.

Trump has pledged to quickly bring an end to the war but has not provided details on how he plans to do it.

Zelensky recently stressed that the country must do everything possible to end the war through diplomatic means in 2025, adding that a war would “end faster” under a Trump administration.

Ukrainian military says fends off almost 100 Russian attacks in a day in Kursk Oblast

By
IFP Media Wire
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Russia Ukraine War

This represents nearly half of the skirmishes over the past day, as the military reported 218 clashes across the front.

On Jan. 5, Ukraine launched renewed offensive operations in the Russian region, which is seen as crucial for any possible peace negotiations.

The Russian Defense Ministry alleged on Jan. 6 that the Ukrainian advance was halted and that Ukraine’s primary units were destroyed near Berdin, a settlement along a road leading northeast to the city of Kursk.

Ukraine has not commented on the claims and provided limited information on the operation.

The US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) announced that between Jan. 5 and 6, Ukrainian forces advanced in southern Berdin, central Russkoye Porechnoye, and central Novosotnitsky, all northeast of Sudzha, a key Ukraine-held town in the region.

The ISW analysts speculated that these attacks “may be the beginning stages of a concerted Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast or elsewhere in the theater”.

In the meantime, Russian forces took advantage of Ukrainian activity to attack elsewhere in the Kursk Oblast salient, apparently advancing west of Malaya Loknya, according to the ISW.

Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale operation in Kursk Oblast in early August, allegedly capturing up to 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian soil. Since then, Russia has deployed reinforcements — including North Korean soldiers — in the area and reportedly retook around half of the lost territory.

Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Jan. 6 that Ukrainian positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast could play an important role in possible talks with Russia.

Prospects of negotiations in 2025 are hotly discussed amid U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s pledges to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table.

US transfers several prisoners from Guantánamo Bay to Oman

By
IFP Media Wire
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Guantánamo Bay

The 11 prisoners were Yemeni nationals, according to the Defense Department, and their transfer to the country of Oman brings the detainee population at the site down to just 15 people.

President Joe Biden has continued the mission of the Barack Obama administration to transfer prisoners out and wind down operations at the site that has become infamous for accusations of torture and abuse as the US carried out the war on terrorism.

The Pentagon also announced a detainee transfer to Tunisia in December, but it’s unclear if Biden intends to bring down the population even further before he leaves office.

Several inmates are likely to remain for now, including the alleged 9/11 mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, known as KSM, and four of his conspirators. Including KSM, four of the five are set to stand trial beginning this week.

The US announced plea deals for KSM and three conspirators last year, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked them. Last week, a military appeals court ruled that Austin did not have the authority to revoke the plea deals, which included life sentences for KSM and the three conspirators.

The transfers this week were authorized for one detainee, Tawfiq Nasir Awad Al-Bihani, by an executive order signed by then-President Obama in 2009. The others were authorized by a review board.

“Although different processes, each of the 10 Yemeni detainees underwent a thorough, interagency review by career professionals who unanimously determined all detainees as transfer eligible consistent with the national security interests of the United States,” the Pentagon announced in a release.

One of the detainees transferred was Sharqawi Al Hajj, 51, who spent 21 years at Guantánamo Bay despite never being charged with a crime and who was hospitalized after undergoing a hunger strike in 2017.

Hajj was represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Pardiss Kebriaei, a senior staff attorney at the legal foundation, stated his thoughts were with Hajj as he “transitions to the free world after almost 23 years in captivity.”

“His release is hopeful for him and for us,” Kebriaei said in a statement.

“We are grateful to Oman and to the individuals in the administration who made this transfer happen, and to the many people over the years whose work and advocacy paved the way for this moment,” Kebriaei added.

The legal foundation said Hajj was one of 119 victims named in a Senate Intelligence report on the CIA’s alleged abuses, and that he spent more than two years at the CIA’s sites before transferring to Guantánamo Bay in 2004.

Of the 15 men still at the Cuba site, six have never been charged, three of whom are awaiting release while the other three waiting for clearance, according to the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Lalejin: The enchanting ceramics capital of Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The historic city, adorned with the title “Global City of Pottery” or the “Ceramics Capital,” owes its renown to the tireless dedication of its artisans.

For over seven millennia, the tradition of pottery has been the lifeblood of Lalejin.

In the past, this city was not just a center of ceramic creation but a beacon of culture in the Middle East. The clay here, once mere dirt, is transformed through skilled hands into beautiful vessels that tell stories of human creativity and resilience.

Find more the mesmerizing art in the pictures:

Iran’s export confederation chief emphasizes need for FATF compliance

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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FATF

In an interview with IRNA news agency, Mohammad Lahooti highlighted that the current administration is determined to resolve issues related to Iran’s inclusion in the FATF.

He pointed out that although sanctions have adversely affected the economy and foreign trade, being on the FATF blacklist is an even more significant challenge.

