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The US forces that led the coalition against the Islamic State group will complete their withdrawal from Syria within a month, three sources told AFP on Monday, as troops began leaving a major base.The withdrawal comes as Syria’s government has expanded its control to the country’s northeast, previously controlled by US-allied Kurdish forces, and formally joined the coalition against IS.It also comes as Syrian state media reported that four Syrian security personnel were killed in an IS attack in the northern city of Raqa, which was recently taken back into central government control from Kurdish forces. American forces have already withdrawn from two other bases in the past two weeks, Al-Tanf in the southeast and Shadadi in the northeast.”Within a month, they will have withdrawn from Syria and there will no longer be any military presence in the bases,” a Syrian government official said, with a Kurdish source confirming the timeline.The officials who spoke to AFP for this story all requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.On Monday, the United States began withdrawing from a major base in a northeastern region still under the control of Kurdish forces, which agreed last month to integrate their institutions with Damascus.An AFP team saw a convoy of dozens of trucks loaded with armoured vehicles and prefabricated structures on a road linking the Qasrak base in Hasakeh province to the border with Iraq.With Kurdish forces at the forefront, IS was territorially defeated in 2019 but retains sleeper cells. On Saturday the group urged its jihadists to fight the Syrian authorities.On Monday, Syria’s official SANA news agency quoted a security source as saying that “four members of the internal security forces” were killed in an attack attributed to IS.Syria’s interior ministry said the “terrorist attack” had targeted a checkpoint and that an assailant was also killed.- ‘End their presence’ -The United States has about 1,000 troops still deployed in Syria.It had intervened in the country in 2014 to fight IS, which had taken over swathes of Syria and Iraq in a lightning offensive.A diplomat from a country allied with both the United States and Syria said the withdrawal should be completed within 20 days.The US may still carry out air strikes in Syria from other bases in the region, he said.The Kurdish source said “the international coalition forces will end their presence, which has lasted for about 12 years, in northern and eastern Syria within a period of three to five weeks”.”Over the coming days, successive military convoys will transport logistical supplies, military equipment, radar systems, and missiles from the two remaining bases,” he added, referring to Qasrak and Kharab al-Jir, also in Hasakeh province.The withdrawal comes as the US, which long backed the Kurds, has deemed their mission against IS to be “largely” over, with Syria joining the international anti-IS coalition.After the Syrian authorities’ deployment in the northeast last month, the US military said it transferred thousands of IS suspects, including many Syrians but also Westerners, to Iraq after they were held in Kurdish-run prisons for years.Syrian authorities had transferred remaining families in Al-Hol, the largest camp housing relatives of suspected IS fighters, to another site in the north.Thousands of family members of foreign jihadists had previously fled the camp and they remain unaccounted for.Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the wellbeing of 8,500 people after the camps of al-Hol, which Damascus shut down on Sunday, and Roj, still under Kurdish control, close.”After control of al-Hol was transferred to Syrian authorities on January 20, most residents reportedly left in a largely unplanned and chaotic manner,” the international watchdog said.”The camps have long held thousands of women and children, most of whom have never been charged with a crime and were detained for years in life-threatening conditions because their countries failed to repatriate them.”

President Donald Trump on Monday denied reports that the top US military officer had flagged the risks of a major operation against Iran, saying Washington would “easily” beat Tehran in any war.US media reported that General Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had warned of various risks associated with strikes against Iran including a long-term entanglement.But Trump said on his Truth Social network that it was “100 percent incorrect” that Caine was “against us going to war with Iran.””General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won,” Trump wrote.”He has not spoken of not doing Iran, or even the fake limited strikes that I have been reading about, he only knows one thing, how to WIN and, if he is told to do so, he will be leading the pack.”The Washington Post said Caine had expressed concern at the White House and Pentagon that munition shortages and a lack of allied support could increase danger to US personnel.And the Wall Street Journal said both the top general and other Pentagon officials have warned of risks such as US and allied casualties as well as the danger of US air defenses being depleted if its forces strike Iran.The Axios news outlet meanwhile said Caine had warned of the United States “becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict.”Trump’s roving negotiator Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had also been urging the president to hold off attacks and give diplomacy a chance, Axios said.The US president however accused the media outlets of writing “incorrectly, and purposefully so.” “I am the one that makes the decision, I would rather have a Deal than not but, if we don’t make a Deal, it will be a very bad day for that Country and, very sadly, its people,” Trump added.Trump, who ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year, has repeatedly threatened Tehran with further military action if ongoing talks do not reach a replacement for the nuclear deal the US president tore up in 2018, during his first term in office.Washington has deployed a massive military force to the Middle East, sending two aircraft carriers as well as more than a dozen other ships, a large number of warplanes and other assets to the region.But negotiations are still set to continue, with a US official saying the next round of talks with Tehran would take place on Thursday.

