ANKARA/AMMAN: Turkey will send more troops into Syria’s Idlib province after striking a deal with Russia that has averted a government offensive and delighted rebels who said it kept the area out of President Bashar Assad’s hands.
The deal unveiled on Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Assad’s most powerful ally, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will create a demilitarised zone from which “radical” rebels must withdraw by the middle of next month.
Damascus also welcomed the agreement but vowed to continue its efforts to recover “every inch” of Syria. Iran, Assad’s other main ally, said that “responsible diplomacy” had averted a war in Idlib “with a firm commitment to fight extremist terror.”
The agreement halted a threatened Syrian government offensive. The United Nations had warned such an attack would create a humanitarian catastrophe in the Idlib region, home to about 3 million people.
The Idlib region and adjoining territory north of Aleppo represent the opposition’s last big foothold in Syria. Assad has recovered most of the areas once held by the rebels, with decisive military support from Iran and Russia.
But his plans to recover the northwest have been complicated by Turkey’s role on the ground. It has soldiers at 12 locations in Idlib and supplies weapons to some of the rebels.
Erdogan had feared another exodus of refugees to join the 3.5 million already in Turkey, and warned against any attack.
In striking the deal, Russia appears — at least for now — to have put its ties with Turkey ahead of advancing the goal of bringing all Syria back under Assad’s rule.
That goal is also obstructed by the presence of US forces in the quarter of Syria east of the Euphrates that is held by an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, and at a base near the borders with Jordan and Iraq.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis played down any notion the Turkey-Russia agreement had resolved the situation in Idlib.
“Idlib is one of the most complex problems in a complex theater (of conflict) right now. So I’m quite sure it’s not all sorted,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon.
Analysts cautioned that implementation of the deal faced big challenges, notably how to separate extremists from other rebels — a goal Ankara has been struggling to achieve.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the “moderate opposition” would keep its weapons and the “region will be cleared of radicals.” Turkey would “make additional troop deployments” and its 12 observation posts would remain.
The deal was “very important for the political resolution in Syria.” “If this (Idlib) had been lost too, there would be no opposition anymore,” he said.
Mustafa Sejari, a Free Syria Army (FSA) official, said the deal “buries Assad’s dreams of imposing his full control over Syria.”
Yahya Al-Aridi, spokesman for the opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission, expressed hope a government offensive was now off the table for good.
The Syrian government, in a statement published by state media, said it welcomed any agreement that spared blood. It also said the deal had a specific time frame, which it did not detail.
“I see it as a test of the extent of Turkey’s ability to implement this decision,” Ali Abdul Karim, Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon, said in an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed TV. “We do not trust Turkey ... but it’s useful for Turkey to be able to carry out this fight to rid these groups from their weapons.”
’Catastrophe averted’
Moscow said the deal “confirmed the ability of both Moscow and Ankara to compromise ... in the interests of the ultimate goal of a Syrian settlement by political and diplomatic means.”
“Is this merely a stay of execution? Or is it the beginning of a reprieve?” UN aid chief Mark Lowcock asked during a monthly meeting of the UN Security Council on Syria.
The demilitarised zone will be monitored by Russian and Turkish forces, the countries’ leaders said.
Neither Russia nor Turkey has explained how it plans to differentiate “radically minded” rebels from other anti-Assad groups. It was also not immediately clear how much of the city of Idlib fell within the zone.
Putin said the decision was to establish by Oct. 15 a demilitarised area 15 to 20 km (10-12 miles) deep along the contact line between rebel and government fighters.
Naji Abu Hufaiza, spokesman for the National Front for Liberation, said he did not have details of the agreement, but added that while he saw it as a success for Turkish diplomacy, his group did not trust Russia to uphold it.
Idlib is held by an array of rebels. The most powerful is Tahrir Al-Sham, an amalgamation of Islamist groups dominated by the former Nusra Front — an Al-Qaeda affiliate until 2016.
Other Islamists, and groups fighting as the Free Syrian Army banner, are now gathered with Turkish backing under the banner of the “National Front for Liberation.”
