BEIRUT: Daesh and the Syrian regime continued to play cat and mouse in the historic Syrian city of Palmyra on Thursday as President Bashar Assad’s forces claimed they had completed the recapture of the city with the help of Russian air power.
The oasis city has traded hands several times during Syria’s six-year civil war and become a symbol of Daesh’s wanton destruction of priceless cultural heritage in areas under its control.
Bolstered by airstrikes and ground troops from their ally Moscow, Syrian forces battled through the desert for weeks to reach Palmyra.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed President Vladimir Putin of Palmyra’s recapture, a Kremlin spokesman told news agencies in Moscow.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said the terrorists had withdrawn from the desert city but not before mining several areas.
“The Syrian Army is still clearing neighborhoods of mines and has not spread out into the whole city yet,” said its director, Rami Abdel Rahman.
Meanwhile, a senior member of the main Syrian opposition said the prospects for progress after a week of peace talks in Geneva were “very dim.”
“We are convinced that there is no military solution, we are going for a political solution,” Basma Kodmani, a negotiator for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), told a side event in Geneva.
“But there is no prospect as you can tell from the end of this second week or 10 days of talks here in Geneva. The prospects are very dim.”
Russia accused the HNC of “sabotaging” sputtering talks and questioned their ability to reach a deal.
“The results of the first days of the intra-Syrian dialogues, as before, raise questions over the ability of the Syrian opposition representatives to reach a deal,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Syrian regime negotiator Bashar Al-Jaafari accused the opposition of holding talks hostage because of their reported refusal to unify under one opposition delegation and include terrorism on agenda.
“Counter-terrorism operations will continue until the last inch of territory from our country is retaken from the foreign terrorists who are wreaking havoc,” Al-Jaafari said.
The lead negotiator said he hoped US President Donald Trump would correct the “catastrophic” errors of his predecessor Barack Obama to become a reliable partner against “devilish” Iran.
“The people in Syria paid a high price because of the catastrophic mistakes made by the Obama administration,” Nasr Al-Hariri told reporters in a briefing after meeting UN mediator Staffan de Mistura.
“Obama lied and he did not keep any of the promises he made for the Syrian people. He drew red lines that he erased himself, he kept silent on crimes committed by Bashar Assad.”
Hariri said: “We reiterated the devilish role that Iran is playing through hundreds of thousands of fighters on the Syrian soil.”
Trump’s administration has so far done little to suggest it is willing to engage in finding a political solution for Syria.
“Their policy is still unknown,” said a Western diplomat at the talks. “They are almost not here.”
While Western envoys were coordinating with the Syrian opposition in Geneva, the US envoy kept his head down and left after a few days to deal with other issues.
“The US is not a direct participant in the UN-led talks,” a spokesperson for the US Mission in Geneva said. “The US remains committed to any process that can result in a political resolution to the Syrian crisis.”
When asked during a White House briefing this week about the talks, spokesman Sean Spicer gave no clear answer on how Washington saw the process or Assad’s role.
Hariri said the opposition had common ground with Trump because both wanted to fight terrorism and curtail Iranian influence. Washington, he said, should support the opposition.
Separately, Al-Qaeda confirmed that a US-led coalition drone strike had killed senior leader Abu Al-Khayr Al-Masri in Syria.
A statement issued by the militant group’s Maghreb and Arabian Peninsula branches said he died in a “treacherous” drone strike it described as a “new crime by America and the crusader coalition.”
Cat-and-mouse game over Syria’s Palmyra continues
Cat-and-mouse game over Syria’s Palmyra continues
Red Sea Film Foundation champions Saudi storytelling at Saudi Film Festival
- Two short films — “Afen” by Nawaf Alkinani and “Hello My Dear” by Ahmad Salam — will screen outside the official competition lineup
JEDDAH: The Red Sea Film Foundation is participating in the 11th edition of the Saudi Film Festival, running from April 17-23 at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran, as part of its ongoing efforts to support the Kingdom’s film industry.
Through its flagship initiative, the Red Sea Fund, the foundation will present two awards of SR 25,000 ($6,668) each for outstanding Saudi film projects in the Development and Production categories.
