Iraqi forces launched on Thursday an offensive to recapture the last patch of Iraqi territory still in the hands of Daesh, on the border area with Syria, Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said.
“Daesh members have to choose between death and surrender,” he said in a statement announcing the offensive on region of Al-Qaim and Rawa.
The Iraqi airforce dropped thousands of leaflets on the border area calling on the militants to surrender and urging the population to stay away from their positions, according to a statement from the Joint Operations Command in Baghdad.
The militant group also holds parts of the Syrian side of the border, but the area under their control is shrinking as they retreat in the face of two sets of hostile forces — a US-backed, Kurdish-led coalition and Syrian government troops with foreign Shiite militias backed by Iran and Russia.
Daesh’s self-declared cross-border caliphate effectively collapsed in July, when US-backed Iraqi forces captured Mosul, the group’s de facto capital in Iraq, in a gruelling battle which lasted nine months.
The militants’ Syrian stronghold, Raqqa, fell to US-backed forces last week.
Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, who declared the caliphate from Mosul in mid-2014, released an audio recording on Sept. 28 that indicated he was alive, after several reports he had been killed. He urged his followers to keep up the fight despite setbacks.
“Tell those among your children and relatives who took up a weapon against the state to throw it aside immediately, and to go to any house on top of which a white flag have been raised when the liberation forces enter Al-Qaim,” said the leaflets dropped by the Iraqi airforce.
Regular army units, Sunni tribal forces and Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization are taking part in the offensive toward the Syrian border, the Joint Operations Command said.
Iraq launches military operation to recapture western border region
Iraq launches military operation to recapture western border region

Saudi jazz singer is hitting all the right notes

- Loulwa Al-Sharif, also known as Lady Lou, is self-taught
- Music shaped by loss of her father, she tells Arab News
RIYADH: From soulful Hijazi oud melodies to renditions of smoky jazz and blues tunes, Loulwa Al-Sharif is crafting a sound, shaped by personal loss, that is uniquely her own.
The self-taught singer, also known as Lady Lou, left journalism to pursue her heart’s yearnings, she said during her appearance recently on Arab News’ The Mayman Show.
“I knew that I loved, like, music since I was a little kid. I used to love to perform just for my family and myself, but then I stopped for a long time.
“And while I was working in the newspaper and in other jobs before that, I used to do music … part-time.”
Al-Sharif sang Arabic songs when she was young.
“When I was 15 years old, when I discovered that I liked to sing, I used to sing Khaleeji (Gulf) and Tarab (classical Arabic music) such as songs from prominent Egyptian singer Mohammed Abdel Wahab.
“But then when I started learning (to sing) in English, the first song I learned, with my blues brother — his name is Moez — it was ‘Ain’t No Sunshine.’”
“So just simple, you know, it’s a very simple song with him because he encouraged me, like, you have soul, and you need to do that more,” she said.
The death of her father was a pivotal moment in her life. At the time, she had not been performing and was still quite “shy” and lacked confidence.
“I believe that was my — I don’t know what to call it — escape or something, I don’t know. But all my emotions and my feelings were, ya’ni (like), driven into the music.
“Even, to be honest, it helped me a lot because my father was a musician, and so believing that, oh, wow, I’m doing what my father used to do and putting all my emotions into, ya’ni … it was healing.
“Saraha (honestly), so it was healing for me. Pursuing music and just creating and singing.”
Al-Sharif learned her craft at jam sessions, often late at night, supported by members of the Jeddah music community.
“First, I chose rock. I started singing, like, rock covers, you know, like Evanescence and things like that.”
She then focused on jazz and blues tunes, including from the late English singer Amy Winehouse.
“To be honest, I feel like I was, like, a little bird, and now I’m just, like, flying.
“It’s helped me a lot. Because I didn’t have that confidence back then, and I was, ya’ni, when I performed, I used to perform in front of, like, a few people.”
Saudi crown prince welcomes measures announced by Al-Sharaa to contain clashes

