Amir fetes scientific excellence

Kuwaiti and Arab scientists and researchers honored at KFAS awards ceremony

The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) held a prestigious awards ceremony for the years 2022 and 2023 at Bayan Palace theater on Wednesday. The 40-year-old tradition honors scientists and researchers from Kuwait and the Arab world who have excelled in their fields.

The ceremony was held under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and was attended by key dignitaries, including His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and senior government officials. Upon arrival, His Highness the Amir was warmly welcomed by Dr Ameenah Rajab Farhan, Director General of KFAS, and members of the foundation’s board of directors. The event commenced with the Kuwaiti national anthem, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran.

In her speech, Dr Farhan highlighted the foundation’s longstanding commitment to honoring scientific excellence. She emphasized the pivotal role KFAS plays in advancing research, fostering innovation, and enhancing Kuwait’s global competitiveness. She likened the foundation’s mission to a thriving tree: its roots deep in knowledge, its branches expanding across borders, and its fruits benefiting society.

Dr Farhan said it was more important than ever to invest in Kuwait’s human capital and benefit from the minds and experiences of its people. The future demands a forward-thinking approach, she said, and KFAS is dedicated to developing knowledge, skills, and technologies that will shape a prosperous tomorrow, she said. The foundation works tirelessly to place Kuwait at the forefront of scientific advancement and ensuring that research directly contributes to societal progress, she added.

Dr Farhan also acknowledged the legacy of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, whose vision laid the groundwork for the foundation’s success. “It is his legacy that has shaped the path of KFAS, and today we continue to build on his wisdom and foresight,” she said.

Following the speech, His Highness the Amir personally presented the awards to the winners in various categories, including the Jaber Al-Ahmad Prize for Young Researchers, Kuwait Prize, and Al-Sumait Prize for African Development. The ceremony concluded with a presentation of a commemorative gift to His Highness the Amir, symbolizing gratitude for his continued support of science and research in Kuwait. His Highness’ personal involvement in the award distribution highlighted the importance of science in shaping a brighter future for the nation. /Kuwait Times

Kuwait supports Syria unity, warns against demos

  Kuwait’s ministry of foreign affairs is “monitoring, with great interest the current developments in the sisterly state of Syria, stressing the necessity of maintaining the country’s unity”. In a statement issued Sunday, the ministry affirmed the need of respecting Syria’s independence and sovereignty over its territories, ensuring protection of Syrians and stopping their bloodshed.

The ministry voiced on Monday Kuwait’s strong condemnation and denunciation of Zionist forces’ occupation of the buffer zone on the Syrian border. The ministry said the move is a flagrant violation of international laws and the UN Security Council resolutions that stress the necessity of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, the ministry of interior cautioned on Sunday that it would take strict procedures against expats partaking in joyous marches that may include “administrative deportation from the country”, stressing “the need of abiding by laws”. The ministry affirmed taking decisive steps against any expat involved in such marches, as they may obstruct movement, lead to traffic congestion or violate public decency, it added. — KUNA

IICO’s Dr Al-Maatouq highlights Kuwait role in protecting human rights

  Chief of the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq underscored Kuwait’s efforts in protecting human rights and supporting those affected by conflicts during a speech at the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group meeting, held on Dec 10-12 in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting, attended by Russian Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, focused on advancing engagement between Russia and the Islamic world in an era of emerging multipolarity.

Dr Al-Maatouq highlighted Kuwait’s longstanding commitment to dialogue and humanitarian diplomacy, aimed at mitigating the impacts of wars and conflicts while promoting global cooperation. He noted Kuwait’s pivotal role as the first Gulf state to establish diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union in 1963, emphasizing the importance of further strengthening relations with Russia.

He called on the Strategic Vision Group to advocate for global stability, security and peace by urging the international community to pursue peaceful solutions, prioritize negotiation and dialogue and promote genuine peace in conflict areas.

The meeting explored the evolving relationship between Russia and the Islamic world, emphasizing cooperation in establishing a multipolar global system, ensuring sustainable development and enhancing political, commercial, cultural, humanitarian and religious ties. Among the 200 participants in the meeting was Kuwaiti Consul in Malaysia, Marzouq Al-Enezi. – KUNA 

Society for Student Support pays school fees for 379 students

  Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Student Support Abdullah Al-Sabej praised the significant efforts and contributions of the Awqaf Secretariat General, particularly Acting Secretary General Nasser Al-Hamad and Director of Waqf Funds Maareb Al-Yaaquob. He acknowledged that the Secretariat has consistently demonstrated outstanding efforts since its establishment as the official body responsible for managing the Waqf, ensuring it aligns with Shariah objectives, while also contributing to societal development and easing the financial burdens of the needy.

The society has received crucial support from Waqf funds to implement a project aimed at assisting needy students attending private schools in 2024. In response, the society has developed an operational plan that includes the formation of a committee to assess the cases of students in need and select the most deserving individuals. As part of this initiative, school fees have been covered for 379 financially struggling students.

Al-Sabej expressed his gratitude to the Secretariat General for believing in the charitable mission of society and their ongoing support for its activities to help students in need. /Kuwait Times

"Namaa Charitable Society" Ranks First in Kuwait and 54th Globally in Supporting Humanitarian Aid

In a world filled with escalating humanitarian crises, charitable work emerges as a noble message reflecting values of giving and humanity. In this context, Namaa Charitable Society, part of the Social Reform Society, achieved a new milestone that adds to its record of accomplishments, securing first place at the national level in Kuwait, and 54th at the global level in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) ranking of organizations supporting humanitarian aid.

In a statement, Abdulaziz Ahmed Al-Kandari, Vice President of Namaa Charitable Society, said that this achievement comes at a time when the world needs more continuous charitable efforts to support vulnerable groups affected by conflicts and natural disasters. He emphasized that this success was not a mere coincidence but the result of diligent work and sustainable humanitarian partnerships that Namaa has pursued since its inception, aiming to fulfill its vision of enhancing humanitarian values and supporting afflicted communities worldwide.

