US halts secretive drone program with Turkey over Syria incursion: US officials
February 5, 2020, 10:50 am

US halts secretive drone program with Turkey over Syria incursion: US officials

A US surveillance drone. (File photo AFP)

The United States has halted a secretive drone intelligence program with Turkey over Ankara’s October incursion into Syria, according to US officials.

Turkish military forces advanced into northeastern Syria in October to attack the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who had fought with the US against ISIS. Turkey said it was establishing a "safe zone" for Syrian refugees, but was criticized by international actors including Washington.

The statement comes as Turkey faces strained relations with both the US and Russia over its role in Syria, where it has intervened militarily in the north of the country.

The US expelled fellow NATO member Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program in response to Ankara's acquisition of S-400 anti-aircraft missiles from Russia, which Washington said would risk compromising the safety of the F-35 program for NATO allies.

Yet Turkey is also at loggerheads with Russia over clashes between the Russian-backed Syrian regime and Turkish-supported opposition forces in Idlib, the last opposition stronghold in the country.

source: AFP

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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.”