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Opposition ‘Army’ in Preparation for Idlib Battle

Displaced families from a village in southern Idlib head on the Damascus-Aleppo motorway towards the northern part of the rebel-held province on December 30, 2017. Omar Haj Kadour / AFP
Displaced families from a village in southern Idlib head on the Damascus-Aleppo motorway towards the northern part of the rebel-held province on December 30, 2017. Omar Haj Kadour / AFP
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Opposition ‘Army’ in Preparation for Idlib Battle

Displaced families from a village in southern Idlib head on the Damascus-Aleppo motorway towards the northern part of the rebel-held province on December 30, 2017. Omar Haj Kadour / AFP
Displaced families from a village in southern Idlib head on the Damascus-Aleppo motorway towards the northern part of the rebel-held province on December 30, 2017. Omar Haj Kadour / AFP

A high-ranking opposition source revealed Sunday that rebel factions operating in northern Syria have formed a new army to confront regime forces, which are preparing to advance towards Idlib province once they complete their battle in Daraa in the coming days.

“Opposition factions, mainly Jabhat Tahrir Souriya, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the National Front, Jaish al-Islam and Jaish Idlib al-Horr have joined their forces under one new army called Jaish al-Fateh, which comprises more than 75,000 fighters,” the source told the German news agency.

He added that the fighters would confront regime forces, which started advancing towards the region.

Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdel Rahman confirmed news about the creation of a new army for opposition factions in the north of Syria, but an opposition military source in Idlib told Asharq Al-Awsat that there were ongoing talks regarding the matter.

“There is a directive to announce a joint military operation room that brings together all factions operating in the north without having to merge those factions under the auspices of a unified army,” the source said, adding that the tasks of managing the fronts would be allocated among those factions, which also include Tahrir al-Sham.

In a related development, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be holding another international summit to discuss the situation in Syria with his counterparts in Germany, France, and Russia.

"We will address regional topics at the four-way meeting in Istanbul," Erdogan said, according to Turkish newspapers.

The president said the meeting is to take place on September 7 in Istanbul.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said a deal in Syria was the most important topic of discussion during the summit held last week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan in Moscow.

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Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
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Sisi, Burhan Discuss Nile Water Security, Post-War Reconstruction in Sudan

Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 
Sisi meets Al-Burhan at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on April 28, 2025 (Egyptian Presidency). 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held high-level talks in Cairo on Monday with Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, focusing on regional water security and Egypt’s role in rebuilding war-torn Sudan.

The meeting, held at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, underscored Egypt’s commitment to supporting Sudan amid its ongoing internal conflict, which has ravaged the country since April 2023. Sisi reaffirmed his country’s readiness to contribute to reconstruction efforts and help restore infrastructure destroyed by the civil war.

In a joint statement, the two leaders emphasized their continued coordination to preserve the water security of both nations and rejected unilateral measures concerning the Nile River. Egyptian presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shennawy said the talks also covered broader regional issues, particularly developments in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa.

“There is complete alignment between Egypt and Sudan on the strategic importance of shared water resources and the need for regional stability,” al-Shennawy said.

The two sides reiterated their opposition to unilateral actions related to the Blue Nile—Ethiopia’s main tributary for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt and Sudan have long called for a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia on the dam’s operation to safeguard their downstream water rights.

Al-Burhan’s visit came at the invitation of Sisi and follows a series of diplomatic contacts aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Sisi personally welcomed the Sudanese leader at Cairo Airport before accompanying him to the palace for official reception ceremonies.

Talks included the recent battlefield developments in Sudan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces have reportedly regained control of the capital, Khartoum. Both leaders discussed coordinating efforts to support civilians in conflict zones and advance political and economic integration between the two countries.

In expanded discussions involving ministers and senior officials from both sides, Egypt and Sudan agreed to accelerate joint projects in key sectors such as electricity interconnection, rail infrastructure, trade, agriculture, health, industry, mining, and cultural exchange.

Sudan has been mired in civil war since mid-2023, pitting the national army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has displaced over 14 million people, with more than 1.2 million seeking refuge in Egypt, according to UN figures.

Sisi has consistently called for a ceasefire and stressed the importance of maintaining Sudan’s territorial integrity and institutional stability. He recently condemned plans by the RSF to announce a parallel government in areas under its control, calling the move a direct threat to Sudan’s unity and sovereignty.

Sudanese Ambassador to Cairo Imad-Eddin Adawi hailed the summit as a testament to the “depth and resilience” of Egyptian-Sudanese ties. “There is a shared political will to move forward together,” he said, adding that Egypt plays a pivotal role in mediating regional stability and facilitating dialogue among Sudanese factions.

Hossam Issa, Egypt’s former assistant foreign minister for Sudan, described al-Burhan’s visit as a “milestone” in efforts to end the conflict. “The recent military gains on the ground could pave the way for restoring governance in Khartoum and beginning the process of reconstruction,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.