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SDF Launches 2nd Phase of 'Deterring Terrorism' Campaign

Members of Deir Ezzor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (File photo: Reuters)
Members of Deir Ezzor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (File photo: Reuters)
    Hasaka, Washington - Kamal Sheikho, Moaz al-Omari
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SDF Launches 2nd Phase of 'Deterring Terrorism' Campaign

Members of Deir Ezzor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (File photo: Reuters)
Members of Deir Ezzor military council which fights under the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) (File photo: Reuters)

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced launching the second phase of its ''Deterring Terrorism" campaign to track down and pursue ISIS cells in northeastern Syria, along the Euphrates River basin and areas on the Iraqi border.

The SDF Media Center issued a statement saying that the operation has kicked off in cooperation with the international coalition, adding that it targets several cities along the northern Euphrates River Basin in Deir Ezzor.

The statement explained that the campaign involved the Special Anti-Terrorism Units (YAT), in coordination with the international coalition and air support forces, reiterating that it will continue until the goal set by the General Command is achieved.

The spokeswoman of Deir Ezzor Military Council, Lilwa al-Abdullah, announced that the campaign was launched at the request of the tribes’ notables in the region, after meeting with the Commander of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, stressing that it aims to establish security and stability in the region.

Recently, ISIS terrorist attacks increased against civilians, posing a direct threat to their lives.

Meanwhile, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Kenneth McKenzie, said that the threat of ISIS attacks is increasing in Syrian areas under the Russian and regime control.

“The conditions that led to the rise of ISIS still obtain out there in the west, that's unfortunate, and I am worried about that,” he added.

In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), McKenzie explained that there's always going to be some form of insurgency with these factors in this area.

"We want to establish local systems that will be able to handle (the insurgency) so they won't need us to do it, except with very, little support,” he noted.

Last week, McKenzie met with Abdi in Syria during his visit to the eastern Euphrates River Valley and informed him that they remain partners.

“We have tasks that remain to be accomplished against ISIS up and down the Euphrates River Valley. … We also talked about SDF management of the IDP (internally displaced persons) and the prison population that's there.”

McKenzie said that CENTCOM is not directly involved in the issue but highlighted some concerns.

“We're concerned from a security perspective and we're concerned from a humanitarian perspective.”

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Arab World

Israel Urges All Vessels to Evacuate South Lebanon Maritime Area up to Tyre

Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on the village of Qlaile as pictured from nearby Tyre in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on the village of Qlaile as pictured from nearby Tyre in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Urges All Vessels to Evacuate South Lebanon Maritime Area up to Tyre

Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on the village of Qlaile as pictured from nearby Tyre in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment on the village of Qlaile as pictured from nearby Tyre in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)

The Israeli military on Tuesday urged all vessels in the maritime zone off the coast of southern Lebanon to immediately head north of the city of Tyre, warning that it would operate in the area.

"Hezbollah's activities expose naval vessels in the maritime area between Tyre and Ras al-Naqoura to danger, which compels the Israeli army to take action against it in the maritime domain," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X.

"To ensure your safety, all anchored or sailing naval vessels in the specified maritime area shown on the navigation map must immediately proceed north of the Tyre area," he added.

Arab World

Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah Says It Will Release American Journalist Shelly Kittleson

US journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
US journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
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Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah Says It Will Release American Journalist Shelly Kittleson

US journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on March 31, 2026. (AFP)
US journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on March 31, 2026. (AFP)

The Iran-backed Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it will release American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week.

The group said its decision came “in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister," Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without giving more details. It added that “this initiative will not be repeated in the future.” The statement added that Kittleson must “leave the country immediately” upon her release.

Kataib Hezbollah had not previously acknowledged that it was the one responsible for Kittleson’s abduction, although both US and Iraqi officials had pointed fingers at the group.

Two officials within the faction, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, told The Associated Press that in exchange for freeing Kittleson, several members of the group who had previously been detained by Iraqi authorities would be released.

Kittleson, 49, a freelance journalist, had lived abroad for years before the kidnapping, using Rome as her base for a time and building a respected journalism career across the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Like many freelancers, she often worked on a shoestring budget and without the protections afforded by large news organizations to staff.

She had entered Iraq again shortly before her abduction. US officials have said that they warned her multiple times of threats against her, but that she did not want to leave.

Iraqi officials have said that two cars were involved in the kidnapping, one of which crashed while being pursued near the town of al-Haswa in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad. The journalist was then transferred to a second car that fled the scene.

Three Iraqi officials said earlier Tuesday that attempts to negotiate her release had run into obstacles.

The two Iraqi security officials and one official from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework political bloc spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the sensitive case publicly.

One of the security officials said that an official with the Popular Mobilization Forces had been tasked with communicating with the abductors to secure Kittleson’s release but had run into difficulties in communicating with the Kataib Hezbollah leadership.

“The primary challenge is that the leaders of the Kataib militia — specifically, the commanders of the battalions — are nowhere to be found. No one knows their whereabouts, and the process of establishing contact with them is extremely complex,” they said. “These leaders have gone underground, maintaining no active lines of communication, out of fear of being targeted.”

The political official said a message had been sent to the Kataib leadership to determine their demands in exchange for releasing the kidnapped journalist. Iraqi authorities were willing to release six Kataib Hezbollah members who are currently detained, most of them in connection with attacks on a US base in Syria, they said.

The second security official said that to further complicate matters, the Iraqi official in charge of the case had not yet received the go-ahead from US officials to proceed with negotiations.

US officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The State Department previously said that it is working with the FBI to secure Kittleson's release.

Journalist advocacy groups had urged the US government to formally designate Kittleson a hostage, or “wrongful detainee,” a designation that triggers an elevated level of response.

Arab World

Israel Military Says Completed Forward Deployment in South Lebanon

An Israeli Air Force F-15D Eagle fighter aircraft flies over the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)
An Israeli Air Force F-15D Eagle fighter aircraft flies over the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Military Says Completed Forward Deployment in South Lebanon

An Israeli Air Force F-15D Eagle fighter aircraft flies over the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)
An Israeli Air Force F-15D Eagle fighter aircraft flies over the area of Marjeyoun in southern Lebanon on April 7, 2026. (AFP)

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had completed the deployment of ground troops along a "defense line" in southern Lebanon, where it is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The military has not given any geographical details on the furthest point to which its soldiers have advanced into Lebanese territory.

Israeli media reported that the military did not intend at this stage to push troops deeper than around 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Israel-Lebanon border.

"At this stage, soldiers have completed their deployment along the anti-tank missile defense line and continue to operate in the area in order to strengthen the forward defensive posture and remove threats to the residents and communities of northern Israel," a military statement said.

Defense minister Israel Katz has said on several occasions in recent weeks that Israel intends to establish a "security zone" in southern Lebanon extending to the Litani river, which flows as much as 30 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, in order to prevent rocket, drone or missile fire at northern Israeli communities.

The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported that the military was expected to present to the government "an operational plan for controlling the first line of (Lebanese) villages as a deep security zone up to the anti-tank line".

Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing military sources, reported that the military was "preparing to boost its forces in southern Lebanon, but there are currently no plans to advance deeper into the country".

"The sources said the forces have reached what has been defined as the 'front line' outlined in the approved operational plans," Haaretz reported, adding that "this line includes southern villages located roughly 10 kilometers from the Litani River, an area under Israeli military control".

Haaretz reported that the current deployment was aimed at preventing anti-tank missile fire on northern Israeli communities.

These anti-tank missiles have an estimated range of around 10 kilometers.