After advances by Syrian regime forces in the Aleppo region, intense clashes with the SDF in the Raqqa area | LIVE

Syria: Curfew imposed in Maadan area in Raqqa countryside “until the end of military operations,” says SANA

Raqqa’s Information Directorate said internal security forces in Raqqa have imposed a curfew in the Maadan area and its surrounding villages “in order to protect civilian safety until the end of military operations in the area,” Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

Syria: government announces takeover of two oil fields held by Kurds

Syria’s government announced that it has taken control of two oil fields previously held by Kurdish forces, AFP reported.

Trump invites around 60 countries to join Peace Council

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited around 60 countries to join the Peace Council, several sources told Haaretz.

The council’s charter, obtained by Haaretz, suggests that Trump has begun taking steps to position it as a rival to the United Nations, citing the “courage to step away… from institutions that have too often failed.”

According to several independent sources, the countries invited to join the council include Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Australia. Israel has not yet been invited as a member state.

U.S. says Iran is preparing options to target American bases

The United States has received “information indicating that the Islamic Republic is preparing options aimed at targeting U.S. bases,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

In the statement, published in Persian on X, the department said that “all options remain on the table,” threatening the use of force “if the regime of the Islamic Republic attacks American interests.”

The statement added: “Do not target President Trump.”

Gaza: Israel challenges composition of Palestinian committee

Israel is contesting the composition of the Palestinian committee tasked with administering Gaza, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Members of the SDF detained after their defection, according to a military source cited by Al Jazeera

A Syrian military source told Al Jazeera that the army is holding dozens of fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after their defection in the Maadan area, in the Raqqa countryside.

Syria: Macron and the President of Iraqi Kurdistan call for “immediate de-escalation”

French President Emmanuel Macron and the President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, called today for “immediate de-escalation” in Syria during a phone call, the Élysée Palace said, as quoted by AFP.

They “called on all parties for immediate de-escalation and a permanent cease-fire,” according to the French presidency. They also called for “the resumption of discussions on the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, Kurdish-led) into the Syrian state in accordance with the March 10, 2025 agreement, which aims to integrate Kurdish forces into the central administration, but whose implementation has stalled.”

Emmanuel Macron and Nechirvan Barzani added that it is “the full responsibility of the Syrian authorities to ensure the protection” of civilian populations, according to the Élysée. The SDF reported on Saturday that violent clashes were taking place with the Syrian army.

Turkey: rallies in support of Syrian Kurds in the southeast

Rallies were held today in several Turkish cities with Kurdish majorities, including Batman and Siirt, in support of Kurdish fighters besieged in northeastern Syria, according to an AFP correspondent and pro-Kurdish media.

In Batman, more than one hundred demonstrators, many of them young people, gathered following a call by the youth wing of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, the third-largest force in the Turkish parliament, according to the news website Rüdaw Türkçe. According to the source, which broadcast images of the march, police intervened to manage the crowd “without incident.”

Other images show demonstrators standing behind banners reading “Rojava is not alone,” referring to the self-proclaimed Kurdish Autonomous Administration in northern and eastern Syria.

Similar rallies have taken place in recent days in several towns in the region, as Damascus’s army pushes back the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, mostly Kurdish) east of the Euphrates, after demanding that they evacuate the last neighborhoods of Aleppo they still controlled.

Syria: Kurdish forces accuse the government of “betrayal”

Kurdish forces accused today the Syrian authorities of having “betrayed” an agreement between the two sides regarding the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from parts of northern Syria, and reported violent clashes with the Syrian army.

In a statement, the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that government forces “violated the latest agreements and betrayed our forces as they were withdrawing” on two fronts. They reported “violent clashes under way” and “bombardments” targeting the Kurdish-controlled province of Raqqa.

Syria: Kurdish forces impose a curfew in the Raqqa region

Kurdish authorities announced in a statement that they have imposed a curfew in the province of Raqqa, which they control in northern Syria, while government forces on their side are threatening to bombard positions held by the Kurdish forces in the region, AFP reports.

