WASHINGTON/ANKARA: The US-led coalition has killed as many as 150 Daesh fighters in an operation in the middle Euphrates River Valley in Syria, officials said Tuesday.
According to a coalition statement, the airstrikes took place on Saturday near Al-Shafah, in Deir Ezzor province, on a Daesh headquarters where the terrorists appeared to have been “massing for movement.”
Dozens of combatants have been killed since Turkey launched an offensive in the Kurdish region of Afrin in northwestern Syria on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Wednesday, citing sources on all sides.
The observatory said Turkish shelling and airstrikes in Afrin had killed 28 civilians, while two civilians had been killed near the Syrian opposition-held town of Azaz as a result of shelling by the Kurdish YPG, which is defending Afrin.
Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said 48 Turkey-backed Syrian fighters with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) had been killed. The death toll among the Kurdish YPG was so far 42, he said.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to expand the operation in northern Syria toward the town of Manbij, which would bring Turkish troops and their Syrian allies closer to US forces supporting the Kurds against Daesh.
As Turkey pushed ahead with its operation, fears grew of an escalation in tension with the US, despite both countries being NATO allies.
But instead, US military officials reacted differently — at least in public statements. They began empathizing with Ankara over its domestic security concerns, most significantly the decades-long insurgency by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is linked with the PYD and YPG.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway said that if the YPG in northern Syria moves to Afrin and if the military equipment provided by the US is used for other purposes than fighting Daesh, the group will lose US support.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the Turkish Army had falsely claimed that Daesh is present in the Afrin region, accusing it of trying to mislead global public opinion.
In a separate development, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that this week’s round of UN-sponsored talks on Syria is the “last hope” for reaching a political solution to the seven-year war.
“There is no prospect of a political solution today except, and it’s the last hope, the meeting that opens tomorrow in Vienna led by the UN and with all the stakeholders present,” Le Drian told Parliament.
Detailed coverage — Page 6
Coalition strikes kill up to 150 Daesh terrorists in Syria
Coalition strikes kill up to 150 Daesh terrorists in Syria
Visiting Libyan official says discussed energy, migration with new Syria leader
- Syrians fleeing war since 2011 and seeking a better life have often traveled to Libya in search of work or passage
- Power in Libya is divided between the UN-recognized government based in the capital Tripoli and a rival administration in the east
DAMASCUS: A senior official from Libya’s UN-recognized government met Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Saturday and discussed issues including diplomatic relations, energy and migration.
“We expressed our full support for the Syrian authorities in the success of the important transitional phase,” Libyan Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs Walid Ellafi told reporters after the meeting.
“We emphasized the importance of coordination and cooperation... particularly on security and military issues,” he said, while they also discussed cooperation “related to energy and trade” and “illegal immigration.”
Syrians fleeing war since 2011 and seeking a better life have often traveled to Libya in search of work or passage across the Mediterranean on flimsy boats toward Europe.
Ellafi said they also discussed “the importance of raising diplomatic representation between the two countries.”
“Today the charge d’affaires attended the meeting with me and we are seeking a permanent ambassador,” he added.
Power in Libya is divided between the UN-recognized government based in the capital Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar who also controls the south.
Representatives of Haftar’s rival administration in March 2020 opened a diplomatic mission in Damascus.
Before that, Libya had not had any representation in Damascus since 2012, following the fall and killing of longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising.
It was not immediately clear whether the charge d’affaires had been appointed since Sharaa’s Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions toppled Assad on December 8 after a lightning offensive.
Also on Saturday, images published by Syrian state news agency SANA also showed Sharaa meeting Bahrain’s strategic security bureau chief Sheikh Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa.
No details of the discussions were provided.
On December 14, top diplomats from eight Arab countries including Bahrain called for a peaceful transition in Syria with United Nations and Arab League support following Assad’s overthrow.
A day earlier, the official BNA news agency reported that Bahrain’s King Hamad had told Sharaa that his country was ready to “continue consultations and coordination with Syria.”
Damascus’s new authorities have received envoys from across the Middle East and beyond since taking control as countries look to establish contact with Sharaa’s administration.
Afghan Taliban hit several locations in Pakistan in ‘retaliation’ for attacks
- Pakistani air raids on southeastern Afghanistan killed at least 46 people on Tuesday
- Pakistan’s attacks took place as Islamabad’s special envoy visited Kabul for talks to strengthen ties
KABUL: Afghan Taliban forces targeted several locations in Pakistan on Saturday, Afghanistan’s defense ministry said, days after the Pakistani military launched deadly air raids on its territory in the latest flare-up of tensions.
The Pakistani Air Force bombed Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika province on Tuesday, claiming it was targeting alleged hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan — the Pakistani Taliban — a militant group separate from the Afghan Taliban.
The raids killed at least 46 people, most of whom were children and women, the Afghan Ministry of National Defense said after the attack.
