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"SDF" Opens New Chapter: Foreign Fighters Withdrawal in Exchange for Peace
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SDF commander's acknowledgment of foreign Kurdish fighters' participation in Syrian conflict indicates attempt to open new page with Turkey and international community

Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi made a stunning announcement declaring readiness to remove foreign fighters from the country if a comprehensive ceasefire is reached.
In statements to Reuters, Abdi indicated that Kurdish fighters from Iran, Iraq, and Turkey originally came to participate in liberating Kobani from ISIS in 2014, denying any organizational links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
These statements coincided with escalating tension in northern Syria following Assad regime's fall, where Syrian Democratic Forces lost control of Manbij city to Turkish-backed forces on December 9.
The SDF proposed an initiative to defuse tension by withdrawing its forces from the strategic city of Kobani on the Turkish border, suggesting maintaining a local security force under U.S. supervision.
Positions conflicted regarding the ceasefire's fate; while the U.S. State Department announced its extension around Manbij until week's end, the Turkish Defense Ministry denied any agreement with SDF.
Abdi revealed that some foreign Kurdish fighters chose to stay in Syria after ISIS's defeat in 2019, working in civil and military institutions, noting that some wish to return to their regions.
The leader emphasized that Syria's new phase requires political solutions led by Syrians themselves, confirming his forces' readiness to return non-Syrian Kurdish fighters to their countries once comprehensive truce is implemented.
The United States, which considers SDF a key partner in fighting ISIS, seeks to mediate between conflicting parties and establish ceasefire in northern Syria.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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