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Rudaw Net
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Tribal clash in Duhok's Akre district injures police officer, one individual
Also in Kurdistan Shopkeepers of Sulaimani blaze to receive compensation within a week: KRG deputy prime minister Over 24,000 Kurdish retirees struggle amid pension certification delays: Union representative Rescue teams intensify efforts to find missing woman in Erbil province One killed in Sidakan landmine blast A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two people, including a police officer, have been injured in a tribal conflict that erupted in Duhok province's district of Akre on Sunday. As of the time of writing, no fatalities had been reported, but the fighting was still ongoing in Girdasen sub-district, southwest of Akre. The mayor of Girdasen, Ahmed Suleiman, told Rudaw that the clashes were sparked by 'a social dispute' between two families in Akre's Girdasen sub-district, but escalated into 'heavy gun fighting among the two sides.' The mayor urged residents to stay indoors and avoid the scene of the clashes, adding that security forces were working to contain the situation. Suleiman further elaborated that 'three families had relocated from the area a few months ago due to the ongoing conflict, but they have since returned and resumed their fighting.' In addition to the two injuries, two vehicles caught fire, the mayor said. The widespread availability of firearms in the Kurdistan Region remains a significant concern. With the booming black market for weapons, including sniper rifles and machine guns, an estimated 70 percent of the region's population owns firearms. Despite the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) efforts to regulate gun ownership, shootings continue to pose a security challenge.
Middle East Eye
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
‘We've come back from hell': Sudanese jubilant after army retakes Khartoum from RSF militia
The streets of Khartoum erupted in celebration on Tuesday after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) declared the city free from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. RSF had occupied much of the Sudanese capital for the past two years of its devastating conflict with the SAF, seizing homes and displacing thousands. Following intense street battles, the SAF officially announced its control over Khartoum, sparking jubilant scenes among those who remained in the city. Sudanese displaced to other states and refugees in neighbouring countries also welcomed the news, hoping for a long-awaited return home. As news of the SAF reclaiming Khartoum spread, hundreds of residents who had remained in the city poured onto the streets in celebration. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Mohamed Obaid, 40, from Nile East - a former RSF stronghold - described the terror of survival under occupation. 'I stayed indoors for days without food, too afraid to step outside,' he recounted to Middle East Eye. 'I don't even want to remember those days. You could die at any moment for no reason. 'If you received money from a relative through mobile banking, it was risky to go outside and collect it - they were everywhere, ready to loot your phone,' he added. 'If you managed to reach a Starlink shop to exchange money, you'd find RSF fighters running the place, seizing 30 percent of your cash for no reason. They controlled all supplies and sold them at outrageous prices.' 'The RSF looted, tortured, humiliated, lashed, and did every possible evil to us. I can't believe they're gone' - Ahmed Suleiman In the Al Daim neighbourhood, in the heart of Khartoum, 56-year-old Ahmed Suleiman had been trapped in his home for two years, cut off from food and basic necessities. 'We have witnessed unimaginable torture during this period. We did nothing wrong- except that we didn't have enough money to flee,' Suleiman told MEE, his voice heavy with emotion. 'The RSF looted, tortured, humiliated, lashed, and did every possible evil to us.' 'I can't believe they're gone. We've come back from hell.' Emad Hassan, who fled to Cairo when the conflict erupted, told MEE: 'It's unbelievable. The 26th of Ramadan was the same day the war broke out two years ago - and now, on this very same day, Khartoum is free again.' 'I never thought I'd use this key again,' said Hassan, 37, waving the key to his long-abandoned home in Khartoum. Hassan compared his experience to that of Palestinian refugees, forced from their homes but never giving up the hope of return. 