This year, five foundation-backed titles are screening at the festival, including three films selected for the official competition: “Hobal” by Abdulaziz Alshlahei, “Songs of Adam” by Oday Rasheed, and “My Driver and I” by Ahd Kamel.
Two short films — “Afen” by Nawaf Alkinani and “Hello My Dear” by Ahmad Salam — will screen outside the official competition lineup.
The foundation will also take part in the SFF’s Production Market, showcasing its key initiatives: the Red Sea Souk, Red Sea Labs, and the Red Sea Fund, all of which, the foundation said in a press release, “provide filmmakers with essential financial, creative, and logistical support across all stages of the filmmaking journey.”
Since its establishment in 2019, the Red Sea Film Foundation has, it stated, “played a central role in shaping the region’s cinematic landscape through a range of local and international initiatives spanning production, distribution, education and training. Its mission continues to focus on nurturing a new generation of storytellers and contributing to a thriving, sustainable film ecosystem across Saudi Arabia, Africa and Asia.”
The Saudi Film Festival was founded in 2008 and is the Kingdom’s longest-running cinema-related event.
Visit the Ithra website for showtimes.
In Asir, farmers use cattle and plow to keep agricultural heritage alive
- Many farmers maintain that despite the available modern equipment, traditional cattle plowing benefits the soil in ways machinery cannot
RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia’s Asir region, farmers still use cattle and hand-crafted tools to tend their land, maintaining traditional techniques passed down through generations, SPA reports.
The farmers carefully prepare their soil during seasonal periods, using either modern machinery or traditional wooden plows.
This process supports soil health for planting seasons, especially on terraced farms where rugged terrain or limited access roads make modern equipment less practical.
During a recent field visit, SPA correspondents interviewed farmers and regional experts about these enduring practices.
Farmer Mesfer Al-Qahtani and Dr. Abdullah Al-Moussa, a heritage sciences researcher focused on the region’s agricultural calendar, discussed the role of celestial movements in Asir’s farming calendar.
“Farmers in Asir rely on celestial movements and weather patterns to determine optimal plowing and planting times,” Al-Moussa said.
He noted key seasons, including Al-Dhira’ayn, which signals the start of spring planting; Al-Thuraiya, ideal for corn and millet cultivation; and Al-Han’a, a critical period for soil preparation before autumn.
Al-Qahtani, who plows using cattle and ancestral methods, emphasized the deep connection between astronomical knowledge and agricultural practice.
“We track the seasons and heed our elders’ wisdom. We know when to plow the land and when to let it rest,” he told SPA.
He explained that traditional plowing relies on cattle and the plow, adding, “This is not merely technique — it is a lifestyle where we honor the earth and understand its rhythms of giving and resting.”
According to farmer Abdul Karim Al-Shehri, the traditional plowing process begins with securing two bulls using a wooden neck harness called Al-Nir (yoke). This connects to Al-Sikka — a sharp iron plowshare attached to a wooden plow that cuts and turns the soil.
He also outlined the traditional tools that have shaped Asir’s agricultural practices for generations. The plow, typically made from jujube or juniper wood, holds the iron blade that breaks the soil. Farmers have relied on the handheld wooden Al-Madra to guide the plow’s direction during tilling.
The Ruba’a (clevis) or Al-Dimad (drawbar) system connects cattle to the plow, ensuring the optimal distance between the animals for effective field work. This system uses a wooden harness positioned over the bulls’ necks, with 70-cm wooden arms extending through four holes and secured with leather or palm fiber ropes.
Farmer Abdullah Abdulrahman Al-Asmari explained that plowing is usually a team effort. Two farmers work together: One steadies the plow while the other, known as Al-Thari (sower), scatters seeds evenly.
After plowing is complete, the Makam or Al-Madsam (harrow) — a wide, two-meter piece of wood pulled by bulls or camels over the freshly turned earth — is used to level the soil and protect seeds from birds and harsh elements such as wind and heat.
