Turkish Drones Target Security Guards at Al-Hol Camp, ISIS Families Try to Escape

A general view of al-Hol camp in Syria. Reuters file photo
A general view of al-Hol camp in Syria. Reuters file photo
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Turkish Drones Target Security Guards at Al-Hol Camp, ISIS Families Try to Escape

A general view of al-Hol camp in Syria. Reuters file photo
A general view of al-Hol camp in Syria. Reuters file photo

Two Turkish strikes Wednesday targeted forces guarding the exterior of Syria's Al-Hol detention camp, amid a state of chaos and fear among ISIS families and attempts by some of them to flee, a war monitor said.

The camp is home to over 50,000 people including relatives of suspected ISIS militants.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the number of airstrikes fired by Turkish drones on areas held by the Autonomous Administration had amounted to 15 on Wednesday.

A Turkish drone attacked two positions in al-Malkiyah countryside in far north eastern Syria, the SOHR said.

In the first attack, the drone shelled positions in Shirk village, and in the second attack the drone attacked a fuel station in Ala Qos area in al-Malkiyah countryside near borders between Syria and Iraq.

A Turkish drone also hit power transmission station near a coronavirus hospital in al-Qamishli, while ambulances rushed to the targeted area.

The London-based war monitor had previously reported that a Turkish drone targeted a checkpoint for the (Kurdish) Asayesh security forces in Abu Rasin town in Hasaka’s northwestern countryside, injuring members of the checkpoint.

Another Turkish drone also targeted a house in Kararshak village in the countryside of Ain al-Arab (Kobani).

Turkish drones further targeted an oil station in Mashuq village and the Kil Hasnak station in al-Qahtaniyah countryside.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.