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Five Thousands Militants, Civilians Left Arsal to Idlib while Hundreds Stepping Back

Journalists look at parked buses that will transfer Nusra Front militants in Jroud Arsal, Syria-Lebanon border, July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (REUTERS)
Journalists look at parked buses that will transfer Nusra Front militants in Jroud Arsal, Syria-Lebanon border, July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (REUTERS)
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Five Thousands Militants, Civilians Left Arsal to Idlib while Hundreds Stepping Back

Journalists look at parked buses that will transfer Nusra Front militants in Jroud Arsal, Syria-Lebanon border, July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (REUTERS)
Journalists look at parked buses that will transfer Nusra Front militants in Jroud Arsal, Syria-Lebanon border, July 31, 2017. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (REUTERS)

Thousands of Syrian civilians and Nusra Front militants and their families gathered on Wednesday in buses intended to transport them to the north of Syria, in implementation of the second phase of a deal between Nusra and the Lebanese Hezbollah, which aims to evacuate the area of Jroud Arsal of 1,160 armed men and 6,661 refugees.

However, hundreds of Syrian civilians decided at the last moment not to board buses, fearing the high prices and deteriorating security in Idlib.

The National News Agency (NNA) reported that a convoy of 113 busses carrying Nusra Front militants and their families has crossed Wadi Hamid towards the Syrian territories on Wednesday.

Twenty ambulances escorted the convoy, amidst measures by the army, General Security and the Red Cross.

Well-informed sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that around five thousand militants and civilians have departed from Arsal on Wednesday, heading towards northern Syria through the region of Flita.

The sources added that many civilians, who had registered on the lists of those wishing to leave, “have stepped back at the last minute fearing the high cost of living, scarcity of jobs and security threats in the Syrian province.

Thus, all Nusra militants left the area with their families, while a number of civilians chose to stay in Arsal.

Hezbollah’s military media said on Wednesday that 7,277 people have departed to the north of Syria. Those were living in two separate areas, one of which was under the control of the Lebanese Army.

The head of Lebanon’s General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, has supervised late Tuesday a swap deal, which saw the release of three Hezbollah prisoners in exchange for three Nusra militants detained by the Lebanese security forces.

The next phase would allow militants and civilians to leave for the town of Al-Rahiba in eastern Qalamoun, while the third phase of evacuation will include civilians wishing to return to their villages in western Qalamoun.

The NNA correspondent reported that Nusra militants have burnt the sites they used to occupy on the outskirts of Arsal.

In earlier remarks to Reuters, Ibrahim said 120 militants carrying personal weapons would be among the thousands of Syrians set to leave for Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province on Wednesday.

He added that Lebanese authorities had received the three Hezbollah fighters and had handed over three individuals detained in Lebanon requested by the Nusra Front just before 1 am Beirut time.

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Arab World

Egypt and Russia Discuss Developments in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the launch of the installation of the pressure vessel for the first reactor at the El-Dabaa nuclear plant last month (Egyptian presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the launch of the installation of the pressure vessel for the first reactor at the El-Dabaa nuclear plant last month (Egyptian presidency)
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Egypt and Russia Discuss Developments in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the launch of the installation of the pressure vessel for the first reactor at the El-Dabaa nuclear plant last month (Egyptian presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the launch of the installation of the pressure vessel for the first reactor at the El-Dabaa nuclear plant last month (Egyptian presidency)

Egypt and Russia discussed developments in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza on Friday during a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, in the latest round of ongoing coordination and consultations between the two countries on bilateral ties and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the call covered the close relationship between Egypt and Russia, which it said has gained growing momentum across various areas of cooperation, particularly economic and trade fields.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s pride in the strategic partnership binding the two countries, describing it as the governing framework for bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

He stressed the need to continue joint work to advance ongoing projects, notably the Dabaa nuclear plant, in order to boost Russian investment in Egypt and expand cooperation between both sides.

Last month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin witnessed via video conference the installation of the pressure vessel for the first reactor unit at the nuclear plant, as well as the signing of the nuclear fuel procurement order.

Experts described the step as the first milestone toward nuclear energy production.

El-Dabaa plant is Egypt’s first nuclear power facility, located in the town of Dabaa in Marsa Matrouh governorate on the Mediterranean coast. Russia and Egypt signed a cooperation agreement in November 2015 to build the plant, with the contracts entering into force in December 2017.

Abdelatty underscored during Friday’s call the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and moving ahead with the second phase of the US president’s peace plan for Gaza, noting the need to enable the international stabilization force to carry out its mandate and consolidate the ceasefire.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty outlined Egypt’s efforts within the Quad mechanism to stop the conflict and preserve the unity and integrity of the Sudanese state. He also reiterated Egypt’s longstanding position supporting the unity, sovereignty, security and stability of Lebanon.

He renewed Cairo’s call for respecting the unity and sovereignty of Syrian territory and rejecting any actions or interventions that could undermine the country’s stability, urging the activation of a comprehensive political process that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.

Egypt said in late November that it hoped to see the start of a political process in Sudan without exclusion and reaffirmed its respect for Sudanese sovereignty.

The Quad, which groups Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, has been working to secure a ceasefire in Sudan.

It held a ministerial meeting in Washington in September and stressed the need to exert every effort to resolve the conflict. In August, it proposed a roadmap calling for a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire, paving the way for a political process and the formation of an independent civilian government within nine months.