Al-Kandari noted that Namaa excelled by achieving the first position, highlighting the society's capability to serve as a model for institutional charitable work. This achievement reflects the distinguished status that Namaa has now occupies in the local arena as one of the entities recognized for its efficiency and speed in delivering humanitarian aid to those in need, adhering to the highest standards of transparency and justice.

He continued by stating that on the international stage, the UNOCHA included Namaa Charitable Society in the list of the top 100 charitable organizations worldwide, ranking it 54th globally. He pointed out that this global classification is a testament to the relentless efforts exerted by Namaa in the neediest areas, which includes emergency relief projects, educational programs, healthcare, and refugee assistance.

This global ranking comes in light of Namaa's success in building a network of humanitarian relations with international organizations, achieving high efficiency in emergency response and meeting urgent humanitarian needs.

Al-Kandari emphasized that the excellence achieved by Namaa was not a coincidence but the result of key factors. He mentioned that Namaa plans its projects carefully, ensuring sustainability and rapid response to crises and disasters while adhering to standards of integrity and transparency in distributing aid, ensuring that every donation reaches its rightful recipient in the best possible manner. Furthermore, its projects have expanded beyond just distributing relief materials to include education, healthcare, water, and economic empowerment, making its impact broader and deeper. Additionally, Namaa is known for its quick response in disaster times, such as earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the crises in Gaza, as well as conflict areas in Yemen and Syria. The support from the people of Kuwait for Namaa and their continuous backing has been the real fuel for this success. Donors have been central to this achievement; they are partners in the reward and contribute to alleviating the suffering of those affected around the world.

Kandari pointed out that there are many projects that have contributed to enhancing its position locally and globally. Among the most prominent of these projects are relief campaigns, education campaigns, and the care of orphans, which provide children in conflict areas with education, clothing, and school supplies, as well as health relief projects that focus on providing emergency health care in war and disaster areas, and sustainable initiatives that emphasize providing sustainable income sources for poor families, such as sponsorship and agricultural production projects.

Kandari added that every donor who contributed to the support of Nama Charity has a share in this great achievement. Contributing to Nama projects, whether through a simple donation or sponsoring an orphan, means that you are a partner in this success; therefore, we say: Thank you, our esteemed donors, for you are partners in success. This message is not just a thank you but a call to continue giving because the humanitarian impact of every donation, no matter how small, contributes to raising Nama Charity’s international ranking and ensures that aid reaches those who deserve it, positioning Kuwait at the forefront of countries that uphold the banner of humanity. He emphasized that this achievement is not only for Nama but for all of Kuwait; the government and the people, expressing gratitude to all donors and contributors to this blessed journey.

Kandari concluded his statement by saying: This ranking is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a new journey of achievements. We at Nama Charity affirm that this achievement compels us to commit even more to diligent work, improve operational processes, and enhance transparency in performance. The message that Nama carries will not stop at the limits of success but will continue to realize Kuwait’s humanitarian vision and reaffirm its position as a beacon of humanitarian work in the region and the world.

ICCO concludes the Learning Difficulties Treatment Project for Syrian refugees   

• Al-Ma'touq: The project responded to the substantial gaps left by the Syrian crisis in the educational system
• Al-Amin: The project has produced comprehensive scientific guidelines for addressing learning difficulties and developed specialized training programs
• Al-Qazah stated: "Education is one of the effective means of building human capital to alleviate poverty."
• Al-Sumaït stated: "The project aims to address the educational losses resulting from the conditions of displacement and refuge or emergency crises."
• Al-Subeihi: The project needs to continue providing more services to Syrian refugees.

The Islamic Charity Organization held a ceremony on Monday, December 9, to mark the conclusion of the project "Addressing Learning Difficulties for Syrian Refugees and Displaced Persons in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey," in a successful and fruitful strategic partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, the Human Excellence Association, numerous Arab universities, academic institutions, and a group of experts and researchers.

The ceremony reviewed the educational outputs of the project and the stages of its preparation over four years, including monitoring, building, training, application, evaluation, and dissemination, and announced its outcome as the first unique educational project focusing on a clear methodological detailed map for diagnosing and addressing learning difficulties at the elementary level in emergency situations.

For his part, the chairman of the board of the Islamic Charity Organization, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ma'touq, expressed his highest gratitude and appreciation to the political leadership for its pioneering role in supporting charitable and humanitarian efforts and its commitment to enhancing Kuwait’s prestigious humanitarian standing on the global humanitarian map.

He stated: "The Syrian humanitarian crisis has continued for more than 13 years, dominating the agenda of the Islamic Charity Organization as one of the most prominent tragedies of the century and one of the most catastrophic disasters currently." He pointed out that more than 13 million Syrians have been displaced as refugees or internally displaced, praying to God for their safe return to their homeland amid the current developments in Syria.

Al-Ma'touq added that the charity organization has continued its qualitative humanitarian interventions in cooperation with its partners inside and outside the country, along with its volunteer teams, in an effort to alleviate the suffering of displaced individuals inside and outside Syria, noting that it has implemented thousands of shelter, relief, development, cultural, and social projects since the onset of the crisis in 2011, with a total cost of 110 million and 677 thousand dollars.

He also noted that the educational sector has remained a significant focus within the organization's humanitarian interventions in Syria, indicating that it has spent more than 13 million dollars over the past seven years on sponsoring Syrian students, establishing educational institutions, and launching rehabilitation programs, benefiting around 80,000 students, teachers, and administrators.

He pointed out that the Learning Difficulties Treatment Project for Syrian refugees and displaced persons emerged as a response to the Syrian crisis, which left substantial gaps in the educational system, necessitating the provision of scientific and studied solutions to the problems faced by thousands of students and teachers in educational institutions accommodating displaced and refugee children.

Al-Maqtouq stated that the project is one of a series of educational pathways that the Islamic Development Bank has undertaken as part of its pioneering initiative to support the education program for Syrian refugees and displaced persons, under the slogan "So that no Syrian child remains deprived of education."