Iran vowed on Monday to retaliate “ferociously” against any attack from the United States, and repeated its warning of a regional conflagration in response to President Donald Trump’s latest threat of strikes.The bellicose rhetoric from both Tehran and Washington came as the foes prepared for indirect talks in Geneva on a potential deal regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, after a US official confirmed discussions would resume on Thursday.Even as Iran faces US pressure backed by a build-up of military force in the Middle East, university students have started the new semester with anti-government protests, reviving slogans from nationwide demonstrations that peaked in January and were met with a deadly crackdown. Last week, Trump said he was weighing a limited strike if Iran did not cut a deal, but Tehran’s foreign ministry said Monday that any strike, even limited, “would be regarded as an act of aggression”. “And any state would react to an act of aggression… ferociously, so that’s what we would do,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.Iran has said it will be ready to deliver a draft proposal for an agreement on its nuclear programme to mediators in the coming days. Trump said on Thursday that Tehran had at most 15 days to make a deal.Iran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian use, but the West believes it is aimed at building an atomic bomb.  While Iran has taken anything beyond the nuclear issue off the negotiating table, Washington also wants to discuss Tehran’s missiles and its support for militant groups in the region.The two countries concluded a second round of indirect talks in Switzerland last week under Omani mediation.- ‘Diplomatic solution’ -Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the resumption of talks was “a new window of opportunity”, but warned of the risk of a regional conflict if his country was attacked.”The consequences of any renewed aggression wouldn’t remain confined to one country and responsibility would rest with those who initiate or support such actions,” Gharibabadi said.The risk of conflict has caused mounting fear in Iran and spurred other countries to take precautionary measures. India on Monday joined Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia in calling for its citizens to leave Iran.The United States, meanwhile, ordered non-emergency personnel to leave its embassy in Lebanon, home to the Shiite militia Hezbollah, which maintains close ties to Iran. In an interview with Fox News broadcast at the weekend, US negotiator Steve Witkoff said Trump was wondering why Iran has not “capitulated” in the face of Washington’s military threats and force deployment. Baqaei responded Monday by saying that Iranians had never capitulated at any point in their history.China has warned Washington against triggering new conflicts. On Monday, at a disarmament conference in Geneva, Chinese ambassador Shen Jian said: “We oppose unilateral bullying and the use of force in international relations.” – Flags burned -The protests sparked in December by economic pains in the sanctions-hit country grew into the most significant challenge to the authorities in years. They were put down by security forces as they peaked on January 8 and 9 with violence that left thousands dead. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) recorded more than 7,000 killings, while warning the toll is likely far higher. Authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by the United States and Israel. Protests sprung up again over the weekend at universities. On Monday videos geolocated by AFP and circulated on social media showed students at a university in Tehran burning the Iranian flag — adopted after the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the monarchy — and chanting “down with the Islamic republic”.  University rallies were held by both pro- and anti-government groups to commemorate those killed in the protest wave, with videos also showing people burning Israeli and US flags as well as scuffles breaking out between groups. 

