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( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Syria's new de facto leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has reached an agreement with commanders of militant factions to dissolve their groups and integrate them into the Ministry of Defence, marking a critical step in the country's transition after more than a decade of civil war.The announcement, made on Tuesday by the General Command of the new Syrian administration, follows weeks of negotiations aimed at consolidating armed groups under a single, state-controlled military framework. The agreement, if fully implemented, could redefine Syria's fractured military landscape, which has been shaped by years of conflict involving rebel groups, Islamist factions, and regional powers.“This agreement represents a pivotal moment in ending the division of armed factions and establishing the foundations of a unified military institution for the new Syria,” the General Command said in a statement shared on Telegram.Ahmed Al-Sharaa Takes Steps Toward a Unified MilitaryAl-Sharaa, speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Sunday alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, said the state would no longer tolerate independent armed groups, signaling a strict approach to consolidating power.“We will not allow the existence of weapons outside state control-whether they belong to militant factions or to groups operating in areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),” Al-Sharaa said, referring to the Kurdish-led coalition that governs northeastern Syria.The deal involves more than 15 armed factions, including Jaysh Al-Islam, Ahrar Al-Sharqiya, Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya, and Tajammu' Al-Shahbaa. Photographs published by state news agency SANA showed Al-Sharaa meeting with faction leaders in Damascus. However, the SDF was absent from these discussions, underscoring ongoing tensions with the Kurdish-led group, which has long maintained autonomy in parts of Syria.SDF Seeks DialogueFarhad Shami, spokesperson for the SDF, said the group was open to dialogue with Damascus but called for direct negotiations without the interference of external powers.“This issue requires direct discussions between the SDF leadership and Damascus, free from the influence of regional actors,” Shami told AFP.He added that the SDF could form the core of a restructured Syrian army, saying,“A unified army built on the foundation of the SDF would be a strength for all of Syria.” However, Shami emphasized the need for broader political reforms, including drafting a new constitution, holding inclusive elections, and guaranteeing the rights of all Syrian communities.Defence Ministry OverhaulSyria's new Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir said last week that the Ministry of Defence would be restructured to incorporate former militant factions and army defectors who left their posts during Bashar Al-Assad's rule.“The Ministry of Defence will serve as the umbrella for all military components in the new Syria, bringing together various factions and creating a cohesive national army,” Al-Bashir said.The integration of militant groups, many of which have competed for dominance throughout the war, presents a significant challenge. Analysts say Al-Sharaa must carefully navigate the rivalries between factions while preventing potential flare-ups of violence as they are brought under a unified command.A Transitional Government Takes ShapeThe agreement comes as Al-Sharaa continues to assemble his transitional government following the fall of Assad's regime earlier this month.Among the key appointments announced so far:.Asaad Hassan Al-Sheibani , a co-founder of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham, was named foreign minister, reflecting the inclusion of figures from former Islamist factions..Aisha Al-Dibs, the first woman in the cabinet, will lead a newly created office focused on women's affairs..Marhaf Abu Qasra, known as Abu Hassan Al-Hamwi, was appointed defence minister..Azam Gharib, also known as Abu Al-Ezz Saraqib, a leader of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya, was named governor of Aleppo.These appointments highlight the new administration's attempts to balance representation among former opposition figures and Islamist factions, while addressing demands for inclusivity.International Engagement and US Policy ShiftThe new administration's efforts to consolidate power have drawn the attention of international actors. On Monday, the United States announced it had scraped a $10 million bounty on Al-Sharaa, which had been issued during the conflict over allegations of terrorism.The US decision signals a potential shift in policy toward Syria's new leadership, although Washington has not formally recognized Al-Sharaa's administration.Al-Sharaa's government has also received overtures from regional powers, including Turkey, which has backed some of the militant factions now participating in the integration process.End of Assad's RuleThe agreement with militant factions comes just weeks after opposition forces captured Damascus on Dec. 8, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war. The fall of the capital marked the end of the Assad family's decades-long grip on Syria.While Al-Sharaa's administration has taken steps to establish control, it faces monumental challenges, including rebuilding state institutions, addressing humanitarian needs, and forging a political framework acceptable to Syria's diverse communities.“The road ahead will be difficult, but this agreement is an important step toward stabilizing the country,” a senior official in Al-Sharaa's government said on condition of anonymity. MENAFN24122024000153011029ID1109028769 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A boat explosion at a South Florida marina has left one person dead and five others injured, officials said. The explosion occurred Monday night at the Lauderdale Marina, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said in a social media post. Rescue workers transported five people to local hospitals, three with traumatic injuries, officials said. A sixth person was found dead in the water several hours later by the Broward Sheriff's Office. Fire rescue officials said they didn't immediately know what caused the explosion.By ROB GILLIES TORONTO (AP) — Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official said Wednesday. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. A Canadian government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border. The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are happy to work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations. Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Related Articles National Politics | Trump selects longtime adviser Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia National Politics | Trump’s tariffs in his first term did little to alter the economy, but this time could be different National Politics | Southwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years National Politics | Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration National Politics | Trump chooses controversial Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead NIH Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. “Canada is essential to the United States’ domestic energy supply,” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. Trump has pledged to cut American energy bills in half within 18 months, something that could be made harder if a 25% premium is added to Canadian oil imports. In 2023, Canadian oil accounted for almost two-thirds of total U.S. oil imports and about one-fifth of the U.S. oil supply. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada’s provinces, who want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.”