00:38Mandatory credit: Syrian Presidency
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad instructed the country’s newly-appointed government to take urgent action to ‘stand with’ the people of Lebanon, whom he referred to as ‘brothers’.
This comes amid escalating Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, as well as last week’s Beirut blast and series of wireless device explosions which have left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
Chairing a meeting after the swearing-in of the new cabinet on Tuesday evening, Assad told ministers that: "Fate and circumstances decreed to embark on your tasks while our brethren in Lebanon are being viciously attacked by Zionists."
"During the first hours of your duties, and within these hours and days, the key topic now and above all others should be: What steps can we take to promptly stand with our brothers in Lebanon in all fields and sectors, without any exceptions," he urged.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday the launch of a broader military operation dubbed 'Operation Northern Arrows' in which it conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, warning civilians to evacuate settlements in southern regions and the Bekaa Valley.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Minister of Health, Firas al-Abiad updated its death toll for Israel’s latest operation to 558, including 50 children and 94 women.
The strikes have caused tens of thousands of residents in affected areas to flee towards the capital Beirut and the country’s border with Syria.
The conflict escalated over the past week following the mass explosions of pagers and handheld radios used by Hezbollah and an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut which killed the group’s senior commander Ibrahim Aqil, along with 60 others. On Sunday morning, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on areas near the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The Israeli army has been exchanging cross-border shelling with Hezbollah, Lebanese and Palestinian factions since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Syrian air defences reportedly intercepted suspected Israeli missiles and drones over the country’s coastal region on Tuesday, causing damage. Israel has not commented on the matter.
Syria’s Assad calls for urgent action by new government to ‘stand with our brothers in Lebanon’ over ‘relentless crimes’ of ‘Zionists’
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad instructed the country’s newly-appointed government to take urgent action to ‘stand with’ the people of Lebanon, whom he referred to as ‘brothers’.
This comes amid escalating Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, as well as last week’s Beirut blast and series of wireless device explosions which have left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
Chairing a meeting after the swearing-in of the new cabinet on Tuesday evening, Assad told ministers that: "Fate and circumstances decreed to embark on your tasks while our brethren in Lebanon are being viciously attacked by Zionists."
"During the first hours of your duties, and within these hours and days, the key topic now and above all others should be: What steps can we take to promptly stand with our brothers in Lebanon in all fields and sectors, without any exceptions," he urged.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday the launch of a broader military operation dubbed 'Operation Northern Arrows' in which it conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, warning civilians to evacuate settlements in southern regions and the Bekaa Valley.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Minister of Health, Firas al-Abiad updated its death toll for Israel’s latest operation to 558, including 50 children and 94 women.
The strikes have caused tens of thousands of residents in affected areas to flee towards the capital Beirut and the country’s border with Syria.
The conflict escalated over the past week following the mass explosions of pagers and handheld radios used by Hezbollah and an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut which killed the group’s senior commander Ibrahim Aqil, along with 60 others. On Sunday morning, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on areas near the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The Israeli army has been exchanging cross-border shelling with Hezbollah, Lebanese and Palestinian factions since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Syrian air defences reportedly intercepted suspected Israeli missiles and drones over the country’s coastal region on Tuesday, causing damage. Israel has not commented on the matter.
Mandatory credit: Syrian Presidency
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad instructed the country’s newly-appointed government to take urgent action to ‘stand with’ the people of Lebanon, whom he referred to as ‘brothers’.
This comes amid escalating Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, as well as last week’s Beirut blast and series of wireless device explosions which have left hundreds dead and thousands injured.
Chairing a meeting after the swearing-in of the new cabinet on Tuesday evening, Assad told ministers that: "Fate and circumstances decreed to embark on your tasks while our brethren in Lebanon are being viciously attacked by Zionists."
"During the first hours of your duties, and within these hours and days, the key topic now and above all others should be: What steps can we take to promptly stand with our brothers in Lebanon in all fields and sectors, without any exceptions," he urged.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday the launch of a broader military operation dubbed 'Operation Northern Arrows' in which it conducted extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, warning civilians to evacuate settlements in southern regions and the Bekaa Valley.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Minister of Health, Firas al-Abiad updated its death toll for Israel’s latest operation to 558, including 50 children and 94 women.
The strikes have caused tens of thousands of residents in affected areas to flee towards the capital Beirut and the country’s border with Syria.
The conflict escalated over the past week following the mass explosions of pagers and handheld radios used by Hezbollah and an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut which killed the group’s senior commander Ibrahim Aqil, along with 60 others. On Sunday morning, Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on areas near the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The Israeli army has been exchanging cross-border shelling with Hezbollah, Lebanese and Palestinian factions since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Syrian air defences reportedly intercepted suspected Israeli missiles and drones over the country’s coastal region on Tuesday, causing damage. Israel has not commented on the matter.