He also warned that failure to join the FATF could lead to losing key trade partners like Russia and China, as the countries conduct substantial trade with Europe and the US and are cautious about FATF regulations.

Lahooti noted that without resolving the issue, financial and trade interactions with other countries would become increasingly difficult and the situation would force Iran to rely on costly and less competitive methods to circumvent sanctions.

He also mentioned that the Iranian Leader has approved the review of the Palermo and CFT conventions, the two sticking points for Iran, by the Expediency Council, which had been stalled since 2019.

President Massoud Pezeshkian has committed to facilitating financial and trade relations globally, emphasizing the urgency of FATF compliance for economic stability.

US stresses Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

By
IFP Media Wire
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United States envoy Amos Hochstein

Hochstein’s remarks came after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut during a two-day visit to discuss Israel’s cease-fire agreement with Lebanon.

Speaking to reporters, Hochstein noted that before meeting Berri, he attended the third monitoring mechanism session for the cessation of hostilities in Naqoura in southern Lebanon.

His statements follow a warning by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who threatened to revoke the cease-fire agreement with Hezbollah unless the group withdraws beyond the Litani River.

On Sunday, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported, citing unnamed sources, that Israel is preparing to extend its stay in Lebanon well beyond the agreed 60 days. According to the sources, the Israeli military deems it necessary to remain in certain military positions for at least 90 days.

The broadcaster also noted that Israel is expected to inform the US that it will not withdraw from south Lebanon at the end of the cease-fire period, claiming that “the Lebanese army is not meeting the agreement’s conditions and Hezbollah is regrouping in the area.”

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a fragile cease-fire has been in place, ending a series of mutual attacks between Israel and Hezbollah that began on Oct. 8, 2023 and escalated into a full-scale war on Sept. 23, 2024.

The agreement’s key provisions include Israel’s gradual withdrawal to south of the Blue Line over 60 days and the deployment of the Lebanese army and security forces along the border, crossings and southern regions.

Hochstein said, “The Israeli military started its withdrawal from Naqoura…and back into Israel proper today, south of the Blue Line.”

“These withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are out of Lebanon completely, and as the Lebanese army continues to deploy into the south and all the way to the Blue Line,” he added.

He acknowledged the challenges.

“This is not an easy process; it is complex. The Lebanese army is implementing the agreement by deploying in the south as the sole authority ensuring security for its people, allowing southern residents to return to their homes.”

The Lebanese parliament speaker’s office announced that Berri discussed the general situation and political and field developments, highlighting Israel’s continued violations of the cease-fire agreement during his meeting with Hochstein.

According to the agreement, Lebanese forces are to be the sole armed entity in the south of the country, with all unauthorized military infrastructure dismantled and weapons confiscated. However, the agreement maintains Israel and Lebanon’s inherent right to self-defense.

According to official Lebanese reports, 398 Israeli violations have been recorded since the cease-fire agreement was signed, resulting in 32 fatalities and 38 injuries.

The Israeli assault on Lebanon has claimed 4,063 lives and injured 16,663, including many women and children. The conflict also displaced approximately 1.4 million people, with most casualties and displacements occurring after the escalation on Sept. 23, 2024.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has also demanded a clear timetable Monday for completing Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon before a 60-day deadline expires, emphasizing that any talk of Israel extending the cease-fire period is “categorically unacceptable”.

Mikati’s remarks came during his meeting with Hochstein in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency.

The agency reported that Mikati discussed the progress made since the announcement of the security arrangements related to the cease-fire.

Mikati reiterated his call for “a clear timetable for completing Israel’s withdrawal before the 60-day deadline”, according to the agency.

He warned that “continued violations and talk of extending Israel’s presence under the cease-fire are entirely unacceptable”.

“We place these developments before the nations that brokered the agreement and the committee tasked with overseeing its implementation,” the agency quoted him as saying.

The prime minister reiterated calls to “end Israeli security violations of the cease-fire, halt ongoing assaults on southern towns, stop systematic destruction of homes and infrastructure, and cease violations of Lebanese airspace”.

Yemen’s Houthis claim to have targeted US aircraft carrier, several spots in Israel

By
IFP Media Wire
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Yemen Houthi

In a televised speech, he claimed that the operation took place north of the Red Sea while the US military was preparing to launch a major air attack against Yemen. He said the Houthi attack stifled the US military’s planned operation.

Saree also stated the armed forces carried out two military operations this afternoon. The first targeted a “military target” linked to the Israeli military in the area around Tel Aviv with two drones. He added that a further drone had targeted the same area this evening.

A drone was also launched at a target in Ashkelon in southern Israel.

He noted the operations “successfully achieved their objectives”.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched nearly 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, actions they say are in solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 45,500 people and wounded over 108,000 Palestinians.

The Houthis have stressed they will stop their attacks if Israel’s war on Gaza stops.

Despite attacks by the United States, Britain and Israel on Yemeni territory, the Houthi military operations have continued unabated.

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