Syria Says Repelled Drone Attack From Iraq on US Base
In this file photo dated Feb 7, 2026, boys along a road wave to an approaching US military mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored fighting vehicle moving in a convoy transporting ISIS group detainees being transferred to Iraq from Syria, on the outskirts of Qahtaniyah in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province. (AFP)
TT
TT
Syria Says Repelled Drone Attack From Iraq on US Base
In this file photo dated Feb 7, 2026, boys along a road wave to an approaching US military mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored fighting vehicle moving in a convoy transporting ISIS group detainees being transferred to Iraq from Syria, on the outskirts of Qahtaniyah in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province. (AFP)
Syria's assistant defense minister said Sunday that his country's forces had repelled a drone attack from neighboring Iraq targeting one of Syria's last US military bases.
"Earlier today, the US base in Qasrak, located on our territory, was attacked by four drones launched from Iraqi territory," Sipan Hamo said on X, adding that "the drones were shot down without casualties".
"We hold Iraq responsible and call upon it to prevent the recurrence of attacks that threaten our stability."
The attack came a day after Syria's army said it repelled another drone attack from Iraq aimed at al-Tanf, a base in the southeast which used to house US forces.
Earlier this week, the Syrian military said another base in the northeast was also targeted by a missile attack from Iraq, with an Iraqi official saying a local armed group was behind it.
Iraq has arrested four people in connection with that attack.
Iraq has been pulled into the war since it was sparked by US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, with the conflict engulfing much of the Middle East.
Pro-Tehran Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region, while strikes have also targeted these groups.
In recent months, American forces have withdrawn from the al-Tanf base, as well as Shadadi in the northeastern province of Hasakeh, and had begun withdrawing from the Qasrak base, also located in Hasakeh.
‘Eagles of Civilization’ Gives Momentum to Egypt-China Military Tieshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5310394-%E2%80%98eagles-civilization%E2%80%99-gives-momentum-egypt-china-military-ties
‘Eagles of Civilization’ Gives Momentum to Egypt-China Military Ties
Part of the "Eagles of Civilization 2025" exercise (Military Spokesperson)
Egyptian-Chinese military relations are entering a new phase of cooperation with the launch of the joint air combat maneuvers “Eagles of Civilization 2026,” amid ongoing regional tensions.
The drills are the second of their kind between Egypt and China in two years and represent a new boost to military ties between the two countries, according to an Egyptian military and strategic expert who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat.
He believes the cooperation could later expand into broader military collaboration as part of Cairo’s efforts to diversify its sources of military production.
On Saturday, the Egyptian military announced in a statement the start of “Eagles of Civilization 2026,” involving a number of multi-role fighter aircraft of various types.
The statement noted that the drills are being conducted over several days at several air bases across Egypt as part of the second edition of the exercise between the two countries.
The initial phases include a series of theoretical and practical lectures aimed at harmonizing combat concepts between the two sides, in addition to joint air sorties and training on planning and managing combined air operations.
According to the Egyptian statement, the exercises aim to exchange expertise and enhance the skills of participating forces within the framework of Egypt’s joint training program with allied and friendly nations. The goal is to strengthen cooperation across various military fields.
On August 14, Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), stated during a press conference that the exercises would conclude in early September.
He noted that this is the second joint training program between the air forces of the two countries.
According to Xi, “the training will focus on such subjects as air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will include force employment drills.”
"As the second iteration of its kind, the joint training will further enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, and contribute to regional peace and stability," stressed the spokesperson.
The first edition, “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” was held in April 2025 at an Egyptian air base and involved various types of multi-role fighter aircraft.
Fighter jets from the "Eagles of Civilization 2025" exercise (Military Spokesperson)
Boost to Military Relations
Military and strategic expert Major General Samir Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat that the exercise directly contributes to strengthening military relations between Egypt and China.
He said the second edition reflects the success of the first exercise, stressing that the deployment of Chinese aircraft to Egypt for joint training demonstrates that Beijing is deriving significant benefits from the cooperation.
“Egypt is known for the diversity of its partnerships and is among the countries that conduct the largest number of joint military exercises. We benefit from them, and so do our partners,” Farag added.
Expanding Cooperation
Egyptian-Chinese military cooperation has previously been a source of concern for Israel. In February 2025, Israeli media reported serious concerns among Israeli security agencies regarding the possibility of Egypt acquiring Chinese J-10C fighter jets equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles.
Israeli sources said at the time that the main concern was not the fighter aircraft itself but rather the long-range Chinese air-to-air missile, a capability the Egyptian Air Force had not previously possessed. Such missiles, they argued, could enable Egyptian aircraft to engage Israeli aircraft even before they entered visual range.
This was followed by a report in The National Interest magazine in December, stating that Egypt had turned to China to develop an advanced fleet of drones as part of efforts to counter what it described as Israel’s aggressive actions along Egypt’s eastern border.
Addressing speculation that the current maneuvers are linked to specific arms deals, Farag said that discussions about the purchase of J-10 fighters or other weapon systems fall outside the scope of the drills. “The exercise has nothing to do with that issue,” he stressed.
