Truce and threats, what's next in the Israel-Iran conflict?
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The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Syrian army plans to seize eastern provinces if Kurds fail to co-operate
The Syrian military is planning a major offensive by October to capture two main provinces on the Euphrates River from a mostly Kurdish militia that has refused to submit to Damascus, security sources told The National. If the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) does not hand over the bulk of its territorial possessions, a Syrian attack force of 50,000 being assembled near the desert city of Palmyra will sweep north and capture the governorates of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor with support from their overwhelmingly Arab tribal populations, the sources said. One of the sources, who holds a sensitive security position in Syria and requested anonymity, said the offensive would not go ahead 'without an American green light'. Another key would be ensuring non-intervention by Israel, which last month bombed Damascus to repulse a government offensive on the southern provincial capital of Sweida. US-sponsored talks have failed to make progress in bridging differences between the two sides. The secular SDF is increasingly being seen as recalcitrant in Washington by not handing any significant powers to Damascus, the source said – a view closer to that of Turkey, which wants the SDF's demise. Deadly clashes Re-establishing central control of SDF territory has emerged as a major obstacle to stabilisation since the removal of former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad in December by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), an al Qaeda splinter group now in control of the state. Deadly clashes have increased between the SDF and forces loyal to Damascus since the US-sponsored talks between the two sides faltered last month. The two sides signed a deal in March to integrate the SDF into the Syrian army, but relations have soured since then. At Saudi and Turkish urgings, the US embarked in May on normalisation with Damascus. President Donald Trump met President Ahmad Al Shara in Riyadh, giving a glimpse of a potential alliance that could weaken Iran and Russia, and their allies in the Middle East. Staging grounds Another source said that staging grounds for the offensive are being prepared in the desert areas of Rasafah, on the road between Palmyra to Raqqa, and in Sukhnah, which links Palmyra with Deir Ezzor. Turkish proxies in the governorate of Aleppo, now part of the new Syrian army, would move against SDF positions east of the Euphrates river, near Tishreen Dam, once the multipronged attack begins. In the past eight years of the Syrian civil war, Turkey had carved out a zone in northern Syria, reliant on rebel allies now in power in Damascus, to limit the territorial expansion of the SDF. Arab tribesmen, thousands of whom had joined the SDF, would be expected to turn against the group at the start of military action, the source said. Around 30 per cent of the 70,000 core SDF members are members of Arab tribes. 'They have so many scores to settle with the Kurds,' the source said, referring to an SDF land grab of Arab areas since the US set up the Kurdish force in 2015 as the main ground component in the war against ISIS in Syria. Even a major advance by the government would leave the SDF with the province of Hasakah, where the Kurdish population is significant. Raqqa and Deir Ezzor are overwhelmingly Arab. The Kurds account for around 10 per cent of Syria's 23.8 million population, according to the CIA's World Factbook. However, currently SDF-held areas account for most of Syria's output of commodities, electrical power, and energy. US State Department officials have been urging the SDF to compromise, although it is seen as retaining strong support within US security branches. The SDF wants a federal system, an anathema Damascus, and to remain as a single unit, even if its joins the Syrian army. During the civil war, Russia, Iran, Turkey and the US built their own zones of influence in the country. But only Turkish and American forces have remained in Syria. Most of an estimated 20,000 Turkish force are deployed near SDF area, while the 1,000 American troops are mainly on bases within SDF territory.