Announcing Saturday’s strikes, the ministry said in a statement that “several points beyond the assumptive lines ... were targeted in retaliation.”
While the statement did not mention Pakistan, the “assumptive lines” is a reference to the Afghan-Pakistani border, part of the Durand Line — a colonial-era boundary dividing the regions and communities between Afghanistan and what is now Pakistan. The boundary has never been officially recognized by any Afghan government.
Citing ministry sources, local media reported that 19 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the clashes. There was no official comment from Pakistan, but a security source confirmed that the confrontation with Afghan forces took place.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has repeatedly accused them of allowing TTP militants to use Afghan territory for cross-border attacks — a claim the Taliban have denied.
The latest escalation of hostilities comes as TTP fighters last week claimed responsibility for killing 16 Pakistani soldiers in the border region of South Waziristan. The area targeted by Pakistani strikes days later was the nearby Barmal district on the Afghan side of the border.
“Pakistan claims that by targeting alleged TTP hideouts and training venues in Barmal district in southeast of Afghanistan, it ensures security inside the country. This means that by challenging the security of its neighbors, Pakistan is trying to strengthen its own security,” Abdul Saboor Mubariz, board member of the Center for Strategic and Regional Studies in Kabul, told Arab News.
The Pakistani attack took place on the same day that Islamabad’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, was in Kabul for talks to strengthen bilateral ties.
“A major problem that exists in Pakistan’s politics is that the civil government is not aligned with the military ... The civil government is backing negotiations, while the army is after a military solution,” Mubariz said.
“TTP has been a major barrier in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan ... the Taliban, however, have continuously shown willingness for talks.”
Abdul Sayed, a Sweden-based analyst and expert on the politics and security of the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, interpreted Pakistan’s attack just hours after the Islamabad envoy’s visit as a “strategic message from Pakistan’s military establishment, signaling that failure to meet their demands through dialogue may result in the application of force.”
The subsequent responses from Taliban officials and Saturday’s retaliation by Taliban forces “appear to underscore their resolve not to yield to such pressure,” Sayed told Arab News.
“The Taliban’s stance suggests a commitment to defending Afghanistan’s territorial sovereignty and an unwillingness to capitulate under the threat of force. This approach of employing force is unlikely to yield a sustainable resolution; instead, it risks exacerbating security challenges for both states, particularly Pakistan, while further destabilizing the broader regional security landscape.”
Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of first test between South Africa and Pakistan
- South Africa wants a victory for a place in next year’s World Test Championship final
- The host team claimed a 90-run lead after Markram and Bosch scored half centuries
CENTURION, South Africa: Rain delayed the start of the third day’s play in the first cricket test between South Africa and Pakistan with no play possible before lunch on Saturday.
The entire first session was washed out at SuperSport Park with Pakistan scheduled to resume its second innings at 88-3 – still trailing South Africa by two runs.
South Africa has plenty of time left to press its bid for a place in next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The home team needs to win one of the two test matches against Pakistan for a guaranteed place in next June’s WTC final at Lord’s.
South Africa claimed a 90-run first innings lead on the back of half centuries from Aiden Markram and debutant Corbin Bosch, who smashed an unbeaten 81 on a dream debut.
Bosch's scintillating knock, which featured 15 fours, was the highest score by a No. 9 batter on debut in test history.
Pakistan had been bowled out for 211 as Bosch claimed a wicket with his first ball and finished with impressive figures of 4-63.
Paceman Dane Paterson took 5-61 on a wicket where both teams have packed their line-ups with four fast bowlers each, going into the game without a specialist spinner.
Several airlines cancel flights to Russia after Azerbaijan Airlines crash
- Turkmenistan Airlines was the latest airline to announce cancelations Saturday
- Kazakhstan’s Qazaq Air has suspended its flights to Yekaterinburg until the end of January
MOSCOW: Several airlines have announced the suspension of flights to Russian cities, after Western experts and the US suggested the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines this week may have been caused by a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
Moscow has declined to comment on reports the plane could have been accidentally shot down by its air defense.
Russia has said that Grozny, the Chechen capital where the plane was meant to land, was being attacked by Ukrainian drones that day.
It crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board.
Turkmenistan Airlines — the national carrier of the reclusive Central Asian state — was the latest airline to announce cancelations Saturday.
It said that “regular flights between Ashgabat-Moscow-Ashgabat were canceled from 30/12/2024 to 31/01/2025,” without giving an explanation.
The decision came after UAE airline flydubai suspended flights between Dubai and the southern Russian cities of Mineralnye Vody and Sochi that were scheduled between December 27 and January 3.
Kazakhstan’s Qazaq Air has suspended its flights to Russia’s Urals city of Yekaterinburg until the end of January.
Earlier this week, Israeli airline El Al said it was suspending its flights to Moscow for a week.
The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 crashed near the western Kazakh city of Aktau, on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
It was carrying out a flight between Azerbaijan’s capital Baku and the city of Grozny in Russia.
