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Rare US Raid in Syrian Government-held Village Kills ISIS Official

An Apache helicopter seen flying above US soldiers patrolling the countryside of Tal Tamr in northeastern Syria in December 2021. (EPA)
An Apache helicopter seen flying above US soldiers patrolling the countryside of Tal Tamr in northeastern Syria in December 2021. (EPA)
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Rare US Raid in Syrian Government-held Village Kills ISIS Official

An Apache helicopter seen flying above US soldiers patrolling the countryside of Tal Tamr in northeastern Syria in December 2021. (EPA)
An Apache helicopter seen flying above US soldiers patrolling the countryside of Tal Tamr in northeastern Syria in December 2021. (EPA)

A rare US helicopter raid on a government-held village in Syria’s northeast killed an ISIS official hiding out there on Thursday.

The United States has carried out previous raids in Syria against ISIS militants, but Thursday’s would be the first known operation in a zone held by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.

Early on Thursday, US special forces carried out a rare operation on the government-held village of Muluk Saray in the northeastern province of Hasakah, Syrian state television said in its Telegram channel.

It said one person was killed and others were captured. It gave no further details on their identities.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) Spokesman Col. Joseph Buccino told Reuters that the US forces conducted a “raid” overnight Wednesday, targeting a “senior ISIS official.”

Buccino added that more information would be released once operational details were confirmed.

Two security sources told Reuters that the man who was killed was an ISIS official wanted by the United States.

“The airborne operation targeted a key ISIS leader present in the areas controlled by the Syrian government. It was successful,” one of the security sources said.

The source said the slain man was responsible for coordinating across ISIS sleeper cells in the area.

“This operation aims to expand the scope of targeting this organization’s members across different parts of Syria,” the source added.

The second source confirmed the man killed was an ISIS official and said the US forces had taken his body with them as they retreated.

A local source said the man had moved to Muluk Saray village in recent years from Taif, a town near the border with Iraq that was once an ISIS stronghold.

“People thought he was a shepherd - no one knows his true identity,” said the source.

The local source said US forces also raided a building used by Syrian security and detained “several people” there.

Other residents of the area confirmed the raid to Reuters.

One said that US helicopters landed in the village after midnight and told residents by loudspeaker to stay indoors and keep their lights off.

The resident said the operation lasted several hours and that there was no exchange of fire with the US troops.

Citing reliable sources, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said one unidentified man was killed during a US airdrop near the village of Moluk Sarray.

It stated that the person killed in the operation was “an Iraqi national and likely a senior ISIS member who was killed after refusing to surrender to US forces.”

The war monitor reported that two families along with the head of a local security headquarters were arrested during the operation, which was said to have taken place about 17-km south of Qamishli city.

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Arab World

Egypt Urges US, Iran to Seize ‘Available Opportunity’ for Deal After Trump Cancels Strikes

Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 11, 2026. (Reuters)
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Egypt Urges US, Iran to Seize ‘Available Opportunity’ for Deal After Trump Cancels Strikes

Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 11, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, June 11, 2026. (Reuters)

Egypt urged the United States and Iran to seize what it called an "available opportunity" for a deal to end the war, after President Donald Trump withdrew his threat to carry out further strikes on Tehran.

Cairo's foreign ministry said in a statement late Thursday it hoped "the available opportunity will be seized to reach a deal on the various outstanding issues and to prepare the atmosphere for reaching an end to the war and beginning a new phase of regional stability".

Hopes grew on Friday for peace between Iran and the United States after Trump said a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend, even as Tehran said it had not made a final decision on a pact.

The deal, if confirmed, would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to end the three-month-old war, which has killed thousands and sent global energy prices sharply higher after Iran all but closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

"The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe," he said, adding that Vice President JD Vance would attend the deal signing.

Iranian media reported Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying large parts of the agreement have been finalized, but Iran would not compromise on its red lines.

