War monitor: Israeli strike targeted missile depot in Syria

Air Force F-35 fighter jets fly over the Mediterranean Sea during an aerial show in Tel Aviv. (REUTERS)
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Updated 29 August 2022
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War monitor: Israeli strike targeted missile depot in Syria

  • Aurora Intel tweeted that initial analysis of satellite imagery showed that some buildings and areas sustained heavy damage from the reported airstrikes

BEIRUT: Satellite imagery showed widespread destruction at a giant military facility in western Syria targeted in a recent Israeli airstrike, and the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said Sunday the strike targeted a depot housing hundreds of middle-range missiles for Iran-backed fighters.
Syrian state media reported after the Thursday night attack near the cities of Tartus and Hama that two people were wounded and fires were sparked in nearby forests. It added that the missiles were fired from over the Mediterranean and most of them were shot down.
Syrian opposition activists at the time said the strike targeted an arms depot and a scientific research center near the central town of Masyaf, a government stronghold. Masyaf is almost half way between the coastal city of Tartus and the central city of Hama.
The Times of Israel on Sunday published images taken by Planet Labs PBC and provided by Aurora Intel, a network that provides news and updates based on open-source intelligence.
Aurora Intel tweeted that initial analysis of satellite imagery showed that some buildings and areas sustained heavy damage from the reported airstrikes. It added that areas around the Scientific Studies and Research Center sustained “heavy fire damage due to the secondary explosions.”
The imagery showed that part of the green areas surrounding the facility had been burned.
Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition war monitor known as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the Israelis struck several positions but the main target hit was a giant arms depot housing about 1,000 precision-guided middle-range missiles. He said the explosions at the facility lasted for more than five hours after the strike.
Abdurrahman added that an underground facility to develop missiles in the area under the supervision of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was not affected by the strikes, probably because it was dug deep in the mountains. He said the strike left one Syrian army captain dead and 14 other Syrians wounded.
“The explosions were among the largest since Israel began carrying out airstrikes in Syria,” he said.
There was no official comment from Israel’s military.
Israel has made hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria over the past decade of its civil war, but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.
It has, however, acknowledged that it targets bases of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s allies, including Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group and other Iran-backed militias. Israeli military officials have said in the past that the strikes are against Iranian entrenchment in Syria.
Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top US Air Force officer in the Middle East, said he was “certainly aware” of reports that Israel targeted an arms depot in Syria in recent days but stressed there was “no connection” between that attack and the US airstrikes that hit Iran-linked targets in Syria last week.
He said that the recent actions that the US military took “are entirely disconnected from any other actors, whether the Israelis or anyone else.”
On the tit-for-tat attacks that raised tensions between the US and Iran-backed militias in Syria last week, Grynkewich said he hoped “things have de-escalated and now we’ve reached a point where deterrence is once again established.”

 


Six European nations reject ‘any demographic or territorial change’ in Gaza

Updated 46 sec ago
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Six European nations reject ‘any demographic or territorial change’ in Gaza

  • Israel’s plan ‘would mark a new and dangerous escalation’ in the war, the FMs of Spain, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and Slovenia said in a joint statement
  • FMs, who apart from Luxembourg represent countries that have recognized a Palestinian state, said the plans would ‘cross another line’ and ‘endanger any perspective of a viable two-state solution’
MADRID: Six European countries said Wednesday that they “firmly reject any demographic or territorial change in Gaza” after Israel announced plans to expand its military offensive in the Palestinian territory.
Israel’s plan “would mark a new and dangerous escalation” in the war, the foreign ministers of Spain, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and Slovenia said in a joint statement.
Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists for the planned offensive, which comes after resumed Israeli attacks against militant group Hamas in March ended a two-month truce.
An Israeli military official has said the offensive would include the “conquest” of Gaza, holding territory and moving the strip’s population south “for their protection.”
The foreign ministers, who apart from Luxembourg represent countries that have recognized a Palestinian state, said the plans would “cross another line” and “endanger any perspective of a viable two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A military escalation would “worsen an already catastrophic situation” for Palestinian civilians and endanger the lives of hostages held in Gaza, they added.
The ministers also asked Israel to “immediately lift the blockade” it has imposed on Gaza-bound humanitarian aid that has caused shortages of food, fuel and medicine and increased fears of famine.
“What is needed more urgently than ever is the resumption of the ceasefire and the unconditional release of all the hostages,” they said.
The war started after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023 which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Palestinian militants also abducted 251 people that day, of whom 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed 52,653 people, mainly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

Saudi Arabia welcomes US-Houthi ceasefire deal

Updated 1 min 57 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia welcomes US-Houthi ceasefire deal

  • The Kingdom reiterated its support for all efforts toward a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia welcomed the statement from the Sultanate of Oman announcing a ceasefire agreement in Yemen aimed at safeguarding international navigation and trade.