- Crown prince expressed the Kingdom’s confidence in the ability of the Syrian government to achieve security and stability in Syria
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The crown prince welcomed the arrangements and measures announced by Al-Sharaa to contain recent events in Syria, expressing the Kingdom’s confidence in the ability of the Syrian government to achieve security and stability in the country.
Prince Mohammed also praised efforts exerted by Al-Sharaa to ensure that Syria continues on the right path, which would in turn ensure the preservation of Syria’s unity and territorial integrity, the strengthening of its national unity, the solidarity and cohesion of all segments of the Syrian people, and the prevention of any signs of sedition aimed at destabilizing security and stability in the country.
The crown prince also stressed the importance of continuing steps that Syria has taken at all levels to achieve the progress and prosperity to which the Syrian people aspire.
He reiterated the Kingdom’s firm position in supporting Syria, standing by its side, and rejecting any action that would undermine civil and social peace in its entirety.
Prince Mohammed reiterated the Kingdom’s declared position condemning Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and interference in its internal affairs.
He also stressed the need for the international community to support the Syrian government in confronting these challenges and preventing any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs under any pretext.
Al-Sharaa expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom for its supportive stance toward Syria and the role and efforts undertaken by the crown prince to promote security and stability in Syria and the region.
Russia jails major general for six years over fraud at military theme park

- Major General Vladimir Shesterov was detained last August for his role in the scheme at the Patriot Park
- The scandal at Patriot Park is one in a slew of criminal cases against former top officials
MOSCOW: A senior Russian Defense Ministry official was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday after being found guilty of fraud and forgery in relation to an embezzlement scheme at a military theme park, the RIA state news agency reported.
Major General Vladimir Shesterov was detained last August for his role in the scheme at the Patriot Park, a war-themed tourist attraction outside Moscow. Two other men, including Pavel Popov, a former deputy defense minister, are also facing prosecution.
RIA, citing the investigation materials, said Shesterov and the ex-director of the park, Vyacheslav Akhmedov, who is also in custody, forged documents related to completed construction work at the park in the amount of some 26 million roubles ($332,000).
The scandal at Patriot Park is one in a slew of criminal cases against former top officials that have engulfed the Russian army in recent months.
Shesterov fully admitted guilt, but insisted he had not received any material benefit from the scheme.
“I am to blame, I don’t whitewash myself, I sincerely repent,” he said in court, according to RIA.
Akhmedov has also entered a guilty plea in his trial.
The case against Popov, the former deputy defense minister, is ongoing. RIA reported that Popov had instructed Shesterov and Akhmedov to build him a two-story house, a guest house with a sauna, and a two-story garage on land Popov owned in the Moscow region — with the Defense Ministry footing the bill.
Popov has previously denied wrongdoing. Reuters was unable to contact his lawyer on Thursday.
Patriot Park displays a vast collection of Russian and Soviet weaponry, and offers visitors the chance to clamber on tanks and take part in combat simulations. On its website, it also features a photo gallery of “heroes of the special military operation” — Russia’s official term for its war in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia’s NCNP drives non-profit growth, global ties at World Expo

