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Syria has signed a landmark agreement to develop its first offshore oil and gas field, marking a major step toward reviving the country’s energy sector after years of conflict. The state-owned Syrian Petroleum Company on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. energy giant Chevron and Qatar-based Power International Holding. The deal was signed in Damascus in the presence of U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the agreement aims to strengthen strategic cooperation in the energy sector. It includes offshore exploration, development of oil and gas resources in Syria’s territorial waters, and broader efforts to attract investment and rebuild the energy industry. This is Syria’s first formal move toward offshore energy exploration, as the country seeks to boost hydrocarbon production and bring in foreign partners. Syrian Petroleum Company CEO Youssef Kabalawi described the agreement as the most important offshore energy deal in the country’s history. “Before the summer, God willing, we will begin mobilization and drilling,” Kabalawi said, adding that it could take up to four years to reach gas reserves. Syria’s oil and gas sector was badly damaged by nearly 15 years of conflict, which killed about half a million people and devastated the economy. Before the war began in 2011, oil was a key pillar of Syria’s economy, with production at around 380,000 barrels per day and exports earning more than $3 billion annually. Last month, Syrian government forces regained control of large parts of oil-rich eastern and northeastern Syria, potentially opening the door to renewed exploration. The country’s new authorities, who came to power after the removal of Bashar Assad in December 2024, are working to revive Syria’s economy and restore key industries.

Iran and the United States have agreed to hold nuclear talks on Friday in Oman, Iran’s foreign minister said, as tensions remain high following Tehran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the talks on Wednesday after earlier uncertainty over their format and scope. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, issued a blunt warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying he “should be very worried.” Diplomatic efforts initially explored holding broader talks in Turkey, with regional countries involved and issues such as Iran’s missile program on the agenda. However, Iran later pushed for a narrower meeting focused only on its nuclear program, limited to direct involvement by Tehran and Washington. Oman, which has long acted as a mediator between Iran and Western powers, previously hosted similar talks. Those negotiations collapsed last year after a brief war between Iran and Israel, during which the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. A White House official confirmed the talks will go ahead in Oman but said Washington remains skeptical about their success. Several regional leaders reportedly urged the U.S. not to abandon diplomacy despite ongoing tensions. The talks come amid sharp strains in relations, including the recent shooting down of an Iranian drone by a U.S. Navy jet and an attempted interception of a U.S.-flagged ship by Iranian fast boats in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed his foreign minister to pursue “fair and equitable negotiations,” signaling rare openness to talks backed by Supreme Leader Khamenei. U.S. officials said Washington hopes discussions will eventually expand beyond the nuclear issue to include Iran’s missile program, regional proxy networks and human rights concerns. Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is peaceful, though it has enriched uranium close to weapons-grade levels. Turkey has urged both sides to resolve their differences through diplomacy, warning that foreign intervention in Iran could destabilize the region.

Palestinians returning to Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt said Israeli troops blindfolded, handcuffed, and interrogated them for several hours, in what they described as humiliating treatment, according to accounts from three women who crossed on Monday. The women were among 12 Palestinians — mostly women, children, and the elderly — allowed to enter Gaza after Rafah reopened following months of closure. Israeli forces had seized the crossing in May 2024 during the Israel-Hamas war. Rotana al-Regeb and her mother, Huda Abu Abed, told the Associated Press that after crossing Rafah, they were taken to a screening station in the Israeli-controlled area. Israeli soldiers and members of the Palestinian armed group Abu Shabab reportedly searched their belongings and then took them into a room for interrogation. “They threatened that I will be detained and won’t return to my children,” said al-Regeb, who has four daughters and a son. Her mother confirmed the account. Another returnee, 57-year-old Sabah al-Qara, gave a similar account. The Israeli military denied any misconduct, stating, “No incidents of inappropriate conduct, mistreatment, apprehensions, or confiscation of property by the Israeli security establishment are known.” The Shin Bet intelligence agency and COGAT, which oversees humanitarian aid in Gaza, did not respond to requests for comment. Returnees said Israeli authorities restricted what they could bring, including limiting liquids, electronics, and other personal items. Only one mobile phone and about $650 were allowed per person with prior declaration. Some luggage, including food, children’s games, and electronics, was confiscated at the crossing. The ordeal followed a long day of waiting. Al-Regeb said 42 Palestinians completed paperwork in Egypt by 10 a.m., but only 12 were allowed through in one bus after a six-hour wait. Once released, U.N. buses transported them to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where they arrived after midnight. Hamas condemned the alleged treatment, calling it “fascist behavior and organized terrorism” and urged mediators to ensure the safety of travelers. Human rights groups and Palestinian officials warned that such abuses could discourage others from returning through Rafah. More than 110,000 Palestinians left Gaza in the early months of the war, with thousands evacuated abroad for medical treatment. About 30,000 have registered to return through Rafah, but Israeli authorities have indicated that only around 50 Palestinians a day will be allowed back.