The area is also the last major haven for foreign extremists who came to Syria to fight the Alawite-led Assad government.
Putin said that, at Erdogan’s suggestion, by Oct. 10, all opposition heavy weapons, mortars, tanks, rocket systems would also be removed from the demilitarised zone.
Earlier this month, Putin publicly rebuffed a proposal from Erdogan for a truce when the two met along with Iran’s president at a summit in Tehran.
Syria’s Idlib spared attack, Turkey to send in more troops
Syria’s Idlib spared attack, Turkey to send in more troops
- Damascus also welcomed the agreement but vowed to continue its efforts to recover “every inch” of Syria
- The Idlib region and adjoining territory north of Aleppo represent the opposition’s last big foothold in Syria
Regulator orders inspection of Boeing 787s
- The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board bound for Britain’s Gatwick Airport began losing height seconds after take-off on Thursday and erupted in a fireball as it hit buildings below, in what has been the world’s worst aviation disaster in a
AHMEDABAD: India’s aviation regulator has ordered all Boeing 787s being operated by local carriers to be inspected after an Air India crash killed 270 people this week, the aviation minister said on Saturday, adding the authorities were investigating all possible causes.
The aviation regulator on Friday ordered Air India to conduct additional maintenance checks on its Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft equipped with GEnx engines, including assessments of certain take-off parameters, electronic engine control tests, and engine fuel-related checks.
“We have also given the order to do the extended surveillance of the 787 planes. There are 34 in our Indian fleet,” Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu told a media briefing in New Delhi.
“Eight have already been inspected, and with immediate urgency, all of them are going to be done.”
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board bound for Britain’s Gatwick Airport began losing height seconds after take-off on Thursday and erupted in a fireball as it hit buildings below, in what has been the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade.
Air India operates 33 Boeing 787s, while rival airline IndiGo has one, according to data from Flightradar24.
In a statement, Air India said it is currently completing the one-time safety checks directed by the Indian regulator, adding that “some of these checks could lead to higher turnaround time and potential delays on certain long-haul routes.”
The planes, however, have not been grounded, but a source on Friday said the Indian government was considering that as an option.
Naidu also said the government will look at all possible theories of what led to the crash.
Air India and the Indian government were looking at several aspects of the crash, including issues linked to its engine thrust, flaps, and why the landing gear remained open as the plane took off and then came down, Reuters has reported.
At least 270 bodies have been recovered from the site of the crash, said Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College.
Only one of the 242 passengers and crew on board survived, while others were killed as the plane struck the medical college’s hostel as it came down.
The crisis has cast a shadow on Air India, which has for years struggled to rebuild its reputation and revamp its fleet after the Tata Group took over the airline from the Indian government in 2022. Tata’s chairman said on Friday the group wants to understand what happened, but “we don’t know right now.”
Naidu said a government panel was investigating the crash and will issue a report within three months.
“We are going to improve every necessary thing that is going to come our way, to improve the safety,” he said at the briefing, declining questions from journalists.
Dozens of anxious family members have been waiting outside an Ahmedabad hospital to collect the bodies of loved ones killed in the crash, as doctors were working overtime to gather dental samples from the deceased to run identification checks and DNA profiling.
Rafiq Abdul Hafiz Memon, who lost four relatives in the incident, said he was not getting any answers from authorities and was “very hassled.”
“We have lost our children ... we are not understanding anything. Please help us get information about our children. Tell us when they are going to release their bodies,” Memon said.
Another father was upset about not being able to get the body of his son, Harshad Patel, saying he was told by authorities it would take 72 hours for DNA profiling.
“The authorities are trying to help, but our patience is running out,” he said.
Most bodies in the crash were badly charred, and authorities are using dental samples to run identification checks.
Jaishankar Pillai, a forensic dentist, told reporters on Friday that they had the dental records of 135 charred victims, which can then be matched through reference to victims’ prior dental charts, radiographs, or other records.
