Damascus, July 31 (SANA)Syria on Friday condemned a drone attack that targeted two vessels atDamietta Portin Egypt, saying it rejected any actions that threaten civilian facilities, maritime safety and regional stability. In a statement issued by theMinistry of Foreign Affairsand Expatriates,Syriaexpressed full solidarity with Egypt in confronting any threats to its national security, and called for greater regional and international efforts to safeguard regional stability and prevent further escalation. On Thursday,Egypt’s cabinet said fires aboard two vessels at Damietta Port on Wednesday …

London, July 31 (SANA)Oil pricesfell by more than $1 a barrel on Friday as increased supply flows through key maritime routes eased concerns over potential disruptions, despite continued geopolitical tensions in the region. Brent crude futures fell $1.03, or 1.2%, to $88 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped $1.50, or 1.8%, to $82.09 a barrel, according to Reuters. Despite the daily decline, both oil benchmarks were on track to post monthly gains of around 20%. Daniel Hynes, an analyst at ANZ Bank, said increased flows through theStrait of Hormuzhad helped reduce …

Damascus, July 31 (SANA)Traffic accidents remain a major public safety concern inSyria, with one person killed and 17 others injured in crashes and fires over the past 24 hours, theSyrian Civil Defensesaid on Friday. Civil Defense teams responded to 13traffic accidentsthat left one person dead and 16 others injured. Rescue teams provided first aid at the scene before transferring the injured to hospitals for treatment, while also clearing and securing the accident sites. The Civil Defense also responded to 115fires, including blazes in homes, commercial premises, grasslands, trees, garbage d…

Damascus, July 30 (SANA)Chief Executive Officer of the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC), Youssef Qablawi, held talks with aCzech delegationrepresenting several companies specializing in the refining sector to discuss prospects for cooperation in the oil and gas industry, particularly the development of Syria’s refining capabilities.In a statement posted on its Telegram channel on Wednesday, the company said the two sides explored opportunities for technical and investment cooperation, as well as ways to benefit from Czech expertise and advanced technologies to modernize refining infrastructure a…

Washington, July 31 (SANA)The United States imposed fresh Iran-related sanctions on Thursday, targeting individuals and companies in China, India, Russia and Iran thatWashingtonsaid help support Iran’s Mahan Air. The U.S. Treasury Departmentsaid its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had sanctioned six entities and individuals accused of acting as sales agents and providing logistical support for Mahan Air, which is already under U.S. andEuropean sanctions. The Treasury said Mahan Air, despite presenting itself as a civilian airline, has long provided support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutio…

Damascus, July 31 (SANA)Syrian Airlines said on Thursday it will resume scheduled flights between Damascus and theSaudicity of Madinah starting on Aug. 11, expanding air links betweenSyriaand Saudi Arabia.In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, The carrier said the route will operate once a week, every Tuesday and urged passengers to book tickets through its official website or mobile application, adding that online payment is available.The airline first launched scheduled flights between Damascus International Airport and Madinah on Jan. 20, introducing the Saudi city as a new destinat…

Washington, July 31 (SANA)Syria’s chargé d’affaires inWashington,Mohammad Kanatri,took part on Thursday in a roundtable discussion on strengthening Syria’s diplomatic engagement during its political transition. The event, titled “Government Transition and Building Diplomatic Engagement inSyria,” was organized by the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in partnership with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs and the Euphrates Team, bringing together diplomats, policy experts and academics. Joining the discussion remotely fromDamascus,Yasser al-Jundi, director of the Diplomatic In…

Damascus, July 30 (SANA)In a workshop filled with the scent of walnut wood and the sound of hand tools, Syrian craftsman Firas Salka carefully shapes what will eventually become aDamascus oud, one of the Arab world’s most iconic musical instruments.For months, each piece of wood is carved, assembled and polished by hand before it is ready to produce the rich, resonant sound that has defined the instrument for centuries.More than amusical instrument, the Damascus oud is regarded as one of Syria’s most enduring traditional crafts. Combining woodworking, decorative arts andmusical heritage, it ha…

Damascus, July 30 (SANA)The National Commission for Transitional Justice, in cooperation with Impunity Watch and theGlobal Victims Network INOVAS, held in-depth discussion sessions on victim participation in transitional justice processes and the mechanisms needed to ensure justice for victims and the restoration of their rights.In a statement posted on its Telegram channel on Wednesday, the commission said the sessions underscored the pivotal role of victims intransitional justiceand the importance of ensuring their meaningful participation at all stages of the process.The discussions focused…

Buenos Aires, July 30 (SANA)Seven people were killed on Wednesday when awildfire-response helicopter crashed in the Ischigualasto Park area in San Juan Province, westernArgentina.According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego said the victims included personnel from the fire department, police, and civil protection agencies.The Argentine Federal Emergency Agency (AFE) said contact was lost with the Bell 412 helicopter while it was operating in the Ischigualasto Park area, located about 1,100 kilometers northwest of the capital,Buenos Aires.The agency said the helicop…

