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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat : Hamas Executes ‘Spies’ after Leaders Get Assassinated

Israeli hostage Avera Mengistu, who entered Gaza nearly a decade ago, on the handover platform as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel in Rafah (Reuters)
Israeli hostage Avera Mengistu, who entered Gaza nearly a decade ago, on the handover platform as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel in Rafah (Reuters)
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Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat : Hamas Executes ‘Spies’ after Leaders Get Assassinated

Israeli hostage Avera Mengistu, who entered Gaza nearly a decade ago, on the handover platform as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel in Rafah (Reuters)
Israeli hostage Avera Mengistu, who entered Gaza nearly a decade ago, on the handover platform as part of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel in Rafah (Reuters)

Since Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, Hamas has suffered significant setbacks, including the assassination of leaders across various ranks.

Sources within the group, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, revealed that Hamas has conducted what it described as “revolutionary trials” for individuals detained in areas where its leaders and other factions have been targeted by Israeli airstrikes and assassinations.

Some detainees accused of espionage have already been executed, while investigations into others are ongoing, the sources said.

The sources did not disclose the number of executions but acknowledged that Hamas has been affected at “political, military, and governmental levels.”

In response to the intensified Israeli operations, the group has implemented stricter security measures, they added.

High-Profile Targets

Israeli strikes have continued unabated, focusing on senior Hamas figures. The latest target was Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanoua, who was killed early Thursday when an Israeli missile hit his tent inside a shelter in the Arda Halawa area of Jabalia, northern Gaza.

Israel also assassinated Ashraf al-Gharbawi, a senior intelligence officer with Hamas' armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in an airstrike targeting him and his family in an apartment in the Arda al-Shanti area of northern Gaza, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The same sources said Israel also killed Ahmed al-Kayyali, who coordinated intelligence operations between the Qassam Brigades and Hamas’ internal security service in Gaza. Al-Kayyali was assassinated early Thursday in a strike on an apartment in Gaza City’s Al-Nasr neighborhood.

Since resuming its offensive, Israel has carried out a series of targeted assassinations, killing five members of Hamas’ political bureau: Mohammed al-Jamassi, Yasser Harb, and Issam al-Da’alis—who were killed in separate strikes on the first night of renewed fighting—along with Salah al-Bardawil and Ismail Barhoum, who were assassinated in subsequent operations.

Also killed on the first night were Ahmed al-Shamali, deputy commander of the Qassam Brigades’ Gaza Brigade; Osama Tabash, a key intelligence leader in the brigades; and Jamil al-Wadiya, commander of the Shuja’iyya Battalion, along with several other field commanders and government officials.

Israeli Intelligence Gains Raise Questions After Hamas Leader Killings

Israel’s ability to track and assassinate a large number of Hamas leaders has raised questions about how it updated its intelligence after struggling to locate high-level targets during the first phase of the Gaza war.

Field sources in Gaza told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel “exploited several factors during the fragile 58-day ceasefire” to refresh its target database, particularly focusing on field commanders—some of whom had survived multiple assassination attempts during the conflict.

According to the sources, Israel intensified its intelligence-gathering efforts during the truce, deploying advanced surveillance drones equipped with artificial intelligence and other technologies to track high-value targets.

It also conducted targeted eavesdropping on specific areas, comparing intercepted calls with previous recordings from past years to identify and locate individuals.

Israel’s ability to carry out assassinations in Gaza has been bolstered by the deployment of small surveillance devices dropped by drones and the planting of hidden spy equipment and cameras by ground forces during earlier incursions, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Many of these devices remain undetected, the sources added.

Prisoner Handovers Exposed Vulnerabilities

The sources said Israel exploited a security gap during the military parades held by Palestinian factions while handing over Israeli hostages. These public events allowed Israeli intelligence to track fighters and field commanders.

“Israel has been targeting vehicles that took part in these parades, launching heavy strikes against them in recent days,” the sources said.

Israeli estimates suggest more than 100 vehicles were involved in Hamas’ parades, some of which may have also been used in the October 7, 2023, attacks.

Hamas sources confirmed that several al-Qassam Brigades commanders who participated in the prisoner handovers were later targeted, citing the killing of Jamil al-Wadiya, commander of the Shuja’iyya Battalion, as an example.

Israeli intelligence has also tracked Hamas military figures as they moved to reorganize their ranks in preparation for the next phase of fighting, while members of the group’s political bureau and other key figures were assassinated after being observed engaging in increased activity, sources revealed.

No Safe Options

Despite issuing security directives during the ceasefire to counter Israel’s intensified intelligence operations, the warnings “were apparently insufficient,” the sources said.

They acknowledged that one major obstacle to avoiding detection is the harsh reality in Gaza, where Hamas and other Palestinian factions lack secure hideouts to evade Israeli surveillance.