Even for doctors, things are getting difficult, as the plane struck a hostel building of the B.J. Medical College, where many of the dead are undergoing identification checks.
“Most of us are struggling with our emotions and are mentally disturbed because of the loss of friends and colleagues,” said one doctor who did not wish to be named.
“The loss of so many colleagues and friends in this incident is difficult.”
What We Are Reading Today: Return of the Junta by Oliver Slow
In 2021, Myanmar’s military grabbed power in a coup d’etat, ending a decade of reforms that were supposed to break the shackles of military rule in Myanmar.
Protests across the country were met with a brutal crackdown that shocked the world, but were a familiar response from an institution that has ruled the country with violence and terror for decades.
In this book, Oliver Slow explores the measures the military has used to keep hold of power, according to a review on goodreads.com.
Zelensky says Ukraine halted Russian troop advance in Sumy region
- Ukrainian forces are now battling to regain control along the border with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky says
KYIV: Ukrainian forces have stopped Russian troops advancing in the northeastern Sumy region and are now battling to regain control along the border with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
In remarks released for publication by his office on Saturday, Zelensky said that Moscow has amassed about 53,000 troops in the direction of Sumy.
“We are leveling the position. The fighting there is along the border. You should understand that the enemy has been stopped there. And the maximum depth at which the fighting takes place is 7 km from the border,” Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia conducted another POW swap — the fourth one in a week — the warring sides said on Saturday, under agreements reached in Istanbul earlier this month.
“We continue to take our people out of Russian captivity. This is the fourth exchange in a week,” President Zelensky wrote on social media.
“In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements ... another group of Russian servicemen was returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Telegram.
Kyiv also said it had received another batch of 1,200 unidentified bodies from Russia, which it said Russia claimed “belong to Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel,” as part of the Istanbul agreements as well.
Ukraine did not say whether it returned any bodies to Russia.
Some were injured, others disembarked from buses and hugged those welcoming them, or were seen calling someone by phone, sometimes covering their faces or smiling.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry released its own video showing men in uniforms holding Russian flags, clapping and chanting “Russia, Russia,” “glory to Russia” and “hooray,” some raising their fists in the air.
Israeli fire and airstrikes kill 35 in Gaza
- Hamas, which denies Israeli charges that it steals aid, accused Israel of “employing hunger as a weapon of war and turning aid distribution sites into traps of mass deaths of innocent civilians”
GAZA: Israeli fire and airstrikes killed at least 35 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, most of them near an aid distribution site operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, local health authorities said.
Medics at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals in central Gaza areas, where most of the casualties were moved to, said at least 15 people were killed as they tried to approach the GHF aid distribution site near the Netzarim corridor.
The rest were killed in separate attacks across the enclave, they added.
BACKGROUND
The Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations.
There has been no immediate comment by the Israeli military or the GHF on Saturday’s incidents.
The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid distribution which the UN says is neither impartial nor neutral.
The Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that at least 274 people have so far been killed, and more than 2,000 wounded, near aid distribution sites since the GHF began operations in Gaza.
Hamas, which denies Israeli charges that it steals aid, accused Israel of “employing hunger as a weapon of war and turning aid distribution sites into traps of mass deaths of innocent civilians.”
Later on Saturday, health officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza said Israeli fire killed at least 12 Palestinians, who gathered to wait for aid trucks along the coastal road north of the strip, taking Saturday’s death toll to at least 35.
The Israeli military ordered residents of Khan Younis and the nearby towns of Abassan and Bani Suhaila in the southern Gaza Strip to leave their homes and head west toward the so-called humanitarian zone, saying it would forcefully work against “terror organizations” in the area.
The war in Gaza erupted 20 months ago after militants raided Israel and took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s single deadliest day.
Israel’s military campaign has killed nearly 55,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated strip, which is home to more than 2 million people.
Most of the population is displaced, and malnutrition is widespread.
Despite efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to restore a ceasefire in Gaza, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.
