SDF Units Arrest ISIS Leader, Kill Another in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Women at the al-Hol camp in Syria's Hasakeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Women at the al-Hol camp in Syria's Hasakeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SDF Units Arrest ISIS Leader, Kill Another in Syria's Deir Ezzor

Women at the al-Hol camp in Syria's Hasakeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Women at the al-Hol camp in Syria's Hasakeh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced the killing of a prominent ISIS leader responsible for terror plots and operations in the eastern countryside of Syria’s east governorate of Deir Ezzor.

Another significant terror leader was arrested. They were responsible for transferring explosives and ammunition to active members of the terror organization in Deir Ezzor.

This comes at a time the US-led International Coalition carried out an airdrop operation west of Deir Ezzor in search of wanted persons, with the participation of three US helicopters and SDF forces.

“SDF units killed Abu Hamza Shamiyah, the chief leader responsible for plotting attacks in the area,” Farhad Shami, the director of the SDF media center, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Abu Hamza Shamiyah was the architect of multiple assaults against SDF positions, local tribes, and civilians.

He was one of the most wanted fugitives in Deir Ezzor after staging a terror assault that targeted SDF units on February 10.

The terror hit resulted in the death of five SDF fighters, according to Shami.

“We arrested Shukri Kamal Khalil, in the village of Zghair in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor,” Shami added, noting that the detained terrorist was a leader of multiple sleeper cells.

SDF units seized large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and narcotics in Khalil’s possession.

On February 13, SDF units arrested an ISIS officer behind a terror funding ring that was supporting the group’s activity in Syria.



Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar Condemn Israeli Attacks on Gaza, Call on Israel to Comply with Ceasefire Obligations

Palestinians carry the body of a person killed following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, 19 August 2026.EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Palestinians carry the body of a person killed following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, 19 August 2026.EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
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Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar Condemn Israeli Attacks on Gaza, Call on Israel to Comply with Ceasefire Obligations

Palestinians carry the body of a person killed following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, 19 August 2026.EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Palestinians carry the body of a person killed following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, 19 August 2026.EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday strongly condemned recent Israeli strikes in Gaza, saying in a joint statement that Israel must comply with its obligations under a ceasefire agreement and refrain from steps that could escalate tensions.

"The mediating countries underline that the intensification of Israeli attacks undermines regional and international efforts at a critical juncture, as intensive efforts are under way to implement the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, including the meeting between the Board of Peace and Israeli officials, and constructive steps are being taken in the negotiation process," they said, Reuters reported.

The international community and Board of Peace must take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the ceasefire and prevent further escalation, they added.


Vatican Says 'Serious Concerns' over Israel-Lebanon Deal Implementation

Lebanese Army soldiers monitor the movements of Israeli forces stationed in a neighboring village, in Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon, 31 July 2026, following a US-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel.   EPA/STRINGER
Lebanese Army soldiers monitor the movements of Israeli forces stationed in a neighboring village, in Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon, 31 July 2026, following a US-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel. EPA/STRINGER
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Vatican Says 'Serious Concerns' over Israel-Lebanon Deal Implementation

Lebanese Army soldiers monitor the movements of Israeli forces stationed in a neighboring village, in Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon, 31 July 2026, following a US-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel.   EPA/STRINGER
Lebanese Army soldiers monitor the movements of Israeli forces stationed in a neighboring village, in Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon, 31 July 2026, following a US-brokered security agreement between Lebanon and Israel. EPA/STRINGER

The Vatican expressed "serious concerns" Thursday about problems implementing a US-brokered deal between Israel and Lebanon, following a meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

During a private, 30-minute audience at the Vatican, Aoun had urged the pontiff to support Beirut's push to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon envisaged by the deal, the Lebanese presidency said.

"The Holy See, whilst welcoming the signing of the document, has expressed serious concerns about the difficulties being encountered in implementing it, and has pledged its support for efforts to that end," the Vatican said in a statement.

Lebanon and Israel launched US-sponsored direct talks after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March by attacking Israel.

Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion.

The framework agreement reached in June calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in "pilot zones".

Despite a weeks-long lull in fighting, Israel has kept up intermittent strikes and heavy demolition operations in south Lebanon.

Its forces are operating in a strip of territory around 10 kilometres (six miles) deep inside the Lebanese border.

At the Vatican, Aoun also met with the Holy See's second-in-command, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and its top diplomat, Paul Richard Gallagher.

The "cordial talks" focused on the US-mediated deal, the Vatican said.

Aoun called on the head of the Catholic Church to "support Lebanon's efforts to achieve a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories, paving the way for the reconstruction of what Israel has destroyed," according to the Lebanese presidency.

He also urged the Pope and Vatican officials to "continue their diplomatic efforts" to ensure that Israel implements the terms of the deal and ends attacks against civilians, infrastructure, and villages, it said.

It was the second private audience between Pope Leo and Aoun at the Vatican.

The Chicago-born leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics visited Lebanon late last year, and has repeatedly urged de-escalation in the Middle East and a need for a diplomatic solution.

Aoun is also expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday.

Rome has hosted the last two rounds of Israel-Lebanon talks.

Italy and France said in June they wanted to set up a multinational coalition to succeed the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, whose mandate ends this year.


Syria Says No Turkish Build-up Planned

18 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani speaks during a press conference with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Raffaele Grossi after their meeting. Photo: Mohammed Al-Rifai/dpa
18 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani speaks during a press conference with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Raffaele Grossi after their meeting. Photo: Mohammed Al-Rifai/dpa
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Syria Says No Turkish Build-up Planned

18 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani speaks during a press conference with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Raffaele Grossi after their meeting. Photo: Mohammed Al-Rifai/dpa
18 August 2026, Syria, Damascus: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani speaks during a press conference with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Raffaele Grossi after their meeting. Photo: Mohammed Al-Rifai/dpa

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani has said that he made clear to Israel his government wasn't working with Türkiye to amass a military presence at a Syrian airbase — but Israel went ahead and attacked the site anyway.

Israel struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria on Tuesday, warning Syria was on the verge of violating a "status quo agreed with Israel in security matters" by allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the airbase.

"[T]here was no intention to establish a Turkish base there, nor to establish a permanent Turkish military presence or deploy Turkish forces at the site," Al-Shaibani said in one of eight written responses to questions from Axios on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump told Axios in a phone call that he'd been briefed on the Israeli strike, but did not criticize it.

"I can't talk about it," he said. He declined to say whether his briefing came before or after the strike.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was "dragging Türkiye into dangerous adventures in Syria.”

Katz, in a post on X, said his country would not "allow any entity to threaten its security."

The strikes on Tuesday follow worsening security tensions between Israel and Türkiye and increasingly sharp rhetoric between the two countries over Syria, where both countries' militaries are active.

Türkiye firmly rejected on ⁠Wednesday what it called "untenable allegations" by Israel regarding its military position in Syria after Israel said Syria was on the verge of permitting Turkish troops to deploy there.