Latest from Shafaq News
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Alawite women targeted in post-Assad chaos
Shafaq News - Damascus The aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ousting has unleashed a new wave of violence in Syria—this time targeting women of his own sect. Reuters reported that at least 33 Alawite women and girls, ages 16 to 39, have gone missing in 2025 alone, amid the unraveling security situation in al-Assad's coastal strongholds. "Don't wait for her," a chilling voice told the family of 29-year-old Abeer Suleiman, who vanished on May 21 in Safita. Days later, her family received WhatsApp calls demanding $15,000 for her release, warning she would be killed or trafficked if the ransom wasn't paid. Suleiman later managed to say, 'I am not in Syria… all the accents around me are strange,' in a recorded call traced to an Iraqi number. This is not an isolated case. These abductions, which exclusively target Alawite women, coincide with escalating reprisals against the community after al-Assad's fall in December. Armed factions aligned with the transitional government have reportedly killed hundreds of Alawites in the coastal regions since March. Despite widespread online pleas from victims' families, no comparable patterns of disappearances have been reported among other sects. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria is now formally investigating the wave of abductions. The rising trend has spotlighted the vulnerability of minority communities during regime transitions and raised urgent questions about state accountability, regional trafficking networks, and sectarian vengeance.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
+50 Iranian troops and +600 civilians killed
Shafaq News – Tehran On Friday, the Iranian army announced that 56 of its soldiers were killed during the 12-day war with Israel. In a statement, the army included a photo of the fallen soldiers as it confirmed the military death toll. According to Iranian authorities, at least 627 civilians were also killed and nearly 5,000 wounded in Iran during the conflict. The Israel-Iran war began on June 13 with Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones, while the US later joined with airstrikes on key facilities. Iran responded by targeting a US base in Qatar.
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Muharram surge turns Karbala into economic engine
Shafaq News - Karbala With the arrival of Muharram, local businesses in Karbala are witnessing a sharp increase in activity as pilgrims flock to the city for religious commemorations, creating a surge in demand for food, services, and temporary labor. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar and holds special significance for Shiite Muslims, who mark it with mourning rituals, especially on the 10th day known as Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The season culminates in Arbaeen, a major pilgrimage observed 40 days after Ashura. Millions of Shiite Muslims from Iraq and abroad travel—many of them on foot—to Karbala to honor Imam Hussein's sacrifice. Abu Ali, a 52-year-old grocery store owner in the old city, noted that sales have multiplied during the first days of Muharram. "This month is unlike any other. The demand increases three to four times as processions require constant supplies, and families buy more than usual to host pilgrims," he told Shafaq News. Many workers travel from other provinces to find temporary work in Karbala. Hussein, 33, from Al-Muthanna's capital, Al-Samawah, sets up a small stand every year to sell black garments near one of the major processions. "There are no jobs in my city. Every Muharram and Safar, I come here to work.' Hussein shares a rented room with other seasonal workers and sells items like black shirts, pants, and scarves from early morning until midnight. "I support a family of five. Even if it's a sidewalk stall, work is work," he said, adding that he hopes to see economic development in Al-Muthanna one day. Economic experts say the religious season highlights both the potential of local commerce and the broader unemployment crisis in Iraq. Economist Karim Al-Hilu noted, "During Muharram and Safar, demand for food surges, especially in the first ten days and around Arbaeen," when thousands of volunteers set up roadside kitchens along pilgrimage routes to serve free meals to the millions walking to the Shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala. He pointed out that Iraq graduates around 350,000 people annually, a number the public sector cannot absorb. "The state employs 35% of Iraqis, exceeding the global norm of 15%. The rest are expected to work in the private sector, but that sector remains underdeveloped." To address unemployment, Al-Hilu urged the government to develop vocational education centers and expand financial support for small businesses. "We need strategic plans to revive the industrial and service sectors and benefit from international development loans.'
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkiye's Fidan: Iran acted in legitimate self-defense
Shafaq News – Istanbul On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Iran had invoked its legitimate right to self-defense in the recent confrontation with Israel. Speaking at a panel during the Global Transport Corridors Forum in Istanbul, Fidan argued that the events demonstrated 'Israel is not the powerful state it claims to be, particularly in terms of its ability to neutralize Iran's nuclear capabilities.' He also reiterated Turkiye's warnings that the conflict in Gaza would not remain contained, but could expand to other regions, including Iran, which, he said, "is exactly what happened." Fidan further accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using the escalation with Iran to serve domestic political interests. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Israel's actions in the Middle East risk igniting a regional conflict, urging Islamic nations to present a unified front.
Shafaq News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Trump: I will strike Iran again if it resumes enrichment
Shafaq News – Washington/ Tehran On Friday, US President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran's nuclear sites were not evacuated prior to the airstrikes, noting that the facilities were destroyed despite all the fake news about the achievements of US pilots. Trump stated that Iran is unlikely to restart its nuclear program in the near future, but warned that he would consider launching another strike if Tehran resumed uranium enrichment. He also vowed to respond to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's recent statement declaring an Iranian 'victory' in the conflict. Both Iran and Israel were exhausted and wanted to bring the confrontation to an end, the US president pointed out, adding that Iran is now seeking to open dialogue with Washington, without offering further details. Calling for renewed inspections, he emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), or any trusted entity, should be allowed to examine Iranian nuclear sites. Earlier, Trump had claimed that Mossad operatives entered the facility after the bombing and filmed the destruction, claiming the footage would soon be released. He also asserted that the attack had 'completely destroyed' the underground facility. Iranian officials denied allegations by US President Donald Trump that Israeli Mossad agents infiltrated the Fordow nuclear facility. According to Iran's Fars News Agency, sources described the infiltration reports as a 'baseless attempt to manipulate public opinion.' However, Israel's Channel 12 reported that newly obtained satellite images show Iran resuming activity at the Natanz nuclear facility. According to the report, recent movements and visible work at the site suggest that Iranian authorities have begun efforts to extract enriched uranium stored in underground sections of the complex.