After taking control on Saturday of towns in northern Syria that were evacuated under pressure by the Kurdish forces, the Syrian army, for its part, called on civilians in a statement to stay away from military sites in the province of Raqqa, which it intends to target.

Trump invites President Sissi to sit on the Gaza Peace Council

Egypt is examining the possibility of joining the Gaza Peace Council following an invitation extended by Donald Trump to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced, as quoted by AFP.

“We have received an invitation from the American side, from the American president, addressed … to President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi to join the Peace Council, and we are studying this matter,” the minister said during a press conference.

Canadian Prime Minister intends to accept Trump’s invitation to sit on the Gaza Peace Council

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney intends to accept Donald Trump’s invitation to sit on the Gaza Peace Council, a senior adviser to the prime minister told AFP, without further details.

The American president has also proposed that former British prime minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Argentine counterpart Javier Milei, join this body, which he will chair.

Syrian army claims to have taken full control of Maskana

The Directorate of Operations of the Syrian Arab Army announced that it has taken full control of Maskana and that its forces are now heading toward the town of Dibsi Afnan, according to the official SANA news agency.

The directorate stated that “hundreds” of members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have surrendered to the army. “The army has taken control of 34 villages and localities in the eastern Aleppo countryside, while ensuring the withdrawal of more than 200 SDF members with their weapons,” it said.

It also called on residents not to enter areas of the eastern Aleppo countryside until the army has completed securing them and removing mines and remnants of war.

SDF say their fighters are engaged in “intense clashes” south of Tabqa

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused factions linked to the Syrian government of violating a signed agreement by attacking their fighters south of Tabqa, a city in Syria’s Raqqa governorate.

“Our forces are currently engaged in intense clashes with factions affiliated with the Damascus government following their violation of the signed agreement,” the SDF Media Center said in a statement, adding that the area lay outside the scope of the agreement.

Burial of Hezbollah member killed Thursday by Israeli drone

The funeral of Walid Ollaik on Saturday in Zawtar al-Gharbieh (Credit: Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)

Hezbollah and residents of Zawtar al-Gharbieh (Nabatieh district) held a funeral ceremony in tribute to a party member, Walid Hussein Ollaik, who was killed Thursday evening in a drone strike, our correspondent reported.

The party’s scouts led the procession, and relatives carried the coffin on their shoulders before burial in the town cemetery.

Walid Ollaik was killed Thursday evening when a drone targeted his car in the Nabatieh district.

Tony Blair says he is 'honored' to be part of Trump’s Gaza council

Former British prime minister Tony Blair said he was honored to have been appointed to a Gaza council unveiled by Trump.

In a statement, he thanked Trump “for his leadership in creating the Peace Council,” adding that he looked forward to “working with [Witkoff and Kushner] and other colleagues in line with the president’s vision to promote peace and prosperity.”

Blair, who was British prime minister during the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 based on false claims about weapons of mass destruction, is regarded by many Arabs and Britons as a “war criminal.”

Palestinian woman and human rights activist detained in West Bank after Israeli settler blocks their vehicle

A Palestinian woman and a human rights activist were detained near the village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, after their vehicle was blocked by an Israeli settler who called security forces to the scene, Haaretz reported.

According to reports, a “closed military zone” order was issued for the area after the forces arrived.

Village residents face ongoing harassment from settlers from nearby illegal outposts, who often graze their livestock close to homes.

Yesterday, security forces also detained four foreign activists at the site, who could be expelled after being reported by a settler.

Southern Lebanon: Israeli shell lands near Shebaa

After a particularly calm morning, the Israeli army fired a tank shell at the outskirts of the town of Shebaa (Hasbaya district), our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.

An Israeli drone also dropped a stun grenade on the town of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

Gaza vaccination catch-up campaign to begin tomorrow

Gaza’s Health Ministry announced the resumption of a “catch-up” vaccination campaign aimed at strengthening the national immunization program for children under the age of three.

“The campaign will begin next Sunday, Jan. 18, and will run for 10 days,” the ministry said.