Several senior Hamas and Qassam Brigades commanders were killed while sheltering in tents in displacement zones, highlighting the lack of safe options, the sources said.

Others were targeted at their homes along with their families, while some were killed after seeking refuge in apartments they did not own.

The sources also confirmed that Palestinian factions have lost significant portions of their tunnel network, which previously served as command centers to manage military operations.

 

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Arab World

Türkiye Says SDF Has No Option but to Integrate into Syrian Army

Turkish Land Forces Commander Metin Tokel and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra meet in Damascus on December 11. (Turkish Defense Ministry)
Turkish Land Forces Commander Metin Tokel and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra meet in Damascus on December 11. (Turkish Defense Ministry)
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Türkiye Says SDF Has No Option but to Integrate into Syrian Army

Turkish Land Forces Commander Metin Tokel and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra meet in Damascus on December 11. (Turkish Defense Ministry)
Turkish Land Forces Commander Metin Tokel and Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra meet in Damascus on December 11. (Turkish Defense Ministry)

Türkiye said on Friday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have no alternative but to implement a March 10 agreement requiring their integration into the Syrian army, accusing Israel of encouraging the group to stall the deal through its actions in Syria.

In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said the SDF, whose backbone is the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), is acting in violation of the agreement signed in Damascus between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi.

Ankara considers the YPG an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it designates as a terrorist organization.

Ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk said the SDF’s continued activities, instead of integration despite the March 10 accord, undermine stability and security in Syria. He stressed that SDF members must join the Syrian army as individuals, not as an autonomous bloc.

He accused unnamed countries of encouraging the SDF through actions and rhetoric, to reject integration and disarmament, calling such efforts futile attempts to buy time.

He also said Turkish forces have destroyed 732 kilometers of SDF tunnels in areas of operations across northern and northeastern Syria, including four kilometers in Manbij.

Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan linked the SDF’s reluctance to implement the March 10 agreement to Israeli moves in Syria.

He said the SDF would reach an understanding with Damascus on integration the day Israel finds common ground with Syria, arguing that the SDF’s stance is not solely its own decision but influenced by Israel.

Fidan stressed that the agreement initially enjoyed support from Türkiye, the United States, and Syria, but that progress has stalled as the YPG/SDF refrains from taking required steps.

Expressing hope for a negotiated solution between Damascus and the SDF, Fidan said dialogue would reassure all communities, Arabs and Kurds alike. He warned that conflict would harm civilians and benefit no one, noting plans to unify armed factions under a single national army.

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced a visit to Damascus by Land Forces Commander Metin Tokel, who met Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Chief of Staff Ali Noureddine al-Naasan. Tokel also toured the joint Turkish-Syrian operations center.

Arab World

Lebanese State Formally Launches Reconstruction Effort with Modest Public Funding

A member of the Civil Defense stands on the rubble of a house hit by an Israeli airstrike in the town of Jbaa in South Lebanon. (Reuters)
A member of the Civil Defense stands on the rubble of a house hit by an Israeli airstrike in the town of Jbaa in South Lebanon. (Reuters)
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Lebanese State Formally Launches Reconstruction Effort with Modest Public Funding

A member of the Civil Defense stands on the rubble of a house hit by an Israeli airstrike in the town of Jbaa in South Lebanon. (Reuters)
A member of the Civil Defense stands on the rubble of a house hit by an Israeli airstrike in the town of Jbaa in South Lebanon. (Reuters)

More than a year after the end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which caused widespread destruction in South Lebanon, the Lebanese state has formally launched its reconstruction effort, albeit with very limited public funding.

Within the framework of the 2026 state budget, Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee approved allocations for the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), the Council of the South, and the Higher Relief Committee.

It also endorsed the transfer of funds from the emergency reserve for shelter and repairs, a move committee chairman Ibrahim Kanaan described as “a positive signal from the Lebanese state to our people, within the limits of the budget.”

Committee sources said a total of $90 million was transferred from the reserve: $67 million to the Council of the South and $24 million to the Higher Relief Committee.

With the approval of these allocations, the state has effectively begun the reconstruction process with what lawmakers themselves describe as a very modest sum, after waiting for more than a year for foreign aid that never materialized. This marks the first direct state funding for reconstruction since the war ended in November 2024.

Foreign envoys have told Lebanese officials in recent months that international support for reconstruction is contingent on Lebanon implementing a package of financial reforms and, crucially, achieving exclusive state control over weapons. Lebanese officials believe the issue has since become even more complex, tied in particular to the trajectory of agreements with Israel.

The fate of a reconstruction conference spearheaded by France remains uncertain, especially as Paris has recently prioritized plans for a conference to support the Lebanese army, expected early next year.