Saudi Arabia reshapes workforce with surge in talent mobility solutions
- Talent mobility services are emerging as a pivotal force in reshaping Kingdom’s employment landscape
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia pushes forward with its Vision 2030 transformation agenda, talent mobility services are emerging as a pivotal force in reshaping the Kingdom’s employment landscape — streamlining transitions, boosting retention, and aligning workforce development with national diversification goals.
From artificial intelligence-powered human resource platforms to targeted upskilling programs and strategic internal marketplaces, both private firms and public initiatives are facilitating dynamic career transitions. These interventions are not only transforming the experience of work in Saudi Arabia but also supporting businesses in building a more agile, tech-enabled, and future-ready workforce.
A shift toward internal agility
As the labor market evolves, the focus has moved from external recruitment to creating an internally sustainable talent ecosystem. According to Francesco Cotrone, partner at Arthur D. Little, providers are enabling this transformation by deploying tools such as internal job marketplaces, AI-driven role matching systems, and strategic workforce planning platforms.
“These technologies not only give employees visibility into internal opportunities but also match them to roles based on both current capabilities and future potential,” he said.
The result is a shift away from static, linear career paths toward more flexible, opportunity-rich trajectories. This is particularly critical in fast-growing sectors such as logistics, tourism, and ICT, where the ability to reskill and redeploy talent quickly has become a competitive differentiator.
Cotrone cited Taqat, a leading domestic talent mobility service provider, as a prime example. The company’s employee transition program assesses individual skills and delivers customized training to support career moves across industries.
“As it works to connect skilled workers with employers in high-demand sectors such as technology and healthcare, Taqat facilitates seamless transitions, enhances career opportunities, and addresses critical skill shortages in the evolving job market,” he added.
Navigating compliance and change
Saudi Arabia’s workforce is also being shaped by demographic and regulatory dynamics. Abeer Al-Husseini, partner at Fragomen, noted that by the end of 2024, the Kingdom’s foreign workforce had grown to over 13.6 million, marking a 13.3 percent year-on-year increase and a 33.4 percent jump since 2019.
“In this environment, mobility providers are essential in helping businesses navigate regulatory frameworks such as Saudization policies under the Nitaqat program, sector-specific quotas, and compliance obligations set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development,” Al-Husseini said.
These services often manage interactions with multiple government platforms — such as Qiwa and GOSI — while enabling fast, compliant transitions across functions and sectors. This reduces administrative friction and helps ensure continuity amid shifting business conditions.
She emphasized that talent mobility providers not only facilitate expatriate integration but are also playing a vital role in embedding Saudi nationals into the private sector. By supporting strategic workforce planning and Saudization targets, these providers align with national human capital development priorities.
From recruitment to retention
Modern mobility is no longer just about hiring — it’s about mapping skills, identifying gaps, and supporting long-term workforce evolution. Faisal Al-Sarraj, KSA deputy country leader and consulting clients and markets leader at PwC Middle East, underscored the value of internal talent marketplaces — digital tools that align employee skills and interests with internal opportunities.
“As Saudi Arabia continues to advance under Vision 2030, organizations need to be proactive in building teams with the needed market skills. Talent mobility helps with this by upskilling and cross-training existing employees,” Al-Sarraj told Arab News.
He acknowledged that while external hiring remains necessary for certain critical roles, internal mobility is gaining ground as a strategy for boosting retention and responsiveness.
Mobility providers are essential in helping businesses navigate regulatory frameworks, sector-specific quotas, and compliance obligations.
Abeer Al-Husseini, partner at Fragomen
“Providers also help organizations shift from reactive hiring to proactive workforce planning. By using advanced tools, they help companies forecast what skills will be needed in the future and develop strategies to reskill employees. Providers like Mercer, Adecco, Bayt, and Naseej are doing an excellent job in this space,” he said.
Serge Eid, a member of Bain & Co.’s Public Sector practice, noted that providers are extending their services beyond hiring logistics to include skilling initiatives and regional talent deployment — key factors for scaling in emerging sectors.