Arab World

Saudi Decision to Resume Exports from Lebanon Widely Welcomed in Beirut

Lebanese trucks transporting goods wait at the Masnaa border crossing with Syria. AFP file photo
Lebanese trucks transporting goods wait at the Masnaa border crossing with Syria. AFP file photo
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Saudi Decision to Resume Exports from Lebanon Widely Welcomed in Beirut

Lebanese trucks transporting goods wait at the Masnaa border crossing with Syria. AFP file photo
Lebanese trucks transporting goods wait at the Masnaa border crossing with Syria. AFP file photo

Lebanon has welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision to lift the ban on imports in light of the “positive steps” taken by the Lebanese government to rebuild state institutions.

The Saudi Crown Prince’s decision was widely welcomed across Lebanon, nearly five years after Saudi Arabia halted all Lebanese imports, citing at the time “the importance of taking all necessary measures to protect the security of the Kingdom and its people.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan conveyed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s directive in a phone call with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday.

He affirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty over all its territory and the well-being of its people, as well as Riyadh’s confidence that Lebanon would take all necessary measures to ensure it is not used as a platform to harm its brothers.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed deep gratitude to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying the decision was “a sincere expression of the depth of Arab brotherhood that binds the two brotherly countries, and an embodiment of the wise Saudi leadership’s keenness to support Lebanon and its people during the phase of recovery and revival it is undergoing.”

“This kind step will make a tangible contribution to reviving the national economy and supporting broad segments of Lebanese producers and exporters,” Aoun said.

He added that the entire Lebanese people appreciates the decision, and “views it as a gesture that strengthens the path of Lebanese-Saudi relations rooted in the bonds of history and shared destiny.”

Salam said the decision to lift the ban on Lebanese exports reflected the depth of the brotherly and historic ties between the two countries. He said it embodied Saudi confidence in Lebanon and a shared desire to strengthen economic and trade cooperation.

Salam said the move was an important step that would support Lebanon’s economy, open new opportunities for Lebanese producers and exporters, and help promote growth and stability.

He said Lebanon looked forward to continued work and coordination with Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation and partnership in various fields for the benefit and prosperity of both countries.

The Saudi ban began in 2021 on agricultural product imports, then extended to all goods, and was linked to the smuggling of the drug Captagon, after smugglers and criminal networks exploited Lebanon as a platform for drug smuggling into the Kingdom.

This increased pressure on the collapsing Lebanese economy, which was already suffering from a severe financial crisis in 2019, especially with agricultural exports moving away from traditional Arab Gulf markets.

Lebanese exports to Saudi Arabia reached approximately $240 million in 2020.

Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmed Al-Hajjar thanked “Saudi Arabia for the decision to resume Lebanese exports.”

In a television interview, Al-Hajjar considered that “this step is the beginning of trust in Lebanese state institutions,” confirming that “the necessary measures have been taken to control border crossings.”

“We are coordinating with Saudi Arabia to control drug smuggling operations,” Al-Hajjar said.

Likewise, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Rajji stated that “the resumption of Lebanon's exports to Saudi Arabia is a bright page on the path to restoring confidence in the Lebanese state.”

For his part, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rassamni issued a statement thanking the Saudi leadership and affirming that the resumption of Lebanese exports to the Saudi market “has highly significant dimensions and constitutes direct support for the Lebanese economy.”

“It also consolidates Lebanon's position as a reliable trade partner in the region,” he said.

Minister of Industry Joe Issa El-Khoury said that with the return of Lebanese products to the Saudi market, “returns hope for a stronger Lebanese industry, more committed, and more present in its Arab environment.”

Arab World

Israel Advances in South Lebanon Toward Heights Overlooking Nabatieh, Galilee

An Israeli army flag flies over the ruins of destroyed buildings in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon (EPA)
An Israeli army flag flies over the ruins of destroyed buildings in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon (EPA)
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Israel Advances in South Lebanon Toward Heights Overlooking Nabatieh, Galilee

An Israeli army flag flies over the ruins of destroyed buildings in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon (EPA)
An Israeli army flag flies over the ruins of destroyed buildings in Kfar Kila, southern Lebanon (EPA)

The Israeli army pushed forward again on Thursday around the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, seeking to reach the strategic Ali al-Taher heights, an area it has pounded with dozens of strikes over the past two years.

Lebanese security assessments suggest the aim is to reach tunnels and facilities belonging to Hezbollah.