He added that Egyptian-Chinese military relations are moving toward broader partnership, particularly given existing cooperation in the field of drones that are being manufactured locally in Egypt. He noted that further military collaboration is likely in both joint training and defense-industrial production.
Israeli Military Operations Paving Way for Battle in South Lebanonhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5310390-israeli-military-operations-paving-way-battle-south-lebanon
Israeli Military Operations Paving Way for Battle in South Lebanon
Smoke rises as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP)
Israeli incursions and raids on southern Lebanon are paving the way for a military battle as the army has been striking heights overlooking villages and towns it is occupying. Israel has also been targeting roads and routes that run deeper into Lebanese territory, notably around Bint Jbeil city, security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The operations and raids are focusing on the Ali al-Taher heights in the eastern sector that Israel has been trying to capture for ten weeks. In the central sector, it has been focusing on routes leading to Bint Jbeil and, closer to the coast, it has been carrying out similar incursions and detonations in the towns of Majdal Zoun and al-Mansouri.
The security sources said the operations appear to be paving the way for a military battle. The attacks are targeting all the hills surrounding Ali al-Taher, especially the al-Dabsha and al-Tahra that were occupied by Israel before it withdrew from the South in 2000.
The sources explained that focusing attacks on the hills and destroying houses around Ali al-Taher means that the troops are trying to isolate the entire strategic area from its surroundings.
For the past week, Israeli raids struck under-constructions houses and villas in the Dawhet Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa areas, located north and southwest of Ali al-Taher respectively. It also continued to blow up houses in Kfar Tebnint that is located directly west of Ali al-Taher.
Israel has also struck Ali al-Taher itself with artillery and phosphorous bombs.
Lebanese media on Sunday said Israel used artillery to hit Mayfadoun and airstrikes hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Dawhet Kfar Rumman.
In the central sector, Israeli troops carried out incursions into four unoccupied towns: Beit Yahoun, Baraachit, Hadatha and Aita al-Jabal, all of which lead to Bint Jbeil, which is occupied by Israel.
The sources said a potential military battle in the future will not be limited to Ali al-Taher, but encompass the central sector.
The incursions are covering an area stretching some five kilometers from Baraachit to Hadatha in an attempt to create a buffer zone close to Ali al-Taher and capture areas that overlooking nearby valleys.
Palestinian Authorities Say Israeli Army Kills Teen in West Bankhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5310274-palestinian-authorities-say-israeli-army-kills-teen-west-bank
Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Islam Ajouri, 14, at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on August 23, 2026. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Palestinian Authorities Say Israeli Army Kills Teen in West Bank
Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Islam Ajouri, 14, at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on August 23, 2026. (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP)
Israel's military killed a Palestinian teenager in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, Palestinian health authorities said, while an Israeli and a Palestinian were wounded in separate incidents.
Israeli gunfire killed Islam Ahmad Maher Ajouri, 14, in the Askar refugee camp where he lived, outside Nablus in the north of the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry announced.
Mohammed Abu Kashk, head of the Askar camp services committee, told AFP that the teenager was killed by Israeli forces during a raid on the camp.
"There were no clashes or confrontations that would justify shooting a child and killing him," he said.
According to a source from the Palestinian Red Crescent, Ajouri was hit in the chest by live ammunition. He was pronounced dead at Nablus National Hospital.
At his funeral, his uncle Ahmed Mohamed Zamzoum told AFP that the boy went outside during the army raid. "Every time the Israeli forces enter, one or more martyrs are killed," he said.
The Israeli army told AFP it was verifying the information.
In a separate incident, the army said it apprehended a man suspected of stabbing an Israeli earlier on Sunday in Al-Auja, in the central West Bank.
Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said the 24-year-old victim had "a penetrating wound".
The man was evacuated to a hospital in Jerusalem, and his condition was described as "moderate".
According to the initial findings of the investigation, the victim parked near a shopping center and was "attacked from behind and stabbed in the shoulder", Israeli police said in a statement.
Hani Najum, the head of the Al-Auja village council, told AFP that "the Israeli army raided the village, deployed in its streets" and imposed a curfew.
In a third incident, the army reported that a "terrorist" attempted "to steal a weapon from an IDF soldier" near the Palestinian town of Taybeh, northeast of Ramallah, and that forces opened fire at the man, saying he was "neutralized".
Palestinian sources told AFP that the man, Aws Akram Maatan, from the village of Burqa east of Ramallah, suffered an injury to his foot and was taken to a Jerusalem hospital for treatment.
The head of the Burqa village council, Sayel Kanaan, said in a statement that Maatan had been shot "without justification".
Violence has surged in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, since the start of the war in Gaza sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel.
Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians since then, according to an AFP tally based on data from the Palestinian health ministry.
Over the same period, at least 48 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, according to Israeli figures.
لم تشترك بعد
انشئ حساباً خاصاً بك لتحصل على أخبار مخصصة لك ولتتمتع بخاصية حفظ المقالات وتتلقى نشراتنا البريدية المتنوعة
