Latest news with #GlobalCoalition
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Joint anti-ISIS operation in Aleppo kills Iraqi commander
Shafaq News - Damascus Syrian forces, supported by the US-led Global Coalition, targeted ISIS cells in a raid in the city of al-Bab in eastern Aleppo province, security sources reported on Friday. The joint operation involved units from the Syrian Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior, backed by military helicopters. Four suspects were killed during the raid, including a senior Iraqi commander affiliated with ISIS. Before clashes erupted, security units used loudspeakers to call on the suspects to surrender. Roads leading to the area were sealed off, while reconnaissance drones and aircraft patrolled overhead. The identities of those killed have not been released.
Shafaq News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani with Estonia DM: Terrorism fight on table
Shafaq News – Erbil On Wednesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur to discuss security cooperation. According to a statement from the Presidency, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties in defense and counterterrorism, with both sides highlighting Estonia's contribution within the Global Coalition against ISIS. سهرۆك نێچيرڤان بارزانى لهگهڵ وهزيرى بهرگريى ئيستۆنيا كۆبووهوه — Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 16, 2025 Barzani expressed appreciation for Estonia's support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, reaffirming his commitment to expanding cooperation in all sectors. Pevkur, in turn, praised the Region's efforts in fighting terrorism and underscored his country's interest in deepening relations with both Erbil and Baghdad. The meeting also covered regional developments, including the situation in Syria, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and other shared concerns.
Shafaq News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Drone intercepted near Coalition base in northern Iraq
Shafaq News – Al-Sulaymaniyah Kurdish security forces shot down an unidentified drone on Thursday as it approached a military installation in al-Sulaymaniyah province in Iraqi Kurdistan, that hosts units of the US-led Global Coalition, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at approximately 10:25 pm local time, when surveillance units of the 70th Brigade detected a drone operating in restricted airspace near the base. 'There were no casualties or material damage,' said Maj. Gen. Ahmed Latif, spokesperson for the 70th Brigade. 'The drone's origin and objective remain unknown at this time.' Latif added that a technical investigation has been launched to determine whether the drone was part of a reconnaissance operation or intended to carry out an attack. No group has claimed responsibility.
Shafaq News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Foreign warnings urge Iraqis to avoid escalation against US-Led Coalition
Shafaq News – Baghdad Several Iraqi politicians have received warning messages from international sources urging them not to support or facilitate attacks against the US-led Global Coalition forces, a security expert told Shafaq News on Thursday. Saif Raad, a security and strategic affairs analyst, said that beginning last Saturday, a select group of Iraqi political figures received text messages on their personal phones warning of serious consequences if any attacks were carried out against coalition troops operating in Iraq. According to Raad, the messages included statements such as: 'Warning to Iranian militias. Any attacks on coalition forces will be met with a swift and decisive response,' and 'Iranian militias continue to endanger Iraqis… do not become puppets in Iran's hands.' He added that the texts were followed by voice calls repeating similar warnings. The term 'Iranian militias' commonly refers to Iraqi armed factions aligned with or backed by Iran, many of which are part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella organization officially affiliated with the Iraqi state but composed of various groups with differing loyalties. Iraqi authorities have yet to issue any official response to the reported messages. These developments follow a wave of simultaneous drone attacks across multiple areas in Iraq — including Kirkuk, Baiji, Duhok, and al-Sulaymaniyah — as regional tensions intensified after a 12-day escalation between Iran and Israel. While no direct attacks were recorded on US military installations in Iraq during that period, US forces intercepted drones targeting the Ain al-Asad Air Base in al-Anbar Province. Despite their vocal support for Iran during the recent conflict, Iran-aligned Iraqi groups did not escalate their military posture significantly, maintaining a relatively restrained stance amid the regional standoff.
