Lebanon Handed Over Assad's Army Officers; Syrian Consular Services in Beirut Suspended

Lebanese officials announced on Saturday, December 29, that dozens of Syrians, including army officers from the Assad regime, have been handed over to the security forces of the new Syrian government. At the same time, the Syrian embassy in Lebanon announced that its consular services have been suspended 'until further notice.' According to Lebanese security officials, the Syrians and military personnel affiliated with the regime were arrested for illegal entry into Lebanon and handed over to the security forces of the new Syrian government. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Lebanese judicial officials have confirmed this handover. The suspension of consular services at the Syrian embassy in Lebanon came one day after the arrest of several relatives of the ousted Syrian president at Beirut airport on charges of using fake passports. According to Lebanese security officials, these passports were apparently forged at the Syrian embassy. While the new Syrian government led by the 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham' group is trying to alleviate concerns about the imposition of collective punishments or strict Islamic laws against religious minorities, sporadic clashes between the security forces of the new rulers and pro-Assad groups continue in some areas of Syria. In northeastern Syria, tensions between Kurdish forces and Turkey-backed groups also persist. Turkey considers the Syrian Democratic Forces, a key U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS, to be an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party and labels it a terrorist organization. On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the necessity of cooperating with the new Syrian government to ensure a peaceful transition of power in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The two sides also discussed preventing terrorist threats that jeopardize the security of Turkey and Syria. According to the U.S. State Department, Antony Blinken expressed his support for a political process in Syria focused on human rights and the formation of an inclusive government in the country. Majid Golpour's explanations about the process of arresting war crime suspects and the conditions of those accused of these crimes in Syria continue the operations of the new Syrian government against forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad. Shahin Modarres: Today, the people of Syria and Lebanon are disgusted with the Islamic Republic. The governor of Damascus says Syria seeks peace with Israel. The Israeli foreign minister warns of the need to be concerned about the Islamist government of Syria. Bashar al-Assad's uncle has traveled to Dubai despite accusations of committing war crimes. A court is holding a trial for an Iranian accused of links to a deadly drone attack in Jordan. An Israeli airstrike targeted smuggling infrastructure from Syria to Lebanon. Houthi missile attacks resumed following Israeli strikes in Sanaa.