- NCNP hosted the panel session — The Future of Non-Profits — at the Saudi Pavilion
- The panel demonstrated the NCNP’s goal of activating the Kingdom’s SDGs through innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnerships
OSAKA: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Non-Profit Sector (NCNP) is expanding at a rapid pace with the number of registered NPOs surpassing 5,700 last year.
In a bid to capitalize on the situation and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the sector, the NCNP brought together leading voices from the Kingdom’s non-profit organizations (NPOs) for a high-profile panel discussion and for a separate U-Table meeting at the World Expo in Osaka.
NCNP hosted the panel session — The Future of Non-Profits — at the Saudi Pavilion to highlight how the Kingdom has advanced the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through non-profit entities.
The panel demonstrated the NCNP’s goal of activating the Kingdom’s SDGs through innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnerships.
The panel featured HRH Princess Luluah Bint Nawaf Al Saud, President of the Board at Mawaddah Association for Family Stability (MAFS), Reem Abukhayal, Media and PR Manager of Alwaleed Philanthropies, and Dr. Abdullah AlMuhanna, Vice President of Sector Empowerment at National Developmental Housing Foundation (Sakan).
NCNP’s International Communication lead, Alaa Alghamdi addressed the successful models and initiatives led by Saudi NPOs and the challenges and opportunities in scaling impact through innovation, partnerships, and sustainability.
“We were very excited to highlight how NCNP is building a sustainable future through non-profit innovation during our informative panel discussion,” Mishari Alturaif, GM of Government Outsourcing at NCNP, said.
“The Future of Non-Profits discussion underscores the ambitious efforts that NCNP is putting into supporting innovation across the local and global non-profit sector through constructive dialogue and engagement.”
NCNP also hosted a U-Table meeting with leading Saudi and international NPO’s that introduced NCNP and its international collaboration goals.
Participants from the Saudi nonprofit sector included Bunyan Charity, the National Developmental Housing Foundation (Sakan), Saudi Food Bank, and Alwdad Orphanage Care.
The participants exchanged best practices in non-profit governance and public-civil partnerships and identified areas for future collaboration aligned with national priorities and SDGS.
They also discussed the importance of shifting the mindset in the non-profit sector from one that focuses on charity to one of development, allowing for social innovation and entrepreneurship to support economic growth.
“At the U-Table, we had the opportunity to learn about how NCNP is partnering globally to advance non-profit solutions for a better world, solutions that support economic growth and innovation,” Sadakazu Ikawa, co-founder and Executive Director at the Trust Based Philanthropy Japan and Manager at the AVPN.
“We look forward to working with NCNP to activate solutions that help achieve sustainable development worldwide.”
In Osaka, the NCNP team also met with the Japan Foundation to explore opportunities for collaboration with Japanese entities and to exchange international expertise and best practices in the non-profit sector.
Under NCNP’s leadership, Saudi Arabia’s non-profit ecosystem has expanded rapidly. The number of registered NPOs surpassed 5,700 last year, with over 6,000 fundraising licenses issued and more than 2,000 active civil associations. Volunteerism has surged from just under 23,000 in 2015 to 1.2 million in 2024.
Thirty government entities now contribute to non-profit development, showing their rising national importance. Thus, NCNP continues to serve as the Kingdom’s catalyst for non-profit growth, linking local action with global collaboration to unlock sustainable impact.
Jordan treats dozens of injured Palestinians from Gaza, sends more aid to territory

- Jordanian Medical Corridor initiative aims to assist Palestinians in Gaza and is carried out in cooperation with the Jordanian armed forces, Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization
- Since the initiative began in March, 112 injured and sick children, accompanied by 241 carers, have entered Jordan to receive treatment in private hospitals
LONDON: Jordanian associations dispatched 50 aid trucks to the Gaza Strip on Thursday and transferred dozens of Palestinian children to receive medical treatment in Jordan this week.
Dr. Fawzi Al-Hammouri, chairman of the Private Hospitals Association, confirmed that 35 sick and injured children from Gaza, accompanied by 72 carers, were admitted to several private hospitals in Jordan.
The initiative, part of the Jordanian Medical Corridor, aims to assist Palestinians in Gaza and is carried out in cooperation with the Jordanian armed forces, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization.
Since the initiative began in March, 112 injured and sick children, accompanied by 241 guardians, have entered Jordan to receive treatment in private hospitals, according to Dr. Al-Hammouri.
On Thursday, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization sent another humanitarian convoy of 50 trucks loaded with essential food supplies to the northern part of the Gaza coastal enclave. Northern Gaza is experiencing severe shortages of food and essential supplies due to disruptions in aid delivery and Israeli attacks.
Since late 2023, Jordan has delivered more than 7,815 aid trucks and 53 cargo planes through the Egyptian port of Arish, along with 102 helicopter sorties to deliver aid, to support Palestinians in Gaza.
Jordan was among the first countries to conduct airlift missions in the early days of the war, delivering relief to Gaza. More than 58,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, which have been described as genocide by human rights groups and several heads of state.