Arab News
29-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
How news from the Middle East is shaping Gen Z's mental well-being
DUBAI: Gen Z — those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s — consumes more news than any other type of content, according to a new study unveiled by the UNICEF-led Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health — a finding that many may find surprising. What is less surprising, however, is the emotional toll that constant exposure to global headlines appears to be taking on young people. The study, based on a survey of more than 5,600 people aged 14 to 25 globally, found that 60 percent of Zoomers reported feeling overwhelmed by the news. Despite these pressures, they remain determined to contribute to shaping a better future. In a statement to Arab News, Dr. Zeinab Hijazi, UNICEF's global lead on mental health, said such anxieties are shaped by a combination of geopolitical conflict, climate and ecological crisis, and economic uncertainty. 'For many, especially young people, the weight of these overlapping crises is not abstract — it's deeply personal, showing up in their minds, their bodies, and their sense of hope for the future,' said Hijazi. The study, which was unveiled at the Social Innovation Summit in San Francisco, raises concerns that feelings of being overwhelmed and disempowered may be eroding young people's sense of agency. This is hindering their ability to help shape the future they envision for themselves and generations to come. This impact on mental health is compounded, the study states, by inadequate support and services available to young people. 'It can feel as though we are caught in a constant storm of challenges, with little control over the forces shaping our world,' said Hijazi. Given its serious repercussions, Hijazi emphasized that mental health should not be treated as a side effect of global disruption, but as a central pillar of collective efforts to empower youth in shaping a better future. While Gen Z tends to feel connected and engaged with world events, around 67 percent of the global cohort reported feeling overwhelmed after exposure to news or events in the world, more than news in their country (60 percent) or their community (40 percent). Escalating geopolitical tensions and instability in the Middle East, particularly since the onset of Israel's latest war on Gaza in 2023, have raised concerns among analysts about the long-term impact on youth and the potential for fomenting extremism in times of unrest and uncertainty. Psychologists and media analysts believe that exposure to such news through social media platforms also increases the emotional toll on young users. Dr. Shaima Al-Fardan, a UAE-based clinical psychologist, highlighted the impact of constant exposure to news and endless scrolling on youth development. 'It can isolate youth from real-life social interactions, which in turn hinders the development of essential social skills. It also consistently heightens negative emotions, reinforcing those emotional patterns over time.' According to Attest, a consumer research platform, social media platforms serve as the primary news source for Gen Z. About 43 percent said they rely on social media for daily news, with TikTok leading for 21 percent of users. While instant access to content across digital platforms can broaden young people's awareness of global events, Al-Fardan warned that it also exposes them to misinformation and propaganda. 'It is important to be taught to be critical about news they consume at this time due to their brain development, as they have still not been able to fully form the part of their brain that is responsible for rational decision-making in order to form solid opinions,' she said. However, she observed that while young people often respond with strong initial reactions, they may quickly become desensitized. 'Social media has created a culture of following trends, which makes engagement inconsistent,' she said. The short, fast-paced nature of social media content may intensify young people's negative emotional responses to world events. Elizabeth Matar, assistant professor and chair of Media and Mass Communication at the American University in the Emirates, told Arab News social media platforms have expanded information sources but not necessarily deepened users' understanding, especially on evolving issues. 'When users are following the news from a media outlet on social media, they only get a headline with an image or video clip and a caption, which does not give the full nuance from reading a full article,' said Matar. 'This is causing a problem because it just feels like headlines and just information coming in without understanding much of the context or forming an ability to piece it together.' She added that this 'flood of information,' compounded by inputs from non-traditional news sources such as citizen journalists, can lead to a general sense of uncertainty, deepened by the limited depth of understanding. 'The quality, in contrast to quantity, of engagement with the news must be monitored,' said Matar. 'Only then we can understand if deeper engagement with content would have the same negative effect.' Despite growing awareness and open conversations around mental health in the digital age, many young people continue to face stigma and limited access to support services — even as their familiarity with the topic increases. A UNICEF-led study found that 40 percent of respondents felt stigmatized when speaking openly about mental health in schools and workplaces, while only half said they knew where to access relevant support resources. Despite resource availability, the study findings showed that many young people still lacked clarity on where to turn for help and how to build effective coping skills. Al-Fardan said that access to mental health resources remains limited due to affordability and lack of insurance. She also observed a lack of understanding about what psychotherapy involves. 'There is a limited amount of culturally attuned, affordable, skilled therapists around as well,' she said. 'In addition, many people are either unaware or hesitant to share their views, particularly when it comes to processing political information during times of unrest.' Warning of the long-term impact of unguided online news consumption, Al-Fardan said: 'Without boundaries on excessive scrolling, negative thought patterns in the brain can be reinforced, influencing one's outlook on life and overall functioning. 'This can contribute to mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, increased social isolation, and a lack of essential skills needed to integrate into society.' Education and media literacy are key to addressing these challenges, along with building healthy habits, monitoring exposure, and setting boundaries around social media use. UNICEF's Hijazi stressed that ensuring mental health support for young people should be a responsibility shared by governments, schools, employers and the private sector. 'Understanding perception is the first step toward meaningful action,' she said. 'If we can listen more deeply — not just to the facts, but to the feelings — we can begin to design and scale solutions that are grounded in empathy and centered on human well-being.'