“It will be carried out through 130 health centers affiliated with the Ministry of Health, UNRWA, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, as well as local and international organizations operating in the Gaza Strip.”

Argentina’s president says Trump invited him to join Gaza ‘Peace Council’

Argentine President Javier Milei wrote on X that he had received “an invitation for Argentina to join, as a founding member, the Peace Council.”

“Argentina will always support countries that confront terrorism head-on, defend life and property, and promote peace and freedom. It is an honor for us to share such a great responsibility,” he added.

Shortly beforehand, Egypt and Turkey announced that their respective presidents had been invited by Trump to join the council he will chair.

The Syrian army accused fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of attempting to obstruct the implementation of the agreement by planting explosives in northern Syria.

The army’s Operations Directorate told state news agency SANA that mines had been placed on the Shu‘ayb al-Dhikr bridge in the western countryside of Raqqa, attributing the act to “PKK-linked militias.”

According to SANA, the army said the move was intended to disrupt the implementation of the agreement.

The army warned that any attempt to blow up the bridge would jeopardize the agreement and have “very serious consequences,” the report said.

SDF impose curfew in Tabqa, al-Jazeera reports

“We are receiving information that the SDF have announced a total curfew in the Tabqa area, in the Raqqa countryside,” al-Jazeera reported.

The measure comes as Syrian army forces advance toward the area.

Trump 'invites' Erdogan to join Gaza Peace Council

U.S. President Donald Trump has “invited” his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to sit on the Gaza Peace Council, Turkey’s presidential communications office announced.

“On Jan. 16, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump, in his capacity as founding chairman of the Peace Council, sent a letter inviting our president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to become a founding member of the Peace Council,” Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey’s presidential communications directorate, wrote on X.

Erdogan had not immediately commented on the announcement on Saturday.

Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, has also been appointed to take part in the executive committee overseen by the Peace Council, his ministry confirmed to AFP today.

Iran’s supreme leader says Trump is 'guilty of the victims' during protests

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused U.S. President Donald Trump of being “guilty of the victims” of the recent protests in Iran.

“We hold the American president guilty of the victims, the damage, and the accusations he has made against the Iranian nation,” he said before a crowd of supporters during a speech marking a religious holiday.

“It was an American plot,” he added, saying that “the objective of the United States is to swallow Iran … the goal is to place Iran back under military, political and economic domination.”

Khamenei calls on authorities to “break the back of the seditionists”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the authorities “must break the back of the seditionists.”

Khamenei lashes out at Trump and the United States

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused U.S. President Donald Trump of being “guilty” of the deaths of protesters. He said the United States’ objective is “military, political and economic domination” of Iran, AFP reported.

SDF report clashes in Dibsi Afnan and accuse Syrian army of violating the agreement

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said clashes broke out in the Dibsi Afnan area, west of Raqqa, following what they described as a “treacherous attack by factions of the Damascus government on the positions of our forces,” adding that the agreement had been violated.

In a statement, the SDF said the internationally negotiated agreement provided for a ceasefire and a 48-hour period for the withdrawal of their forces from the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana.

“However, the Damascus government deployed military convoys, heavy weapons and tanks in the area before the withdrawal was completed and attacked our fighters, resulting in the martyrdom of several of them,” the SDF said.

“We hold fully responsible for this escalation those who violated the agreement and betrayed our forces. We also hold the international powers sponsoring the agreement responsible for what is happening and call on them to intervene immediately to stop the violations and prevent any further deterioration of the situation,” the statement added.

Syrian army says zone west of Euphrates is ‘a closed military zone’

The Syrian army said it has declared the area west of the Euphrates River “a closed military zone,” according to state news agency SANA.

The announcement followed accusations by the army that fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) had targeted its forces while they were implementing a withdrawal agreement.

The army called on civilians in the western Euphrates region to stay away from positions held by PKK fighters and by remnants of the former Syrian regime, SANA reported.

Syrian Kurds accuse government forces

Syrian Kurds said an attack by government forces killed several of their fighters, AFP reported.

