Morning Briefing: Dec. 16, 2024

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday with, including the UK government confirming having "diplomatic contact" with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian group that recently overthrew the Bashar Assad regime, the Israeli government unanimously approving a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enhance settlement building in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, and a villa in Syria’s capital Damascus being identified as a drug production hub linked to Maher Assad, the brother of ousted regime leader Bashar Assad.

TOP STORIES

• UK confirms diplomatic contact with Syrian group HTS

The UK government confirmed having "diplomatic contact" with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian group that recently overthrew the Bashar Assad regime.

"We want to see a representative government, an inclusive government. We want to see chemical weapons stockpiles secured, and not used, and we want to ensure that there is not continuing violence," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, as reported by the BBC.

Lammy clarified that this contact does not mean he has personally communicated with HTS, emphasizing that interactions have been carried out through diplomatic and intelligence-led channels.

• Israel approves plan to expand settlement building in occupied Syrian Golan Heights

The Israeli government unanimously approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enhance Israeli settlement building in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights with a budget exceeding 40 million shekels ($11.2 million).

In a statement, Netanyahu's office said the government unanimously approved the plan to "encourage demographic growth in Golan settlements and Katzrin, with a total cost exceeding 40 million shekels."

The Golan Heights is Syrian territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war.

• New drug factories linked to Bashar Assad's brother uncovered in Syrian capital

A villa in Syria’s capital Damascus was identified as a drug production hub linked to Maher Assad, the brother of ousted regime leader Bashar Assad.

Since the collapse of the Baath regime on Dec. 8, drug manufacturing centers across Syria have been steadily uncovered.

Anadolu captured footage of the villa in al-Dimas, which was confirmed to belong to Maher Assad.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Anadolu captured footage of an area in Husayniyya district in the Syrian capital Damascus which is claimed to be a mass grave.
• Israel said it will close its embassy in Ireland, accusing Dublin of pursuing "extreme anti-Israel policies."
• Three Palestinians were killed, including a cameraman for the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, in an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip, medics said.
• A Palestinian medic warned of an “environmental catastrophe” in northern Gaza as corpses piled up across the area amid a deadly Israeli offensive.
• South Korea's main opposition party announced that it would not seek the impeachment of Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo over suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law earlier this month.
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced her departure as president of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament.
• Qatar will reopen its embassy in Syria on Tuesday after more than 13 years of closure following the fall of the Bashar Assad regime.

SPORTS

• Turkish swimmer Emre Sakci ranks 2nd in world in men's 50 meters breaststroke

Turkish swimmer Emre Sakci finished second in the 2024 World Aquatics' men's 50 meters breaststroke.

China’s Qin Haiyang was awarded a gold medal in the competition with a 25.42 seconds time, while Sakci finished in 25.56 seconds in Budapest.

• Manchester United stun Manchester City in 2 minutes to win 2-1 in Premier League derby

Manchester United stunned Manchester City in two minutes to win 2-1 in the English Premier League week 16 derby.

Hosts Manchester City took the lead with Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol's header from a corner kick in the 36th minute at Etihad Stadium.

The Sky Blues were confident of their win until the 88th minute, when the referee awarded a penalty kick to Manchester United, which was scored by Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Just two minutes later, United's young Ivorian winger Amad Diallo netted another one from a tight angle to secure a vital derby victory.