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Israel demands demilitarization, guarantees for Druze community from Syria

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session on September 22 that his country "wants to avert a war with Israel, because it needs peace to continue the process of rebuilding"

TEL AVIV, September 24. /TASS/. During its negotiations with Syria, Israel seeks to obtain guarantees of southwest Syria’s demilitarization, and security guarantees for the Druze community, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"Negotiations with Syria are taking place. Their conclusion is contingent on ensuring the interests of Israel, which include, inter alia, the demilitarization of south-western Syria and preserving the safety and security of the Druze in Syria," the office said in a statement.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session on September 22 that his country "wants to avert a war with Israel, because it needs peace to continue the process of rebuilding." In his words, the two neighbors can agree on security measures, but "Israel should withdraw from the territory of Syria in any case."

On September 17, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer held US-brokered talks in London. According to Syria TV, the two ministers discussed a new draft agreement on security measures to replace the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria. The meeting which lasted for five hours was attended by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Tom Barrack, who acts as a go-between at the talks.

Following the change of power in Syria in early December 2024, the Israeli military announced that it took positions in the buffer zone in the Golan Heights which has been separating the Israel-and Syria-controlled territories since 1974. Among others, it took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, facing no resistance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria was no longer in effect after Syrian troops had left the area following the change of government in Damascus.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

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Spacecraft with artificial gravity patented in Russia

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Sergey Sobyanin emphasized that the tourist economy is growing year after year

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Moscow becomes major center producing UAVs for Russian army — Sobyanin

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US Department of Justice gets more documents as part of Epstein case files

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Foreign intelligence services monitoring Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus — KGB

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Gold production in Russia rises 5.6% in November — Rosstat

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Peace in Europe unattainable without review of West's anti-Russian policy — Medvedev

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Putin-Trump call can be arranged quickly if needed — Kremlin

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US sanctions against former European officials cast doubt on EU sovereignty — Kallas

The chief of the European diplomacy said that Europe will continue to defend its values of freedom of expression

Gloomy mood in European Commission’s headquarters — Politico

According to the newspaper, after months of discussions, EU leaders "delivered a harsh reality check, with the executive’s ambitions dashed by political and national red lines"

This year’s final batch of Su-35S fighters delivered to Russian Defense Ministry — Rostec

The company noted that the state corporation's aircraft manufacturers are already working on a fighter production plan for 2026

World Aquatics names Russia’s Maltsev as Male Artistic Swimmer of the year

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Medvedev suggests encouraging separatism in West as countermeasure

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Air defense systems destroy 132 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian Regions in 7 hours — top brass

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Tajikistan reports fatalities from border clash with Afghan terrorists

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Kiev deploying most combat-fit UAV units, assault groups to Gulyaipole — defense source

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Ukraine unable to keep 800,000-strong army — German general

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Ukrainian media outlet releases Kiev’s 20-point peace plan

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US military reports Santa Claus flying over Russia

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Belgium shocked by US sanctions against five EU citizens — foreign minister

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Negotiations on Ukraine should be kept secret, Kremlin believes

Dmitry Peskov refrained from giving further comments

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Hamas informs Turkey about Israel's violations of Gaza agreement

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Some 20,000 Muscovites voluntarily sign contracts for military service annually — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin said that Moscow is one of the largest centers for the recruitment of military personnel for the special military operation

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Moldovan border guards cut off channel for transfer of draft dodgers from Ukraine

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Putin warned Bush that NATO membership would split Ukraine — declassified documents

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