The move followed a similar strategic advance two weeks earlier, when Israeli forces reached the strategic Beaufort Castle east of Nabatieh before expanding around it.

Their next objective is Ali al-Taher hill, one of the last strategic heights overlooking Nabatieh from the west. The hill also overlooks Lebanese towns occupied by Israel and, in some places, has a line of sight toward settlements and towns in Galilee in northern Israel’s eastern sector.

New advance

Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers were seen at the Zafata site in Kfar Tebnit, east of Nabatieh, on the main road linking Marjayoun to Nabatieh.

Reports said Israeli forces had seized eastern and central neighborhoods of Kfar Tebnit amid widespread destruction. Local media said tanks advanced from Kfar Tebnit into Nabatieh al-Fawqa, southeast of Nabatieh city.

Security sources in southern Lebanon said the push toward Nabatieh al-Fawqa aimed to widen Israel’s “fire safety zone” and prevent Hezbollah fighters from launching drones and guided missiles at Israeli armor.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat the expansion was an attempt to push fighters away from the Beaufort Castle area and its surroundings, giving armored vehicles and other military vehicles room to advance toward the heights without being targeted.

The sources said reaching Zafata, a former artillery position used by Israeli forces before their withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, meant the objective was to seize the Ali al-Taher heights, no more than two kilometers from the point reached.

They said taking the hill was a strategic goal for Israeli forces, given their repeated shelling of it in recent months with bunker-buster and concussion bombs, strengthening the belief that Israel seeks to enter underground facilities thought to belong to Hezbollah.

The Israeli army paved the way for the advance overnight Wednesday into Thursday with heavy airstrikes on wooded areas in Jarmaq and Kfar Rumman and on hills overlooking the area, aiming to prevent armor from being hit by guided missiles or drones.

Artillery fire also intensified across the surrounding area, a tactic usually used during attempts to push into new territory.

Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of Qatrani in the Jezzine area near Shbeil School. Warplanes carried out four strikes on the same location.

Artillery also hit Ali al-Taher woods on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, the area around Al-Najdeh Al-Shaabiya Hospital in Nabatieh and the Kfar Rumman roundabout, all close to the incursion points.

Western sector

The incursion coincided with other movements that appeared to test Hezbollah’s defenses in the Mansouri area of the western sector. Two military vehicles were spotted in Mansouri after advancing from Tayr Harfa and Shama, but they quickly turned back.

Hezbollah said in two separate statements that it had targeted gatherings of Israeli vehicles and soldiers with rockets at the Rajman area near Tayr Harfa in southern Lebanon.

Local media said Israeli forces tried to advance from the Tayr Harfa-Jebbayn triangle toward the valley, in preparation for entering Majdal Zoun. The move coincided with more than 15 airstrikes on Majdal Zoun and Wadi Hassan, as well as heavy artillery fire.

Heavy clashes broke out overnight Wednesday into Thursday with Hezbollah fighters, who used rocket-propelled grenades and a loitering drone. The fighting forced Israeli forces to retreat and withdraw from the axis along which they had advanced.

Israeli artillery resumed shelling Wadi Hassan and its surroundings on Thursday morning with heavy 155 mm rounds, as warplanes and drones flew intensively over the area.

Continued shelling

In parallel, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building near Hiram Hospital in Tyre killed one person and wounded 17 others, including 10 nurses and hospital employees. Flying glass from shattered windows and doors caused the injuries.

The strike also damaged ceilings in some patient and emergency rooms and window panes, and destroyed cars belonging to doctors and employees in the hospital courtyard.

The Health Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Israeli strikes on Tayr Debba in the Tyre district killed nine people, including a woman, and wounded 10 others.

Operations inside Lebanon

The Israeli army said on Thursday that forces from the 91st Brigade had killed 35 Hezbollah militants over the past week as they moved near Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. It said the forces destroyed a rocket launcher hidden among trees and killed another militant in the area over the past day.

The army also said troops had seized quantities of weapons and ammunition, including rockets and RPG rounds, at various sites during ongoing military operations.

In the morning, the Israeli army said the Home Front Command had issued a precautionary directive after detecting launches from Lebanon toward northern Israel, urging people to enter protected areas when warnings are activated.