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French and German Ministers Call for Inclusive Transition in First EU Visit to Post-Assad Syria
The French and German foreign ministers, Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, have made a landmark visit to Syria, marking the first European Union ministerial delegation since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. The visit aimed to engage with Syria’s new leadership and emphasize the need for an inclusive political transition.
Barrot and Baerbock met Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, in Damascus. Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, leads Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that spearheaded the rebellion against Assad. In recent years, HTS has distanced itself from its previous affiliation with al-Qaeda, seeking legitimacy on the international stage.
Baerbock approached the talks with cautious optimism, stating she came to Syria with an “outstretched hand” while remaining mindful of HTS’s controversial past.
Calls for Representation and Justice
The European ministers emphasized the importance of creating a political system that represents all of Syria’s diverse communities.
“Syria must embark on a political transition that ensures inclusivity for all its citizens, regardless of religion or gender,” Barrot said on Friday. He announced that France and the EU are offering judicial and technical support to help draft a new Syrian constitution.
Baerbock echoed these sentiments, stressing on social media that “a new beginning can only happen if every Syrian, irrespective of ethnic or religious identity, is given a voice in the political process.”
Focus on Human Rights and Accountability
During their visit, the ministers toured the notorious Sednaya prison, which under Assad’s regime was synonymous with arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Both were visibly affected by the experience, likening the prison to a “hellish concentration camp.”
Barrot stressed the importance of justice for Syria’s recovery. “Syria cannot move forward without addressing past atrocities,” he said, pledging France’s technical support to aid transitional justice and combat impunity. Baerbock called on the international community to help bring justice to the victims of Sednaya’s horrors.
Chemical Weapons and International Oversight
Barrot also recommended that Syria’s transitional government engage with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He proposed that a team be dispatched to Syria to assess and work toward the elimination of any remaining chemical weapons.
The visit reflects the EU’s cautious but determined approach to fostering stability and rebuilding diplomatic relations in Syria, with an emphasis on justice, inclusivity, and accountability.
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Two Dead, Nearly 200 Injured as PSG Title Celebrations Turn Violent Across France

What began as jubilant celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League victory ended in violence and tragedy in parts of France, with two people killed and nearly 200 injured during street festivities that spiraled out of control.
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the southwestern town of Dax during a PSG street gathering, while in Paris, a man died after his scooter was struck by a car amid the crowded celebrations. Both incidents are currently under investigation.
The unrest followed PSG’s dramatic win in Munich, where the club secured its first-ever Champions League title, marking a milestone in French football history. While fans across the country took to the streets to celebrate, several areas descended into violence.
According to the French Interior Ministry, a total of 294 people were arrested nationwide as of 2 a.m. Sunday. Of the nearly 200 injured, 21 were police officers—18 of them in Paris alone. One officer remains in a medically induced coma after being struck in the face by a firework.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the violence in a statement on social media. “True PSG fans are celebrating a magnificent achievement. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement,” he said. “It is unacceptable that people cannot celebrate without being endangered by a violent minority.”
Despite the unrest, the majority of gatherings were peaceful, authorities noted, with large crowds celebrating the historic win in cities including Marseille, Lyon, and Lille.
The PSG squad returned to Paris from Munich on Sunday afternoon aboard a Qatar Airways charter flight, arriving at 4 p.m. The team is expected to continue celebrations in the capital with tens of thousands of fans, under heightened security measures.
The violent turn of events has reignited debate in France over crowd control during major sporting celebrations, and how best to ensure public safety without dampening national enthusiasm.
PSG’s Champions League triumph marks a defining moment for the club, which has long pursued European glory. As the team prepares for a hero’s welcome, officials are urging fans to celebrate responsibly and respect public safety.
News
Ukraine Launches Major Drone Assault on Russian Airfields, Hits Over 40 Strategic Bombers

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for a large-scale drone strike on four Russian air bases over the weekend, targeting dozens of strategic bombers across vast swaths of Russian territory — from Siberia to the Arctic.
According to Ukrainian officials, the operation, codenamed “Spiderweb” (Pavutyna), was launched on June 1 and struck 41 long-range bombers stationed at airfields in Russia’s Ryazan, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, and Murmansk regions. The attack is being hailed by Kyiv as one of its most ambitious and far-reaching strikes since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia,” a senior SBU official said, noting that the operation was specifically designed to cripple Moscow’s airstrike capabilities. “This is a large-scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft.”
The four airfields targeted were Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, Ivanovo in central Russia, Belaya air base in Irkutsk — over 4,000 kilometers from the front lines — and Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula near the Arctic, roughly 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
Ukrainian officials described the complex logistics of the operation, which involved covertly transporting drones deep into Russian territory, hiding them until the time of launch, and remotely executing the strikes. While specific details remain classified, Ukraine previously revealed it had developed drones with a flight range of up to 3,000 kilometers, enabling long-range operations like this.
Satellite imagery analyzed after the attack shows the presence of several high-value Russian aircraft types at the affected bases, including the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, and A-50 radar planes. These aircraft have been central to Russia’s long-range missile campaign against Ukraine.
The Tu-22M3, for example, is capable of carrying Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles at speeds exceeding Mach 4. The Tu-95, a Cold War-era bomber once designed to carry nuclear weapons, has been retrofitted to launch conventional cruise missiles. The A-50 aircraft provides airborne radar surveillance and target coordination for Russian forces.
The scale of the strike underscores Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities and signals a shift in Kyiv’s strategy to disrupt Russian air operations at their source. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had held meetings with the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, along with the General Staff and SBU, to coordinate further defense and counter-offensive planning.
There has been no immediate official response from Moscow regarding the extent of damage caused.
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