US says killed military leader of Syria Al-Qaeda affiliate

Security members loyal to the new Syrian administration patrol outside Umayyad Mosque, on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria, March 1, 2025. (REUTERS)
Security members loyal to the new Syrian administration patrol outside Umayyad Mosque, on the first day of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Damascus, Syria, March 1, 2025. (REUTERS)
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Updated 02 March 2025

US says killed military leader of Syria Al-Qaeda affiliate

US says killed military leader of Syria Al-Qaeda affiliate
  • On February 22, it said a “precision air strike” had killed Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, a leader of the group which the US classifies as a terrorist organization

WASHINGTON: The US Army said Saturday it had killed a top military leader of Hurras Al-Din, a Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda which announced its dissolution in January.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), in charge of American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement that its forces on February 23 “conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria, targeting and killing Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of the terrorist organization Hurras Al-Din.”
Since Hurras Al-Din announced in late January that it was dissolving itself, US air strikes have killed several of the group’s leaders, according to CENTCOM.
On February 22, it said a “precision air strike” had killed Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, a leader of the group which the US classifies as a terrorist organization.
American forces are in Syria as part of an international coalition created in 2014 to fight the terrorists of the Daesh group.
After a rebel alliance led by radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham toppled President Bashar Assad and took power in Damascus on December 8, Hurras Al-Din said it no longer needed to exist.
The group, including foreign jihadists, was based in mountainous northwestern Syria.


Unclear justice and accountability provisions could derail Gaza peace plan, UN expert warns

Unclear justice and accountability provisions could derail Gaza peace plan, UN expert warns
Updated 7 sec ago

Unclear justice and accountability provisions could derail Gaza peace plan, UN expert warns

Unclear justice and accountability provisions could derail Gaza peace plan, UN expert warns
  • ‘War crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide must not be shielded by amnesties, statutes of limitation or other measures,’ says Special Rapporteur Bernard Duhaime
  • Peace process ‘must include truth-telling, criminal accountability, reparations, memorialization, and robust guarantees of non-repetition,’ he adds

NEW YORK CITY: A UN expert warned on Wednesday that the absence of mechanisms to ensure accountability for grave breaches of international and humanitarian law could undermine the current Gaza peace plan.
“Crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide must not be shielded by amnesties, statutes of limitation or other measures that similarly limit criminal responsibility,” said Bernard Duhaime, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence.
“This fundamental principle of international law is essential to prevent impunity and applies equally to all perpetrators.”
Duhaime’s remarks came amid a fragile halt in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages and detained Palestinians. The truce, coupled with the international Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on Oct. 13, offered what he described as a “glimmer of hope” for a region long engulfed in conflict.
But he cautioned that peace must be anchored in justice, accountability and inclusivity, and warned that failure to establish a clear framework for justice could render the peace process superficial and unsustainable.
“For the Peace Summit to pave the way for a comprehensive plan for lasting peace in the Levant, there needs to be a strong, long-term transitional justice process,” Duhaime said.
“This must include truth-telling, criminal accountability, reparations, memorialization, and robust guarantees of non-repetition.”
He expressed concern over the lack of specificity in the ceasefire agreement regarding reparations for victims, how the truth about violations will be established, or the ways in which perpetrators on all sides will be brought to justice.
He also highlighted the work of civil society — including Palestinian and Israeli organizations, journalists and human rights defenders — in efforts to document atrocities. Many of these groups
have been subjected to attacks and repression of their work, Duhaime said, as called for them to receive protection and international support to safeguard their work.
“The governance of Gaza cannot be treated in isolation from the also occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” he said, adding that any final agreement must be consistent with rulings by the International Court of Justice, including the obligation on Israel to end its occupation.
Duhaime said a neutral international presence in Gaza was important to protect civilians on all sides from threats posed by state and non-state actors alike.
“A durable resolution to such a conflict demands a bold commitment to justice,” he added. “Only then can a future rooted in peace, dignity, respect and mutual security be finally built.”
He also reaffirmed his readiness to provide technical support to all parties.
Special rapporteurs are part of what is known as the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council. They are independent experts who work on a voluntary basis, are not members of UN staff and are not paid for their work.


UN aid chief calls on Israel to open border crossings, says access to Gaza is a ‘legal obligation’

Palestinians gather to receive food portions from a charity kitchen in the Nuseirat refugee camp, located in central Gaza Strip.
Palestinians gather to receive food portions from a charity kitchen in the Nuseirat refugee camp, located in central Gaza Strip.
Updated 50 min 19 sec ago

UN aid chief calls on Israel to open border crossings, says access to Gaza is a ‘legal obligation’

Palestinians gather to receive food portions from a charity kitchen in the Nuseirat refugee camp, located in central Gaza Strip.
  • ‘We need more crossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving approach to removing remaining obstacles,’ says Tom Fletcher
  • ‘This is a moment of great but precarious hope,’ he adds as efforts continue to implement a fragile, US-led peace deal for Gaza agreed this week

NEW YORK CITY: The UN’s top humanitarian official on Wednesday called on Israel to open more border crossings into Gaza to increase the flow of humanitarian aid. Facilitating access for civilians is a “legal obligation,” not a matter of political negotiation, he added.

The appeal by Tom Fletcher, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, came amid ongoing efforts to implement a fragile US-led peace deal in Gaza that was agreed this week in Sharm El-Sheikh with the backing of world leaders.