The Kingdom reiterated its support for all efforts toward a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis that ensures security and stability for Yemen and the wider region.

The US and the Houthis agreed a ceasefire, mediators announced, saying the deal would ensure "freedom of navigation" in the Red Sea where the Houthis have attacked shipping for months.
The agreement comes after President Donald Trump announced that the US would end attacks against the Houthis after they agreed to stop harassing ships, though he made no direct mention of recent attacks on ally Israel.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Tuesday said that "following recent discussions and contacts... with the aim of de-escalation, efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides".


Closing Bell: Saudi benchmark index edges down 0.31% to close at 11,398

Updated 10 min 46 sec ago
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Closing Bell: Saudi benchmark index edges down 0.31% to close at 11,398

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell on Wednesday, shedding 35.34 points, or 0.31 percent, to close at 11,398.74. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR4.813 billion ($1.28 billion), with 74 stocks advancing and 168 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, also closed lower, dropping 175.08 points, or 0.63 percent, to end at 27,777.71, as 24 stocks advanced and 50 retreated.  

Meanwhile, the MSCI Tadawul Index dipped by 1.94 points, or 0.13 percent, to finish at 1,455.78. 

The best-performing stock of the day was Nahdi Medical Co., with its share price jumping 7.26 percent to reach SR121.20. 

The company announced its interim financial results for the first three months of the year, posting a net profit of SR255.2 million — a 61.6 percent increase compared to the previous quarter.

The surge was attributed to higher gross profit driven by increased sales, lower operating expenses due to favorable phasing, and a one-off zakat provision release.   

On the other end, Leejam Sports Co. recorded the steepest drop, with its share price plunging 10 percent to close at SR124.20. 

On the announcements front, Mobile Telecommunication Co. Saudi Arabia, also known as Zain KSA, posted a net profit of SR93 million for the first quarter of the year, marking a 38.8 percent increase year on year. 

The company attributed the rise in net profit to a SR40 million increase in gross profit driven by revenue growth, as well as a 5.2 percent rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, also by SR40 million. 

Zain’s share price fell 8.29 percent during the session to close at SR11.88.  

Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co. reported a quarter-on-quarter net profit increase of 36.9 percent, reaching SR126.1 million. The company credited the growth to an improved gross margin of 35.9 percent. Its share price slipped 0.67 percent to close at SR301.20. 

Savola Group posted a net profit of SR189.16 million for the first three months of the year, reflecting a 45.7 percent decline compared to the same quarter last year. 

The company said the drop was primarily due to the absence of share of profit from its divested stake in Almarai, which had contributed SR236.7 million in the previous year. 

However, the decline was partially offset by reduced financial charges following debt settlements completed in 2024 totaling SR89.6 million.  

Savola’s share price fell 7.11 percent during the session to close at SR30.00. 

Arabian Pipes Co. emerged as one of the day’s bright spots, posting a 222.3 percent quarter-on-quarter jump in net profit, reaching SR40.1 million. 

This performance was largely driven by a 63.46 percent increase in gross profit, which rose to SR63.66 million in the first quarter of 2025 from SR38.94 million in the previous quarter.

The company cited higher sales volumes, an improved product mix, and revised supply schedules as the key growth drivers. Its share price rose 0.55 percent to close at SR9.17.  

Arabian Pipes Co. was bullish reporting a 222.3 percent quarter-on-quarter surge in net profit , reaching SR40.1 million.    

The increase was primarily driven by higher gross profit, which rose to SR63.66 million in the first quarter of 2025 from SR38.94 million in the previous quarter, marking a 63.46 percent jump. 

The growth was attributed to a rise in sales volume, an improved sales mix, and adjustments in supply schedules. 

Arabian Pipes Co. share price traded 0.55 percent higher on the main market to reach SR9.17. 


US may soon deport migrants to Libya on military flight, sources say

Updated 13 min 2 sec ago
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US may soon deport migrants to Libya on military flight, sources say

  • Two of the officials said the US military could fly the migrants to the North African country as soon as Wednesday
  • Reuters could not determine how many migrants would be sent to Libya

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s administration may deport migrants to Libya for the first time this week, three US officials said on Tuesday, as part of his immigration crackdown and despite Washington’s past condemnation of Libya’s harsh treatment of detainees.
Two of the officials said the US military could fly the migrants to the North African country as soon as Wednesday, but stressed that plans could change.
The Pentagon referred queries to the White House. The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A State Department spokesperson said: “We do not discuss the details of our diplomatic communications with other governments.”
Reuters could not determine how many migrants would be sent to Libya or the nationalities of the individuals that the administration is eyeing for deportation. Libya’s Government of National Unity said on Wednesday it rejected the use of Libyan territory as a destination for deporting migrants without its knowledge or consent. It also said there was no coordination with the United States regarding the reception of migrants.
Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army, which controls eastern Libya, also rejected in a statement the idea of the country taking migrants deported from the United States, saying it “violates the sovereignty of the homeland.”
Trump, who made immigration a major issue during his election campaign, has launched aggressive enforcement action since taking office, surging troops to the southern border and pledging to deport millions of immigrants in the United States illegally.
As of Monday, the Trump administration has deported 152,000 people, according to DHS.
The administration has tried to encourage migrants to leave voluntarily by threatening steep fines, trying to strip away legal status, and deporting migrants to notorious prisons in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.
LIFE-THREATENING
In its annual human rights report released last year, the US State Department criticized Libya’s “harsh and life-threatening prison conditions” and “arbitrary arrest or detention.”
In its travel advisory, the Department advises US citizens against visiting the country due to “crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and armed conflict.”
Libya’s west is overseen by the GNU under Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah, who was installed in Tripoli through a UN-backed process in 2021. Eastern Libya has a parallel administration and is controlled by commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army.
Major fighting ended with a truce in 2020 but the underlying political dispute between the sides remains and there are sporadic clashes between rival factions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week said the United States was not satisfied only with sending migrants to El Salvador, and hinted that Washington was looking to expand the number of countries that it may deport people to.
“We are working with other countries to say: We want to send you some of the most despicable human beings, will you do this as a favor to us,” Rubio said at a cabinet meeting at the White House last Wednesday.
“And the further away from America, the better.”
A fourth US official said the administration has for several weeks been looking at a number of countries to send migrants to, including Libya.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the administration had struck an agreement with the Libyan authorities to accept deportees of other nationalities. On April 19 the Supreme Court justices temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants it accused of being gang members. Trump’s administration, which has invoked a rarely used wartime law, has urged the justices to lift or narrow their order.
It is unclear what kind of due process might be underway ahead of any Libya deportations.
Libya has had little peace since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising, and it split in 2014 between eastern and western factions, with rival administrations governing in each area.
A Tripoli-based Government of National Unity under Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibah was installed through a UN-backed process in 2021 but the Benghazi-based House of Representatives no longer recognizes its legitimacy.


Kabul warns India, Pakistan that escalation ‘not in interest of region’

Updated 32 min 6 sec ago
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Kabul warns India, Pakistan that escalation ‘not in interest of region’

  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged both sides to exercise restraint
  • Relations between the Taliban government and neighboring Pakistan have been strained

KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban government warned India and Pakistan on Wednesday that further escalation was not “in the interest of the region” after they exchanged artillery fire along their contested frontier.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the social media platform X that “it urges both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their issues through dialogue and diplomacy.”


Islamabad said 26 civilians were killed by the Indian strikes or gunfire along the border, while New Delhi reported at least 12 dead from Pakistani shelling.
Relations between the Taliban government and neighboring Pakistan have been strained over security concerns and Islamabad’s deportation campaign which has expelled tens of thousands of Afghans since the beginning of April.
The Taliban, who returned to power in Kabul in the summer of 2021, have in contrast developed closer ties with New Delhi, even though it does not recognize their government.
The violence between India and Pakistan was sparked after New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing the deadliest attack in years on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 men. Islamabad rejects the charge.