American officials announced, on Wednesday, the return of 36 stolen artifacts to Syria, including a stone sculpture that was illegally smuggled during the period when ISIS destroyed the archaeological site of Palmyra, according to what was published by Agence France-Presse.
The US authorities confiscated these pieces, with a total value exceeding $5 million, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as well as from several antique art collectors.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, “The return of the antiquities is a powerful reminder that the preservation of cultural heritage transcends borders and nationalities.”
According to a statement, the sculpture was moved from the Palmyra site, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, before ISIS elements destroyed large parts of the city in the period between 2015 and 2017.
This limestone sculpture weighs more than 450 kilograms and shows a man in a reclining position surrounded by a woman and three children.
In previous years, the United States had returned stolen antiquities to several countries, including China, Greece, and Italy.
Chargé d'Affairs at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, Muhammad Qanatari, said in a statement that this transfer shows how "a shared commitment to protecting cultural heritage can build lasting bridges between our two countries."
He added: “Thanks to Syrian-American cooperation, part of Syria’s history is finally returning to the homeland, thanks to the efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.”
Four of these Syrian artifacts were confiscated from American antiquities collector Michael Steinhardt, who in 2021 returned about 180 stolen objects from around the world under an agreement with the US government, and the total value of those objects amounted to $70 million.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office stated that the 13 pieces confiscated from the Metropolitan Museum were part of 402 artifacts worth $98.7 million that the office had confiscated from this cultural institution since 2017.
Turkey and Iraq said today (Wednesday) that it was agreed that Turkish forces would gradually hand over a camp in northern Iraq to the Iraqi government, and they stated after talks that took place in New York that the two sides also agreed to end the presence of “prohibited armed elements” in northern Iraq.
After a meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings, the two sides announced in a joint statement their agreement to strengthen security cooperation.
They said in a statement that the two sides “agreed to fully extend the authority of the Iraqi state in Sinjar, and to end the presence of banned foreign armed elements,” in reference to Kurdish militants, some of whom are stationed in the mountainous Sinjar region in northern Iraq.
Türkiye is continuing a peace process that it hopes will result in the disarmament of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants and an end to a decades-long conflict.
The statement said, “Within the framework of the progress achieved by Iraq through security steps, the Turkish forces will hand over the Bashiqa-Zelikan camp to the Iraqi federal government gradually, according to the mechanism and timetable agreed upon.” The facility is located in northern Iraq, near Mosul.
An Iraqi military commander familiar with the talks said that the gradual withdrawal of Turkish forces from the Bashiqa camp and another small base near Mosul is expected to be completed by the end of this year. There was no immediate comment from Türkiye regarding the timetable.
Ankara deployed forces near Mosul in 2015, attributing this to training and protecting Iraqi forces and local Sunni Arab, Turkmen and Kurdish fighters who were preparing to fight the Islamic State, which took control of Mosul in 2014.
This deployment sparked a dispute with Baghdad, which demanded the withdrawal of forces, while Ankara confirmed that it supports the training mission aimed at confronting ISIS. Türkiye still maintains several bases in the region, and says they aim to protect its national security.
Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria and Iraq, welcomed this step, and said that it was in the interest of “both Iraqi sovereignty and Turkish security.”
The joint statement stated that the two sides also discussed bilateral relations and trade exchange, and stressed the need to urgently implement previously signed agreements and accelerate the pace of “joint strategic projects.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun confirmed that failure to extend the United Nations Interim Force in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) without forming an alternative international force will lead to a vacuum that does not serve security and stability in the region, especially in light of the continued Israeli occupation of a number of southern villages and towns.
During his meeting with the British government’s chief defense advisor in the Middle East, Admiral Edward Algren, on Wednesday, Aoun indicated that Lebanon welcomes any alternative forces to UNIFIL if it is not possible to extend it, to continue implementing Resolution 1701 and support the Lebanese army in extending state authority over the southern lands up to the internationally recognized borders.
Aoun reiterated that Israel is not committed to implementing the “framework agreement” that was reached in the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington, especially with regard to a ceasefire, refraining from destroying and bulldozing homes, addressing the disputed points on the “Blue Line,” and returning the Lebanese prisoners to their homeland, considering that the continuation of these practices keeps tension present in the south.
Aoun briefed the British official on the atmosphere of the preparatory meeting held in Paris last week for the international conference to support the army and internal security forces, noting that Lebanon presented the needs of the two institutions during it and received encouraging reactions.
The two sides also discussed the economic reforms undertaken by the government in cooperation with the House of Representatives, in addition to Lebanese-Syrian relations and the existing coordination between the two countries.
For his part, Admiral Algren renewed Britain's support for Lebanon, especially the Lebanese army, noting the official Lebanese positions regarding the recent developments, and the positions announced by President Aoun during his visit to the Nabatieh region in the south and his confirmation of the state's determination to extend its sovereignty over the entire southern border and remove armed manifestations in the villages where the army is deployed.
Heikal: “We will not deviate from our principles.”
In parallel with the political and diplomatic endeavors, Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal stressed the cohesion of the military institution and its steadfastness in the face of challenges, during his inspection of the Commando Regiment at the Ghassan Rumman barracks in Roumieh, and being informed of the regiment’s readiness.
Heikal stressed the continuation of qualitative training in the special units, pointing out that the cohesion of the soldiers and their affiliation to the institution constitute one of the most prominent reasons for the army’s strength, especially in light of the continuing Israeli attacks and escalation.
He told the soldiers: “Adherence to the army is the common characteristic of all Lebanese, regardless of their affiliations, and they see in the army the path to their salvation,” adding: “The homeland is our great family, and we will bring it to safety.” He stressed that attempts to undermine the morale of the army through rumors and slander will not affect the will of its soldiers, stressing: “We will not be broken, nor will we deviate from our principles,” and that the institution’s duty is to protect all Lebanese and ensure stability.
The US embassy delivers 16 million bullets to the army
In the same context, the US Embassy in Beirut announced the delivery of 16 million rounds of ammunition to the Lebanese Army, noting that the shipment falls within the framework of continued American support for the military establishment. She explained that over the past six years, the United States has provided more than $800 million in military aid to the army, with the aim of enhancing its readiness and capabilities, supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty, and securing its borders.
