Intense Arab, International Contacts to Stop War in Sudan

The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)
The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)
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Intense Arab, International Contacts to Stop War in Sudan

The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)
The Sudanese capital is still suffering from continuous fighting in the city center. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia and France stressed the importance of stopping the military escalation between the conflicting parties in Sudan, the Sudanese military and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), that erupted on Saturday.

During a phone call on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called for ending the violence, and providing the necessary protection for Sudanese civilians and residents in a way that guarantees the security, stability, and well-being of the country and its people.

For its part, Egypt reaffirmed the importance of reaching a cease-fire agreement in Sudan as soon as possible. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his British counterpart, James Cleverly, agreed on maintaining coordination and talks to resolve the crisis.

The Egyptian foreign minister made contacts, on Wednesday, with his counterparts in Britain, Chad and the Sultanate of Oman, to discuss the situation in Sudan.

Shoukry emphasized “the need to deal with the existing conflict as an internal matter,” noting that external parties should “abstain from interfering in a way that fuels the conflict.”

He also underlined the importance of joining international and regional efforts to contain the crisis.

Meanwhile, Türkiye called on both sides of the conflict in Sudan to avoid further bloodshed, and to hold dialogue and reconciliation to find a permanent solution to the country’s problems.

In an interview with Turkish state TV (TRT), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed his country’s readiness to provide all means of support to contribute to the stability and peace of Sudan.

“We are following the developments in Sudan with concern. Today, I spoke to my brother [Abdelmadjid] Tebboune, the president of Algeria. I will have talks with both sides in Sudan,” Erdogan said, adding: “Türkiye is ready to provide all means of support to Sudan’s peace and stability.”

He also urged the Sudanese people “to continue to build the country’s future together by putting disputes aside.”

According to a statement by the Algerian presidency, reported by the Turkish Anadolu Agency, Tebboune and Erdogan discussed “the means to find a solution to contain the situation politically and stop the fighting.”

In this context, the two sides called for “dialogue and upholding the country’s supreme interest.”

On Tuesday, Tebboune proposed a quartet move by the Arab League, the United Nations, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for East Africa (IGAD), to stop the fighting in Sudan.

He sent letters in this regard to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the current chairperson of the African Union, the President of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and the executive secretary of IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu.

In a statement, on Tuesday, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on both sides of the conflict to ease tension to avoid more bloodshed, and for dialogue and reconciliation to find a permanent solution to the outstanding problems.



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.