Arab countries on Tuesday welcomed the signing of a deal to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria's state institutions, describing it as a crucial step towards strengthening security in the country.
Syria's interim government reached a landmark deal with the SDF, the presidency announced on Monday evening, agreeing to guarantee the citizenship rights of the Kurdish people in Syria, a ceasefire on all Syrian territories and cementing the rights of all Syrians to representation and participation in the political process. They also agreed to integrate all civil and military institutions in north-east Syria into the state by the end of the year, bringing most of Syria under government control.
Saudi Arabia lauded the signing of the agreement and commended “measures taken by the Syrian leadership to preserve civil peace in Syria”, a statement posted by the kingdom's Foreign Ministry on X said. “The kingdom reiterates its full support for Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said: “This agreement represents an important step towards strengthening civil peace, enhancing security and stability, and building a state of institutions and law. The stability and prosperity of Syria requires the state to monopolise weapons in a single army that represents all Syrian components, in a way that ensures the preservation of the country’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
Kuwait issued a similar statement, highlighting the importance of the deal in rebuilding Syrian state institutions and enhancing security as well as stability.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry heralded the development as an “important step towards rebuilding Syria on the foundations that guarantee its unity, sovereignty and stability, preserve its security, rid it of terrorism, and protect the rights of all the sons of the brotherly Syrian people”. The ministry's spokesman, Dr Sufian Qudah, affirmed Jordan's support for “sisterly Syria”.
The deal was signed by Syrian leader Ahmad Al Shara and the head of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, who described it as a “real opportunity to build a new Syria”.
“We are committed to building a better future that guarantees the rights of all Syrians and fulfils their aspirations for peace and dignity,” he posted on X.
Later on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the agreement, saying its full implementation would contribute to security and stability in the country. “The full implementation of the agreement reached yesterday in Syria will contribute to the country’s security and stability. The beneficiaries of this will be all our Syrian brothers and sisters,” Mr Erdogan said.
“The United States welcomes the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate the north-east into a unified Syria,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
The SDF, founded in 2015 with US support, controls parts of north-east Syria and was crucial in wresting the country from ISIS control in 2019. The militia is made up of mostly Kurdish fighters from the Kurdish Protection Units (YPG), linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a separatist group that Turkey, the EU and the US have designated as a terrorist organisation.
Syrian state media published photos showing large gatherings of residents celebrating the agreement and chanting support for the government, which has vowed to bring about national unity.
The deal comes after days of bloody clashes in the coastal areas of the country between pro-government security troops and opposing armed groups, who Damascus accused of being loyal to the former regime. At least 1,300 people, including 800 civilians, most of them Alawites, have been killed in Syria since Thursday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor based in the UK.
Syrian state media reported several Israeli air strikes in the southern province of Deraa on Monday night. “The Israeli occupation aircraft carried out several strikes on the surroundings of the towns of Jbab and Izraa in the north of Deraa,” the Sana state news agency said. The UK-based war monitor said Israeli aircraft carried out 17 strikes, attacking several positions of the former Syrian army.
The Israeli army on Tuesday said it attacked military headquarters and sites containing weapons and equipment overnight in southern Syria.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said southern Syria must be completely demilitarised, warning his government would not accept the presence of troops belonging to the new authorities near its territory. Israeli troops have also entered a UN-patrolled buffer zone near the occupied Golan Heights since former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad was ousted in December.
RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