'They still carry the keys to their houses wherever they go. We Sudanese love our land. We will return. The RSF expelled us in the most humiliating way, but we will come back.' Sudanese exiles in Cairo and other capitals worldwide have joined in the celebrations, seeing the fall of RSF control in Khartoum as the first step towards reclaiming their homes. Fighters return home While many Sudanese have been waiting with the keys to their homes, others have taken up arms, joining the fight alongside the SAF to reclaim their city. Among them is Amar Sid Ahmed, a fighter who finally set foot in his home on Tuesday after two years of war. Amar is a member of the Islamist group Al-Bara Ibn Malik, which has been fighting alongside the SAF since Sudan's Sovereign Council leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ordered the opening of military camps for young Sudanese to defend themselves. People take to the streets of Port Sudan to celebrate the taking the capital Khartoum by the army from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, on 26 March 2025 (AFP) The 35-year-old, originally from the Al-Kalakla Al-Guba neighbourhood in southern Khartoum, entered his home in full military uniform - a sight unseen for the past two years. Many fighters like him had not seen their families in that time, while others had only visited in secret, fearing RSF reprisals. 'I thank God that we have finally returned to our homes after years of displacement and humiliation, both inside and outside Sudan. We deserve to live with dignity,' Amar told MEE from outside his house in Al-Kalakla. 'Even before the army chief officially declared Khartoum free of RSF, I rushed to see my family. I missed them so much, and they welcomed me with ululations and pride.' Symbolic return Two years ago, SAF commander al-Burhan found himself in a desperate situation. RSF forces had surrounded him and his top officers, nearly capturing them as they seized control of most of Khartoum. Al-Burhan managed to escape the besieged SAF headquarters in August 2023 using undisclosed tactics after four months of entrapment. His dramatic exit fuelled numerous rumours - some claimed he was airlifted by special forces, while others speculated that he swam underwater across the Nile to reach Omdurman, where SAF still held territory. 'Right now, returning is impossible. There is no security, no healthcare, no education, no electricity - nothing' - Sabry Alhassan At the time, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagalo and his deputy and brother, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, mocked al-Burhan, claiming he was merely hiding in the SAF headquarters' basement. Al-Burhan himself later revealed that RSF fighters stormed his house on 15 April 2023, killing 30 of his men. Fast forward to today, and al-Burhan's return to Khartoum is in stark contrast to his former position. Now appearing confident and victorious, he arrived in the capital aboard a military helicopter, greeted by cheering troops. His first stop was Khartoum International Airport, a symbolic move meant to demonstrate that the city is once again under SAF control. Despite recent RSF drone attacks on the presidential palace - one of which killed army officers and journalists - al-Burhan insisted on addressing the nation from inside the palace. Standing at the heart of Khartoum, he declared: "Khartoum is free now. This matter is finished." Fragile victory Despite the jubilant scenes, for many displaced Sudanese, the situation remains too volatile to risk returning home. Sabry Alhassan, who fled Khartoum for Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast after the war erupted, told MEE he still fears going back. 'I want to return to Khartoum, but I'm afraid. The insecurity, the possibility of another RSF attack, and the risk of renewed war make it too dangerous.' Sudanese army takes control of airport, forcing RSF out of central Khartoum Read More » Beyond the security risks, Alhassan pointed out the severe lack of basic services. 'Right now, returning is impossible. There is no security, no healthcare, no education, no electricity - nothing. The city is heavily polluted, and the conditions are extremely difficult.' Once a symbol of beauty at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, the capital now bears the scars of war - widespread destruction, streets littered with debris, and homes filled with tragic stories. Dead bodies of civilians and soldiers alike serve as grim reminders of the suffering endured. And despite the SAF's success, uncertainty lingers over the sustainability of its control. The RSF has vowed to regroup and launch further attacks, while fighting continues in the regions of Kordofan and Darfur. Many fear that the battle for Khartoum is far from over. The RSF has denied losing control of Khartoum, claiming instead that its forces conducted a 'tactical withdrawal' from the capital. RSF adviser Albash Tibaig stated in a press release that the paramilitary group remains in 'top form' and fully prepared to continue fighting against the SAF. On the same day that SAF declared the retaking of Khartoum, the RSF announced the practical launch of its military alliance with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdul Aziz Al-Hilu. The two groups had signed a political agreement last month in Nairobi, Kenya, with the RSF declaring a parallel 'peace and unity' government in the territories it controls. The conflict between SAF and RSF, which started in April 2023, killed at least 150,000 people in hostilities that have been marked by allegations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings. Some 12 million have been forced to flee their homes, and over half the population is currently facing "high levels of acute food insecurity", according to the UN.