For several days, some Western experts have been pointing to a crash caused by a Russian anti-aircraft missile.
Citing preliminary results of an investigation, Azerbaijan’s transport minister said Friday that the crash suffered physical “external interference.”
Statements from Azerbaijan citing the investigation into the incident suggest Baku believes the plane was hit mid-air.
On Friday, White House spokesman John Kirby said Washington has “indications” Russia may have been responsible, without giving details.
A software-defined future for the automotive industry
Modern vehicles are packed with advanced software and electronics, enhancing performance but also changing how manufacturers assess benefits and risks. To stay competitive in today’s market, automakers must embrace digital transformation, moving from mechanical to software-defined vehicles. This industry shift is driven by three trends: the rise of EV powertrains, the spread of semi-autonomous driving capabilities, and the expansion of digitalization into manufacturing. As hardware and software converge in products, so too must design, manufacturing and maintenance evolve for a digital age.
Revolutionizing Collaboration for Success in EVs
Electrification has pushed automakers to rethink traditional automotive design and manufacturing. Companies now have to reconsider the information needed by EV drivers and how vehicle software and E/E systems are architected. Meanwhile, the future of battery electrification hinges on advancements in battery technology and charging infrastructure. This includes new battery management system software to extend battery life by learning drivers’ charging behaviors. Comprehensive integrations across supplier networks are essential for managing the interdisciplinary architectures of EVs.
Digital threads facilitate this integration by establishing a structured data flow across the product lifecycle, enabling every design discipline to access relevant data for optimized product design. Digitalizing development allows real-time, two-way exchanges with suppliers, ensuring updated requirements and understanding part availability. Strong connections in the digital twin from design to manufacturing ensure a smooth transition between these domains, enhancing traceability and enabling accurate over-the-air updates throughout a vehicle’s lifetime. Companies that can leverage software to innovate and adapt to this dynamic market will gain a competitive edge.
Updating Development Workflows for Autonomy
While EVs are still gaining traction, autonomous vehicle features are becoming standard, with many manufacturers offering Level 3 capabilities. However, achieving higher autonomy levels requires closer integration of mechanical, electrical, electronic, and software systems, increasing development complexity and cost. This stems from the verification and validation challenges of dynamic city streets.
Streamlined interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for making autonomy a viable business strategy. The digital twin helps engineers uncover potential issues during early simulations, allowing for problem-solving within the context of a digital twin of the entire vehicle. A fully digital solution enables greater design exploration across all domains. But breaking down traditional silos between these domains requires defining and communicating system requirements digitally. A digital process helps manage the complexity and cost implications of increased electronics and software.
Delivering system requirements dynamically to suppliers allows for early validation of subsystems in conjunction with connected systems. For example, sensors for autonomous capabilities can be validated against control boards, mechanical interfaces, and software-in-the-loop tests early in the process. The comprehensive digital twin provides traceability and data accessibility, mitigating risks and ensuring a rigorous workflow without slowing development.
Digitalization also adds value once a vehicle is on the road. A digital feedback mechanism between the factory and the vehicle allows OEMs to update and improve software-based functionality. Data from vehicles in the field can improve the digital twin and provide over-the-air updates, enhancing existing and future vehicles. This continuity of data offers the flexibility and scalability needed to implement new autonomous technologies, driving innovation and improving safety.
Delivering Products Faster with Smart Manufacturing
The complexity of building autonomous features and overhauling powertrains for electrification extends to manufacturing as well. OEMs are adopting smart manufacturing technologies to achieve flexible, efficient, and sustainable operations. Faster implementation on the factory floor allows businesses to pivot quickly when facing supply chain issues.
A digital twin of production also enables manufacturers to optimize production virtually, exploring all configurations and commissioning machine operations with minimal downtime. Connecting design and manufacturing through the comprehensive digital twin helps businesses optimize time while meeting quality, sustainability, and time-to-market goals. Digitalization streamlines data flow between these worlds, fostering adaptability and innovation.
Cross-functional collaboration powered by the comprehensive digital twin enables flexible operations, advanced automation, and proactive sustainability. Merging the real and digital worlds brings new mobility generations to market successfully, with actionable insights before physical commissioning and throughout production. This shift-left approach drives high-quality and sustainable manufacturing in SDVs.
A Software-Defined revolution through digitalization
Designing and manufacturing a software-defined vehicle for tomorrow requires greater collaboration across engineering domains, automotive manufacturers, and the global supply chains they rely upon. A digital transformation of automotive design and manufacturing is the solution for addressing the increased cost, time, and risk software and electronics bring to the automotive industry. Creating a comprehensive digital twin of the SDV and a robust digital thread between all the key disciplines helps ensure that the overall system requirements are met and validated. Digitalization provides the framework and accessibility to make success sustainable for the next big transition in the automotive industry.
- The writer is Nand Kochhar, vice president of Automotive and Transportation at Siemens Digital Industries Software.
