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Arab Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Crackdown On Illegal Labour In Bahrain Leads To 242 Deportations
MANAMA, July 15: The Labour Market Regulatory Authority of Bahrain (LMRA) has announced the completion of 1,167 inspection campaigns and site visits across the Kingdom between June 29 and July 12, 2025. The operation led to the detention of 19 irregular workers and the deportation of 242 individuals found in violation of labour and residency regulations. According to the LMRA, the inspections uncovered a range of legal breaches related to the Labour Market Regulatory Law and Bahrain's Residency Law. Appropriate legal action has been initiated against those found in violation. A total of 1,146 inspections were carried out at various commercial establishments across all four governorates, supplemented by 21 joint campaigns. These included one in the Capital Governorate, seven in Muharraq, three in the Northern Governorate, and ten in the Southern Governorate. The coordinated efforts were conducted in collaboration with several government entities, including the Ministry of Interior—represented by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), the relevant police directorates, and the Coast Guard—as well as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Social Insurance Organization. The LMRA reiterated its commitment to ongoing collaboration with government bodies to intensify inspections across the Kingdom, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the stability, competitiveness, and legal integrity of the labour market. The authority stressed that such enforcement actions are crucial to preserving Bahrain's economic and social security. The LMRA also renewed its call for public cooperation in reporting illegal labour practices. Citizens and residents are encouraged to report violations through the online form available at by calling the LMRA call centre at 17506055, or by using the government's Tawasul platform for suggestions and complaints.
Euronews
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Syrian Druze leader accuses government of breaking ceasefire
A leader of Syria's Druze religious minority has accused the government of violating a ceasefire agreement aimed at halting deadly fighting between local militias and factions in the country's southern Sweida province. The clashes began over the weekend with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between members of local Sunni Bedouins and Druze armed factions in Sweida, a hub of the Druze community. Dozens of people have died and thousands have been displaced. Government security forces that were deployed to the city of Sweida — the provincial capital — on Monday to restore order also clashed with Druze armed groups. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said on Tuesday that at least 100 people had died in the fighting, including two children and 16 members of the security forces. In the early hours of Tuesday, the Druze spiritual leadership called for armed factions that have been clashing with government forces to surrender their weapons and cooperate with authorities as they entered the city. The initial statement called for armed factions in Sweida to "cooperate with the forces of the Ministry of Interior, not to resist their entry, and to hand over their weapons". The commander of Internal Security in Sweida Governorate, Ahmad al-Dalati, welcomed the statement and called for "all religious authorities and social activists to adopt a unified national stance". However, just hours later, influential Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri — who has been opposed to the new government in Damascus — released a video message saying that the minority's previous statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus. "They broke the promise and continued the indiscriminate shelling of unarmed civilians," al-Hajri said in the video message. "We are being subjected to a total war of annihilation," he said, urging Druze "to confront this barbaric campaign with all means available." Videos shared on social media showed armed fighters with Druze captives, inciting hateful slogans and beating them. Euronews could not independently verify the videos. Shortly after al-Hajri's video message was published, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra issued a statement announcing that a total ceasefire was in place, saying "we will respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups". Israeli intervention Clashes have on several occasions broken out between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in early December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Sunni insurgent groups. The latest round of fighting has raised fears of another spiral of violence, and also fuelled concerns about escalating Israeli intervention. The Israeli army said in a statement on Tuesday that it had struck several military vehicles in the Sweida region. An earlier joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the country was committed to protecting the Druze in Syria and was taking action to "prevent the Syrian regime from harming them". Israel has previously intervened in Syria in defence of the Druze minority. In Israel, Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the armed forces. The Druze — a group that split from Ismaili Shi'ism in the 10th century — are concentrated in Sweida and in certain Damascus suburbs such as Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. During Syria's 14-year civil war, Druze factions formed their own militias and have remained largely self-governed. While many Druze in Syria have said they do not want Israel to intervene on their behalf, factions from the minority have also been suspicious of the new authorities in Damascus.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Immediate strike': Netanyahu orders IDF to hit Syrian forces in Sweida; cites threat to Druze community
Image used for representative purposes Israel's armed forces announced they were conducting strikes against military vehicles of Syrian government forces in Sweida, southern Syria, following reports from Syrian state media about a fresh attack on the predominantly Druze city. "A short while ago, the (Israeli army) began striking military vehicles belonging to Syrian regime forces in the area of Sweida in southern Syria, " a military statement said, quoted by AFP, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said they had ordered the army to "immediately strike regime forces and weaponry that were brought into the Sweida region in the the Druze mountains in Syria in order to carry out operations against the Druze." Israel has adopted an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders following the ousting of former President Bashar Assad during a rapid rebel offensive led by Sunni Islamist insurgent groups in December last year, stating it did not want militants near its borders. Israeli forces seized a UN-patrolled buffer zone on Syrian territory along the border with the Golan Heights and launched hundreds of airstrikes on military sites in Syria. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Signs That A Heart Attack Is Imminent Learn It Wise Undo Earlier Tuesday, religious leaders of the Druze community in Syria called for armed factions clashing with govt forces to surrender their weapons and cooperate with authorities as they entered the provincial capital of Sweida. One of the main religious authorities later released a video statement retracting the call. The initial statement urged armed factions in Sweida to 'cooperate with the forces of the Ministry of Interior, not to resist their entry, and to hand over their weapons to the Ministry of Interior.' It also called for 'opening a dialogue with the Syrian govt to address the repercussions of the events.' Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, commander of Internal Security in Sweida Governorate, welcomed the statement and called for 'all religious authorities and social activists to adopt a unified national stance that supports the Ministry of Interior's measures to extend state authority and achieve security throughout the province.' Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader opposed to the govt in Damascus, stated in a video message that the previous statement by Druze leaders had been issued after an agreement with the authorities in Damascus but 'they broke the promise and continued the indiscriminate shelling of unarmed civilians.' 'We are being subjected to a total war of annihilation,' he said.