Middle East Eye
7 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Libyans turn out for elections as officials condemn 'unacceptable' obstructions
Hundreds of thousands of Libyans went to the polls on Saturday as officials condemned "unacceptable" obstructions that prevented voting in some areas. Fifty cities across the fractured country, including the capital Tripoli, took part in the elections. Polling stations opened as early as 9am [7am GMT] for the 380,000 registered voters, with security provided in the west by the interior ministry of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU). The High National Election Commission (HNEC) said voting had been postponed in several polling stations after incidents and irregularities were reported. Libya remains divided between two authorities. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli, leads the internationally recognised GNU, while the east is controlled by Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces. After a first phase in November across 58 cities, voting was scheduled to take place in 63 municipalities - 41 in the west, 13 in the east and 9 in the south. But the HNEC was forced to suspend the election at the end of July in 11 cities after reports of "irregularities". New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In a statement on Saturday, Dbeibah praised those who came out to vote and criticised the reported disruption. 'There is no doubt that obstructing the electoral process, preventing it in a number of municipalities within this phase, and blocking citizens from reaching the ballot boxes to choose those who will manage their local affairs is an unacceptable act. It puts those responsible to the test regarding future entitlements, including parliamentary and presidential elections," he said. 'Direct elections remain our firm vision and the only option we seek to realise across the entire country. They are the path to overcoming political division and ending the long and burdensome transitional stages that have weighed heavily on our nation and our people.' On Saturday, HNEC said voting had been postponed in seven municipalities until 23 August after arson attacks destroyed election materials in Zawiya and Sahel al-Gharbi. The commission also reported an 'armed attack' on its offices in Zliten, 150km from Tripoli, on Tuesday. Dbeibah was appointed in 2021 as a consensus prime minister with a mandate to lead Libya into elections that never took place. Since then, there have been regular protests against his rule. Libya has been divided since the Nato-led removal of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The civil war became a proxy conflict with Russia, the UAE, Egypt and France backing Haftar and Turkey supporting the government in Tripoli.
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Netanyahu is a 'problem', Danish PM says in comments criticising Gaza war
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'problem', in a rare direct criticism of the Israeli leader over the continuing war in Gaza. "Netanyahu is now a problem in himself," Ms Frederiksen told the Jyllands-Posten daily in an interview published on Saturday, and added that his government was going "too far". Ms Frederiksen said she would try to put pressure on Israel over the 'absolutely appalling and catastrophic' humanitarian situation in Gaza as her country currently holds the EU presidency. 'We are one of the countries that wants to increase pressure on Israel, but we have not yet obtained the support of EU members,' she said. Israel's government has drawn increasing condemnation over the war, including from its allies, but Ms Frederiksen's comments are a rare instance of a world leader directly blaming Mr Netanyahu. Health authorities in the Palestinian enclave have reported more than 61,800 people killed over more than 22 months, most of them civilian, and Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid have led to widespread hunger and more than 1,800 deaths among desperate crowds trying to collect food. The Danish Prime Minister also criticised an Israeli decision this week to proceed with a controversial plan to build settlements in area of the occupied West Bank known as "E1", which would effectively divide the Palestinian territory. Switzerland also criticised the decision on Saturday, saying the move would violate international law and undermines the prospects for a two-state solution. The Israeli government last week approved plans for the military, which currently controls about 75 per cent of Gaza, to launch an assault on Gaza city that would force about one million residents, about half the population, to move south into an area already packed with people displaced from their homes. Residents have reported heavy bombardment in the Al Zeitoun area in the city's south in recent days. The Israeli army said it was conducting a range of operations on the outskirts of Gaza city, leaving thousands of residents trapped with no escape. The Israeli military continues to carry out attacks across the entire coastal strip, with heavy bombardment early on Saturday that targeted densely populated residential areas in the north and south, the Palestinian state news agency Wafa reported. Dozens were killed including children and women and others injured in central and southern Gaza, where the Israeli army targeted several areas housing displaced Palestinians, Wafa said. Civilians seeking aid were also targeted, with at least two killed near a food distribution site in the southern Rafah area that is run by a US and Israel-backed group called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). At least 16 people seeking aid were killed on Friday, many of them were near GHF sites, which the UN has described as "death traps". According to the UN human rights office, 994 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid near GHF sites between May 27, when it began operations, and August 13, while another 766 were killed along the routes of supply convoys. "Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military," the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said. Wafa reported that another Palestinian child starved to death in Gaza on Friday, increasing the number of deaths from hunger and malnutrition to 240, including 107 children, according to Gaza's health ministry said. At least 112 children are admitted for treatment of malnutrition every day in Gaza, the UN children's agency, Unicef, said on Saturday. The war began with an attack by Palestinian militants from Gaza, led by the Islamist group Hamas, on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed in the raids on southern Israel, and about 250 others taken back to Gaza as hostages. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and is demanding that the group disarm and hand over about 50 hostages still in captivity, of whom 20 are believed to be still alive, in exchange for a ceasefire. Israel insists that Hamas have no role in the postwar governance of Gaza, while also refusing to allow it to be administered by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank. Far right members of Mr Netanyahu's government are calling for the territory to be taken over by Israel, 20 years after Israel pulled out.
