Syria’s new rulers crack down on alleged Assad loyalist militias
Syria’s new government said it deployed dozens of soldiers in the Damascus suburb of Adra on Monday in search of alleged militiamen loyal to ousted president Bashar Assad, with military police vehicles seen transporting detainees.
“A security campaign was carried out in Adra town which led to the arrest of the militia leaders in the area,” said Abu Yaarub, a security official who did not give his full name in accordance with regulations.
He added that five top militiamen were detained.
Clashes erupted last week in several cities across Syria between Assad supporters and the new government, which is led by Islamist rebels.
Since Mr Assad’s fall, dozens of Syrians have been killed in acts of revenge, according to activists and monitors, the vast majority of them from the minority Alawite community, to which Mr Assad belongs.
Also on Monday, Ukraine’s foreign minister met Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus, days after Kyiv announced the delivery of a large shipment of wheat flour to the country following the ousting of Mr Assad, Russia’s ally.
Syria is gradually shifting away from Iran and Russia and rekindling ties with Western and Gulf Arab nations that had opposed Mr Assad’s rule, as well as Turkey, which backed opposition forces during the civil war.
Upon my directions, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister @Andrii_Sybiha paid a visit to Damascus together with Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food @vkoval8.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 30, 2024
The Ukrainian delegation held important talks with the Syrian administration, leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa and ministers. We support the…
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country will send 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria through the UN World Food Programme to help improve the country’s food security and economic crisis.
About 90% of Syrians live in poverty, according to the UN.
“The Ukrainian delegation held important talks with the Syrian administration, leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa and ministers. We support the Syrian people in overcoming decades of dictatorial rule and restoring stability, security, and normal life in Syria,” Mr Zelensky wrote on X.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he hopes “that a new Syria would become a country that respects international law”. He said Ukraine is ready to share its experience in gathering evidence and conducting investigations to hold war criminals accountable.
“The Russian and Assad regimes supported each other because their foundation is violence and torture,” he said.
Also on Monday Syria, appointed its first female interim Central Bank governor, as the country navigates through recovering its battered economy after the downfall of the Assad dynasty’s rule.
Maysaa Sabreen is the second woman appointed in a leadership role under Ahmad al-Sharaa and his Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led Mr Assad’s ousting in an offensive in early December.
Ms Sabreen had served as the Central Bank’s first deputy governor.