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Syrian Democratic Forces Advance towards Heart of Raqqa

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand near food supplies on the bank of the Euphrates river, west of Raqqa city, Syria April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand near food supplies on the bank of the Euphrates river, west of Raqqa city, Syria April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said
    Beirut, Paula Astih
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Syrian Democratic Forces Advance towards Heart of Raqqa

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand near food supplies on the bank of the Euphrates river, west of Raqqa city, Syria April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand near food supplies on the bank of the Euphrates river, west of Raqqa city, Syria April 10, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is now in control of 60 percent of ISIS stronghold Raqqa city, northeast Syria, after it advanced further inside the city, whereas SDF spokesperson Mustafa Bali stated that soon the battle will include the center of the city.

Bali stated that after liberating al-Rashid neighborhood, SDF will advance towards the center of Raqqa. He confirmed that SDF soon will be in control of 70 percent of the whole town.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the spokesperson denied reports that liberation is slowing down. He reiterated that the operations are going according to plan to avoid any civilian casualties given their large number inside the city. He also added that ISIS is using civilians as human shields which makes it difficult for the forces to advance.

Bali said that SDF special forces are also evacuating civilians.

Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that since the launch of Raqqa battles on June 06, SDF managed to regain control of about 60 percent of Raqqa, which is estimated to be 17.6 square kilometers of the area of the city.

SOHR stated that ISIS's control is about 39.9 percent over the area of the city, estimated at 11.7 square kilometers.

The observatory pointed out that SDF attempts through its ongoing battles to achieve an advancement in the city after controlling the whole neighborhoods of al-Sabahiya, al-Romania, Heteen, Qadisiyah, Yarmouk and al-Karim in the west of the city.

In addition, SDF completely controlled the neighborhoods of al-Mashlab, al-Batani, al-Sena’a in the east of the city, while they controlled the whole neighborhood of Hisham bin Abdul Malik and Nazlet Shehada in the southern part of the city. The forces are also in control of wide areas of the Old city, and parts of the neighborhoods of al-Rawda, al-Rumeila, Hawd al-Furat and Idekhar Housing, and northern parts of al-Daraia neighborhood.

The forces also liberated the shrines of Ammar Ibn Yasser and Owais al-Qurani.

SDF’s advancement coincided with intensified and violent raids of coalition air force. The continuous bombardment, according to SOHR, killed at least 789 civilians including, 200 children and 123 women.

Commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said on Tuesday that he received several reports stating the death of dozens of civilians in Raqqa following the coalition operations.

During a joint press conference with US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and special presidential envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS Brett McGurk in Baghdad, Townsend told the reporters he is skeptical about the numbers, adding at the same time that it is not surprising to see increased casualties as the operations proceed.

"I have seen the reports of increased civilian casualties, and it is probably logical to assume that there have been some increases in civilian casualties because our operations have increased in intensity there," Townsend told reporters, adding: “I would ask someone to show me hard information that says that civilian casualties have increased in Raqqa to some significant degree.”

In related news, UN condemned the reported US-led Coalition’s airstrike on the Syrian city of Raqqa that may have killed dozens of civilians.

UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that unconfirmed reports indicate that over 30 people were reportedly killed in al-Sakhani neighborhood while 8 internally displaced people from the same family were killed in a separate attack in another part of the city.

“These attacks, if confirmed, are shocking reminder that civilians continue to bear the brunt conflict of many parts of Syria,” reported Dujarric during the daily noon briefing.

UN Sec-Gen spokesperson reiterated that up to 25 thousand people remain trapped in the city.

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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.

Arab World

Arab, Muslim States Say UNRWA Role is Indispensable

UNRWA headquarters in Gaza (file photo, Reuters)
UNRWA headquarters in Gaza (file photo, Reuters)
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Arab, Muslim States Say UNRWA Role is Indispensable

UNRWA headquarters in Gaza (file photo, Reuters)
UNRWA headquarters in Gaza (file photo, Reuters)

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye and Qatar on Friday rallied behind the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, stressing that its role in protecting Palestinian refugees and caring for their needs is both indispensable and irreplaceable.

They warned that any effort to undermine its capacity could carry dangerous consequences for the region.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries said that for decades UNRWA has carried out a unique mandate entrusted to it by the international community, focused on protecting Palestinian refugees and providing education, health care, social services and emergency assistance to millions of them across its areas of operation, in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 302 of 1949.

They added that the General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution renewing UNRWA’s mandate for an additional three years reflects international confidence in the agency’s vital role and the continuity of its operations.

The ministers condemned the Israeli forces’ storming of the agency’s headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, saying the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises.

They described it as an unacceptable escalation that runs counter to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on Oct. 22, 2025, which stipulates that Israel, as an occupying power, must not obstruct UNRWA’s operations but rather facilitate them.

On the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the ministers stressed the agency’s essential role in distributing aid through its network of centers, ensuring that food, relief supplies and necessities reach those entitled to them fairly and efficiently, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2803.

The statement said UNRWA schools and health facilities are a lifeline for the refugee community in Gaza, as they continue to support education and provide basic health services despite extremely difficult conditions.

It added that this supports the implementation on the ground of US President Donald Trump’s plan and enables Palestinians to remain on their land and build their homeland.

The ministers reaffirmed that UNRWA’s role cannot be replaced, saying there is no other entity with the infrastructure, expertise and field presence required to meet the needs of Palestinian refugees or to ensure the continuity of services on the necessary scale.

They warned that any weakening of UNRWA’s capacity would result in serious humanitarian, social, and political repercussions across the region. They called on the international community to ensure adequate and sustainable funding for the agency and to grant it the political and operational space needed to continue its vital work across all five areas of operation.

The statement noted that support for UNRWA is a cornerstone for preserving stability, safeguarding human dignity and guaranteeing the rights of Palestinian refugees until a just and lasting solution to their cause is reached in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including General Assembly Resolution 194.