ISIS Militants Escape After Russian Raid on Idlib

Around 3,000 ISIS fighters have surrendered from the group's last holdout in Syria. (Reuters photo)
Around 3,000 ISIS fighters have surrendered from the group's last holdout in Syria. (Reuters photo)
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ISIS Militants Escape After Russian Raid on Idlib

Around 3,000 ISIS fighters have surrendered from the group's last holdout in Syria. (Reuters photo)
Around 3,000 ISIS fighters have surrendered from the group's last holdout in Syria. (Reuters photo)

Several ISIS members fled a prison in northwest Syria’s Idlib province, following Russian airstrikes coordinated with Ankara.

Russia’s defense ministry confirmed it had hit Idlib in coordination with Turkey, targeting drones and weapons stores of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants it said were intended for use in an attack on a major Russian airbase near the Mediterranean coast.

Idlib residents said Russian aircraft conducted at least 12 aerial strikes on residential areas, including a prison on its outskirts, where they said dozens of prisoners escaped. At least 10 civilians were killed and 45 injured. More than 100 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the year.

ISIS is living its "final moments" in northeast Syria after the thunderous shelling by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led international coalition against Baghouz enclave pushed 3,000 of their fellow fighters to surrender in the past two days, according to an AFP report.

ISIS launched two counter-attacks in Baghouz on forces besieging their final shred of territory in eastern Syria on but was beaten back without any progress, the SDF said. The group launched the second counter-attack in the afternoon, “taking advantage of smoke and dust over Baghouz”, the SDF media office said. “Fighting is still continuing. ISIS made no progress so far and were stopped.”

ISIS presence in Baghouz is limited to a random camp surrounded by agricultural lands near the Iraqi border.

"ISIS's final moments have started," SDF official Jiaker Amed told AFP Wednesday.

SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said about 3,000 fighters had handed themselves over to the SDF. "The battle is ongoing and the final hour is now closer than ever," he said.

Coalition spokesman Sean Ryan on Wednesday said ISIS has no room to maneuver. "There is no freedom of movement at night for the enemy," he told AFP.

"Combined with the SDF ground movement against the final enclave, progress is being made and their capabilities are being severely destroyed,” Ryan added.

Since December, about 60,000 people have left the last ISIS redoubt. The identities of men, women, and children of the group families were inspected after they departed. Suspects to be extremists were moved to detention centers while children and women to camps in the northeast of the country.

Further, the group released a video late Monday on Telegram calling on followers to stay strong. "It is said we have lost -- but God's judging standard is different.”

"The battles are not over," it added.



Israeli Army Prepares ‘Final Escalation’ in Gaza

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
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Israeli Army Prepares ‘Final Escalation’ in Gaza

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on Friday (AFP)

As US President Donald Trump advances a plan to end the war in Gaza as part of a broader Middle East strategy, Israeli polls show that 61% of Israelis support halting the fighting in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Despite this, military sources in Tel Aviv revealed that the Israeli army, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval, is preparing a large-scale campaign dubbed the “Final Escalation.”

The goal is to inflict maximum damage on Hamas’s remaining capabilities and prevent the group from claiming victory.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the army will redeploy the Fifth Division, which was previously withdrawn to confront Iran. Asked whether this escalation could complicate negotiations and harden Hamas’s stance, officials said such decisions rest with the political leadership.

Meanwhile, Hebrew media outlets reported that Trump is pressing ahead with what has been called a “grand bargain,” involving ending the war, securing hostage releases, and expanding normalization agreements with Arab states. Reports indicate Netanyahu is planning a visit to the US to meet Trump, following intense talks between Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said: “Victory opens the chance to significantly expand peace agreements alongside the release of our hostages. This opportunity must not be missed.”

Israeli Channel 13 quoted officials describing “dramatic moves” underway in the region. American sources told Yedioth Ahronoth that efforts to reach a breakthrough in the hostage talks have gained momentum since the attack on Iran. Israeli officials said Netanyahu wants any agreement finalized at the highest levels, rather than sending delegations to Cairo or Doha.

The emerging proposal reportedly includes ending the war, returning 50 Israeli hostages, and broadening the Abraham Accords. According to Channel 12, families of the hostages have received messages from senior US officials that a comprehensive agreement is being pursued to end the conflict.

Israel Hayom reported that a four-way call took place after the US strike on Iranian facilities, involving Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu, and Dermer. Sources described them as “extremely euphoric,” eager to advance further steps.

Although Netanyahu’s office declined to comment, his ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir warned against any negotiations on a Palestinian state, prompting Netanyahu to issue a statement denying any such discussions or the reported call.