Kyiv, July 30 (SANA)Air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv early Thursday afterRussialaunched a ballistic missile attack on theUkrainiancapital, triggering fires, damaging homes and injuring at least five people, including a child, Ukrainian officials said. The overnight strike came hours after President VolodymyrZelenskywarned that Russia appeared to be preparing a large-scale aerial assault and urged Ukrainians to seek shelter. He also renewed calls for Western allies to speed up deliveries of air defense systems, particularly Patriot missile batteries, which he said were essential for interce…

Quneitra, July 30 (SANA)Israeli occupation forces targeted the vicinity of Tal al-Ahmar al-Sharqi in the southern countryside ofQuneitraon Thursday with artillery shelling. The occupation forces fired three artillery shells at the area surrounding Tal al-Ahmar al-Sharqi, causing no casualties. Last Sunday, Israeli occupation forces also shelled agricultural land near the village of Taranja in the northern countryside of Quneitra with four artillery shells. Israel continues to violatethe 1974 Disengagement Agreementthrough repeated incursions into southern Syria, raids on civilians’ homes, a…

Occupied Jerusalem, July 30 (SANA)Two Palestinians were killed and 10 others were injured on Thursday inIsraeli strikestargeting several areas across theGaza Strip. According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), citing medical sources, one Palestinian was killed in an Israeli attack targeting the Yarmouk area in central Gaza City, while another Palestinian was fatally wounded and several others were injured in an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. The casualties were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital west of Gaza City. The sources…

Aleppo, July 30 (SANA)Ahli Aleppodefeated visitingal-Wahda106-70 on Wednesday at al-Shahba Sports Hall in Aleppo to level theSyrian Men’s Basketball Leaguefinals series at one win apiece. The victory gave Ahli Aleppo a 36-point margin over the defending champions in the second game of the best-of-five finals series, with Game 3 to follow between the two teams. Backed by a large home crowd, Ahli Aleppo delivered one of its strongest performances of the season and controlled the game from the opening minutes. The hosts led 55-37 at halftime after an outstanding shooting display from beyond th…

Damascus, July 30 (SANA)Syrian Deputy Minister of Energy for Water and Electricity Affairs Osama Abu Zeid held talks with representatives ofKfWDevelopment Bank and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to examine the ministry’s priorities for projects proposed under a future grant program, as part of efforts to deepen cooperation with international partners and bolster the development of Syria’s water sector. According to a statement published by theMinistry of Energyon its Telegram channel on Thursday, the meeting addressed priorities for the next phase, with particular emphasis on pro…

Zurich, July 30 (SANA)FIFAPresidentGianni Infantinodefended plans to establish a commercial subsidiary that would oversee the organization’s business operations, saying the proposal is intended to generate greater financial benefits for football worldwide. The proposal has attracted criticism since details emerged earlier this week about the possible sale of stakes in FIFA’s premier competitions. Infantino said the initiative is voluntary and would require approval from FIFA’s 211 member associations and the FIFA Council before it could be implemented. The company would manage the commercia…

Kuala Lumpur, July 30 (SANA)The Executive Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has awardedSaudi Arabiathe hosting rights for the next three editions of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals, making the Kingdom the permanent host of the tournament after it had previously staged the competition on a temporary basis. Saudi Arabia successfully organized the first two editions of the competition, whose final stages are held under a centralized format in one city, featuring the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The format was introduced with the launch of the competition’s new s…

Lahore, July 30 (SANA)Heavy monsoon rains caused a residential building to collapse in Lahore on Thursday, leaving 11 people dead and six others injured, authorities said. Local officials said the victims, all members of the same family, included women and children. Rescue workers searched the debris for survivors before recovering the victims’ bodies and transporting the injured to hospital. Officials said persistent rainfall had weakened the three-story building, leading to its collapse. Flooding caused by the seasonal rains has also affected a dozen villages near Lahore, forcing many re…

Damascus, July 30 (SANA)President Ahmad al-Sharaaheld a telephone conversation on Thursday withSaudi Crown Princeand Prime MinisterPrince Mohammed bin Salmanbin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during which the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to enhance prospects for joint cooperation. During the call, President al-Sharaa reiterated Syria’s condemnation of the attempted attack on Saudi oil facilities by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, affirming Syria’s unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security and sovereignty. The conversation also addressed the late…

Damascus, July 30 (SANA)President Ahmad al-Sharaaheld a telephone conversation on Thursday withSheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanPresident of the United Arab Emirates, during which they reviewed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to enhance joint cooperation in a manner that serves their mutual interests. The two leaders also exchanged views on the latest regional developments, underscoring the importance of continuing consultation and coordination to support efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability across the region. At the conclusion of the call, …