He added that the project was funded through a joint contribution exceeding two million dollars, as part of the strategic partnership between the charitable foundation, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, with implementation by the Human Excellence Association. He pointed out that the project is aligned with the strategic vision of the charitable foundation, which aims, within one of its focus areas, to culturally and educationally build individuals by providing high-quality educational and rehabilitation opportunities.

For his part, the representative of the Islamic Development Bank, Mohammed Al-Amin, said in his speech: "The project has produced comprehensive scientific evidence to address learning difficulties, encapsulating the experiences of 164 academics, as if it were a knowledge garden with various trees and different fruits. It has produced specialized training programs that are deeply rooted in practical experience and extend their branches to shade thousands of teachers and learners."

He added: "The project's outputs include a comprehensive electronic platform that serves as a primary reference for teachers and researchers in the field of learning difficulties, containing thousands of educational resources, dozens of standardized tests, and hundreds of innovative remedial activities."

In turn, the representative of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development, Khamis Al-Qazah, stated: "The Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development is the financial endowment arm to combat poverty in the member countries of the Islamic Development Bank. It has been working for nearly twenty years on developing and funding initiatives and projects to combat poverty in its various forms across different sectors."

He continued: "Given the importance of education as one of the effective means for building human capital to alleviate poverty, this sector has constituted an important area in the Fund's portfolio, representing 20% of the Fund's total approvals, or nearly $260 million. This funding has been directed to support programs and projects aimed at addressing real issues faced by many Islamic countries, such as the phenomenon of out-of-school children, vocational illiteracy, the scarcity of scholarships for students from least developed countries, technical and vocational training, and language education."

Al-Qazah noted that the program for educating Syrian refugee children, to which the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development contributed a grant of $7 million, represents one of the distinguished and successful programs that has been implemented in several phases in collaboration with various partners in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

The Director-General of the Charity Authority and Chairman of the Supreme Committee supervising the project, Badr Al-Sumeit, stated that the project is the result of a unique strategic partnership, where sincere efforts have come together to implement a one-of-a-kind project aimed at serving the most affected groups. He attributed the significant success achieved through this partnership to the spirit of teamwork, the distribution of roles among partners in a way that serves the project’s goals, and the approach to problems and obstacles with a spirit of impartiality and openness.

Al-Sumeit mentioned that the project seeks to address educational loss resulting from conditions of asylum, displacement, or emergencies, by building compensatory programs and producing educational materials and curricula to address students' issues, reduce the phenomenon of school dropouts, train teachers, and support educational institutions in emergency situations. He added that 22 academic, technical, and administrative teams, comprising a total of 164 academics and experts from 12 Arab universities, worked diligently to prepare, build, and design the project, aiming to find sustainable solutions to the issues faced by approximately 15,000 students, as well as more than 2,000 teachers, in addition to numerous educational institutions and academic and research entities.

He continued that the teams have been working diligently and commendably to formulate this project, beginning with the "monitoring" phase, which saw the foundation and establishment of the project in mid-2021, and outlined a methodological plan to accomplish its six phases through 27 volumes, which contained 420 studies on learning difficulties and 402 scientific tools and measures.

He pointed out that the outputs of the first phase came through the design of 14 questionnaires for teachers, which were applied to 1,085 teachers, as well as 33 diagnostic tests for students, applied to 11,500 students, in addition to 9 documents representing the fundamental reference for identifying learning difficulties in primary school subjects.

For his part, Khalid Al-Subeihi, president of the Human Excellence Association, stated that the project included six main stages: monitoring, construction and design, training, application, evaluation, and dissemination. The team concerned with the project included 164 educational experts and academic professors from 12 Arab universities. The project benefited 15,000 students among the Syrian refugee students in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, in addition to training 2,000 teachers working in schools for Syrian refugees and in institutions operating in the field of education in emergencies.

   Alhyat Charity Society Launches a Cancer Patient Treatment Project in Kuwait

As part of its health initiatives to support needy patients in Kuwait, the Alhyat Charity Society has launched the "Cancer Patient Treatment" project, aimed at providing healthcare and medications for those in need.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Barak, the association's project and programs consultant, stated that the project aims to restore hope to cancer patients in Kuwait and provide psychological support along with all forms of assistance throughout the treatment journey, including examinations, medications, medical supplies, and support for hospitals and specialized medical centers treating this disease for those who cannot afford it.

He added that the "Cancer Patient Treatment" project is a means of charity and compassion for patients; because this disease, may God protect us all from it and grant healing to those afflicted, causes severe pain, and the costs of its treatment and medications are high, which many patients cannot afford due to financial constraints.

Al-Barak urged benevolent individuals to quickly contribute to and donate for the project, given the urgent need for patients who seek relief from their suffering. Charity is a great source of reward and the pleasure of God Almighty, so let us make it a donation for those burdened by illness and tormented by pain, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever is in need of his brother, God will be in need of him."

Donations for the Cancer Patient Treatment project are available through the Al-Hayat Charity Society's website alhyat.org or by calling the hotline 1844455.

Namaa Charity delegation heads to Sri Lanka to provide urgent relief

As part of its ongoing humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those affected by natural disasters, Nama charity, under the Social Reform Association, announced the departure of a relief delegation to Sri Lanka to provide urgent relief assistance to families affected by the recent floods that have swept the country, causing severe losses in lives and property.

The delegation is led by Khaled Mubarak Al-Shammari, director of the relief department at Nama charity. The visit aims to carry out comprehensive field relief operations, including the distribution of food baskets to those affected, in addition to providing other essential needs for families suffering from a shortage of food and clean drinking water.

In this context, Al-Shammari stated that this visit comes as part of Nama charity's commitment to its humanitarian and relief duty towards the afflicted peoples around the world. He emphasized that the delegation will work on distributing hundreds of food baskets containing essential items needed by the affected families to alleviate their suffering in light of the harsh conditions they are experiencing.