The call also touched on developments related to Iran’s nuclear program.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of continued efforts to de-escalate tensions, build confidence and create conditions that offer a real opportunity for diplomatic solutions and the resumption of talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that accommodates the interests of all parties and contributes to regional security and stability.

Separately, Abdelatty and Lavrov discussed the war in Ukraine.

The Egyptian foreign minister reiterated Cairo’s consistent position that efforts must continue to pursue peaceful settlements to crises through dialogue and diplomatic means in a way that preserves security and stability.

Arab World

Yemen Leader Warns against Unilateral Actions Undermining Unity, State Sovereignty

Yemeni armed forces flash the V-sign for victory as they ride in the back of a lorry as they celebrate the 58th anniversary of National Independence Day, in the port city of Aden, November 30, 2025. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP)
Yemeni armed forces flash the V-sign for victory as they ride in the back of a lorry as they celebrate the 58th anniversary of National Independence Day, in the port city of Aden, November 30, 2025. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP)
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Yemen Leader Warns against Unilateral Actions Undermining Unity, State Sovereignty

Yemeni armed forces flash the V-sign for victory as they ride in the back of a lorry as they celebrate the 58th anniversary of National Independence Day, in the port city of Aden, November 30, 2025. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP)
Yemeni armed forces flash the V-sign for victory as they ride in the back of a lorry as they celebrate the 58th anniversary of National Independence Day, in the port city of Aden, November 30, 2025. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP)

Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi warned on Friday that unilateral actions and internal disputes within government-controlled areas risk undermining state sovereignty and strengthening the Iran-backed Houthi group.

Al-Alimi made the remarks before leaving the interim capital Aden for Saudi Arabia, where he is set to hold high-level consultations with regional and international partners amid sensitive developments in eastern Yemen, particularly Hadramout.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to national partnership and collective responsibility to complete the transitional phase in line with the 2022 power-transfer declaration and the Riyadh Agreement.

“The state alone bears responsibility for protecting its national institutions and safeguarding citizens’ interests,” Al-Alimi said, warning against any measures that would challenge the government’s or local authorities’ exclusive powers, harm security and stability, deepen humanitarian suffering, or undermine economic recovery and international confidence.

The council chief said restoring state institutions, ending Houthi militia control, and pursuing economic reforms would remain top national priorities. He cautioned that any distraction by side conflicts “only serves the Iranian project and its destructive tools,” according to the state-run Saba news agency.

Al-Alimi praised Saudi Arabia for mediating the latest truce agreement in Hadramout and urged full adherence to its terms. He said the deal should serve as a foundation for stability in Hadramout and the wider region, describing the province as “a cornerstone of Yemen’s and the region’s stability.”

He voiced full support for local authorities and tribal leaders seeking to restore calm and enable Hadramout residents to manage their own local affairs in line with the PLC’s pledges and plan to normalize conditions in the province.

Al-Alimi also instructed the local authorities and relevant ministries to form a committee to investigate alleged human rights and humanitarian law violations and damages to public and private property in the province’s Wadi and desert districts, and to ensure victims receive redress.

The Yemeni leader urged all political and social groups to put aside differences, act responsibly, and unite in facing common challenges. He called for rallying behind the government to fulfill its obligations and place citizens’ welfare and dignity above all else.

Varieties

British Man Makes Artwork in Size of Human Blood Cell

David A Lindon's latest sculpture is the same size as a human blood cell, mould spores, bacteria, talcum powder or a fog droplet (David A Lindon)
David A Lindon's latest sculpture is the same size as a human blood cell, mould spores, bacteria, talcum powder or a fog droplet (David A Lindon)
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British Man Makes Artwork in Size of Human Blood Cell

David A Lindon's latest sculpture is the same size as a human blood cell, mould spores, bacteria, talcum powder or a fog droplet (David A Lindon)
David A Lindon's latest sculpture is the same size as a human blood cell, mould spores, bacteria, talcum powder or a fog droplet (David A Lindon)

A micro artist said he has beaten his own world record by creating the smallest handmade sculpture ever.

David A Lindon, from Bournemouth, Dorset, says his latest sculpture, The Yellow Smiley Face, is “invisible to the human eye,” with measurements of only 11.037 by 12.330 microns, according to BBC.

Lindon said his artwork lived on a first-class stamp on a micro dot on the eye of the late Queen.

It has now broken his previous smallest handmade sculpture world record, The Lego Brick.

Lindon, who has 12 Guinness World Records in total, is known for his work creating miniature pieces of art, including three microscopic re-creations of Van Gogh masterpieces on a watch mechanism which sold for £90,000.

The Red Lego Brick measures 0.02517mm by 0.02184mm.

“My Yellow Smiley Face artwork is half the size of my Red Lego Brick artwork, which in turn was already four times smaller than the previous record,” the artist said.

He said it was the same size as either a human blood cell, mould spores, bacteria, talcum powder and a fog droplet.

Other of Lindon's tiny creations include unique animals crafted within the eye of a needle, from a blue whale to a delicate peacock butterfly.

“I probably am completely bonkers,” he jokes.

The stamp where Yellow Smiley Face lives is mounted on a glass tower and housed inside a sealed glass box.