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Turkish Forces, FSA Take Control over Tal Rifaat

Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018 (Khalil Ashawi / Reuters)
Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018 (Khalil Ashawi / Reuters)
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Turkish Forces, FSA Take Control over Tal Rifaat

Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018 (Khalil Ashawi / Reuters)
Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018 (Khalil Ashawi / Reuters)

Turkish forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) took control of Tal Rifaat and Menagh military airport in the northern countryside of Aleppo as part of Operation Olive Branch, which was aimed at ending the presence of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin region and its villages.

Turkish television channels showed footage of the Turkish army and FSA factions entering Tal Rifaat, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last Saturday saying that it would be done "within a short period."

Dogan news agency reported that Olive Branch forces were able to take control over the entire city of Tal Rifaat and Menagh military airport.

Earlier on Tuesday, local sources from Tal Rifaat said that Turkish army fighter jets launched air raids on targets of the Kurdish "units" in the city in preparation for the expected military operation.

Commander at the 9th Division of FSA, Lt. Anas Hajji said that the battle in Tal Rifaat is a continuation of Operation Olive Branch, pointing out that Turkish warplanes raided villages of Umm Hush and Sheikh Issa.

In the same context, Turkish media and local sources revealed a meeting held on Monday between Turkish and Russian military officials in Aleppo's northern countryside to discuss military action towards the city of Tal Rifaat.

The sources indicated the meeting included military officials from both sides in the town of Kafrnaya, north of Aleppo.

Frequent meetings regarding Tal Rifaat and nearby Arab villages took place over the past few days and resulted in the agreement to enter Tal Rifaat militarily by Turkey, according to the sources.

About 500 residents of Tal Rifaat and FSA members demonstrated on Sunday demanding the liberation of the city from the YPG units. Turkish media said the protesters in Azaz and village of Sjo in the countryside of Aleppo chanted slogans against the Kurdish units, and thanked Turkey for the "Olive Branch" in Afrin, while carrying flags of Turkey and FSA.

Speaking at the Justice and Development (AK) Party’s sixth ordinary provincial congress President Erdogan said: "God willing, we will achieve this operation’s goal by taking control of Tal Rifaat within a short period."

At the beginning of 2016, YPG units took control of areas southeast Afrin, and displaced about 250,000 residents of Tal Refaat fled to opposition controlled areas in Azaz.

Office of the governor of Turkish state Hatay said on Tuesday that the Turkish army killed 11 Kurdish militants in the southern state on the border with Syria, while the army said two of its soldiers were killed in an explosion in Afrin area.

A statement issued by the office indicated the Turkish security forces killed the gunmen after detecting their locations in Arsuz in Hatay near the Mediterranean Sea.

Turkish army and its allies from the Free Syrian Army began Olive Branch Operation on January 20 against the Kurdish People's Protection Units in the Syrian region of Afrin, which lies on the other side of the border with Hatay. The entire area was liberated on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Turkish armed forces said that two Turkish soldiers were killed in an improvised explosive device during inspections in Afrin.

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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.