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World Bank Grants Yemen $100 Mn to Expand Electricity Access

A view of the state-owned al-Haswa power station in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)
A view of the state-owned al-Haswa power station in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)
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World Bank Grants Yemen $100 Mn to Expand Electricity Access

A view of the state-owned al-Haswa power station in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)
A view of the state-owned al-Haswa power station in Aden, Yemen (Reuters)

The World Bank approved a $100 million grant to Yemen for the second phase of the Yemen Emergency Electricity Access Project, announced Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Waed Badhib.

Badhib said that the project aims to increase access to electricity in rural areas and cities' outskirts and plans to restore the capacity of the electricity sector.

He explained that this additional grant is provided by the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank, to help the poorest countries around the world.

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will implement the project in partnership with local stakeholders.

The Minister confirmed that the new grant would provide many public service facilities with new or improved electricity services, helping Yemenis have better access to critical services.

It will also enable small and innovative businesses to gain access to solar systems, encouraging job creation and reaching the desired stage of economic recovery.

Earlier, the Yemeni Prime Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik, confirmed that the World Bank agreed to support government institutions and achieve economic recovery.

Abdulmalik said Yemeni officials met with World Bank and International Finance Corporation officials in Aden.

He explained that the meeting reached an agreement on boosting the Bank's presence in Aden to support partnership and cooperation, respond to humanitarian and development needs, and back state capabilities to achieve stability and recovery.

Abdulmalik stated that the meeting addressed the most prominent challenges and several important issues relating to the food security and energy sectors.

He stressed the need to shift to development in Yemen, suffering from the war against the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.

He explained that the government agreed with the World Bank on several points to launch the next stage, focusing on balancing the emergency response to sustainability with development projects.

They also agreed to finance the productive sectors, fisheries, and agriculture and activate oversight over international organizations, namely projects funded through the World Bank.

The two asserted the need to support the private sector, and the premier stressed the importance of the Bank's contribution to maintaining capabilities within public institutions.

The PM praised the "unique experience" of the World Bank in Yemen, especially since the international organization has been a key and strategic partner since the sixties.

The World Bank is a partner in building effective institutions such as the Social Fund for Development and the Public Works Project, capable of implementing projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Through the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank funded several projects in many sectors in the last 18 months, including health, education, and emergency cash transfers, totaling more than $1 billion.

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Arab World

Syrian Army Orders Evacuations as Heavy Fighting Grips Aleppo's Kurdish Areas

Civilians carry their bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano
Civilians carry their bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano
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Syrian Army Orders Evacuations as Heavy Fighting Grips Aleppo's Kurdish Areas

Civilians carry their bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano
Civilians carry their bags and belongings as they flee following renewed clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Aleppo, Syria, January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano

The Syrian army clashed with fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ​in parts of Aleppo on Thursday and ordered residents to evacuate, accusing the SDF of using Kurdish-majority areas to launch attacks, according to Syrian state media.

The army released more than seven maps identifying areas it said would be targeted in strikes, urging residents to leave immediately for their safety. Its operations command announced a curfew in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh from 3 p.m. (1200 GMT).

The fighting, which erupted on Tuesday, has driven thousands of civilians ‌from their homes ‌and killed and wounded several people, state media ‌reported, Reuters reported.

SDF ⁠said ​their fighters ‌were engaged in intense clashes with Damascus-aligned factions and auxiliaries near Aleppo's Syriac neighbourhood, adding that they had inflicted what they described as heavy losses.

The violence and competing claims over responsibility highlight a deepening and increasingly deadly standoff between Damascus and Kurdish authorities who have resisted integrating into the central government.

ACCUSATIONS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING

The Kurdistan Regional Government's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said he was deeply concerned by attacks on ⁠Kurdish neighborhoods in Aleppo, warning that targeting civilians and attempts to alter the area's demography amounted to ‌what he described as ethnic cleansing.

Barzani called on all ‍sides to exercise restraint, protect civilians ‍and pursue dialogue.

The SDF accused Damascus-aligned factions of threatening unlawful attacks on ‍civilian areas, saying public warnings of shelling could amount to forced displacement and war crimes under international humanitarian law.

More residents were seen leaving Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh through designated safe corridors.

The SDF are a U.S.-backed alliance that controls much of northeastern Syria and ​has been Washington's main local partner in the fight against Islamic State.

Kurdish-led authorities established a semi-autonomous administration in those areas and parts ⁠of Aleppo during Syria's 14-year war and have resisted fully integrating into the Islamist-led government that took power after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in late 2024.

Damascus reached a deal with the SDF last year that envisaged full integration by the end of 2025, but progress has been limited, with both sides accusing the other of stalling.

The United States has sought to mediate, holding meetings as recently as Sunday, though those talks ended without tangible results.

Diplomats warn that failure to integrate the SDF into Syria's army risks further violence and could draw in Türkiye, which has threatened military action against Kurdish fighters it regards as terrorists.

Türkiye said ‌on Thursday it is ready to help Syria if asked after the Syrian army independently launched what it called a "counter-terrorism" operation in Aleppo.

Arab World

Lebanese Military Moves to New Phase of Disarming Non-state Groups like Hezbollah

Lebanese soldiers stand in front of a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the village of Deir Kifa in south Lebanon last month. (AFP file)
Lebanese soldiers stand in front of a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the village of Deir Kifa in south Lebanon last month. (AFP file)
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Lebanese Military Moves to New Phase of Disarming Non-state Groups like Hezbollah

Lebanese soldiers stand in front of a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the village of Deir Kifa in south Lebanon last month. (AFP file)
Lebanese soldiers stand in front of a building targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the village of Deir Kifa in south Lebanon last month. (AFP file)

The Lebanese military said Thursday it had concluded the first phase of their plan to fully deploy across southern Lebanon and disarm non-state groups, notably Hezbollah. Israel said it is encouraging but “far from sufficient.”