Israeli air and ground strikes in Gaza killed at least 19 Palestinians, mostly women and children, by midday Wednesday, hospital officials said, amid rising tensions following a militant attack on Israeli troops. Among the dead were five children—including a 5-month-old and a 10-day-old infant—seven women, and a paramedic, according to Gaza’s Shifa and Nasser hospitals. The casualties mark the latest fatalities in Gaza since a U.S.-backed ceasefire, effective from Oct. 10, 2025, which has repeatedly been punctuated by deadly Israeli strikes. More than 530 Palestinians have been killed during this period, the Gaza health ministry reported. “The genocidal war against our people in the Gaza Strip continues,” said Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, in a Facebook post. “Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?” An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel would continue targeting sites in Gaza. The military has defended its strikes since the ceasefire by citing militant attacks on Israeli soldiers or Hamas violations. Four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began. Early Wednesday, Israeli troops fired on a building in Gaza’s Tuffah neighborhood, killing at least 11 people, mostly from the same family. The victims included two parents, their 10-day-old daughter, her 5-month-old cousin, and their grandmother. The military said its forces returned fire after militants opened fire on Israeli troops, seriously wounding a reservist. Israel described the attack as a violation of the ceasefire deal. Subsequent strikes hit multiple areas across Gaza. An Israeli attack on a family tent in southern Khan Younis killed three people, including a 12-year-old boy, according to Nasser Hospital. Tank shelling in Zaytoun, eastern Gaza City, killed another three Palestinians, including a husband and wife, Shifa Hospital said. A strike on a tent in Muwasi, Khan Younis, killed at least two people and injured five others, including Hussein Hassan Hussein al-Semieri, a paramedic with the Palestinian Red Crescent, the field hospital reported. Since the start of the conflict, over 71,800 Palestinians have been killed, the Gaza health ministry said, without specifying civilian or militant numbers. The ministry, run by Hamas, maintains detailed casualty records considered generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and once widely viewed as his political successor, has been killed in western Libya, according to figures close to him. Saif al-Islam, 53, was killed in the city of Zintan, where he had been living since 2011. His political adviser Abdullah Othman and lawyer Khaled el-Zaydi confirmed his death on Tuesday. A statement issued by his political team said he was assassinated after four masked attackers broke into his home in Zintan, reports Al Jazeera. Before the 2011 uprising, Saif al-Islam was regarded as Libya’s second-most powerful figure and the likely heir to his father’s rule. During the Arab Spring protests and the ensuing civil war, he remained a central figure, facing repeated accusations of torture and violent repression of opponents. In early 2011, he was placed under United Nations sanctions and barred from international travel. That March, NATO launched airstrikes on Libya after the UN authorised military action to protect civilians. In June 2011, Saif al-Islam said his father was prepared to hold elections and step down if defeated, an offer rejected by NATO as the bombing campaign continued. Later that month, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him for crimes against humanity. After Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim were killed in Sirte in October 2011, Saif al-Islam was captured and held in Zintan. Libyan authorities eventually secured the right to try him domestically rather than extradite him to The Hague. In 2014, he appeared by video link at a Tripoli court while still detained in Zintan. A year later, he was sentenced to death in absentia. In 2017, he was released under an amnesty declared by eastern Libyan authorities, though the ICC warrant against him remained in force. Son of late dictator Gadhafi is killed in Libya He largely stayed out of public view for years before giving a rare interview to The New York Times in July 2021, accusing Libyan authorities of fearing elections. Later that year, he made his first public appearance since the war and registered as a presidential candidate in Sebha. Although initially barred, he was later reinstated as a candidate, but the election was never held amid Libya’s prolonged political instability and rival administrations. Western-educated and fluent in English, Saif al-Islam cultivated an image as a reformist within his father’s authoritarian system. He earned a PhD from the London School of Economics in 2008 and played a visible role in Libya’s efforts to rebuild relations with Western governments. He was involved in negotiations over Libya’s nuclear programme, compensation agreements linked to major international attacks, and the release of foreign medics imprisoned in Libya. He also promoted international initiatives, including a one-state proposal for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and peace talks in the Philippines. Despite presenting himself as a modernising figure, his legacy remained deeply controversial due to his role during the 2011 conflict.

