US Boosts Efforts to ‘Unite Kurds’ in Eastern Euphrates

William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press
William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press
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US Boosts Efforts to ‘Unite Kurds’ in Eastern Euphrates

William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press
William Roebuck meets Kurdish party leaders | SDF Press

The US has intensified meetings with leaders from the Kurdish groups in Syria to ‘unite’ the Kurds and establish a joint civil administration and a Kurdish delegation to take part in international talks on the Syria crisis.

US Ambassador William Roebuck, who is currently the Deputy Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, met this month with leaders from the Democratic Union Party and the Movement for a Democratic Society.

Roebuck also convened with the presidency of the Kurdish National Council and commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi.

Also two days ago, he had two separate meetings with representatives of the Kurdish National Alliance in Syria and the Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the meetings discussed progress with the initiative to unite Kurdish parties following the Turkish attack and seizure of Tel Abyad and Ras al Ain.

For his part, Abdi expressed optimism while some sources ruled out any possibility of reaching a final agreement between the two parties.

Sources added that sovereign positions will likely be handled by the Democratic Union Party and the Movement for a Democratic Society. Also, a joint military command will be formed and a map will be prepared showing the deployment of fighters in certain zones.

Moreover, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that US forces conducted a military patrol, setting off from Tal Baydar base in rural Al-Hasakah and touring the area of Al-Derbasiya. The Observatory stated that the US forces intend to take the task of protecting oil fields and pipelines in eastern Euphrates away from the “Self Defence Forces” and put SDF fighters in charge.



Israeli Strike Kills Five People in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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Israeli Strike Kills Five People in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

An Israeli airstrike killed at least five Palestinians who confronted an anti-Hamas militia at a refugee camp in central Gaza Strip on Tuesday, health officials said.

Medics and residents said an Israeli drone fired a missile at people who came out of their homes when an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia tried to storm an area east of Maghazi camp.

As well as at least five fatalities, several people ⁠were injured, they said, according to Reuters.

The Israeli ⁠military, which has been fighting Hamas in the Palestinian territory since October 2023, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Incursions by Israeli-backed armed gangs, whom Hamas brands "Israeli collaborators,” have escalated ⁠in past weeks.

Leaders of those groups, who operate in areas under Israeli control, say they aim to topple Hamas rule.

An October ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump, has failed to halt Israeli attacks in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas are deadlocked in indirect talks over implementing the second phase of the deal, which includes the group's disarmament and ⁠Israeli ⁠army withdrawals.

The ceasefire left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, with Hamas controlling a sliver of coastal territory.

Some 900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce came into effect, according to figures from Gaza health officials that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period, the country's military has said.


Israel Escalates... Threatens to Bomb Beirut

Firefighters work at a strike scene in southern Lebanon, following an Israeli strike on Kfar Roummane, Lebanon May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Firefighters work at a strike scene in southern Lebanon, following an Israeli strike on Kfar Roummane, Lebanon May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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Israel Escalates... Threatens to Bomb Beirut

Firefighters work at a strike scene in southern Lebanon, following an Israeli strike on Kfar Roummane, Lebanon May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Firefighters work at a strike scene in southern Lebanon, following an Israeli strike on Kfar Roummane, Lebanon May 25, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday Israel would intensify strikes against Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Israel's military soon thereafter said it was attacking Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley and other areas.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire in mid-April, but Israel has continued airstrikes it says are acts of self-defense against Hezbollah, which was not party to the truce.

Two of Netanyahu's far-right ministers on Monday called on him to resume ⁠bombing Beirut in response to Hezbollah drones attacks.

Hezbollah has fired explosive drones at Israeli troops and toward towns in northern Israel, killing at least 11 soldiers since the truce, the military says.

"The explosive drones harming our fighters are not a decree of fate," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a statement. "For every explosive drone, 10 buildings should fall in Beirut."

Smotrich, leader of a small far-right party in Netanyahu's cabinet, has frequently made comments that go beyond official Israeli policy, including that Israel must annex southern Lebanon and Gaza.

Another ultranationalist minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, said Israel must ⁠not normalize the reality of explosive drones. "It is time for the Prime Minister to bang on (President Donald) Trump's desk and tell him that we are returning to war in Lebanon," Ben Gvir said.

Ben Gvir said Israel should cut electricity supplies to Lebanon and seize the Zahrani River.


Israeli Fire Kills Six-Year-Old Girl and a Woman in Gaza, Medics Say

Mourners grieve for six-year-old Palestinian girl Menna Abu Labda, who was killed following Israeli bombardment, outside Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (AFP)
Mourners grieve for six-year-old Palestinian girl Menna Abu Labda, who was killed following Israeli bombardment, outside Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (AFP)
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Israeli Fire Kills Six-Year-Old Girl and a Woman in Gaza, Medics Say

Mourners grieve for six-year-old Palestinian girl Menna Abu Labda, who was killed following Israeli bombardment, outside Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (AFP)
Mourners grieve for six-year-old Palestinian girl Menna Abu Labda, who was killed following Israeli bombardment, outside Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (AFP)

An Israeli airstrike on a tent in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday killed two people including a six-year-old girl and wounded 17 other people, including children, Palestinian health officials said.

Medics said the Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment of displaced families in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, in the south of the ‌enclave, had ‌killed six-year-old Mennatallah Abu Libda and ‌a ⁠31-year-old woman, Hanan ⁠Mahmoud.

The attack was carried out by two helicopters, witnesses said.

The Israeli military told Reuters it had struck fighters in the area but provided no further information.

An October ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump, ⁠has failed to halt Israeli ‌attacks in Gaza, ‌with Israel and Hamas deadlocked in indirect talks over ‌implementing the second phase of the deal, ‌which includes the group's disarmament and Israeli army withdrawals.

The ceasefire left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, with Hamas ‌controlling a sliver of territory along the coast.

Some 900 Palestinians have been ⁠killed ⁠in Israeli strikes since the truce came into effect, according to figures from Gaza health officials that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by fighters during the same period, the country's military has said.

Hamas does not disclose figures for casualties among its fighters. Israel says its post-ceasefire strikes are aimed at preventing attacks or stopping people from approaching its armistice line with Hamas.