The leading candidate to become Iraq’s next prime minister, former premier Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP on Monday that he will not withdraw his nomination after pressure from the US, while also seeking to allay Washington’s concerns.Since the US-led invasion that overthrew former ruler Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraqi leaders have struggled to find a balance between two global powers competing for influence in the country: neighbour Iran and its arch-rival the United States.Last month President Donald Trump intervened by issuing an ultimatum that if Maliki — a two-time former premier with close ties to Iran — was named Iraq’s next prime minister, the US would no longer help the country.”I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing out of respect for my country, its sovereignty, and its will,” Maliki told AFP in an interview.”No one has the right to say whom we can or cannot vote for,” the powerbroker added.”I will not withdraw until the end.”Trump’s threat left Iraqi leaders at a loss, particularly within the Coordination Framework — a ruling alliance of Shiite groups with varying degrees of links to Iran than nominated Maliki.Maliki told AFP that “countries have the right to set conditions in their dealings with Iraq,” but changing the nomination depends on the Coordination Framework, which still backs him.- ‘One army under one command’ -Maliki — who is Iraq’s only two-term prime minister, serving from 2006 to 2014 — also rejected claims that his relationship with the US was bad during his previous tenure.Maliki at first enjoyed support from the American occupation following the 2003 invasion, but later fell out with Washington over his growing ties with Iran and allegations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.Iraq’s new premier will be expected to address Washington’s longstanding demand that Baghdad rein in Tehran-backed factions that are designated terrorist groups by the US.Maliki said that Washington has conveyed several messages to Iraqi leaders.”They seek changes in the state’s policies,” he said.Washington’s concerns include the future of the Hashed al-Shaabi — a former paramilitary alliance that has integrated into the armed forces — as well as disarming pro-Iran armed factions and accusations that some Iraqi entities are helping Iran evade US sanctions on oil exports.Maliki sought to reassure the US on Monday.”In fact, what America wants is not new. These are our demands,” he said.”We want weapons in the hands of the state. We want a centralised military force. We have said it repeatedly: we want one army under one command, directly under state authority.”It’s quite possible” to achieve a deal with pro-Iran armed factions, he added.”There is a good basis for understanding with the factions” but this cannot happen “through force, war or confrontations,” he said.Maliki added that he believes factions “do not want to expose Iraq to any danger.”Washington has also demanded that the eventual Iraqi government exclude Iran-backed armed groups — an issue that is under discussion, according to Maliki.Some of these groups have increased their presence in the new parliament and have seen their political and financial clout increase.”We want those who participate in the political process and the government to lay down their arms,” Maliki said.”Those who lay down their arms are welcome to be part of the next government.”- No attacks -After decades of conflict, Iraq has begun to enjoy some stability in recent years, yet its politics remain volatile, shaped not only by internal disputes but also by regional dynamics.Today, all eyes are on negotiations between the US and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, with a third round of talks scheduled for Geneva on Thursday.With fears rising that Iraq could be dragged into a war if the US strikes Iran, Maliki vowed to prevent attacks on diplomatic missions in Iraq if he becomes prime minister.”All countries can be assured that we will prevent any violation against their embassies or officially recognised interests in Iraq,” Maliki said. “We will not allow any party to target any country that maintains a diplomatic presence.”Previously, Iran-backed armed groups attacked US missions and troops in Iraq. Maliki defended Iraq’s relations with Iran, which he said “rest on the principle that Iraq’s sovereignty is respected” and that “shared interests define this relationship”.”We share a 1,300-kilometre border and mutual interests with Iran,” he added.Despite its oil wealth, Iraq depends on imports from Iran to meet its energy needs.Maliki warned that “if Iran cut off our natural gas supply… it would be a major catastrophe.” 

Israeli settlers attempted to set fire to a mosque in the occupied West Bank village of Tell early Monday, the Palestinian Authority’s ministry of religious affairs said.”The Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attempt by a group of settlers to set fire to a part of the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque in the village of Tell, near Nablus, and the writing of racist slogans on its walls”, the ministry said in a statement.The ministry noted an increase in attacks on mosques in the West Bank, totalling 45 in 2025.”The burning of part of the mosque clearly demonstrates the barbarity reached by the Israeli racist incitement machine toward Islamic and Christian holy sites in Palestine”, the ministry said.An AFP journalist on the ground reported burnt carpets, broken front doors, walls and windows blackened by fire. However there was no structural damage as the fire did not catch and spread throughout the whole building.Israel’s military said in a statement to AFP that army and police forces “were dispatched to the area of Tell following a report and footage that was received after the fact regarding suspects who set fire to a mosque and sprayed graffiti.””No injuries were reported”, and the forces are searching for the suspects, the statement added.Ghassan Daghlas, governor of the Nablus region which includes Tell, condemned the attack in a video posted on social media.”They burned the mosque, and we are the ones rebuilding it. This is our land — the land of Palestine”, he said, a garden hose in hand to wash off debris at the site.Excluding Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are illegal under international law. Around three million Palestinians live in the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967.While most Israeli settlers do not engage in violence, a small but militant fringe has been linked to attacks on Palestinians.The current Israeli government, considered one of the most right-wing in the country’s history, has fast-tracked settlement expansion and recognised some outposts.