A tense aerial encounter between the United States and Iran on Tuesday has cast uncertainty over the prospects of upcoming talks between the two rivals. Iranian media reported that a drone operated by Iran’s armed forces had completed a surveillance mission in international waters, monitoring military movements near the country and transmitting data in real time. The semi-official Tasnim news agency later said Iran had lost contact with one of its drones, adding that the cause was under investigation. Earlier, the U.S. Central Command said a U.S. F-35C fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone in the Arabian Sea after it “aggressively approached” the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The carrier was operating in international waters about 800 kilometres from Iran’s coast. The U.S. military said the action was taken in self-defence and that no personnel or equipment were harmed. The incident comes as tentative diplomatic efforts appeared to be taking shape. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to pursue “fair and equitable” negotiations with the United States, following regional requests to respond to a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump. He said any talks must be based on dignity and prudence. Iranian officials said consultations were underway to finalise a venue for possible talks in the coming days, with Türkiye and Oman among countries offering to host. Media reports suggested Tehran prefers direct talks with Washington, possibly in Oman. However, Israel has voiced strong opposition to any engagement. Israeli officials reiterated that Iran cannot be trusted and pressed the U.S. to take a tougher stance on Tehran’s missile and nuclear programmes. Tensions have also risen between Iran and the European Union after the bloc designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, prompting Tehran to label EU militaries as terrorist groups. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities said 139 foreign nationals were arrested during recent protests linked to economic hardship, which Tehran blamed on foreign interference.

The United States military said on Tuesday that it shot down an Iranian drone after it “aggressively approached” a US aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. US Central Command spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins said an F-35C fighter jet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln shot down the drone in self-defence to protect the carrier and its crew. The warship was operating about 500 miles from the Iranian coast at the time, and the drone’s intent was described as unclear. No US personnel were injured and no equipment was damaged in the incident, Hawkins said. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran as the US continues to strengthen its military presence in the region. President Donald Trump has warned of possible military action if Iran fails to negotiate restrictions on its nuclear programme. Despite the incident, the White House said talks between the US and Iran remain scheduled for later this week. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump remains committed to diplomacy but has “a range of options on the table,” including military force. Iran has not commented on the drone incident. Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was open to negotiations if a suitable environment exists. In a separate development, the US military said Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces harassed a US-flagged merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, though the situation was later de-escalated. With inputs from BBC

Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and former heir apparent of Libya’s late dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has been killed in northern Libya, Libyan officials confirmed Tuesday. The 53-year-old was shot dead in the town of Zintan, about 136 kilometers (85 miles) southwest of the capital, Tripoli, the country’s chief prosecutor’s office said. An initial investigation confirmed the shooting but provided no further details on the circumstances. Seif al-Islam’s lawyer, Khaled al-Zaidi, confirmed his death on Facebook without elaborating, and Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, who represented him in a U.N.-brokered political dialogue to resolve Libya’s ongoing conflict, also announced it online. Mexico agrees to ensure steady annual water deliveries to US In a statement, Seif al-Islam’s political team claimed that “four masked men” stormed his house and killed him in what they described as a “cowardly and treacherous assassination.” The statement said he fought the attackers, who disabled CCTV cameras in an apparent attempt to hide evidence. Born in Tripoli in June 1972, Seif al-Islam was the second son of Moammar Gadhafi and studied for a Ph.D. at the London School of Economics. He was considered the reformist face of the Gadhafi regime. Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, which plunged Libya into a prolonged civil conflict. Seif al-Islam was captured by fighters in Zintan later that year while trying to flee to Niger and was released in June 2017 after receiving amnesty from one of Libya’s rival governments. He had been sentenced to death in absentia in 2015 by a Libyan court for inciting violence and murdering protesters and was also wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity linked to the 2011 uprising. In November 2021, Seif al-Islam announced his bid for Libya’s presidential election, a move that drew strong opposition from anti-Gadhafi political factions. Although the High National Elections Committee disqualified him, the election was never held due to ongoing disputes among rival administrations and armed groups controlling the country.

