Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area
Israeli media: "Israel" won the battle but lost the war strategically and politically
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen

Exclusive: US sanctions preventing Syria from receiving aid - FM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 7 Feb 2023 22:34
  • 11 Shares
6 Min Read

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad tells Al Mayadeen about the latest developments in Syria in light of the earthquake that struck the country.

  • x
  • Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad during an interview with Al Mayadeen on February 7, 2023
    Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad during an interview with Al Mayadeen on February 7, 2023

The earthquake that hit Syria was a major catastrophe, and what exacerbated the issue is the status quo in Syria due to its war on terrorism and its backers, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad told Al Mayadeen on Tuesday.

"The sanctions on Syria made the disaster all the worse," al-Miqdad said. "The state is following up on the mobilization of aid domestically and abroad, and President Bashar al-Assad requested that all the state's capabilities be employed in search and rescue operations."

"All of the hospitals in Syria have been asked to treat earthquake victims," al-Miqdad said, noting that Syria had asked through its ambassadors for international aid to confront the disaster it has been struck with.

"Many countries have sent aid to Syria, and we thank all the leaders who contacted us, sending their condolences and expressing their will to give us aid," the Syrian top diplomat told Al Mayadeen. "The situation is very hard, and regardless of the amount of aid sent to Syria, it needs much more."

"Aid from Europe does not need a request and bureaucracy, as humanitarian aid is not subject to sanctions," al-Miqdad explained. "Humanitarian aid is not subject to sanctions in accordance with international laws, so this is not an excuse."

Some Arab states were quick to provide aid while others pledged to send assistance, he said. "Syria has suffered from double standards despite there being numerous countries in contact with Damascus through back channels."

"Western countries provided millions of dollars to terrorism and failed, and now they dream of rapprochement with Syria," the foreign minister stressed, underlining that "Syria is steadfast in the face of terrorism, and it is suffering as a result of the earthquake, as thousands need relief." 

US sanctions standing in Syria's way

Commenting on the harsh situation in Syria due to the war and blockade, al-Miqdad told Al Mayadeen that terrorist groups destroyed all of Syria's capabilities, from vehicles to cranes and bulldozers, among other equipment, at a time when the competent authorities need them because people are trapped under the rubble.

"The US sanctions are prohibiting Syria from accessing anything, including medicine," the top diplomat said.

The Syrian official directed a message to US President Joe Biden, asking: "Didn't the Syrian state open border crossings to allow humanitarian aid to make it to armed-groups-held areas."

"The aid making it to areas held by armed groups were being sold to the people," he said. "They planned that aid only makes it through to armed groups and terrorists, and Syria is ready to let aid make it to all regions on the condition that it does not make it into the hands of terrorists."

Syria received no communication from Turkey

Related News

Syrian National Bloc slams 2025 elections as 'unconstitutional'

Tom Barrack, disrupting decades of diplomatic practice: FT

Al-Miqdad told Al Mayadeen that Syria received no communication from Turkey as he was touching on coordination with Ankara under these circumstances. "There was no coordination between Syria and Turkey, even on the humanitarian level - though it is needed."

#Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad: "We didn't receive any communications from #Turkey, and there are efforts exerted by our #Iranian and #Russian allies."#SyriaEarthquake https://t.co/M6DcMenzay

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 7, 2023

"There are efforts being made by the Iranian and Russian allies to help," Al-Miqdad revealed. "Iran desires to join the joint efforts."

He also commented on the claims of Syria having asked for aid from the Israeli occupation, stressing that his country did not consider "Israel" to be a state, calling it the Zionist entity. "Many assassinations are carried out through Jabhat Al-Nusra and other groups with direct Israeli support."

The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth website claimed that the Israeli occupation received an aid request from Russia to help Syria based on Damacus' request following the devastating earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey. Syria completely denied this claim.

A Syrian official source completely denied the claims of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of having received a request for aid from a Syrian official.

If Netanyahu ever received such a request, it is definitely from his allies and friends in ISIS and Jabhat Al-Nusra, among other terrorist organizations, the Syrian source said.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN revealed earlier in the day that Russia did not ask "Israel" to send aid to Syria.

Israeli KAN political affairs correspondent Amichai Stein said a source in the Kremlin denied that Moscow had asked "Tel Aviv" to send aid to Syria. "We do not need to ask Israel to help Syria because we will be doing that ourselves."

A Syrian source previously denied to Al Mayadeen the Israeli claims of "Tel Aviv" having received a request for aid from any Syrian party.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Monday that he had agreed to a request from Damascus to send aid to Syria after the devastating earthquake that struck it.

On Monday, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, killing thousands, mainly in Turkey and Syria, and leveling houses and other facilities, including public infrastructure.

Syrian sources also denied to Al-Watan Syrian newspaper the allegations of Israeli officials regarding a request submitted by Syria to the Israeli entity for relief aid.

Furthermore, the sources confirmed to the newspaper that everything published in the Israeli media "is not more than a propaganda campaign for its Prime Minister."

"How can Syria ask for help from an entity that killed and participated in killing Syrians over the past decades?" the sources asked.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad held earlier a meeting with UN representatives and various NGOs in a bid to explain the impact of the unilateral sanctions that are drastically affecting the situation in the country and the humanitarian response to it.

Read next: How are sanctions, blockade affecting humanitarian effort in Syria?

  • Syria
  • United States
  • Turkey
  • Russia
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Joe Biden
  • Iran
  • Faisal Al-Miqdad

Most Read

Hamas fighters stand in formation ahead of a ceremony to hand over Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP)

Hamas reviews Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan as PIJ rejects

  • Palestine
  • 30 Sep 2025
Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
French far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, listens to France Unbowed party parliament member Mathilde Panot during a demonstration after a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was illegally raided by the IOF, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025 in Paris (AP)
Politics

French MPs on hunger strike after their detainment in 'Israel'

Gaza residents fear trap as Trump’s plan offers little relief
Politics

Flying promises and bombs: Gazans hopeful, yet deeply distrustful

Two years of destruction: Gaza endures war, famine, and displacement
Politics

UNRWA details Gaza's two years under war, famine, and displacement

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits a military hardware exhibition in Pyongyang, Notrh Korea Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 (AP)
Politics

DPRK's Kim unveils new advanced weapons at 'Defiance Development 2025'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS