The Latest Breaking News from SDF

Clashes Escalate in Northern Syria amid Ankara-Damascus 'Normalization' Talks

Clashes escalated between the Turkish forces and the regime forces in northern Syria, amid preparations for the foreign ministers meeting of Türkiye, Syria, and Russia, within the framework of the second phase of normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus. A Turkish soldier was killed, and others were injured, after the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 15, 2023

Japan, U.S. shift focus to defense of Nansei Islands

WASHINGTON -- A clear takeaway from the latest 2-plus-2 talks of the Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense ministers was the shift toward reinforcing the defense of the Nansei Islands.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Jan 13, 2023

To Make Japan Stronger, America Must Pull It Closer

What Biden and Kishida should do to strengthen the alliance.

Foreign Affairs · Jan 12, 2023

Ten Challenges that Will Determine Syria’s Fate in 2023

Ten developments and files, both local and foreign, will determine the fate of Syria in 2023. The resolution of these files will have implications for years and perhaps even decades to come. They will determine the fate of the three “statelets” in Syria after they remained largely unchanged in the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Jan 3, 2023

4 SDF facilities slated to relocate command centers underground

The Defense Ministry is planning to move command centers underground at four Self-Defense Forces facilities by fiscal 2028 and implement measures against electromagnetic pulse attacks at five Air Self-Defense Force bases by fiscal 2029 in preparation for such situations as an emergency in Taiwan, according to government sources.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Dec 31, 2022

Syrian Regime Warplane Crashes in Aleppo Countryside

A Syrian regime warplane crashed in the northern countryside of Aleppo on Thursday, Russia’s Sputnik news agency reported. “During a routine training, a jet of the Syrian Arab Air Force crashed near the Kuweires Military Aviation Institute, the main training facility of the air force, as a result of a…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 30, 2022

Former IS families face neighbors' hatred returning home

Some women who were once affiliated with the Islamic State group have gone home to the Syrian city of Raqqa, but they are struggling to be accepted with their children in their former communities

The Independent UK · Dec 30, 2022

Syria's Kurds Launch Offensive against ISIS Militants

Syrian Kurdish-led forces said Thursday they had launched an offensive against ISIS group fighters, days after jihadist gunmen launched a deadly prison attack. Six Kurdish fighters were killed Monday when ISIS militants attacked a complex in Raqa, the extremist group's former de facto capital in Syria, in a bid to…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 29, 2022

Syria's Kurdish-led Forces 'on Alert' for ISIS Attacks, Says Official

Syrian Kurdish-led forces boosted security Tuesday a day after foiling a deadly ISIS group assault on a prison fearing that the extremists will strike again, a spokesman said. Authorities on Monday declared a state of emergency in Raqa, the extremists’ former de facto capital in northern Syria, after gunmen launched…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 27, 2022

Kurdish Forces: Deadly ISIS Assault Targeting Syria Prison 'Thwarted'

ISIS militants in northern Syria launched a failed attack targeting a prison holding fellow extremists in a clash that killed six Kurdish fighters, local authorities and a war monitor said. The Kurdish fighters were killed in the assault on a security complex near a prison with ISIS inmates in Raqqa,…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 26, 2022