JEDDAH/BAGHDAD: Saudi Arabia on Sunday congratulated the government and the people of Iraq for liberating Tal Afar from Daesh terrorists.
The loss of Tal Afar, in northern Iraq between Mosul and the Syrian border, will deprive Daesh of what was once a significant hub for movement between the Syrian and Iraqi components of the self-styled “caliphate” it declared three years ago.
An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Iraq “in all its capacities to combat and eradicate terrorism and extremism,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The Iraqi military earlier said it had “fully liberated” Tal Afar’s town center from Daesh.
Pockets of resistance remain but the announcement brings Iraqi forces a step closer to taking full control of one of the extremists’ last strongholds in Iraq.
The military statement added that troops had captured all of the town’s neighborhoods but were heading to Al-Ayadia district, about 10 km northwest of Tal Afar, to pursue a group of terrorists who fled.
Just a week after authorities announced an offensive to push the terrorists from one of their last major urban strongholds in Iraq, the Joint Operations Command said Iraqi forces held all 29 districts of the city and were pursuing final mopping up operations.
Pro-government fighters could already be seen celebrating, waving Iraqi flags and flashing victory signs as their tanks rolled through the streets.
The offensive comes just weeks after Iraqi forces retook second city Mosul from Daesh, in their biggest victory since the terrorists seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in mid-2014.
Much of that territory has since been retaken with support from coalition air strikes, and IS is also facing a major US-backed offensive against its de facto Syrian capital Raqqa.
On Saturday, Iraqi forces took control of the city center and Tal Afar’s Ottoman-era citadel.
Nearby, a huge crater could be seen on Sunday at the base of the city’s main mosque, a testament to the intensity of the air strikes that battered the city.
Surrounding buildings still featured religious slogans written by the jihadists and an IS flag lay upside down on the ground.
Government troops and units of the Hashed Al-Shaabi paramilitary coalition launched the assault after weeks of coalition and Iraqi airstrikes.
Progress in Tal Afar was far more rapid than in Mosul, which fell to Iraqi forces only after a grueling nine-month battle.
Officials have said they hope to announce victory by Eid Al-Adha set to start in Iraq on Sept. 2.
The next target in the area was the town of Al-Ayadieh 15 km north of Tal Afar and strategically located on the road between the city and the Syrian border.
Pro-government forces faced an obstacle course of roads blocked with earth embankments and strategically parked trucks, as well as sniper and mortar fire during the battle for Tal Afar.
Troops also said they discovered a network of underground tunnels used by Daesh to launch attacks behind lines of already conquered territory, or to escape.
Once Tal Afar is retaken, Baghdad is expected to launch a new offensive on Hawija, about 300 km north of the Iraqi capital.
The coalition has announced carrying out strikes near Hawija in recent days, including two that killed Daesh fighters and destroyed a command post.
Daesh is also present in the vast western province of Anbar, where it controls several zones along the border with Syria, including the Al-Qaim area.
Despite its losses in Iraq and Syria, Daesh has continued to claim responsibility for attacks carried out by its members or supporters abroad, including this month’s deadly attacks in Spain and knife attacks in Russia and Brussels.
Saudi Arabia hails liberation of Tal Afar from Daesh
Saudi Arabia hails liberation of Tal Afar from Daesh
Soundstorm expands Saudi Arabia’s music scene with talent programs, global collaborations
- Young people see music as industry with variety of career paths beyond performing, says general manager of MDLBEAST Foundation
RIYADH: MDLBEAST is placing sustainability and the growth of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy at the center of Soundstorm 2025, its annual music festival which is taking place until Dec. 13.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Ramadan Alharatani, the CEO of MDLBEAST, said the festival was not just about entertainment, but about creating long-term economic and social value.
He said: “Soundstorm plays a major role in the creative economy by creating jobs, attracting international talent, and giving local artists real opportunities to perform on a large stage.
“We are also investing in long-term programs that support training, production, and creative development beyond the festival weekend.
“This year we are focusing more on accessibility and sustainability. We are improving transportation options, making the site easier to navigate, and introducing better systems for recycling and energy use. Inclusion is also a priority, so we are working on creating spaces and experiences that welcome all types of audiences.”
Looking at the festival’s role in nurturing emerging talent, Alharatani said: “We are continuing to build on programs that help new talent grow.
“Through XP Music Futures, our year-round initiatives under the MDLBEAST Foundation, and partnerships with regional and international labels, we are giving young artists more access to mentorship, training, and performance opportunities.
“We are also supporting new ideas in music tech, sound design, and creative production, so emerging talent can experiment with different forms of expression. These partnerships help us develop the next generation of artists and build a stronger presence in the region.”
This year’s edition of Soundstorm offers audiences more stages, a wider variety of genres, and increased international collaborations.
The festival layout has been redesigned to make it easier for fans to explore areas dedicated to live music, hip-hop, regional talent, and emerging artists, alongside the main stages featuring global performers.
These changes focus on the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s music scene, with local audiences embracing diverse genres, and international artists showing greater interest in performing in the Kingdom.
“Soundstorm has always been a place where these worlds meet, but this year that connection is stronger and more visible,” Alharatani said.
Regarding the future and MDLBEAST’S vision, he said: “Our main priority is growth that feels sustainable and meaningful.
“We want to build more cultural experiences, support more local talent, and expand our presence globally without losing our connection to the region. In the next few years we will continue developing our festivals, expanding our live event calendar, increasing our year-round venue offerings, and investing in talent development.
“The goal is to create long-term value for the music and entertainment scene in Saudi Arabia.”
Building on MDLBEAST’S efforts to expand the Kingdom’s creative ecosystem, Nada Alhelabi, general manager of the MDLBEAST Foundation and founder of XP Music Futures, said the foundation was creating professional pathways for emerging talent.
She said: “This year we are expanding XP’s educational and professional programs to give young people clearer pathways into the music industry. We are introducing more workshops, mentoring sessions, and hands-on training across areas such as sound engineering, event production, artist management, and creative business.
“The aim is to help young talent understand how the industry works and how they can build real careers in it. Alongside our XP Music Futures program we have nine initiatives that the MDLBEAST Foundation works on all year round to develop a sustainable music ecosystem in our region.”
She added that the landscape of creative careers in Saudi Arabia had transformed rapidly, with more venues, festivals, and studios creating a growing demand for skilled professionals.
Alhelabi added: “Young people now see music as a real industry with a variety of career paths beyond performing. XP Music Futures provides a space where talent, executives, startups, and educators can connect, giving young creatives access to industry leaders, hands-on learning, and opportunities to network and exchange ideas.”
On the impact of key programs, Alhelabi said: “This year we saw strong progress across all three programs. Hunna continues to support the development of female talent and leaders, and several participants have already stepped into new roles across production, performance, and creative management.
“XPERFORM (has) helped emerging artists grow their audiences and secure new performance opportunities, and a major milestone this year was our new partnership with Shahid.
“As the region’s leading streaming platform, Shahid is now broadcasting XPERFORM, giving our artists wider visibility and bringing their stories to a much larger audience.
“Sound Futures also supported a new wave of music-tech startups, many of which are now testing or launching their ideas in the market.
“Together, these stories show how year-round support can make a real difference and they highlight how XP is helping shape the next generation of creatives.”