President Donald Trump’s threats to attack Iran provide little detail on what the long-term US goal would be in the event of a sustained or even brief conflict.Trump sent warships and dozens of fighter planes to the Middle East and has several options to choose from that could destabilize the region.Will Trump order surgical strikes targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the backbone of the clerical regime in power, try to take out its missile program — as Israel wants him to do — or even try to force regime change in Tehran?Iran has threatened severe reprisal if it is attacked.- What are the options? – Trump said Thursday he would decide in 10 or 15 days whether to order strikes on Iran if no nuclear deal is reached.The news outlet Axios has reported that Trump was presented with an array of military options that include a direct attack on Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.Trump has said many times he prefers a diplomatic route leading to an agreement that addresses not only Iran’s nuclear program but also its ballistic missile capability and its support for militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran has said no to making such concessions.The United States and Iran recently held two rounds of indirect talks, in Oman and Switzerland. They have not brought the two sides’ position closer, with talks set to resume Thursday in Switzerland.Trump is “surprised” that Iran has not “capitulated” given the massive US military buildup, his envoy Steve Witkoff has said.”The Trump administration most likely aims for a limited conflict that reshapes the balance of power without trapping it in a quagmire,” said Alex Vatanka, an analyst at the Middle East Institute in Washington.Vatanka said Iran is now expecting “a short, high-impact military campaign that would cripple Iran’s missile infrastructure, undermine its deterrent, and reset the balance of power after the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025.”- What is the justification? – Trump has insisted US forces destroyed Iran’s nuclear program in attacks targeting uranium enrichment facilities.Things changed with the January protest movement in Iran that security forces put down with huge loss of life. Trump threatened several times to intervene to “help” the Iranian people, but did not act.Trump boasts often of having brought peace to the Middle East, citing the oft-violated ceasefire he engineered in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. And he has argued that regime change in Iran would strengthen what he calls a dynamic toward peace in the region.But opposition Democrats are worried that Trump is leading America into a violent mess and demanding that he consult Congress, the only body in the United States with the authority to declare war.- US firepower in the region? – The US military now has 13 warships stationed in the Middle East: the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which arrived late last month, nine destroyers and three frigates. More warships are on the way. The world’s largest vessel, the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, was photographed sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar to enter the Mediterranean on Friday.Besides the many planes parked on the aircraft carriers, the United States has sent a powerful force of dozens of warplanes to the Middle East, and tens of thousands of US troops are stationed across the Middle East.These are potential targets for attack by Iran.- To what end? – Richard Haas, the former president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said it is not clear what impact a conflict of any duration and scale would have on Iran’s government.”It could just as easily strengthen it as weaken it. And it is impossible to know what would succeed this regime if it were to fall,” Haas wrote recently on Substack.Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate hearing late last month that no one really knows what will happen if Iran’s Supreme leader falls “other than the hope that there would be some ability to have somebody within their systems that you could work towards a similar transition.”Arab monarchies in the Gulf that have close relations with Iran have warned Trump against intervening, fearing they might be targeted in reprisal attacks and wary of any destabilization in the region.Mona Yacoubian, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, recently told AFP that Iran is much more complex than Venezuela, which the United States attacked January 3 as it captured its leader Nicolas Maduro.She said Iran has more diffuse centers of power and a “decapitation strike” could end up “really unleashing a mess inside of Iran.”