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Arab World

Sudanese Forces Arrest Top Darfur Tribal Chief

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) celebrates with tribal leader Musa Hilal (R) at the wedding of the Hilal's daughter and Chad's President Idriss Deby in 2012 [Reuters/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah]
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) celebrates with tribal leader Musa Hilal (R) at the wedding of the Hilal's daughter and Chad's President Idriss Deby in 2012 [Reuters/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah]
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Sudanese Forces Arrest Top Darfur Tribal Chief

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) celebrates with tribal leader Musa Hilal (R) at the wedding of the Hilal's daughter and Chad's President Idriss Deby in 2012 [Reuters/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah]
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) celebrates with tribal leader Musa Hilal (R) at the wedding of the Hilal's daughter and Chad's President Idriss Deby in 2012 [Reuters/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah]

Sudan's armed forces arrested a tribal chief from Darfur with a number of his aides and handed them to authorities in Khartoum.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) arrested Mousa Hilal, who is also a former aide to President Omar al-Bashir, near his hometown of Mustariaha in the state of North Darfur, along with three of his children following accusations of their involvement in conspiracies against the country.

The official news agency reported RSF Commander Mohammed Hamdan Hametti as saying that his forces had arrested Hilal following fierce clashes that erupted between fighters loyal to Hilal and an RSF unit near Mustariaha, where 10 RSF members including a commander died.

Hametti told the official news agency that Hilal has been handed over to the competent authorities in Khartoum, accusing him of involving in a foreign conspiracy against Sudan. He added that a foreign member carrying advanced and modern communication devices was also arrested alongside Hilal. He indicated that this affirms the involvement of foreign parties, which he didn't name, in destabilizing security and stability in Darfur.

The RSF commander stressed that the government would proceed with the implementation of a disarmament campaign to defeat the outlaws, while forces continue to "impose the authority of the state".

Hametti further confirmed the situation in Mistariaha is now stable and under full control.

Hilal was one of the most prominent supporters of the Sudanese government during the war with Darfur rebel forces. His group became known as the "Janjaweed" and is accused of several crimes against rebels in Darfur.

Hilal's supporters insist that he led the Border Guard Forces, along with the Sudanese government, in a war against rebels but he later disagreed with Khartoum authorities, which led him to form the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

Last August, Sudanese authorities launched a six-month disarmament campaign to eliminate illegal weapons in the conflict-affected areas in Sudan, particularly in Darfur region.Citizens were ordered to hand over their weapons to the nearest police station.

Hilal refused to hand over his troops' weapons or merge them with the RSF forces led by one of his cousins Commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, dubbed Hametti.

The tribal chief considered the formation of RSF a direct threat against him and left Khartoum to his hometown of Mistariaha along with his troops while maintaining a member of the parliament. After that, he announced the establishment of administrations in areas under his control and named his forces Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council.

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Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
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Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.