Syrian leader al-Sharaa tours former Assad strongholds on surprise visit
• Feb 17, 2025, 2:30 PM
1 min de lecture
Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Latakia and Tartus on Sunday, his office said, making his first official trip to the coastal provinces formerly known as strongholds of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad. Despite the tour being unannounced, Sharaa’s itinerary was carefully planned and reflects his priorities in the country, FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr said in an analysis, citing cities including Idlib, Latakia, Tartus and Aleppo.
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Hamas hands over bodies of youngest Gaza hostages taken from Israel
• 9:35 AM
1 min
Hamas handed over the bodies of Israeli infant Kfir Bibas and his four-year-old brother Ariel, the two youngest captives taken by Hamas in their October 7, 2023 attack and among the most potent symbols of the trauma inflicted that day. Analysis by FRANCE
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Hamas hands over remains of dead hostages: ‘Very strange and morbid ceremony’
• 8:42 AM
1 min
FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem Noga Tarnopolsky describes Hamas’s handover ceremony in Gaza as “very strange and very morbid”. “One of the Red Cross officials simply refused to take part, signing a document and walking off stage,” she said, addin
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Families angered as Israeli authorities release names of dead hostages before being identified
• 6:40 AM
1 min
Noga Tarnopolsky, FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem, said there has been a lot of anger in Israel after authorities released the names of the dead hostages that would be released today – despite the fact that the family had urged them to wait until
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Iran executed 975 people in 2024, says human rights groups
• 5:39 AM
1 min
At least 975 people were executed in Iran in 2024, with human rights groups saying the government is using capital punishment to spread fear throughout the population, notably to crack down on nationwide protests which have persisted since 2022.
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Israel braces for 'heartbreaking' day as bodies of four Gaza hostages set to be returned
• 3:58 AM
1 min
Hamas will return the bodies of four Israelis that were taken hostage on the October 7, 2023 attacks on Thursday, setting up what Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called a "heartbreaking" day for Israel. Among the four hostages are Ariel and Kfi
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Live: Convoy carrying remains of four hostages returns to Israel after Hamas handover
• 3:04 AM
1 min
Hamas on Thursday transferred the bodies of four Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross for repatriation to Israel as part of the ceasefire agreement.The two small boys, their mother, and the elderly man have come to symbolise t
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