Key points
- Prince Faisal and Jean-Noel Barrot discuss regional developments.
- Mohammad al-Bashir is the new head of Syria’s transitional government following the ouster of Assad.
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey strongly condemn Israel’s military incursions into the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
- At least 44,805 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, 4,047 in Lebanon since October 7, 2023.
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Wednesday from his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares and discussed developments in the Middle East.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA reported that the two ministers during the call also reviewed global efforts made to address regional issues.
On Tuesday, Prince Faisal also spoke to his French counterpart and discussed regional developments and topics of common interest.
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Middle East region is in the grip of a range of crises, the latest among them is the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by an alliance of groups.
The alliance of Syrian groups now in power in Damascus appointed Mohammad al-Bashir as head of a transitional government that will be in place until March 1.
On Sunday, the alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the capital Damascus in a lightning offensive, toppling president Bashar al-Assad who left the country.
Meanwhile, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 44,805 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardment while 106,188 others injured.
In Lebanon, Israel has killed 4,047 people since October 2023 and keeps breaching the November 27 truce deal.
Saudi Arabia on Sunday expressed satisfaction with the positive steps being taken to ensure the safety of the Syrian people and preserve the institutions and capabilities of Syria.
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Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey had condemned the Israeli aggression against Syria and illegal seizure of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights and the targeting of Syrian territories by Israeli occupation.
In November Arab and Muslim leaders at a Saudi-hosted summit strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, while seeking an immediate end to military operations in the region.