“This is a moment of great but precarious hope,” Fletcher said from Cairo. “We must not fail to see through in full the implementation of the agreements made.”

While initial shipments of food, medicines, fuel and shelter materials have begun to reach civilians in Gaza following months of restrictions on aid deliveries, Fletcher warned that further setbacks risk slowing the momentum.

“We need more crossings open and a genuine, practical, problem-solving approach to removing remaining obstacles,” he said.

“Throughout this crisis, we have insisted that withholding aid from civilians is not a bargaining chip; facilitation of aid is a legal obligation.”

Fletcher, who has remained in the region to coordinate a 60-day humanitarian “surge,” said thousands of aid trucks must be allowed into Gaza each week, and the international community is united behind this mission.

He stressed that the aid must reach civilians and not be diverted to armed groups. He also called on Hamas to intensify its efforts to return the remaining bodies of deceased hostages, and expressed concern over reports of violence by the group against civilians in Gaza.

The agreements signed in Sharm El-Sheikh this week marked the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years, Fletcher said, but he cautioned that without swift and credible action, the hard-won progress could unravel.

“The test of these agreements is that families are safe and reunited, children fed, sheltered and back in school, and that Palestinians and Israelis can look forward with greater security, justice and opportunity,” he added.

“The world has failed so many times before — we must not fail this time.”


15 airlines resume flights at Syria’s Damascus Airport

15 airlines resume flights at Syria’s Damascus Airport
Updated 15 October 2025

15 airlines resume flights at Syria’s Damascus Airport

15 airlines resume flights at Syria’s Damascus Airport
  • Aviation authorities are working to rebuild the air transport sector and enhance international connectivity
  • Damascus International Airport is the largest in the country and connects to other domestic destinations, such as Aleppo in the north

LONDON: The number of airlines that have resumed flights to Damascus International Airport has reached 15, according to the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority.

Syria’s aviation authorities have been working to rebuild the air transport sector and enhance international connectivity since the change of power in the country last December, the SANA news agency reported

There are currently 15 airlines operating flights to Damascus, including those from the UAE, , Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait and Romania, among others.

Damascus International Airport is the largest in the country and connects to other domestic destinations, such as Aleppo in the north.

The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority reported that in September, cargo throughput at Damascus airport was 82,986 tonnes in exports and 34,039 tonnes in imports.

“This growing volume reflects ongoing efforts to rejuvenate Syria’s aviation sector and enhance its connectivity with global markets,” SANA reported.

The aviation authority said that foreign carriers are crucial for commercial and humanitarian operations in Syria, and by partnering with international airlines, it aims to strengthen its position in global aviation by providing passenger services and vital logistical support.


Jordanian king’s EU tour to attract investment, enhance regional stability

Jordanian king’s EU tour to attract investment, enhance regional stability
Updated 15 October 2025

Jordanian king’s EU tour to attract investment, enhance regional stability

Jordanian king’s EU tour to attract investment, enhance regional stability
  • Ali Murad, the head of Eurocham, underscored the European market as vital for Jordan’s economy
  • He said that King Abdullah’s meetings aim to promote regional stability and development through economic and diplomatic cooperation

LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan is on a European tour to Italy, Hungary, and Slovenia to enhance the country’s economic, trade, and investment ties with the EU, while also opening new avenues for cooperation, the president of Eurocham said.

Ali Murad, the head of the European Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, said that King Abdullah’s meetings with European leaders will enhance Jordan’s role as a reliable regional partner and attract European investments in key sectors like technology, renewable energy, industry, and tourism.

Murad underscored the European market as vital for Jordan’s economy, emphasizing the need to enhance exports and expand access through new partnerships and tariff measures.

He told Petra news agency on Wednesday that King Abdullah’s meetings aim to promote regional stability and development through economic and diplomatic cooperation between Jordan and Europe.

Eurocham collaborates with Jordan’s public and private sectors to identify investment opportunities in green projects and innovative infrastructure, Petra added.

On Tuesday, the king and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Rome to stress the importance of implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, urging all parties, including Israel and Hamas, to work together until the US-brokered deal is fully completed.

King Abdullah also emphasized the importance of efforts to preserve Christian religious sites in Jordan during a separate meeting on Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, accompanied by Queen Rania.


A look at the hostages left in Gaza, by the numbers

A look at the hostages left in Gaza, by the numbers
Updated 15 October 2025

A look at the hostages left in Gaza, by the numbers

A look at the hostages left in Gaza, by the numbers
  • Over the next two days, Hamas said it also released bodies of eight hostages
  • Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees

JERUSALEM: Israelis on Monday celebrated the return of the last 20 living hostages who were held in Gaza under the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Over the next two days, Hamas said it also released bodies of eight hostages. However, the Israeli military said Wednesday one of the bodies released was not that of a hostage.
Palestinians rejoiced at Israel’s release of some 2,000 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire’s first part.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The ensuing war has killed more than 67,600 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday.
The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.
Here are details on the hostages:
Total hostages taken during Oct. 7 attack: 251
Hostages taken before the Oct. 7 attack: four (two who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015 and the bodies of two soldiers killed in the 2014 war)
Living hostages released in exchanges or other deals: 160
Bodies of hostages released in deals: 15
Bodies of hostages retrieved by Israeli forces: 51
Hostages rescued alive: eight
Bodies of hostages still in captivity: 21
Non-Israeli whose bodies are still in Gaza: 3 (including 2 Thai nationals and 1 Tanzanian)