Al-Shammari explained that Nama charity always upholds the principle of "rapid emergency response," coordinating with relevant authorities and local and international partners to ensure that aid reaches those in need as quickly and efficiently as possible. He pointed out that Sri Lanka is one of the areas that requires an urgent response due to the extensive damage caused by the floods and landslides in various regions.

Al-Shammari affirmed that the State of Kuwait has been and will continue to be present in all humanitarian fields, and that the efforts of Nama charity are not just financial support but also a message of solidarity and love that reflects the noble humanitarian values held by the Kuwaiti community.

He expressed his gratitude to the donors and supporters of Nama charity, who contributed to the implementation of these urgent relief campaigns, calling on philanthropists to continue their support to reach the largest possible number of affected individuals. He emphasized that every donation helps bring smiles to the faces of those in need and restores hope to their hearts.

In conclusion, Al-Shammari stressed that Nama charity will continue its humanitarian journey in pursuit of achieving Kuwait's vision as a leading nation in global humanitarian and relief work, expressing his eagerness for further cooperation with international organizations to meet the needs of the affected populations around the world.

 The Israeli occupation army continues its acts of genocide against the people of the Gaza Strip. On day 432, Gaza experienced a new bloody escalation, where the Israeli occupation forces committed a horrific massacre in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 22 martyrs, including children and women. The occupation's warplanes targeted a residential building belonging to the Abu Tarabish family near Kamal Adwan Hospital, which housed more than 30 displaced persons, causing it to be leveled to the ground.

In the context of the ongoing aggression, the occupation forces targeted large areas in the northern Gaza Strip, especially the Jabalia and Beit Lahiya areas, where widespread destruction and burning of residential neighborhoods occurred, along with systematic bombing of homes.

The occupation forces launched explosive robots around Kamal Adwan Hospital to blow up populated areas, causing widespread devastation. They also burned several homes in the Jabalia camp and the Al-Aalami area, and targeted the Sabtawe area with fire belts to expand the scope of destruction.

Since the night hours, the Israeli artillery has continued to randomly target the Beit Lahiya project, while drones are firing at citizens' homes in Jabalia town.

The Civil Defense in Gaza announced that its teams had recovered the bodies of seven martyrs and several injured individuals from a home targeted by the Israeli occupation in Al-Saafeen Street in Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza: A government statement raises the alarm

The government media office in the Gaza Strip issued a statement numbered 691, indicating that the Gaza Strip is suffering from a severe humanitarian disaster, as a result of the continuation of the Israeli policy of starvation that has affected more than 2,444,000 Palestinians, including one million children and one million women.

The statement confirmed that the blockade, which has lasted for more than 430 days, has exacerbated the suffering of the population, as bakeries have closed due to a lack of supplies, leading to the deaths of several citizens while waiting to obtain bread.

The government media office called on the international community and humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to intervene immediately to address the food crisis. It also urged UNRWA to intensify its efforts to support Palestinian refugees facing genocide and starvation.

The statement emphasized that the complex crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians are classified as crimes against humanity under international law. It called for an immediate end to the ongoing Israeli aggression and for holding the occupation accountable for its crimes.

As of now, the number of victims of the Israeli genocidal war has risen to more than 160,000, including martyrs, injured, and missing persons. With the ongoing blockade, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic level, as indicated by the government media office in its statement.

The forces of the Zionist occupation continue to commit the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip for the 431st consecutive day, by launching dozens of airstrikes and artillery bombardments, while committing massacres against civilians amidst a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the blockade and the displacement of more than 95% of the population.

Our reporters reported that the occupation's planes and artillery continued their intense strikes on Tuesday across various areas of the Gaza Strip, targeting homes, gatherings of displaced persons, and streets, resulting in dozens of martyrs and wounded.

The occupation forces continue their ground invasion of extensive neighborhoods in Rafah since May 7, alongside several fronts in Gaza, amidst air and artillery bombardments and horrific massacres, as well as demolition operations targeting the homes of citizens in the Jabalia camp.

For the 67th consecutive day, northern Gaza is suffering under an Israeli blockade and starvation amid intense air and artillery bombardment, completely isolating the northern governorate from Gaza.

The occupation forces have continued for the 49th consecutive day to forcibly disrupt the work of the Civil Defense in northern Gaza due to ongoing Israeli targeting and aggression, leaving thousands of citizens there without humanitarian and medical care.

Medical teams retrieved the body of a martyr targeted by an Israeli drone in the Khirbat al-Adas area north of Rafah.

The occupation army demolished a house in the Al-Janineh neighborhood east of Rafah city in the southern sector.

Three martyrs fell due to bombardment from an Israeli drone on a group of citizens in the Arabah area north of Rafah city in southern Gaza.

The Ministry of Health announced that the Israeli occupation committed four massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, from which 28 martyrs and 54 injuries reached hospitals in the past 24 hours.

The ministry, in its daily update, stated that some of the victims remain under the rubble and on the roads, unreachable by ambulance and civil defense crews.

It confirmed that the toll of the Israeli aggression has risen to 44,786 martyrs and 106,188 injuries since October 7.

A citizen was martyred due to bombardment from an Israeli drone opposite the Open University of Jerusalem in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza.

Local sources reported that the occupation army carried out intense artillery bombardments and set homes on fire near the Nasar intersection in the Jabalia camp, northern Gaza.

A Palestinian fisherman was martyred by the fire of the occupation's naval forces west of the Al-Nussirat camp in central Gaza.

The Civil Defense reported the martyrdom of 25 citizens as a result of the destruction of a house belonging to the Kahloot family by occupation aircraft over the heads of its residents in the Abed Rabbo neighborhood, northern Gaza.

Occupation mechanisms heavily fired at the homes of citizens in the Amer Project area northwest of Gaza City.

Occupation naval forces arrested six fishermen from the sea off Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

The Civil Defense announced the retrieval of the bodies of two martyrs due to Israeli drone bombardment on the Al-Zohour neighborhood north of Rafah city in southern Gaza.

Medical sources reported the martyrdom of 37 citizens in Israeli airstrikes on several areas in the Gaza Strip on Monday.