Meanwhile, political divisions in parliament over expatriate voting have stalled legislative work, derailing the approval of World Bank loans linked to reconstruction that could total up to $500 million, according to Kanaan. He warned that the loans could be withdrawn if parliament fails to ratify them before the end of the year.

Parliamentary sources said lawmakers from the so-called Shiite duo — Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — insisted on reallocating part of the relatively large budget reserve toward reconstruction, arguing that the state must send a positive signal to citizens who have been neglected for over a year.

According to the sources, many lawmakers went along with the proposal under pressure, amid fears they would otherwise be held accountable by residents, especially given the risk of building collapses threatening lives.

Ali Hassan Khalil, an MP from Amal’s Liberation and Development Bloc, called on the government to issue the regulatory framework for reconstruction, saying the approved funds, while limited, would help address urgent shelter needs and serve as a starting point for a major national effort.

MP Hassan Fadlallah, of Hezbollah's Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, said reconstruction requires large sums but stressed that the state cannot remain idle waiting for foreign funds, while welcoming any non-politicized, unconditional assistance.

Researcher Mohammad Shamseddine of Information International estimated total direct war damage at $8.5 billion, with reconstruction costs of about $2.3 billion. He told Asharq Al-Awsat the approved funding represents only a fraction of what is needed and confirms the state’s limited capacity, noting that foreign aid is unlikely before a definitive settlement and lasting peace with Israel.

The move drew objections from the Lebanese Forces party. MP Ghada Ayoub, a member of the Strong Republic Bloc and the Finance Committee, criticized what she called pressure to divert public funds to reconstruction, arguing that financing should come through a dedicated, internationally supervised fund and external assistance.

She said the priority should instead be strengthening the Lebanese army to ensure stability and enable the safe return of residents.

Arab World

Britain Imposes Sanctions on RSF Leaders, Including Hemedti’s Brother

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. (AP)
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. (AP)
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Britain Imposes Sanctions on RSF Leaders, Including Hemedti’s Brother

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. (AP)
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. (AP)

Britain on Friday imposed sanctions on senior commanders of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of involvement in mass killings, systematic sexual violence and deliberate attacks on civilians in Sudan.

The UK government said Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF’s deputy commander and brother of its leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, along with three other commanders suspected of involvement in the crimes, are now subject to asset freezes and travel bans.

In an official statement, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The atrocities taking place in Sudan are so horrific they scar the conscience of the world. The overwhelming evidence of heinous crimes - mass executions, starvation, and the systematic and calculated use of rape as a weapon of war - cannot and will not go unpunished.”

The RSF’s actions in el-Fasher are not random: they are part of a “deliberate strategy to terrorize” populations and seize control through fear and violence. The impact of their actions is visible from space. Satellite images of el-Fasher show blood-stained sand, clusters of bodies, and evidence of mass graves where victims have been burned and buried. There needs to be accountability for these actions, and urgent steps taken to avoid this happening again, it added.

Sanctioning RSF leaders suspected of mass killings and sexual violence in el-Fasher “sends a clear message that those who commit atrocities will be held accountable,” it continued, underscoring Britain’s commitment to preventing further crimes.

Those sanctioned include Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF deputy commander, whom the UK said there are reasonable grounds to suspect of involvement in mass killings, ethnically motivated executions, systematic sexual violence including gang rape, kidnapping for ransom, arbitrary detention, and attacks on health facilities and aid workers.

Also sanctioned is Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, the RSF commander in North Darfur, who is suspected of involvement in mass killings, sexual violence, kidnappings and attacks on medical teams and humanitarian staff.

The list further includes Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, an RSF brigadier suspected of responsibility for violence against people based on ethnicity and religion and for deliberately targeting civilians, and Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed, an RSF field commander suspected of responsibility for the deliberate targeting of civilians in el-Fasher.

Britain urged all parties to the conflict to immediately end atrocities, protect civilians and remove obstacles to humanitarian access.

The government also pledged an additional £21 million to provide food, shelter, healthcare and protection for women and children in hard-to-reach areas on the brink of collapse. The funding, the statement said, will enable aid agencies to reach 150,000 people, meet basic needs, keep hospitals operating and reunite families separated by war.

The sanctions come after the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia proposed a three-month ceasefire plan in November, followed by peace talks. While the RSF initially accepted the plan, it later launched intensive drone strikes on army-held areas.

The war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the army and the RSF, has displaced millions.

Earlier this month, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a UK-led resolution condemning atrocities and mandating an urgent investigation into crimes committed in el-Fasher.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the war as a “scandal,” announcing plans to convene talks between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Geneva to press both sides to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and implement commitments made under the Jeddah Declaration.