Palestinians have begun passing through the Rafah border crossing linking the Gaza Strip and Egypt following its reopening for passenger movement. The crossing had been mostly shut since May 2024, after Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side. The long-awaited reopening forms a central element of the first phase of a ceasefire framework proposed by US President Donald Trump between Israel and Hamas, which took effect in October. Under the arrangement, only a limited number of people, several dozen each day, will be permitted to cross in either direction. The passage of humanitarian assistance and commercial goods through the crossing remains prohibited. About 20,000 Palestinians who are sick or wounded are awaiting permission to leave Gaza to receive medical treatment abroad. According to Israeli media reports, only 50 patients will be allowed to exit the territory each day, accompanied by two relatives each. In addition, just 50 of the tens of thousands of Palestinians who left Gaza during the war will be permitted to return daily. The World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to supervise the evacuation process. Patients will be transported by bus from areas under Hamas control, passing through zones controlled by the Israeli military before reaching the Rafah crossing, BBC News reported. Read More: Israel to reopen Gaza–Egypt crossing after extended shutdown Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that anyone crossing the Yellow Line, the boundary of Israeli-controlled territory under the ceasefire agreement, would be “met with fire”. Under the arrangements, the Rafah crossing will be operated by European Union monitors alongside local Palestinian staff, while Israel will conduct security checks remotely. Israeli officials said a trial reopening of the crossing was successfully completed on Sunday. A Palestinian official familiar with the trial phase told the BBC that around 30 Palestinian staff members had reached the Egyptian side of the crossing ahead of full operations. The reopening follows provisions in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, which states that the crossing will operate under mechanisms used during a previous ceasefire last January. Before Israel seized control of Rafah in 2024, the crossing served as Gaza’s primary exit route and a key channel for humanitarian aid.   With inputs from BBC

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday warned that any military attack by the United States would spark a “regional war,” sharply escalating rhetoric amid rising tensions following Washington’s threats over Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. The warning, delivered as US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships operate in the Arabian Sea, marked Khamenei’s most direct threat so far. The vessels were deployed by President Donald Trump after Iran’s security forces moved forcefully to suppress weeks of unrest across the country. It remains uncertain whether Washington will resort to military action. Trump has repeatedly said Iran is interested in negotiations, while also raising concerns about Tehran’s nuclear programme as a key unresolved issue. Addressing a crowd at his Tehran compound during events marking the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the 86-year-old leader accused the United States of seeking to dominate Iran’s natural resources. “The Americans must know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said. He added that Iran did not seek conflict, but warned that any attack or harassment would be met with a severe response from the Iranian nation. Trump, asked about the warning, told reporters that US naval forces were positioned nearby and expressed hope for a negotiated settlement. He said if no deal was reached, it would become clear whether Khamenei’s threat was credible. Khamenei also hardened his stance on the protests, describing them as “sedition” akin to a coup attempt. While he had earlier acknowledged that some protesters were driven by economic grievances, he now accused demonstrators of targeting state institutions, security forces, banks and religious sites in an effort to destabilise the country. Human Rights Activists New Agency, a US-based group that tracks developments inside Iran, said more than 49,500 people have been detained since the protests began in late December and estimated at least 6,713 deaths, mostly among demonstrators. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the figures, citing Iran’s restrictions on internet access. Iranian authorities have put the death toll far lower, reporting 3,117 fatalities as of Jan 21, including civilians and security personnel, while labelling others “terrorists.” Past unrest has seen official figures widely questioned. Meanwhile, Iran had planned live-fire military drills in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. The US military warned Tehran against threatening American forces or disrupting commercial shipping during the exercises. In a separate development, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist organisations. The move came after the EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror group over its role in the crackdown. Qalibaf, a former Guard commander, made the announcement as lawmakers wore Guard uniforms in solidarity. The designation is largely symbolic, mirroring a 2019 Iranian law used after the United States labelled the Guard a terrorist organisation. Lawmakers later chanted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in parliament. Trump has outlined two red lines that could trigger US military action: the killing of peaceful protesters or mass executions of detainees. He has also renewed focus on Iran’s nuclear programme, which the US struck during a brief war with Iran last June. Speaking over the weekend, Trump declined to say whether he had decided on a course of action, but said Iran was “seriously talking” to the United States about reaching a deal to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.