Western Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Ceasefire announced after dozens killed in Syrian sectarian clashes
The announcement came a day after sectarian clashes that killed dozens, and after a state-run news agency report that Israel had launched a strike in the area. Defence minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement that after an 'agreement with the city's notables and dignitaries, we will respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups'. The clashes began with a series of tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between members of local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community. Clashes erupted between Sunni Bedouin clans and Druze militias (Ghaith Alsayed/AP) Government security forces that were sent in on Monday to restore order also clashed with Druze armed groups. During the day, Israel struck a Syrian government military tank and said it was acting to protect the Druze religious minority. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the armed forces. State-run news agency SANA did not give any details about Tuesday's strike. However, the Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel struck a tank belonging to the Syrian military as forces began to move in deeper into Sweida city. Earlier on Tuesday, religious leaders of the Druze community in Syria called for armed factions that have been clashing with government forces to surrender their weapons and cooperate with authorities as they entered the provincial capital of Sweida. One of the main religious authorities later released a video statement retracting the call. The initial statement called for armed factions in Sweida to 'cooperate with the forces of the Ministry of Interior, not to resist their entry, and to hand over their weapons to the Ministry of Interior'. The statement also called for 'opening a dialogue with the Syrian government to address the repercussions of the events.' The commander of Internal Security in Sweida Governorate, Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, welcomed the statement and called for 'all religious authorities and social activists to adopt a unified national stance that supports the Ministry of Interior's measures to extend state authority and achieve security throughout the province'. Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader who has been opposed to the government in Damascus, said in a video message that the previous statement by Druze leaders had been issued after an agreement with the authorities in Damascus but 'they broke the promise and continued the indiscriminate shelling of unarmed civilians'. 'We are being subjected to a total war of annihilation,' he said. Some videos on social media had showed armed fighters with Druze captives, inciting sectarian slogans and beating them. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed in 1981. Clashes have on several occasions broken out between forces loyal to the government and Druze fighters since the fall of President Bashar Assad in early December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Sunni Islamist insurgent groups.
Arab Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Syria's Druze Heartland Hit by Clashes and Shelling
BUSRA AL-HARIR, Syria (AP), July 15: Syria's defence minister announced a ceasefire shortly after government forces entered a key city in Sweida province on Tuesday. The announcement came a day after sectarian clashes that killed dozens, and after a state-run news agency report that Israel had launched a strike in the area. Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement that after an 'agreement with the city's notables and dignitaries, we will respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups.' The clashes began with a series of tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between members of local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a center of the Druze community. Government security forces that were sent in on Monday to restore order also clashed with Druze armed groups. During the day, Israel struck Syrian government military tank and said it was acting to protect the Druze religious minority. In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the armed forces. State-run news agency SANA did not give any details about Tuesday's strike. However, the Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel struck a tank belonging to the Syrian military as forces began to move in deeper into Sweida city. There was no immediate statement from the Israeli military. Earlier Tuesday, religious leaders of the Druze community in Syria called for armed factions that have been clashing with government forces to surrender their weapons and cooperate with authorities as they entered the provincial capital of Sweida. One of the main religious authorities later released a video statement retracting the call. The initial statement called for armed factions in Sweida to 'cooperate with the forces of the Ministry of Interior, not to resist their entry, and to hand over their weapons to the Ministry of Interior.' The statement also called for 'opening a dialogue with the Syrian government to address the repercussions of the events.' The commander of Internal Security in Sweida Governorate, Brig. Gen. Ahmad al-Dalati, welcomed the statement and called for 'all religious authorities and social activists to adopt a unified national stance that supports the Ministry of Interior's measures to extend state authority and achieve security throughout the province.' Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader who has been opposed to the government in Damascus, said in a video message that the previous statement by Druze leaders had been issued after an agreement with the authorities in Damascus but 'they broke the promise and continued the indiscriminate shelling of unarmed civilians.' 'We are being subjected to a total war of annihilation,' he said. Some videos on social media had showed armed fighters with Druze captives, inciting sectarian slogans and beating them. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