“This support has become increasingly critical as businesses look to scale quickly, pivot into new sectors, or access regional talent pools,” Eid said. “They also support Vision 2030’s broader push for a more dynamic and globally integrated labor market.”
AI and reskilling for career growth
Mobility providers are increasingly focusing on reskilling and internal progression through AI-driven tools that align employee growth with business and national objectives.
Cotrone highlighted the growing need for new roles such as AI specialists and data analysts, which are being addressed through targeted training programs.
Importantly, these services enhance retention by making career development tangible.
Francesco Cotronei, partner at Arthur D. Little
“Importantly, these services enhance retention by making career development tangible. Companies that offer clear growth pathways, mentoring, and internal mobility opportunities are not only accelerating role fulfillment. They’re also building employee loyalty, engagement, and hence, retention,” he said.
Al-Husseini added that talent mobility providers help businesses reimagine career paths as technology and regulations evolve.
PwC’s Al-Sarraj cited platforms such as Pymetrics, Fuel50, and Cornerstone OnDemand that offer employees AI-powered tools to map career journeys and personalize upskilling efforts.
He referenced a recent collaboration between Education for Employment Saudi Arabia and Agility, which launched a program using AI tools to help young job seekers tailor their applications and navigate the job market.
These efforts not only fill capability gaps but also signal long-term investment in people.
Serge Eid, member of Bain & Co.’s public sector practice
“This is a perfect example of how talent mobility can help not just in employee transitions but also in creating a workforce that’s future-ready,” Al-Sarraj noted.
Eid added that such investments in internal mobility signal long-term commitment to employee growth, improving loyalty and performance.
“These efforts not only fill capability gaps but also signal long-term investment in people, which in turn drives loyalty, higher engagement, and better performance,” he said.
Strategic drivers for 2025 and beyond
Looking ahead, talent mobility is poised to become a central driver of workforce strategy in Saudi Arabia. Cotrone expects key trends to include personalized, experience-rich career paths and an increasing demand for data analytics literacy.
“Talent mobility providers will increasingly act as strategic partners, helping organizations create adaptive, future-proof talent ecosystems,” he said.
He added: “Talent mobility will be recognized not just as a business advantage but as a profound national imperative. As organizations invest in intelligent, internally driven workforce systems, they will unlock new pathways for growth and ensure that Saudi talent remains competitive, empowered, and at the heart of the Kingdom’s cross-sectoral transformation journey.”
Al-Husseini projected that companies would require rapid, compliant deployment solutions as sectors like healthcare, tourism, and tech expand. At the same time, local workforce development will become a priority, with providers playing a key role in integrating Saudi talent through internal mobility frameworks and reskilling for leadership roles.
She also pointed to the rise of hybrid and remote work, particularly in sustainability-related “green jobs,” requiring providers to support flexible, compliant mobility strategies.
PwC’s Al-Sarraj emphasized the growing role of predictive workforce planning, enabled by real-time data analytics.
“The alignment between workforce mobility and national upskilling initiatives will also be a major trend,” he said. He highlighted initiatives like Wa3d, which aims to provide 3 million training opportunities, and the Skills Accelerator, targeting 300,000 placements in emerging fields.
“Talent mobility providers will connect these initiatives to real job opportunities, ensuring that individuals gain the right skills and can apply them directly in the workforce,” he said.
He also cited the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s Skills Taxonomy — a tool to align labor capabilities with evolving job demands. Cross-sector mobility, especially in digital health and green energy, is expected to play a vital role.
“Talent mobility providers will drive transitions, helping build a skilled, adaptable workforce essential to realizing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and sustaining long-term growth,” he added.
From Bain & Co.’s standpoint, Eid believes mobility will evolve into a strategic lever rather than just an operational function.
“AI-led workforce planning, demand forecasting, and personalized career pathways will increasingly inform mobility decisions,” he said. “Organizations that view mobility as part of a broader talent strategy will likely be better positioned to navigate future workforce shifts and build resilience in a rapidly changing environment.”
