Arab States, Organizations Welcome Swearing-in of Yemeni PLC

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi, Saba News Agency
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi, Saba News Agency
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Arab States, Organizations Welcome Swearing-in of Yemeni PLC

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi, Saba News Agency
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi, Saba News Agency

Arab and Gulf countries and organizations welcomed the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council’s swearing-in before the House of Representatives on Tuesday in the interim capital Aden.

Everyone considered this step a historic milestone for Yemen, and a real beginning that would achieve security and stability and end the protracted crisis.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan hailed the keenness of the Yemeni parties to advance the interest of Yemen and achieve the aspirations of its people to restore security and stability.

He congratulated the president and members of the PLC for taking the constitutional oath on Tuesday in Aden, affirming that Saudi Arabia was and remains the largest supporter of the Yemeni people.

Also, a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement was released to congratulate the president and members of the PLC for taking the constitutional oath.

The statement expressed the Kingdom's aspiration for all Yemeni components to bear the national responsibility to build a prosperous Yemen that rises with pride and dignity, enjoys security and safety within its Gulf Arab region, and moves from division, difference and war to peace, security, development, and prosperity.

The ministry reiterated the Kingdom's full support for the president and the PLC and its affiliated entities to enable the council to exercise its duties in implementing effective policies and initiatives that would achieve security and stability in Yemen, and serve the Yemeni people and meet their hopes and aspirations.

In the Gulf, a statement by the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry relayed Kuwait's wishes for the PLC’s success in performing national tasks and responsibilities, maintaining the security, stability, and sovereignty of Yemen, and achieving the hopes and aspirations of Yemenis.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Nayef Al-Hajraf welcomed the swearing in of the PLC and considered it a starting point for an important historical stage.

He stressed the GCC’s support for the PLC “to enable it to exercise its duties in everything that would achieve security and stability in Yemen.”

In a statement, the Arab Parliament renewed its solidarity and full support for the Yemeni PLC and the supporting entities after taking the constitutional oath before the Yemeni Parliament.

The Arab Parliament expressed its aspiration to end the Yemeni crisis in accordance with the references represented by the Gulf Initiative, the outcomes of the comprehensive Yemeni national dialogue, and Security Council Resolution No. 2216.

It stressed its firm position and support for efforts on a peaceful solution in a manner that guarantees Yemen's unity and territorial integrity, and meets the aspirations of its people regarding security, peace and stability, underscoring the PLC’s role in restoring the state, peace and stability, addressing the economic and living situation, and rebuilding its institutions.

Moreover, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has welcomed the swearing-in of PLC President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi and members of the council before the parliament.

The secretary general expressed his sincerest congratulations for the president and members of the council and the Yemeni people, wishing the council success in its historic mission.

He also said that the secretariat general of OIC is optimistic in establishing the PLC that is considered an important achievement that would open new scopes for a peaceful solution and new stage in the history of Yemen.

The secretary-general also said that the Yemeni people are looking forward to the efforts that will be exerted by the PLC at various levels to put an end to the Yemeni crisis and realize security, stability and economic and social development, in a bid to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of Yemenis, which are efforts that require all kinds of support and encouragement.



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.