Egypt Today’s morning international news

CAIRO – 9 November 2017: Egypt Today briefs Thursday’s political top stories:
European states call on the UN to extend mandate for Syria

Major Western powers seemed ready for a showdown with Russia at the UN Security Council by demanding on Wednesday the renewal of the mandate of an international inquiry into chemical weapons' attacks in Syria, The New York Times reported.


Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that Moscow opposed a draft UN resolution, extending the mandate of the investigation by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into chemical weapons' attacks in Syria, MENA reported.


Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov speaks during a news briefing in the main building of Foreign Ministry in Moscow - REUTERS

Russia rejected a report by the international inquiry blaming the Syrian government for a deadly toxic gas attack on April 4, a few hours before Ryabkov’s comment.


In a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and the United States, the four countries said they had full confidence in the findings and called on the Syrian regime to end all use of poisonous gas and finally declare to the OPCW all the chemical weapons it possesses, MENA reported.

Turkey, France and Italy agree to strengthen defense cooperation

Turkey, France and Italy jointly signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation on joint defense projects including air and missile defense systems, Turkish Defense Ministry sources said.


As a first step, the Franco-Italian EUROSAM consortium and Turkish companies will look into a system based on the SAMP-T missile system produced by EUROSOM, and determine the common needs of the three countries, the sources said according to Reuters.


Turkey's Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli - TWITTER

Turkey's Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli is currently attending a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

British aid minister resigns over undisclosed meetings in Israel

British Aid Minister Priti Patel resigned on Wednesday in the wake of her failure to disclose meetings with Israeli officials during a holiday, describing her action as being "below the high standards that are expected."


Britain's Employment Minister Priti Patel, leaves after a cabinet meeting in Downing Street in central London, Britain June 27, 2016 - REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

After meeting Theresa May, the prime minister's office released Patel's resignation letter in which she apologized for causing "a distraction" from the work of government. May responded in a letter to say she believed Patel's decision was "right," Reuters reported.


Syrian army captures last major IS stronghold, Albu Kamal

The Syrian army and allied forces gained control over Albu Kamal, the last major town held the Daesh in the country, pro-government sources said.

The operation has been accomplished with help from Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces close to the shared border between the two countries, BBC News reported.


© AFP/File | Syrian and allied forces converged on holdout Islamic State group fighters in the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal, the jihadists' very last urban bastion, in the oil-rich eastern province of Deir Ezzor

The militants overran vast areas of both Syria and Iraq in the summer of 2014, establishing what is called the "Islamic State."

A commander in the Syrian pro-government military alliance said, quoted by Reuters: "The last stronghold of Daesh , Albu Kamal, is free of the Daesh organization."

Syrian forces captured the provincial capital, Deir al-Zor, from the Islamic State on Friday, in coincidence with the Iraqi forces’ recapture of al-Qaim City, across the shared border.