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Preparations Underway for a Meeting Between Sudan's Hemedti, Hamdok in a Regional Capital

An aerial view of the black smoke and flames at a market in Omdurman, Khartoum North, Sudan (Reuters)
An aerial view of the black smoke and flames at a market in Omdurman, Khartoum North, Sudan (Reuters)
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Preparations Underway for a Meeting Between Sudan's Hemedti, Hamdok in a Regional Capital

An aerial view of the black smoke and flames at a market in Omdurman, Khartoum North, Sudan (Reuters)
An aerial view of the black smoke and flames at a market in Omdurman, Khartoum North, Sudan (Reuters)

Several arrangements are being made in various countries to hold a meeting between the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo known as Hemedti, and the Civil Front for Democratic Forces, led by former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.

Djibouti announced that arrangements were being made to host Sudanese talks within a week and discuss recent developments in Sudan.

Sources close to the RSF told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday that a meeting is expected to be held within days between Dagalo and the communication committee of the Civil Front.

- Hemedti does not mind meeting Hamdok

Hamdok said last week that he sent two letters to the army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF commander, requesting a meeting to discuss ways to stop the war in Sudan and restore stability.

On Dec. 26, Hemedti approved the request of the former Prime Minister for an urgent meeting, while there had yet to be a comment from the army commander.

- Djiboutian Foreign Ministry’s efforts

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Djibouti, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, announced on his “X” account that his country, in its capacity as president of the current session of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), is preparing “the ground for Sudanese dialogue, and will host a critical meeting,” without providing detailed information about this meeting.

A meeting scheduled between the army commander and the RSF commander in Djibouti on Dec. 28 to resolve the Sudanese crisis and stop the war was not held.

The Djiboutian Foreign Ministry said that the meeting was postponed for technical reasons and will be held in January.

On Dec. 10, the IGAD emergency summit decided to hold an urgent meeting between Burhan and Hemedti to end the war in Sudan.

However, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry rejected the final communique, saying the statement of the extraordinary summit does not represent the Sudanese government unless the IGAD presidency corrects it.

Sudan accused the IGAD Secretariat of inserting inaccurate information and requested the deletion of a paragraph regarding the attendance of the Emirati Foreign Minister and the assertion that the IGAD heads had met with an RSF delegation.

The concluding statement also claimed the Transitional Sovereign Council President had approved a meeting with the RSF leader and the omission of the Egypt-led initiative proposed by Sudan’s neighboring countries to resolve the crisis.

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Arab World

Iraqi Oil Ministry Says It Began Exporting Fuel Oil Via Syria

A worker performs checks at Türkiye's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
A worker performs checks at Türkiye's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
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Iraqi Oil Ministry Says It Began Exporting Fuel Oil Via Syria

A worker performs checks at Türkiye's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
A worker performs checks at Türkiye's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Iraq's oil ministry said on Thursday it began exporting fuel oil via Syria after ‌disruptions ‌to the Strait ‌of ⁠Hormuz caused by the ⁠Iran war.

The oil will be trucked overland ⁠and export ‌operations ‌would gradually increase ‌to ‌boost the Iraqi economy, the ministry added.

Reuters reported ‌in an exclusive on Tuesday ⁠that ⁠the land route, which Iraq has not used for decades, became its best option.

Arab World

Israel Expands Warnings to Hezbollah-linked Money Changers

Lebanese security personnel at the site of an Israeli strike targeting senior military commander Youssef Hashem in the Jnah area on the outskirts of Beirut (Reuters). 
Lebanese security personnel at the site of an Israeli strike targeting senior military commander Youssef Hashem in the Jnah area on the outskirts of Beirut (Reuters). 
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Israel Expands Warnings to Hezbollah-linked Money Changers

Lebanese security personnel at the site of an Israeli strike targeting senior military commander Youssef Hashem in the Jnah area on the outskirts of Beirut (Reuters). 
Lebanese security personnel at the site of an Israeli strike targeting senior military commander Youssef Hashem in the Jnah area on the outskirts of Beirut (Reuters). 

The Israeli army said it has killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Youssef Ismail Hashem, in a naval strike, as it widened its warnings in Lebanon to include individuals it accuses of handling the group’s finances.

The military described Hashem as Hezbollah’s “southern front commander”, adding he had more than 40 years of experience and was one of Hezbollah’s “major pillars”.

A security source told AFP that Hashem, also known as Sayyed al-Sadeq, was responsible for Hezbollah’s military and security file in Iraq and was killed in a strike on the Jnah area of Beirut. Lebanon’s health ministry said the attack killed seven people.

The source noted that Hashem “was in a meeting with other party members inside a tent near several vehicles” at the time of the attack.

A source close to Hezbollah confirmed the killing, describing him as “the most senior official targeted since the start of the war”. Hezbollah also announced the death of one of its members, Mohammad Baqer al-Nabulsi, who was killed in the same strike.

US sanctions

Hashem has been under US sanctions since 2018 for working for or on behalf of Hezbollah, according to the US Treasury.

The Treasury noted that he oversaw Hezbollah’s operational activities in Iraq and was responsible for protecting the group’s interests there.

It added that he managed relations with armed groups in Iraq, including coordinating the deployment of fighters to Syria.

Senior figure

Hashem is the most senior military figure killed since the start of the war, succeeding Ali Karaki, who was assassinated in an Israeli strike that targeted former Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sept. 27, 2024.

Israel had previously targeted lower-ranking commanders, including Hassan Salameh, head of Hezbollah’s “Nasr Unit”, who was killed on March 10.

According to Israeli media, Hezbollah’s southern front is divided into three sectors — the Nasr, Aziz and Badr units — which operate independently, with Hashem overseeing all three.

Warnings broadened

Israel has expanded its warnings in Lebanon to include “money changers working in the service of Hezbollah”.

Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X that the military had targeted Hezbollah funding sources during the war, including the Al-Qard al-Hassan association and fuel networks.

“Another source that has been targeted is the network of money changers, which constitutes the main and most important financial source for this terrorist organization,” he added.

He named Mohammad Noureddine and Hussein Ibrahim as key money changers working for Hezbollah.

Addressing them directly, he said: “Due to your involvement in financing Hezbollah, the IDF warns you that continuing to fund Hezbollah puts you at risk.”

He also urged Lebanese citizens to avoid “any contact with Hezbollah money changers” and to “stay away from them” for their own safety.

Security zone plans

The intensified strikes come as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “at the end of the operation, the Israeli army will establish a security zone inside Lebanon along a defensive line against anti-tank missiles”.

He added that Israel would maintain security control over the area up to the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border.

Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa condemned the remarks, saying they “no longer constitute mere threats, but reflect a clear intention to impose a new occupation of Lebanese territory”.

Arab World

US Embassy in Baghdad Warns of Attacks in City over Next 24-48 Hours

A view of the US Embassy in Baghdad (archival - Reuters)
A view of the US Embassy in Baghdad (archival - Reuters)
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US Embassy in Baghdad Warns of Attacks in City over Next 24-48 Hours

A view of the US Embassy in Baghdad (archival - Reuters)
A view of the US Embassy in Baghdad (archival - Reuters)

The US embassy in Baghdad warned Thursday that pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq may attack the city in the coming one or two days.

"Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours," the embassy said in a statement on X, again urging Americans in the country to leave immediately.