Moscow, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad has no role in the future of his country, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said during a visit to Moscow on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia’s position on the Syrian crisis has not changed, Jubeir told reporters after meeting with his Russ
Baghdad, AP/Asharq Al-Awsat —Iraq’s parliament on Tuesday unanimously approved an ambitious reform plan that would cut spending and eliminate senior posts, including the three largely symbolic vice presidencies, following mass protests against corruption and poor services. Lawmakers approved t
Berlin and Moscow, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Monday his country will be willing to develop relations with Iran if the Islamic Republic changes its “hostile” policy of interfering in the internal affairs of the countries of the region. Speaking at a joint press conference w
After weeks of protests in Iraq calling for an end to corruption, better government services, and wide-ranging reforms, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi has proposed canceling the country’s multiple vice president and deputy prime minister posts, as part of a series of measures to quell the unre
Al-Hudaydah, Aden and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Houthi leadership in Sana’a on Sunday declared a state of emergency in the capital, as forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi closed in to around 80 miles (125 kilometers) of the capital. The Houthis’ Revo
Istanbul and Diyarbakır, Reuters—Two women shot at the US consulate in Istanbul on Monday and at least eight people were killed in a wave of separate attacks on Turkish security forces, weeks after Ankara launched a crackdown on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Kurdish, and far-left militants
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Dipesh Gadher joined the Sunday Times as a graduate trainee in September 1998 and has since held several roles in the news department, including transport correspondent, media correspondent, and deputy news editor. He now works as the newspaper’s chief investigative rep
The Muslim Brotherhood considers itself at war with the Egyptian regime. True to form, last week the group launched a massive media campaign to coincide with the inauguration ceremony for the new Suez Canal. The derisory and mocking tone of this campaign could be seen in a number of published articl
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi authorities on Saturday identified the suicide bomber who carried out Thursday’s attack on a mosque in the country’s southwestern region as 21-year-old Saudi citizen Youssef Bin Suleiman Abdullah Al-Suleiman. The Interior Ministry said Suleiman was previously held by au
Baghdad, Reuters—Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi won the support of his cabinet on Sunday to eliminate a layer of senior government positions, part of a push to reduce corruption and save money in the face of mounting unrest. After weeks of protests demanding better government and a call by lea
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants have abducted hundreds of civilians, including dozens of Christians, from a central Syrian town it captured earlier this week, activists say, a development that has prompted hundreds of Christian families to flee to areas outsi
When it comes to the war on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), we should prepare ourselves for the worst. It takes a long time and effort for ISIS to be defeated in the same way Al-Qaeda was. Although still active, Al-Qaeda is not as powerful as it was a decade ago. Those […]
As the tussle over the so-called nuclear deal with Iran continues in Tehran and Washington, it is becoming clearer by the day that President Barack Obama’s “a chance in a life-time achievement” may not survive beyond his presidency. A similar picture is taking shape on the Iranian side. The Akbar Ha
Dubai and Beirut, Reuters—Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mouallem made his first visit to the Gulf in more than four years on Thursday, meeting his Omani counterpart in Muscat for talks on ways to end the civil war in his country. The visit, his first to the Gulf since his country descended
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—A group affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s bombing that killed and injured several people, including security personnel, at a mosque in southern Saudi Arabia. A suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt de
European leaders have recently been preoccupied with the crisis of boat migrants as more asylum seekers continue to cross into Europe from Africa via the Mediterranean. By choosing to take the perilous journey, those illegal migrants risk everything, including their lives, in the hope of reaching th
Washington, AP— The US Treasury Department is targeting two financiers from Qatar who are suspected of being major supporters of Al-Qaeda and the Al-Nusra Front terrorist groups throughout the Middle East. Treasury official Adam Szubin says the action is aimed at unraveling and disrupting funding sc
Washington, AP—President Barack Obama on Wednesday launched a blistering denunciation of opposition to his Iran deal, arguing that none of the criticism stands up to scrutiny and warning that if Congress blocks the accord it will put the US on the path to another Middle East war. “The choice w
Riyadh and Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—Plans are now in place to fully reopen Aden’s international airport in southern Yemen within days, an airport official told Asharq Al-Awsat. Abdul Raqib Al-Amri, the airport’s deputy general manager, said work was now ongoing to restart commercial flights to and from
Istanbul and Bierut, Reuters—Turkey said on Wednesday a US-led coalition will soon launch a “comprehensive battle” against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants from Turkish airbases, but Syria said any military action not coordinated with Damascus would breach its sovereignty