Seven citizens were martyred, and others were injured due to the bombardment by Israeli warplanes on the home of the Khalifa family in the Al-Nussirat camp in central Gaza.

Israeli artillery bombardment, coinciding with heavy gunfire, targeted the Al-Tawam and Al-Safitawi areas northwest of Gaza City.

The occupation forces demolished a house in Rafah city in southern Gaza.

The occupation army also demolished residential homes west of the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the bodies of the wounded, most of whom were children, arrived at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital due to an Israeli airstrike targeting a house in the Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza.

A 6-month-old girl was injured in the occupation's bombardment of a tent for displaced persons south of Gaza.

Israeli occupation forces continue to commit the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip for the 430th consecutive day, launching dozens of airstrikes and artillery shelling, while committing massacres against civilians, amidst a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the blockade and the displacement of more than 95% of the population.

Our correspondents reported that the occupation's aircraft and artillery continued their violent bombardments on Monday in various areas of the Gaza Strip, targeting homes, displaced persons' gatherings, and streets, resulting in dozens of martyrs and wounded.

The occupation forces continue their ground invasion of large neighborhoods in Rafah since May 7, with aerial and artillery bombardments and horrific massacres, along with the demolition of citizens' homes in Jabalia camp.

For the 66th consecutive day, northern Gaza is suffering under an Israeli siege and starvation amid intense aerial and artillery bombardments, completely isolating the northern governorate from Gaza.

The occupation forces continue to obstruct the work of civil defense in northern Gaza for the 48th consecutive day due to ongoing Israeli targeting and aggression, leaving thousands of citizens there without humanitarian and medical care.

The Ministry of Health reported that the Israeli occupation committed three massacres against families in Gaza, resulting in 50 martyrs and 84 injuries reaching hospitals in the past 24 hours.

In its daily update, the ministry stated: Several victims remain under the rubble and on the streets, and emergency and civil defense teams cannot reach them.

It confirmed that the toll of the Israeli aggression has risen to 44,758 martyrs and 106,134 injuries since October 7, 2023.

The occupation forces committed a massacre this Monday afternoon after their warplanes bombed the Abu Hussein school in Jabalia camp, which shelters displaced persons.

They also targeted a group of citizens around Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya project, leading to martyrs and casualties.

Four martyrs fell due to Israeli bombardment near the Halabi intersection in Jabalia town, northern Gaza, identified as: Youssef Ahmed Al-Daemma, Abu Tariq Al-Daemma, and Mohamed Abdul Karim Al-Daemma.

A child was injured due to artillery targeting of a house belonging to the Abu Jalmbo family in the Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Fayez Qashta was martyred as a result of Israeli shelling on Khirbat Al-Adas north of Rafah city in southern Gaza.

The body of martyr Mahmoud Al-Deiri was recovered following Israeli bombardment targeting a group of citizens east of Rafah city in southern Gaza.

The occupation's artillery shelled the Al-Ribat area in the Beit Lahiya project, northern Gaza.

UNRWA stated: As the Israeli bombardment on Gaza continues, civilian casualties increase, and homes and infrastructure are reduced to rubble; the human cost of this war is unbearable.

The occupation's aircraft carried out violent strikes on the Al-Jinina neighborhood east of Rafah city in southern Gaza.

The occupation destroyed the Al-Estiqama mosque in the Al-Jinina neighborhood east of Rafah city.

The occupation planes launched an airstrike in the vicinity of Al-Daawa Street northeast of Al-Nasairat camp in the central Gaza Strip.

The occupation forces executed new demolition operations in Jabalia camp, northern Gaza.

Last night, 10 martyrs fell, the majority of whom were women and children, as a result of the occupation targeting the home of the "Abu Hasnine" family next to the old cemetery in Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip.

The occupation forces continue their crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip for the 429th consecutive day, carrying out tens of airstrikes and artillery shelling, while committing massacres against civilians amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the siege and the displacement of more than 95% of the population.

Correspondents reported that the occupation's aircraft and artillery continued their air raids and intense shelling on various areas of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, targeting homes, gatherings of displaced people, and streets, resulting in dozens of martyrs and wounded.

The occupation forces have continued their ground invasion of extensive neighborhoods in Rafah since May 7, alongside several fronts in Gaza, amid air and artillery bombardment and the commission of horrific massacres, as well as the demolition of citizens' homes in the Jabalia camp.

For the 65th consecutive day, northern Gaza is suffering from an Israeli siege and starvation amid intense air and artillery bombardment, completely isolating the northern governorate from Gaza. 

The occupation forces have also been forcibly disrupting the work of the civil defense in areas of northern Gaza for the 47th consecutive day due to ongoing Israeli targeting and aggression, leaving thousands of citizens there without humanitarian and medical care.

A medical source reported a lack of water and oxygen at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza since yesterday due to the Israeli bombing, and doctors are unable to perform surgeries for patients.

The occupation aircraft targeted the Al-Jeneina neighborhood in the city of Rafah in the south of the strip.

The occupation's aircraft conducted airstrikes on the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City and launched four airstrikes on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.

Five martyrs arrived at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, along with several injuries, due to the targeting of the occupation on a tent sheltering displaced persons in the Mash'aala area south of Deir al-Balah.

The Israeli occupation forces continue to commit the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip for the 428th consecutive day by launching dozens of airstrikes and artillery shelling, along with committing massacres against civilians, amidst a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the blockade and the displacement of more than 95% of the population.

Reporters stated that the occupation's aircraft and artillery continued their violent bombardments on various areas of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, targeting homes, places where displaced people have gathered, and streets, resulting in dozens of martyrs and injuries.

The occupation forces have been carrying out a ground invasion of wide areas in Rafah since May 7, along with multiple fronts in Gaza, amid air and artillery bombardments and the commission of horrific massacres, as well as the demolition of civilian homes in the Jabalia camp.

For the 64th consecutive day, northern Gaza is suffering under an Israeli siege and starvation amid intense air and artillery bombardments, entirely isolating the northern governorate from the rest of Gaza.