Shafaq News
13-03-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Syria on Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline revival: Not a Priority
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Syrian Transitional Government revealed that it has not held talks with Iraq about oil imports or the revival of a long-dormant pipeline. 'There are no negotiations with Iraq or Saudi Arabia to import oil,' Ahmed Suleiman, Director of Public Relations at Syria's Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, told the Washington-based Energy Platform, adding that Syria procures crude oil through tender announcements to secure the most reliable supplies. Suleiman also affirmed that the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, which connects Iraq's Kirkuk oil fields to Syria's Baniyas port, remains inactive and is not currently a priority for either government. Inaugurated in 1952, the 800-kilometer pipeline, which has a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, requires extensive rehabilitation, particularly on the Syrian side, where the country's energy infrastructure has suffered significant damage since the war erupted in 2011. It operated sporadically before being shut down in 2010 after sustaining severe damage from attacks by the Global Coalition in Iraq and Syria.
Al-Ahram Weekly
23-02-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria Kurds resume oil deliveries to govt-held areas: Ministry official - Region
Kurdish-led authorities in northeastern Syria have resumed oil deliveries to government-held areas for the first time since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow, an oil ministry official said on Saturday. The contracts between the two sides were "adjusted to align with the interests of the Syrian people and exports resumed" a couple of days ago, ministry official Ahmed Suleiman told AFP. He said the contracts signed under Assad's rule had been "very unfair", without elaborating on the details. He said the deal involved 150,000 barrels of crude and one million cubic metres of gas per day. Later Saturday, he told the official SANA news agency the new contracts were valid "for a period of three months initially". Contacted by AFP, Kurdish officials declined to comment. The Kurdish authorities control much of the oil-rich northeast, where they have enjoyed de facto autonomy since the early 2010s. Syria's new rulers, who are close to Ankara, have urged all armed groups including the Kurdish administration's de facto army, the Syrian Democratic Forces, to hand over their weapons and have rejected Kurdish autonomy. Turkish-backed groups have been attacking SDF positions in northern Syria since November with no sign of any let-up. The US-backed SDF spearheaded the military campaign that ousted Islamic State group from their last territory in Syria in 2019. But Turkey accuses its main component, the People's Protection Units (YPG), of being affiliated with the outlawed PKK, which has waged a four-decade insurgency against the Turkish state. Short link:
Ya Libnan
23-02-2025
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Syria's Kurds began supplying oil to Damascus, oil ministry says
BEIRUT, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria have begun providing oil from local fields they manage to the central government in Damascus, Syrian oil ministry spokesman Ahmed Suleiman told Reuters on Saturday. It was the first public acknowledgement of internal oil deliveries from Syria's oil-rich northeast to the Islamist-run government installed after former leader Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in December. Suleiman said the oil was from fields in the provinces of Hasakeh and Deir el-Zor and that the deliveries took place based on an amended version of a previous arrangement between the Assad government and Kurdish authorities. He said Syria's new leaders had changed articles in that deal that had 'served the interests of people linked to the Assad regime'. A source in the Syrian Ministry of Oil revealed, in a statement to Al Jazeera, 'We will receive 15,000 barrels of oil per day from the Syrian Democratic Forces.' Syria exported 380,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) in 2010, a year before protests against Assad's rule spiralled into a nearly 14-year war that devastated the country's economy and infrastructure – including its oil. Oilfields changed hands multiple times, with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ultimately capturing the key northeast fields, although U.S. and European sanctions made both legitimate exports and imports difficult. The United States issued a six-month sanctions exemption in January allowing some energy transactions and the European Union is set to suspend its sanctions related to energy, transport and reconstruction. In the interim, Syria is seeking to import oil via local intermediaries after its first post-Assad import tenders garnered little interest from major traders due to sanctions and financial risks, several trade sources told Reuters. The internal oil trade is also a key part of talks between the northeast region and the new authorities in Damascus, which want to bring all regions in Syria under centralized control. Sources said the SDF would likely need to relinquish control of oil revenues as part of any settlement. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said last month that his force was open to handing over responsibility for oil resources to the new administration, provided the wealth was distributed fairly to all provinces. Reuters
