Walid Joumblatt, former Druze leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, shakes hands with new Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa during a historic visit, Sunday Dec. 22, 2024, in Damascus. (Credit: AFP)
Thirteen years after his last visit, Walid Joumblatt returned to Syria on Sunday, marking the first trip by a Lebanese political leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The visit holds particular significance, as Assad’s regime has long been accused of orchestrating the 1977 assassination of Joumblatt's father, Druze leader Kamal Joumblatt. Read more ‘We want to move on’: In Damascus, life returns under the watchful eye of the rebels The former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party led a large delegation, including MPs from his parliamentary bloc and Druze religious figures, for talks with Syria’s new leadership. He was received at the presidential palace by Ahmad al-Sharaa — better known as, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani — who appeared publicly in a suit and tie for the first time.Sharaa, whose Islamist...
Thirteen years after his last visit, Walid Joumblatt returned to Syria on Sunday, marking the first trip by a Lebanese political leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The visit holds particular significance, as Assad’s regime has long been accused of orchestrating the 1977 assassination of Joumblatt's father, Druze leader Kamal Joumblatt. Read more ‘We want to move on’: In Damascus, life returns under the watchful eye of the rebels The former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party led a large delegation, including MPs from his parliamentary bloc and Druze religious figures, for talks with Syria’s new leadership. He was received at the presidential palace by Ahmad al-Sharaa — better known as, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani — who appeared publicly in a suit and tie for the first time.Sharaa,...
