Turkey Establishes New Base, Shells Syria’s Ain Issa Countryside

A Turkish soldier is seen in an armored personnel carrier (APC) at a check point near the Turkish-Syrian border in Kilis province, Turkey, January 29, 2018. (Reuters)
A Turkish soldier is seen in an armored personnel carrier (APC) at a check point near the Turkish-Syrian border in Kilis province, Turkey, January 29, 2018. (Reuters)
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Turkey Establishes New Base, Shells Syria’s Ain Issa Countryside

A Turkish soldier is seen in an armored personnel carrier (APC) at a check point near the Turkish-Syrian border in Kilis province, Turkey, January 29, 2018. (Reuters)
A Turkish soldier is seen in an armored personnel carrier (APC) at a check point near the Turkish-Syrian border in Kilis province, Turkey, January 29, 2018. (Reuters)

Turkish forces established a new military base near the Syrian town of Ain Issa in the northern Raqqa countryside, which under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Turkey also installed a number of outposts on the Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4) and began setting a military post in al-Ghab Plain, in Hama’s western countryside, which constantly comes under attack by the regime.

It reinforced its forces at the military observation points in the northwestern Idlib province.

Meanwhile, Turkish forces and the so-called Syrian National Army factions shelled on Monday a number of positions in the Ain Issa countryside, targeting the village of Muallaq and the Khalidiyah camp.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported violent clashes between the Turkish-backed factions and SDF in western parts of Ain Issa. The factions are trying to advance in Hoshan and Khalidiyah, amid intense Turkish shelling on the M4 highway.

Elsewhere, pro-Turkish factions clashed with Manbij Military Council forces, which are affiliated with the SDF, in the western countryside of Manbij.

Russian forces had reopened the M4 for civilian and commercial use on Sunday after about a month of closure following Turkish military operations in Ain Issa.

Furthermore, Turkish forces carried out a reconnaissance operation in al-Ghab Plain where they are seeking to establish a military post in Qastoun.

Last month, the Turkish forces evacuated five out of its 12 main observation points in the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria. They also withdrew from three main checkpoints, after being besieged by the regime forces, in agreement with Russia.

The Turkish forces withdrew from four newly established points in Idlib’s eastern countryside and the Aleppo countryside.

Several new Turkish checkpoints are still blockaded within the areas of the Syrian regime in Saraqib and Aleppo countryside near Kafr Aleppo.

The Turkish forces had established 69 observation points in the de-escalation zone. Ankara is redeploying the troops that were withdrawn from the areas besieged by the regime, while continuing to push reinforcements to the observation points in southern Idlib.

A new military convoy of 25 vehicles entered through the Kafr Lusin border crossing heading towards the Turkish positions in Jabal al-Zawiya.



Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Israel Military Says Soldier Killed in Gaza 

A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the destruction in a residential neighborhood, after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the area, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Gaza City, October 21, 2025. (Reuters)

The Israeli military announced that one of its soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday, but a security source said the death appeared to have been caused by "friendly fire".

"Staff Sergeant Ofri Yafe, aged 21, from HaYogev, a soldier in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement.

A security source, however, told AFP that the soldier appeared to have been "killed by friendly fire", without providing further details.

"The incident is still under investigation," the source added.

The death brings to five the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect on October 10.


Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
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Syria: SDF’s Mazloum Abdi Says Implementation of Integration Deal May Take Time

People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman
People sit outdoors surrounded by nature, with the Tigris river flowing in the background, following a long atmospheric depression, near the Syrian-Turkish border in Derik, Syria, February 16, 2026 REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said the process of merging the SDF with Syrian government forces “may take some time,” despite expressing confidence in the eventual success of the agreement.

His remarks came after earlier comments in which he acknowledged differences with Damascus over the concept of “decentralization.”

Speaking at a tribal conference in the northeastern city of Hasakah on Tuesday, Abdi said the issue of integration would not be resolved quickly, but stressed that the agreement remains on track.

He said the deal reached last month stipulates that three Syrian army brigades will be created out of the SDF.

Abdi added that all SDF military units have withdrawn to their barracks in an effort to preserve stability and continue implementing the announced integration agreement with the Syrian state.

He also emphasized the need for armed forces to withdraw from the vicinity of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani), to be replaced by security forces tasked with maintaining order.


Israeli Far-Right Minister to Push for ‘Migration’ of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians 

A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)
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Israeli Far-Right Minister to Push for ‘Migration’ of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians 

A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)
A Palestinian man checks leather belts as people prepare for Ramadan, in the old city of Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 17,2026. (Reuters)

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would pursue a policy of "encouraging the migration" of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

"We will eliminate the idea of an Arab terror state," said Smotrich, speaking at an event organized by his Religious Zionism Party late on Tuesday.

"We will finally, formally, and in practical terms nullify the cursed Oslo Accords and embark on a path toward sovereignty, while encouraging emigration from both Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

"There is no other long-term solution," added Smotrich, who himself lives in a settlement in the West Bank.

Since last week, Israel has approved a series of measures backed by far-right ministers to tighten control over the West Bank, including in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords, in place since the 1990s.

The measures include a process to register land in the West Bank as "state property" and facilitate direct purchases of land by Jewish Israelis.

The measures have triggered widespread international outrage.

On Tuesday, the UN missions of 85 countries condemned the measures, which critics say amount to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory.

"We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel's unlawful presence in the West Bank," they said in a statement.

"Such decisions are contrary to Israel's obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed.

"We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on Israel to reverse its land registration policy, calling it "destabilizing" and "unlawful".

The West Bank would form the largest part of any future Palestinian state. Many on Israel's religious right view it as Israeli land.

Israeli NGOs have also raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem's borders into the occupied West Bank since 1967.

The planned development, announced by Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing, is formally a westward expansion of the Geva Binyamin, or Adam, settlement situated northeast of Jerusalem in the West Bank.

The current Israeli government has fast-tracked settlement expansion, approving a record 52 settlements in 2025.

Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law.