Funeral of teenager shot dead by Israel to be held today

The funeral of Mohammed Saad Nahsan, 14, who was killed yesterday by Israeli gunfire in the village of al-Mughayyir, is being held today in the village.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces entered the village yesterday, triggering clashes during which live ammunition was fired at residents. Nahsan was shot in the back and chest.

In Gaza, the death toll continues to rise

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 71,548 people have been killed and 171,353 wounded by Israeli attacks across Gaza since October 2023.

It added that since the ceasefire in October last year, 464 people have been killed and 1,275 wounded in attacks carried out by Israeli forces.

Syrian army says its troops are advancing toward Tabqa

The Syrian army said in a statement that its forces are continuing to expand their control in the western Euphrates region.

It added that troops are advancing toward the strategic city of Tabqa in Raqqa governorate.

Syrian army says PKK fighters are 'hindering implementation of the agreement'

Syrian state news agency SANA broadcast a new statement from the Syrian army accusing fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of obstructing the implementation of the agreement.

“PKK militias are deploying in several villages and localities west of the Euphrates … and are targeting Syrian Arab Army forces,” the army said, as quoted by SANA.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are largely composed of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers a “terrorist” organization because of their links to the PKK in Turkey. The PKK is designated a “terrorist organization” by the United States and the European Union.

⚡ Iran: Ali Khamenei speaks of the deaths of 'several thousand people' during the uprising, blaming 'those linked to Israel and the United States'

Iran’s Supreme Leader said that “those linked to Israel and the United States caused extensive damage and killed several thousand people” during the protests, according to state media cited by Reuters. This is the first time the country’s highest authority has referred to “thousands” of deaths during demonstrations in Iran over the past two weeks.
The crackdown has killed at least 3,428 people, according to the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR).

“We will not drag the country into war, but we will not allow criminals, whether domestic or international, to go unpunished,” he added.

Erdogan invited to join Gaza 'Peace Council'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was invited overnight from Friday to Saturday to join the so-called Peace Council tasked with overseeing Gaza’s temporary governance, a senior diplomatic source told Haaretz.

According to the source, the leaders of all mediating states, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, were invited to join the council.

Two drones entering Israeli airspace from the west intercepted

Two drones that entered Israeli airspace from the west on Friday were intercepted by Israeli military forces, the Israeli army spokesperson’s unit said.

According to the statement, the drones were being used to smuggle six M-16 rifles.

Iran: European aviation safety agency urges airlines to avoid Iranian airspace

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Saturday urged airlines to avoid Iranian airspace for the time being, citing “the ongoing situation and the risk of potential U.S. military action” in the region.

It also recommended that air operators “exercise caution and implement contingency plans for operations and route planning in the airspace of neighboring countries, particularly where U.S. military bases are located.”

The agency said Iranian air defense forces are on “heightened alert” amid escalating tensions, adding that “there is currently an increased risk of miscalculation” in Iranian airspace. The warning will initially remain in effect for one month, the agency said.

Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani meets U.S. envoy in Erbil, Iraq

The announced meeting between Iraqi Kurdish political leader Massoud Barzani and U.S. special envoy Tom Barrack has begun in Erbil, in northern Iraq.

Khamenei holds Trump responsible for casualties and slander against Iranians during protests

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran holds U.S. President Donald Trump responsible for the loss of life, damage, and slander inflicted on Iranians during the protests, Reuters reported.

“The latest anti-Iranian sedition was different in that the president of the United States was personally involved,” Khamenei said, according to Iranian media, the agency added.

Syria: Two soldiers killed in Kurdish forces attack, says Syrian army

As the Syrian army said it had established full military control over the city of Maskané in eastern Aleppo province, Kurdish forces reportedly targeted an army patrol near the city, killing two soldiers and wounding several others, according to state news agency SANA, citing a military source.

For their part, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused the army of violating the agreement by entering the cities of Deir Hafer and Maskané “before the full withdrawal” of Kurdish fighters, “creating a very dangerous situation,” and blamed the incidents in Maskané on “violations committed by the Syrian government,” AFP reported.