For the 46th day in a row, the occupation forces continue to forcibly disrupt the work of civil defense in areas of northern Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli targeting and aggression, leaving thousands of citizens there without humanitarian and medical care.

Mohamed Hosam Hassan Skik, the head of the Skik family, succumbed to injuries from the occupation's shelling of a vehicle in Deir al-Balah in the center of the Strip.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that the death toll from the aggression has risen to 44,664 martyrs and 105,976 injuries since October 7, 2023.

The civil defense reported that its teams recovered the body of martyr Mahmoud Ghrayiz from the vicinity of "Al-Hamza Mosque" in the Khirbat al-Adas area in northern Rafah, southern Gaza.

Two citizens were martyred in an Israeli bombardment of an apartment building west of Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza.

One citizen was martyred in an Israeli attack targeting a motorcycle near the Abu Halawa intersection in eastern Rafah, southern Gaza.

Rescue teams transported three martyrs to the European Hospital in Khan Younis after the occupation's aircraft targeted a gathering of citizens east of Rafah.

Intense artillery shelling targeted the vicinity of Abu Hussein schools in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.

Israeli warplanes bombed a house on Ahmed Yassin Street in the Al-Saftawi area in northern Gaza.

A number of citizens were martyred and others injured as a result of Israeli shelling that targeted a house in the Al-Karama area, northwest of Gaza City.

The number of martyrs in the massacre of the "Nadi" family in the Al-Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip has risen to 25, with more than 40 injuries and several missing persons.

Two citizens were martyred and others were injured in Israeli shelling targeting a number of Palestinians in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip.

A group of citizens were injured in Israeli shelling that targeted individuals near the entrance of Khuza'a, east of Khan Younis.

Five citizens were martyred and others injured due to Israeli shelling that targeted the vicinity of Ahmed Shawqi School in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City.

Civil defense teams in Gaza retrieved the body of a martyr who was killed in an airstrike by the occupation near the municipal stadium in western Rafah.

Many citizens were injured due to the occupation's bombing of Al-Nour Mosque, which also damaged nearby houses in Block 9 within the Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Medical sources indicated that more than 63 martyrs have risen in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since dawn yesterday, with 35 of them in the northern region.

Medical teams retrieved two martyrs and one injury as they were shot at by occupying snipers located on top of citizens' homes west of the Mawasi area in Rafah. The martyrs are, Abeer Omar Al-Kadash and Youssef Khaled Al-Ghoul.

The occupying forces carried out demolition operations targeting residential buildings in the Beit Lahiya project in northern Gaza Strip.

Massive explosions were heard in northern Gaza Strip as a result of demolition operations in the Jabalia camp.

A video clip circulated documenting the occupation army firing heavily at an ambulance in front of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.

Yesterday, the toll from the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip rose to 44,612 martyrs, in addition to 105,834 injured individuals with varying degrees of injuries, including serious and critical ones, since October 7, 2023.

Israeli occupation forces continue to commit acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip for the 427th consecutive day, launching dozens of airstrikes and artillery bombardments while perpetrating atrocities against civilians, amidst a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the blockade and the displacement of more than 95% of the population.

Our correspondents reported that occupation aircraft and artillery continued their violent shelling - on Friday - across various areas of the Gaza Strip, targeting homes, gatherings of displaced persons, and streets, resulting in dozens of martyrs and injuries.

Occupation forces have been continuously storming extensive neighborhoods in Rafah since May 7, along several fronts in Gaza, amid ongoing aerial and artillery bombardments and horrific massacres, as well as operations to demolish citizens' homes in the Jabalia camp.

For the 63rd consecutive day, northern Gaza is suffering under an Israeli siege and starvation, with heavy air and artillery bombardments, and complete isolation of the northern governorate from Gaza.

Occupation forces are continuing to forcibly disable Civil Defense operations in northern Gaza for the 45th day due to ongoing Israeli targeting and aggression, leaving thousands of citizens there without humanitarian and medical care.

Martyrs have fallen and others were injured as drones of the occupation targeted citizens in Kashko Street in the Zeitoun neighborhood in southeastern Gaza City.

Two martyrs were transferred to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital from the eastern Maghazi area of the central strip due to Israeli bombardment.

The Ministry of Health announced that the Israeli occupation committed three massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 32 martyrs and 95 injuries reaching hospitals within the past 24 hours.

The ministry, in its daily update, stated that today's statistics excluded hospitals in the northern Gaza governorate due to difficulties in communication and obtaining accurate information.

It confirmed that a number of victims remain trapped under the rubble and in the streets, and rescue teams and Civil Defense are unable to reach them.

The toll of Israeli aggression has risen to 44,612 martyrs and 105,834 injuries since October 7, 2023.

A child martyr was transferred to the European Gaza Hospital due to Israeli bombardment in Rafah.

Several citizens were injured this morning due to occupation shelling targeting a group of Palestinians near the Al-Midha school in eastern Rafah.

Our correspondent reported that occupation tanks besieged Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya and sent detainees to use them as human shields, demanding those in the hospital gather in its courtyard.

The occupation forces committed a massacre around the hospital, resulting in more than 30 martyrs.

He added that the occupation forces arrested several citizens and patients from the hospital.

Several citizens were martyred this Friday morning due to Israeli occupation shelling of a residential block in Beit Lahiya.

A local source reported that occupation forces blew up a residential block near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, resulting in several martyrs and injuries, while two citizens fell victim to the shelling of Al-Rafai School, which shelters displaced persons in Jabalia.

Three citizens were martyred due to Israeli airstrikes on Khirbat Al-Adas north of Rafah.

Occupation forces have demolished a large number of residential buildings in Gaza City and in Rafah in the southern strip.

Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression against the Gaza Strip, on land, at sea, and in the air, since October 7, 2023, resulting in the martyrdom of 44,580 citizens, predominantly women and children, and the injury of 105,739 others, in a non-final tally, as thousands of victims still remain trapped under rubble and in the streets, with rescue teams unable to reach them.

