AL BAB // Turkish-backed Syrian rebels said on Thursday they had fully captured the town of Al Bab from ISIL, marking a key defeat for the militants after weeks of heavy fighting.
It came as a fresh round of peace talks opened in Geneva between the Syrian opposition and regime, with negotiators coming face to face under the UN flag for the first time in three years.
Al Bab, just 25km south of the Turkish border, was the last ISIL stronghold in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo.
“We are announcing Al Bab completely liberated, and we are now clearing mines from the residential neighbourhoods,” said Ahmad Othman, a rebel commander.
“After hours of fighting, we chased out the last remaining ISIL rank and file that were collapsing after the fierce shelling of their positions.”
Turkish defence minister Fikri Isik said rebels had “near complete control” of Al Bab.
“When the search and combing operations are over, we will be able to say that Al Bab has been completely cleared of Daesh elements,” he was quoted by state-run Anadolu news agency as saying.
The capture of Al Bab will give Ankara greater influence over the postwar shape of the country.
Mr Isik reaffirmed that Turkey was now ready to join any operation by international coalition forces to take the Syrian city of Raqqa, the extremist group’s de facto capital.
At his opening address in Geneva, UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told delegates they faced a historic moment for Syrian people who “desperately want a resolution”.
Flanked by the two delegations at a vast assembly hall at the UN’s headquarters, Mr de Mistura spoke to diplomats from regional and world powers including the US and Russia, saying the talks were a window of opportunity to see if a political road forward could be found.
“The Syrian people all want an end to this conflict and you all know it,” he said. “They are waiting for a relief of their own suffering, and the dream of a new road out of this nightmare to a real and normal future in dignity.” He said a recent, fragile ceasefire “will face many challenges” and needed to be strengthened.
It was not clear if the two sides would meet for direct talks.
Meanwhile in northwestern Syria, the bodies of some 130 fighters shot execution-style or beheaded by rival extremists have been found in mass graves, a monitoring group and rebel sources said on Thursday.
The discovery comes nearly a week after clashes in Idlib province between the extremist Jund Al Aqsa rebel group and Al Qaeda’s former Syrian affiliate and allied factions.
At least 131 bodies were found on Wednesday and Thursday in two separate mass graves near the town of Khan Sheikun, said the Observatory.
* Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Associated Press
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