Trump appoints Blair, Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner to his Gaza Peace Council

Donald Trump on Friday unveiled the list of members of the Gaza Peace Council, which he will chair and which will notably include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, AFP reports.

The announcement comes two days after Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff announced the launch of phase two of the Trump plan to end the war in the territory, following three months of a fragile ceasefire achieved on Oct. 10 under pressure from Washington.
This second phase calls for the disarmament of Hamas, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force, under the terms of the plan endorsed by the UN Security Council in November.

The Peace Council is tasked with overseeing this process, as well as a temporary Palestinian technocratic committee made up of 15 individuals trained to administer the Gaza Strip on an interim basis.

Iran: 'Very slight' internet restoration, says Netblocks

Cybersecurity monitoring group Netblocks said Saturday it had detected a “very slight” resumption of internet activity in Iran after more than 200 hours of shutdown linked to the protest movement, AFP reports.

“Measurements show a very slight increase in connectivity in Iran this morning after crossing the 200-hour mark,” the organization said on social media. However, “overall connectivity remains at around 2 percent of normal levels and there are no signs of a significant recovery.”

According to human rights groups, the internet shutdown in place since Jan. 8 aims to conceal the true scale of the repression, which has killed at least 3,428 people since the protests began in late December, according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR).

Yemen separatist leader vows to continue the struggle

The leader of Yemen’s separatists vowed to continue working toward an independent state, addressing his supporters on social media for the first time since his disappearance following a brief offensive by his movement in the south of the country, AFP reports.

In December, forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), led by Aidarous al-Zoubaidi and backed by the United Arab Emirates, seized two southern provinces, Hadramout and Mahra, during an offensive repelled by Saudi airstrikes and Saudi-backed Yemeni ground forces.

Accused of “high treason” and ousted from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, al-Zoubaidi was declared on the run in early January, the same day he was due to attend Saudi-hosted talks aimed at restoring peace between rival factions. Saudi Arabia said he had traveled to the UAE, while STC officials insisted he remained in Yemen.

“We will no longer accept solutions that limit our rights or impose an unacceptable reality on us,” he said in a message to supporters late Friday.

Syrian Kurds deem Friday decree on national rights insufficient

Syrian Kurds said a presidential decree issued yesterday, making Kurdish an official language and guaranteeing national rights for the minority, was a first step but remained insufficient, AFP reports.

The decree by President Ahmad al-Sharaa is “a first step, but it does not meet the aspirations and hopes of the Kurdish people,” the Kurdish administration of northern and northeastern Syria said in a statement.

Rights must be protected “through permanent constitutions that reflect the will of the people and all of its components,” rather than “temporary decrees,” the statement added.

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and Syrian Kurdish leader meet in Erbil

U.S. envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and the head of Syrian Kurdish forces, Mazloum Abdi, arrived in Erbil this morning for a meeting, a source in the Kurdistan Region presidency told AFP.

Barrack was set to meet Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani, then Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

The meeting comes after clashes between the Syrian army and Kurdish forces in northern Syria, as talks between Damascus and the Kurds to implement a March 2025 agreement, aimed at integrating Kurdish civil and military institutions into the Syrian state, remain stalled.

Syrian army announces control of Deir Hafer, east of Aleppo

The Syrian army said it had taken control of the city of Deir Hafer, east of Aleppo, which Kurdish forces agreed to evacuate the previous day after recent fighting in the region.

The army said it had established “total military control” over the city in a statement broadcast on state television, while an AFP correspondent saw troops deploying there.

Welcome to our live Middle East coverage

Welcome to our live coverage of developments in the Middle East. We will bring you the latest news from southern Lebanon and Gaza, which continue to be bombarded by Israel despite ongoing truces. We will also cover developments in Iran, where large-scale anti-regime protests have shaken the authorities for weeks and where the crackdown has left thousands dead, as the United States hints at possible action against the Islamic Republic. News from Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere in the region will also be covered.