Events in Syria are unfolding at a rapid pace, casting a shadow over citizens and their livelihoods related to the exchange rate and the value of the Syrian pound alongside battlefield news.

In the capital, Damascus, the availability of the dollar is decreasing to its lowest levels, while the pound is experiencing a new collapse, exceeding 20% in recent days, amidst multiple exchange rate bulletins and fluctuating prices sometimes within a single day.

This comes amid the expansion of Syrian opposition forces during the "Confronting the Aggression" operation, moving from Idlib to Aleppo, and today taking control of Hama and preparing to head towards Homs.

In recent days, the decline in electrical supply to areas of Damascus and its countryside has continued, with power cuts in the capital at one hour of electricity available and five hours cut, while in other neighborhoods it’s one hour on and eleven hours off. In the countryside of Damascus, it’s half an hour on for five and a half hours off, and in some areas, it's one hour of electricity every 24 hours.

There are multiple exchange rate bulletins within the Syrian market. The central bank currently issues two bulletins: the exchange and currency bulletin (13,668 Lira per dollar) and the official bulletin (12,562 pounds per dollar), having abandoned previous bulletins designated for payment alternatives, customs, and others.

The price in the parallel market (between 16,800 and 17,500 pounds per dollar in Damascus) remains the primary regulator of the market, with other prices specific to sales models; for instance, the "goods dollar" exceeds the trading value in the parallel market, as does the dollar for car parts and maintenance, while the "smoking dollar" or the dollar for technological devices is close to the parallel market price.

Retail traders justify that the price they deal with results from fluctuating costs, rising prices of incoming supplies, and fears of their interruption. For example, a commodity priced at 15,000 pounds before the new wave of collapse (when the parallel market price was 14,600 pounds per dollar) will be priced by the seller at 18,000 pounds at the beginning of the decline in the pound's value when the price of one dollar reached 16,000 pounds. Thus, the goods dollar equals 18,000 pounds after it was 15,000, and in both cases, the trading price exceeds.

These differences lead to a lack of clarity regarding the actual price and allow speculators to manipulate the market to ensure their profits, leading to further price increases, a burden paid by families amidst the weak purchasing power of individuals and suppliers' reluctance to distribute goods.

 The tension resulting from the rapid developments manifests through several factors in the market:

- An increased demand for essential goods, such as sugar, oil, lentils, and others. Although the market has not seen a shortage of any essential materials, price increases are evident (a kilogram of sugar has reached 15,000 pounds in popular markets like Bab Srija, after being 11,000 pounds).

- A stagnation in large transactions such as buying properties and cars, leading to a decline in trading in large sums.

- Increased demand for dollars due to fears of freezing financial blocks in pounds, which leads to further depreciation of the national currency.

Um Khaled, a resident of the countryside of Damascus, speaks to Al Jazeera Net about her provisioning of essential foodstuffs: "I bought 2 kilos of rice, lentils, and sugar, and two liters of cooking oil, for around 150,000 pounds at the beginning of the week. Today, their price is at least 200,000 pounds."

Um Khaled's family consists of three members, and she relies on half-wholesale shops for her household needs. According to her, "There’s a way to manage, and the materials are available in reasonable quantities, remaining more economical than grocery stores and small shops. These shops tend to display merchandise in small quantities, and their prices are fixed."

 Price Increases

Regarding Maher, the thirty-something young man who works as a hall manager in a restaurant in the capital, Damascus, he said, "We raised prices before the recent events; there is always a price increase." When asked about the reasons for this, he stated, "As winter approaches, the number of customers decreases, and operational costs such as generators and heating increase, so prices are raised to avoid restaurant losses."

When questioned about the suppliers of goods, the young man confirmed the continuous supply of goods, albeit with a slight increase in prices. He said, "The trader takes the average price at which he sold a day or two ago and the expected price at which he will buy the next batch. Based on that, he determines today's price, or he hoards certain materials that he fears may be out of stock, for example, the price of all types of chicken has increased by 2000 to 3000 Syrian pounds per kilo from one day to the next."

It is noteworthy that official Syrian authorities specify prices of fruits and vegetables as well as meats in their bulletins, but these prices are not adhered to, except by public consumer institutions, which determine the goods allowed for purchase by citizens based on the smart card mechanism. Meanwhile, there are official bulletins being adhered to, with strict measures against violators, most notably the craftsman's bulletin for the price of gold and drug prices.

 Gold and Drug Prices

Regarding gold, the price is directly linked to the dollar price, and jewelers can impose their own prices without publicizing them by increasing the cost of craftsmanship. These costs are subject to the jeweler's discretion, and the percentages specified by the union are not applied.

The issue of medication affects a much broader sector of Syrians, of course. With the halt of imports from the pharmaceutical factories in Aleppo and Hama, warehouses have clearly reduced their supply to pharmacies. Pharmacist Leila spoke to Al Jazeera Net about the state of medication: "The situation hasn't reached the level of disaster yet, but there is the beginning of a crisis. It is usual for warehouse representatives to supply pharmacies with a certain frequency, and typically there is some flexibility in paying dues monthly or weekly."

In recent days, visits from representatives have decreased, and there is insistence on immediate payment for each order, which reduces the quantity of available medications in pharmacies. She adds that everyone (factories, warehouses, and pharmacists) is waiting for a decision to raise the price of medications. Even until that point, some pharmacies may claim that certain items are unavailable. The pharmacist said, "There is a factor related to essential medications like those for the heart and diabetes and eye drops, so some patients seek to secure their medication for a longer duration. Here, it is preferable for the pharmacist to commit to selling only one box to ensure the availability of medication in pharmacies."

 Fuel Prices

Finally, the capital and its countryside are suffering from rising fuel prices and delayed deliveries of gasoline shipments for vehicles according to the smart card system. Drivers resort to buying gasoline at black market prices or "renting" smart cards for private cars.

