H.H. Sheikh Abdullah discusses Syria with regional counterparts

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been in contact with leaders from across the region and beyond to discuss the latest developments in Syria.

The Emirati official held phone calls with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iran, and Russia.

They emphasized the need to enhance international efforts to preserve Syria's unity and sovereignty and meet the security and stability aspirations of the Syrian people.

The officials also stressed the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which was passed in 2015 and calls for political settlement in Syria.

On Sunday, rebel forces led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the Assad regime in a rapid advance that shocked the globe. Since then, the new leadership has appointed an interim prime minister and vowed to draft a new constitution. 

In the Kurdish-held areas of Syria in the north, clashes were reported between the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). Clashes were also reported in the northern city of Raqqa between the SDF and protesters who demanded HTS take over the area, reportedly killing at least four of the latter. 

Earlier this week, Turkish-backed forces seized the northern city of Manbij from the US-backed SDF, which then headed east of the Euphrates River. A Syrian opposition source told Reuters the US and Turkey had reached an agreement on the withdrawal. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey on Thursday for talks focused on the tensions.