SDF says clashed with government forces in Aleppo's Dayr Hafir
SDF said that the government forces carried out attacks against four of their posts in the area.
The SDF was the main fighting force allied to the United States in Syria during fighting that defeated ISIS in 2019 after the group declared a caliphate across swathes of Syria and Iraq.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
White House says Trump open to meeting Putin and Zelensky
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is open to meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House said Wednesday. The meeting could take place as early as next week, The New York Times newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources. The possibility was discussed in a call between Trump and Zelensky that, according to a senior Ukrainian source, also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the leaders of Britain, Germany and Finland. It came after Washington's envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow for talks with Putin earlier in the day. 'The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the president is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky,' said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The New York Times reported that Trump intended to meet first with Putin, and then to follow that up with a three-way meeting involving the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. NATO and Ukrainian officials did not confirm the report when contacted by AFP. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump hailed the meeting between his envoy and Putin as 'highly productive,' but US officials said sanctions would still be imposed on Moscow's trading partners. Trump, who had boasted he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office, has given Russia until Friday to make progress toward peace or face new penalties.
Al Arabiya
6 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
No easy way out: Lebanon's disarmament plan puts Hezbollah in a corner
Lebanon's government has taken an unprecedented step by instructing the army to prepare a plan to disarm the country's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. For the first time since the 1989 Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon's 15-year civil war and led to the disarmament of all participating militias, the government has issued a formal decision aimed at removing Hezbollah's weapons. Hezbollah was the only armed group allowed to keep its weapons after the war, under the pretext of resisting Israeli occupation. The move strips Hezbollah's arms of the political legitimacy they once enjoyed. Successive governments had endorsed the so-called 'Army, People, and Resistance' formula in official policy statements – language that effectively enshrined Hezbollah's military role. This was during a period when Hezbollah was the country's most powerful political and military force, enjoying backing from Syria's former regime and Iran. But times have changed. The current government was formed amid a shift in political dynamics. Hezbollah emerged weakened after its latest war with Israel last year, while Tehran suffered major losses during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June. And the regime of Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah's key Syrian ally, has fallen. Past attempts to address Hezbollah's independent military infrastructure or its separate communication networks have sparked crises. In 2008, when the Lebanese government tried to dismantle Hezbollah's private telecommunications network, the group responded by storming parts of Beirut. Clashes with political opponents left more than 65 people dead. Since then, Hezbollah's weapons have remained a divisive political issue. One camp has consistently called for the state to monopolize all weapons and decision-making on war and peace. The other, led by Hezbollah, insists on keeping arms to confront Israel. Now, with the landscape shifting, the question is: What are Hezbollah's options? A 'grave sin' Hezbollah's initial response has been combative. The group rejected the government's disarmament decision, saying it would treat it 'as if it doesn't exist' and labeling it a 'grave sin.' Despite limited options, each path forward carries significant risks and costs for the group. Hezbollah could escalate politically by having its four ministers – and those from its ally Amal Movement – resign from government, thereby disrupting parliamentary work where they hold a strong bloc with allies. It might also mobilize supporters in the streets, possibly with visible displays of arms, to create an atmosphere of intimidation. An armed confrontation with the army is another possibility. But any internal confrontation would have major consequences for civil peace and Hezbollah's role in Lebanon, and would likely turn the majority of the Lebanese public against the militia, especially if it comes into direct conflict with the military. Clashing with the army David Wood, a Lebanon analyst at the International Crisis Group, told AFP he believes Hezbollah will do everything it can to avoid a military clash with the army, because it knows the majority of Lebanese would side with the army in such a confrontation. Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar dismissed the idea of a confrontation, saying that the army and Hezbollah 'have a strong understanding and cooperation in serving Lebanon's interests.' Still, Hezbollah could escalate tensions with Israel. But as military analyst Riad Kahwaji explains, such a war would be devastating. With supply lines compromised by the collapse of the Syrian regime and weakened intelligence and logistics capabilities, the group is in a poor position to fight. The optimistic scenario The most hopeful scenario would see Hezbollah eventually agreeing to disarm and fully enter civilian political life, much like other militias did after the civil war. But a Lebanese source familiar with the talks told AFP that Hezbollah won't do that without something in return. The group's decision will also depend heavily on Tehran's position. Nicholas Blanford, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, expects Hezbollah to try to buy time. He said it's unlikely Hezbollah agrees to complete disarmament. What's at stake for Lebanon? Lebanon is facing intense pressure from international and Arab donors to ensure that only the state holds weapons – one of several conditions for securing much-needed aid and stabilizing the country. President Joseph Aoun recently stated that Lebanese leaders must choose 'either collapse or stability.' Meanwhile, Israel may act militarily again. It has already issued multiple warnings through media and diplomatic channels, signaling it will not hesitate to launch destructive strikes if Hezbollah's disarmament is not enforced. Hezbollah emerged from its last war with Israel in a weakened state. Many of its commanders were killed, and much of its arsenal destroyed. Getting weapons and funding from Iran has also become far more difficult as Lebanon and Syria's new authorities tighten border controls and impose stricter financial regulations. Several of Hezbollah's funding sources in Lebanon and abroad are now under scrutiny and targeted by sanctions.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Syria signs $14bn in investment deals, including airport and subway projects
CAIRO: Syria signed 12 investment deals worth $14 billion on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, including infrastructure, transportation and real estate projects aimed at reviving the war-damaged economy. The agreements included a $4 billion deal for building a new airport in Damascus signed with Qatar's UCC holding, and a $2 billion deal to establish a subway in the Syrian capital with the UAE's national investment corporation. Other major developments include the $2 billion Damascus Towers project signed with Italy-based UBAKO. In July, Syria signed $6.4 billion of investments with Saudi Arabia as it seeks to rebuild after a 14-year civil war.
