December 9, 2024

Read less 146 UpdatesAuto-updates Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/8/syria-war-live-news-opposition-groups-say-al-assad-rule-is-over

Pakistan embassy in Syria open for support and advice, says FO spokespersonForeign Office on Sunday confirmed that all Pakistani nationals were safe in Syria and were advised to exercise caution as the country grapples with worsening turmoil following the lightning offensive by rebels that resulted in the ouster of President Bashar-al Assad. Almost 250 Pakistani pilgrims have been stranded in turmoil-hit country as flights to Lahore and other cities have been cancelled by the airlines. In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “We are closely monitoring the evolving situation in Syria.” She said that the Pakistan embassy in Syria was open for support and advice. “As of now Damascus Airport is closed. Our embassy remains in contact with stranded Pakistani nationals including Zaireen. It will facilitate their return once the airport opens.” She further said that Pakistan had always supported unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, and there was no change in its principled position. Dar, Turkey’s FM hold telephonic conversation In addition to this, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held telephonic conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the unfolding situation in Syria. During the telephonic conversation, the deputy PM shared the details of the efforts made by the Pakistan’s government for the safety and security of its nationals in Syria. They also discussed possible cooperation between the two countries for the safety of the Pakistan nationals. On the other hand, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia and have been granted asylum by the Russian authorities, Russian news agencies reported, citing a Kremlin source. The Interfax news agency quoted the unnamed source as saying: “President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds.” In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said: “We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means,” the statement said. “In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition.” It said Russia’s military bases in Syria had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time. It said it was also doing all it could to ensure the safety of Russian citizens in Syria, whom the embassy on Friday advised to leave the country. The Russian Embassy in Damascus told the state TASS news agency on Sunday that its staff were “fine”. Meanwhile, Syrian rebels announced a curfew in Damascus starting 4pm local time until 5am. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1259567-all-pakistani-nationals-stranded-in-syria-safe-says-foreign-office

Israeli air attacks in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 16 Palestinians in separate attacks in the central part of the enclave. Five members of one family, including children, were killed in an attack on a camp for displaced people in Deir el-Balah in the early hours of Sunday as they slept. “We woke up to a loud explosion in the middle of the night,” said Mahmoud Fayad, an eyewitness. “We ran to the loud screams and found many civilians killed; and entire family, man, wife and their children.” Dozens of others were injured in the attack, according to Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud. “Many people in the vicinity of the tent site were reported with various injuries,” said Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah. “The overnight attack highlights the vulnerability of displaced civilians inside these tents.” Then, later on Sunday, at least 11 people were killed in an Israeli air attack on a residential house in al-Bureij camp. Abu Azzoum said that he “personally saw bodies… shredded to pieces” as they arrived at Deir el-Balah’s al-Aqsa Hospital, adding that they had been gathered in bags used for flour because of a lack of coffins. Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that more than 44,708 Palestinians have been killed and 106,050 injured in Israel’s war on Gaza since October of last year. Several people were injured overnight in “drone attacks on residential areas” to the east of Gaza City, Mahmoud reported. Meanwhile, Israel’s siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza is continuing, with Palestinian health officials reporting on Sunday that Israeli forces had shelled the hospital, damaging electricity and oxygen pumps and disrupting urgent surgeries. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the hospital, which is one of only three barely operational in the north of the enclave, said the facility was hit by around 100 tank shells and bombs, wounding several of the medical staff and patients. “The situation is extremely dangerous. We have patients in the intensive care unit and others awaiting surgeries. Access to the operating rooms is only possible after restoring electricity and oxygen supply,” Abu Safia said in a statement. The hospital is treating 112 wounded people, including six in the intensive care unit, he said. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about Abu Safia’s account. “Israeli forces are about 500 metres [1,650 feet] away from the gate of the hospital and set up a sniper position that keeps targeting people and any moving objects inside the hospital,” Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud reported, adding that there was a heavy presence of drones and quadcopters in the skies above the facility. On Friday, Israeli forces killed about 30 people when they stormed the Kamal Adwan Hospital under cover of heavy artillery fire and air attacks, according to Eid Sabbah, the hospital’s director of nursing. To justify its actions, Israel claims Hamas fighters are using civilian buildings, including hospitals and schools, for operational cover throughout the 14-month Gaza war. Hamas, the Palestinian group that runs the Gaza Strip, has denied this and accuses Israel of indiscriminate bombings and assaults. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/8/israeli-attack-on-gaza-camp-kills-five-displaced-family-members