Abu Ismail, who works as a taxi driver between the capital and a nearby suburb, stated, "I am currently forced to buy from plastic jugs on the roads. I had two additional gasoline cards, at least I could secure gasoline from the gas stations." The jugs sold on the roads are not reliable and can damage the vehicle. He mentioned buying a liter on Tuesday for 23,000 Syrian pounds. According to Abu Ismail, cardholders demand 200,000 or 300,000 Syrian pounds for a single refill in exchange for letting him use the card for his vehicle. The driver pays the full gasoline price at the gas station according to the official price, which means the liter costs him about 20,000 Syrian pounds.

As for the official stance on developments, Ghazwan Al-Halabi, head of the Damascus Chamber of Industry, stated to the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan that the rise in the dollar price is illusory and a result of the black market, while imports remain committed to the official price bulletin, confirming that there is no justification for raising prices.

Source: Al Jazeera

The extensive collapse of the Syrian Army in the face of opposition factions’ assault raised significant questions, especially with their reach to Homs province just 9 days after the fighting began, following the capture of Aleppo in the first two days of clashes that broke out on November 27, 2024.

Notably, the fierce confrontations between the two sides were confined to Hama province, particularly around the city gate, which is surrounded by the Zain al-Abidin barracks, Hama military airport, and the leadership of the 25th division led by Brigadier General Suhail al-Hassan. Despite the brutal fighting, the opposition factions managed to seize Hama city in just about 72 hours.

Army Confusion Due to the Russian Stance

According to Syrian diplomats in contact with the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Syrian government directly communicated with the Russian Foreign Ministry after the opposition's assault to gauge Moscow's position regarding the attack. However, they received an ambiguous response stating that the assault would not expand beyond restoring areas that were under opposition control before May 2019, which are known as the borders of the fifth zone of the de-escalation agreement. This led to confusion in the field because the military formations loyal to the regime sensed a lack of sufficient air cover from Russian air support.

Sources in the military operations management overseeing the opposition's attack confirmed that they intercepted communications between Syrian army commanders during the battles around Aleppo, in which they stated that Russia was approving the loss of areas and that the Khmeimim base was not striking all the targets it was informed about. They mentioned that Russian air sorties were limited, which prompted the call for the participation of Syrian aircraft, most of which were older models.

War correspondents accompanying the opposition forces to cover the battles noted clear tactical and human differences between the opposition factions and the army, which resulted in a significant field superiority.

According to sources, the joint operations management was able, days before the clashes began, to bribe military units stationed around Aleppo, facilitating the infiltration of sleeper cells. These cells managed to target the operations room overseen by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at the Iranian consulate in Aleppo, resulting in the death of Iranian General Kiumars Bor Hamashi, described as the commander of the Revolutionary Guard advisors operating in northwestern Syria.

The superiority of the opposition factions in terms of human resources was also evident, as these factions managed to recruit thousands of young fighters under the age of 24 in recent years and trained them for special operations based on infiltration and close-quarters combat. In contrast, most of the Syrian army forces deployed around Aleppo and Idlib province were older, with many having joined military formations after being called up for reserve duty, resulting in a limited understanding of warfare tactics. Hundreds of them were captured after surrendering.

The attacking forces successfully utilized locally-made drones of the "Shaheen" model, which had a significant impact on disrupting the government forces' supply lines and targeting armored vehicles from above. This negatively affected the morale of the Syrian army.

The process of developing these drones took about 3 years, with specialized engineers contributing to their advancement, enabling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham to benefit from their capabilities in manufacturing processes.

According to the military correspondents we spoke to, the military groups affiliated with the opposition factions were distinguished by their ability to conduct reconnaissance and use signaling systems, which enabled them to attack in small, specialized, and mobile groups. This contributed to the collapse of the primary defensive lines, revealing that the army's forces had not established solid defense lines behind the first line.

A clear change in the military approach of the opposition factions was evident as they executed flanking operations and encircled significant military sites that had strong fortifications and firepower. They then isolated these sites from their surroundings, forcing them to negotiate surrender or to invade them after cutting off their supply lines. This strategy was employed in capturing the military academy and the artillery school west of Aleppo, as well as the military barracks in Mount Zain al-Abidin near Hama, which fought fiercely despite being besieged; however, the forces affiliated with the Syrian government eventually abandoned it after becoming disheartened by the supply cuts.

 Absence of Iranian-Supported Factions

The absence of Iranian-supported factions was clearly felt in the confrontation. Hezbollah was notably absent due to the significant shocks it sustained in confrontations with Israel, the loss of its effective leadership, and its fears regarding the political repercussions of returning and engaging heavily in the Syrian arena.

On the other hand, Iraqi security sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of Iraq sent only a few hundred fighters to support the Syrian army. This was due to the Iraqi government's resistance to involving Iraq in the confrontation in Syria, as it received American warnings several months ago against the continuation of PMF activities outside Iraqi borders and the potential repercussions of this on Iraq.

Information suggests that the Iraqi factions also wish to safeguard their future within the Iraqi landscape, and prefer to distance themselves from playing roles in favor of Iran in the regional arena. They want to reassure neighboring countries that they are heading towards opening a new page, with the exception of the Iraqi Hezbollah, which still shows responsiveness to Iran’s demands regarding support for the Syrian government but in a limited manner, due to the surveillance of borders by American bases deployed along the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The lack of active participation from Iranian-backed factions deprived the Syrian army of the advantage of utilizing trained forces for urban warfare, in addition to losing the ability to use drones that these factions possess and deploy extensively for reconnaissance and attack.

 Using the Neutralization Approach

Reports indicate that the management of military operations largely employed a "neutralization" approach, communicating with military groups in western Aleppo around the city and convincing them to neutralize themselves to open gaps. The administration also negotiated with local groups in Salamiyah and Muhardah in the Hama countryside, convincing them not to engage, while assuring them that the attack is not sectarian but specifically targets the forces affiliated with the Syrian regime. They are attempting to do the same with local military groups in Masyaf in the Hama countryside.

This approach facilitated the attacking forces' control over many towns and cities without fighting, which reinforced the impression that there were political understandings leading to the fall of areas, increasing the sense of unrest among the Syrian army’s forces.

Source: Al Jazeera