“While we must embrace progress, we cannot abandon Asir’s agricultural heritage,” Al-Asmari said. “Teaching younger generations about our traditional farming methods is essential — these practices were not merely labor but represented the entire way of life that sustained our ancestors for centuries.”
The process involves four distinct phases designed to maximize crop yield and nutritional quality: Initial soil turning, deeper breaking for improved aeration and water absorption, directional plowing to prepare for seeding, and finally, careful seed distribution and coverage.
Many farmers maintain that despite the available modern equipment, traditional cattle plowing benefits the soil in ways machinery cannot.
They believe that it provides greater control using more natural methods while preserving soil fertility and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
In Asir, traditional plowing is more than farming — it embodies cultural identity and sustains people’s timeless bond with the land.
153 Arabian oryx returns to Saudi wilderness
- The authority also highlighted a particularly encouraging development in its conservation efforts: Eight new oryx births have been documented within the reserve
RIYADH: The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has reintroduced 153 Arabian oryx to their native habitat across the Tubaiq, Al-Khanfah, and Hurra Al-Hurra regions of Saudi Arabia.
The initiative forms part of the authority’s strategy to restore biodiversity and reestablish endangered species in their natural environments.
The Arabian oryx, which belongs to the bovine family, is classified as an endangered species.
The distinctive animal, recognizable by its powerful build, straight elongated horns, and striking white coat with black facial markings, grazes on vegetation throughout the reserve. It forages during early morning and evening hours to avoid the intense desert heat.
The authority also highlighted a particularly encouraging development in its conservation efforts: Eight new oryx births have been documented within the reserve.
The first birth, recorded in 2022 in the Tubaiq region, represented the first successful reproduction of the species in its natural habitat in 90 years.
The endangered species resettlement programs reflect the authority’s commitment to ongoing work supporting ecological balance, enriching biodiversity, and preserving species whose numbers have declined due to environmental factors and loss of vegetation cover.
Transavia France will launch flights to Madinah
- CEO of the Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan described the development of air connectivity between France and Saudi Arabia as a fundamental pillar of the National Tourism Strategy
RIYADH: The Air Connectivity Program, in partnership with the Al Madinah Region Development Authority, has announced the expansion of Transavia France’s travel services to Saudi Arabia.
Beginning in October, new routes will be launched from Paris-Orly, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse to Madinah.
This expansion complements the successful launch last year of routes connecting Paris-Orly and Lyon with Jeddah, enhancing air connectivity and reflecting the growth in travel demand between the two countries.
It also underscores the Kingdom’s position as a major destination and supports the tourism goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by increasing the number of tourists to the Kingdom.
CEO of the Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan described the development of air connectivity between France and Saudi Arabia as a fundamental pillar of the National Tourism Strategy.
He highlighted that this expansion will help capitalize on the significant opportunities in France’s Umrah market, while supporting the Kingdom’s tourism objectives.
CEO of Tibah Airports Operation Co. Sofiene Abdessalem stated that the selection of Madinah among Transavia France’s new destinations confirms the city’s religious and cultural status, while underlining the efforts made to enhance its presence on the international air connectivity map.
Chief Commercial Officer of Transavia France Nicolas Henin said the airline is excited to start flights to Madinah and strengthen its ongoing partnership with Saudi airports.
Residents, citizens arrested for drug offenses across Saudi Arabia
- Citizens and residents are urged to report drug offences by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s security forces this week arrested several residents and citizens on charges of smuggling and distributing drugs.
Two citizens were arrested in Asir region for distributing 27 kg of qat hidden in a vehicle driven by one of them in Dhahran Al-Janub governorate. A firearm was also found in their possession.
In Asir’s Al-Raboua, 10 Ethiopians were arrested for violating border security and smuggling 192 kg of qat.
In addition, Border Guard land patrols in Yanbu, Madinah, thwarted an attempt to smuggle 3.6 kg of hashish.
And in Al-Arda, Jazan, four Yemenis were arrested for violating the border security system and smuggling 80 kg of qat.
Citizens and residents are urged to report drug offences by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.
Reports can also be submitted confidentially to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email at 995@gdnc.gov.sa.
