Syria
Merz softens stance on Syrian returns as AfD pushes for action
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One day after announcing that up to 80 percent of Syrians in Germany should return home, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has distanced himself from the figure. He now emphasizes coordination with Syrian President Ahmed al-Scharaa. AfD leader Alice Weidel calls for immediate returns and a naturalization moratorium, while critics highlight integration and security concerns.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani discussed strengthening bilateral ties and coordinating on regional developments during talks in Cairo. Egypt reaffirmed support for Syria’s unity and rejected Israeli violations of its sovereignty. The discussions also covered broader issues like US-Iran negotiations and the situation in Lebanon.
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The family of German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann, missing in Syria for over two and a half months, demands that the Syrian transitional government disclose what it knows about the case. A new witness statement points to involvement by regime-aligned militias. Germany's Foreign Ministry confirms it is still working on the case.
President Donald Trump promised "very serious retaliation" after an ambush near Palmyra, Syria, killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter and wounded three other American service members during an anti-ISIS mission, according to U.S. officials.
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The Damaskus Dossier leak, exposing Bashar al-Assad's regime's brutality against its own population, could serve as key evidence in future legal cases. Prosecutor Reena Devgun from the unit against international and organized crime has investigated similar Syrian material before. She highlights the documentation's immense value for justice.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul described Syria as worse than Germany in 1945 during a CDU/CSU parliamentary group meeting, causing fresh uproar in the Union. The comparison came after his doubts about Syrian refugees returning home following a trip to the country. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, however, emphasizes a swift resumption of deportations.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has invited Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Germany to discuss the deportation of Syrian criminals. This follows soon after a visit by the foreign minister to Syria and distances itself from his skeptical remarks on refugee returns. Merz emphasizes that the civil war is over and repatriations are now possible.
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