The effort to disarm Hezbollah comes after a Washington-brokered ceasefire ended a war between the group and Israel in 2024.

The military's statement didn't name Hezbollah or other armed groups in particular, but it comes before President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and his government to discuss the deployment and disarmament plans. Both said disarming non-state groups was a priority upon beginning their terms not long after the ceasefire went into effect, according to The AP news.

Lebanon's top officials have endorsed the military announcement.

A statement by Aoun’s office ahead of the meeting called on Israel to stop its attacks, withdraw from areas it occupies, and release Lebanese prisoners. He called on friendly countries not to send weapons to Lebanon unless it's to state institutions — an apparent reference to Iran which for decades has sent weapons and munitions to Hezbollah.

Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah who played a leading role in ceasefire talks, issued a statement saying the people of southern Lebanon are “thirsty for the army's presence and protection."

Israel maintains that despite Lebanon’s efforts, Hezbollah is still attempting to rearm itself in southern Lebanon.

“The ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Lebanon states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed," a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office read. “This is imperative for Israel’s security and Lebanon’s future.”

Military says disarmament plan in ‘advanced stage’ The text of the ceasefire agreement is vague as to how Hezbollah’s weapons and military facilities north of the Litani river should be treated, saying Lebanese authorities should dismantle unauthorized facilities starting with the area south of the river.

Hezbollah insists that the agreement only applies south of the Litani, while Israel maintains that it applies to the whole country. The Lebanese government has said it will eventually remove non-state weapons throughout the country.

The Lebanese military has been clearing tunnels, rocket-launching positions, and other structures since its disarmament proposal was approved by the government and went into effect in September.

The government had set a deadline of the end of 2025 to clear the area south of the Litani River of non-state weapons.

“The army confirms that its plan to restrict weapons has entered an advanced stage, after achieving the goals of the first phase effectively and tangibly on the ground,” the military statement read.

“Work in the sector is ongoing until the unexploded ordnance and tunnels are cleared ... with the aim of preventing armed groups from irreversibly rebuilding their capabilities,” it said.

Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the Lebanese military’s announcement.

Officials have said the next stage of the disarmament plan is in segments of southern Lebanon between the Litani and the Awali River, which include Lebanon’s port city of Sidon, but they have not set a timeline for that phase.

Israeli strikes continue Israel still strikes Lebanon near daily and occupies five strategic hilltop points along the border, the only areas south of the Litani where the military said it has yet to control.

Regular meetings have taken place between the Lebanese and the Israelis alongside the United States, France, and the UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, to monitor developments after the ceasefire.

Lebanon’s cash-strapped military has since been gradually dispersing across wide areas of southern Lebanon between the Litani River and the UN-demarcated “Blue Line” that separates the tiny country from Israel. The military has also been slowly confiscating weapons from armed Palestinian factions in refugee camps.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of trying to rebuild its battered military capacity and has said that the Lebanese military’s efforts are not sufficient, raising fears of a new escalation. Lebanon, meanwhile, said Israel's strikes and control of the hilltops were an obstacle to the efforts.

Lebanon also hopes that disarming Hezbollah and other non-state groups will help to bring in money needed for reconstruction after the 2024 war.

Hezbollah says it has been cooperative with the army in the south but will not discuss disarming elsewhere before Israel stops its strikes and withdraws from Lebanese territory.

Arab World

Israel Strikes Gaza Rocket Launch Site, Ceasefire Deal under Strain

Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, amid Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza City August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, amid Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza City August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
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Israel Strikes Gaza Rocket Launch Site, Ceasefire Deal under Strain

Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, amid Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza City August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants into Israel, amid Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Gaza City August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Israel's military said on Thursday it had carried out a targeted strike on a rocket launch site near Gaza City after identifying a failed launch, as questions mount over when the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire will begin.

The military said the projectile did not cross into Israeli territory and that the launch site was struck shortly after the attempt was detected.

It accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire twice in the past ‌24 hours. A ‌source from the Palestinian militant group told Reuters it ‌was ⁠checking ​the ‌allegation.

Further highlighting the fragility of the ceasefire deal, local Palestinian health authorities said two people, a woman and a boy, had been injured on Thursday in two separate shooting incidents by Israeli forces in southern and northern Gaza.

There was no immediate Israeli comment on the report.

Israel is awaiting the handover of the final body due under the current stage of the truce. An Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel ⁠will not move to the next phase of the ceasefire until Hamas returns the remains of the last Israeli ‌hostage still held in Gaza.

Israel has yet to open ‍the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, ‍which is another condition of the US-backed plan, saying it will only do ‍so once the remains are returned.

CEASEFIRE LOOKING FRAGILE

Israel and Hamas have accused each other of major breaches of the ceasefire deal and remain far apart on the more difficult steps envisaged for the next phase.

Israel has continued to carry out air strikes and targeted operations across Gaza. ​The Israeli military said it views "with utmost severity" any attempts by militant groups in Gaza to attack Israel.

A Hamas official told Reuters on ⁠Thursday the group had documented more than 1,100 Israeli violations of the ceasefire since October and had urged mediators to intervene.

The violations include killings, injuries, artillery and aerial strikes, home demolitions and detention of people, he said.

Hamas has refused to disarm and has been reasserting its control as Israeli troops remain entrenched in about half the Gaza Strip. Israel has said it will resume military action if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully.

More than 400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the truce, according to Gaza health officials, as well as three Israeli soldiers.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 others in an assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. More than 71,000 Palestinians ‌have been killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.