After his recent unprecedented attack on Saudi Arabia and his odious calls for the Kingdom to be placed under “international trusteeship,” Iraqi Vice President Nuri Al-Maliki has surely delivered a knockout blow to any chances of rapprochement between Baghdad and Riyadh in the foreseeable future. As
Baghdad and Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Iraqi leadership on Wednesday distanced itself from comments made by Nuri Al-Maliki, Iraq’s former prime minister and current vice president, in which he referred to Saudi Arabia as a “sponsor and supporter of terrorism.” The comments, made by Maliki on July 1
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—A Saudi military plane loaded with aid arrived in Yemen’s Aden on Wednesday, the first since the city’s international airport reopened following four months of fighting between government loyalists and Houthi rebels. The plane was carrying 20 tons of food, an airport of
London, AP—A British university disclosed Wednesday that scientific tests prove a Qur’an manuscript in its collection is one of the oldest known and may have been written close to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The announcement by the University of Birmingham thrilled Muslim scholars and the loca
Suruç and Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Turkish authorities have identified a suspected suicide bomber who on Monday killed 32 people and injured 100 in the Turkish district of Suruç near the Syrian border. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu made the announcement on Wednesday and said initial investigations r
Last week’s capture of Aden by Yemeni government loyalists has provided the best response to the nuclear deal which US President Barack Obama and the West gifted to Khomeneist Iran on July 14 in Vienna. Anti-Houthi forces, known as the Popular Resistance, have wrested control of the strategic southe
Sana’a and Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iranian officers were directly involved in the interrogation of Yemeni government loyalists previously detained by Houthi rebels in Aden, anti-rebel sources say. A pro-government fighter, who was previously arrested by the Houthis in Aden, said he had been interrogat
Most Arab commentary and analysis about the nuclear deal agreed by the P5+1 with Iran focused on its political aftershocks on the Arab World. It was obvious to most analysts and commentators that what looked like a long TV soap opera had two “star” actors: Iran and the United States; the other count
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—It is too early to know how or even if the deal announced on Iran’s nuclear program will be implemented in the way it claims. The deal is a wish list by the two sides, Iran and the P5+1 group of powers led by the United States. The 159-page wish list becomes applicable [&hell
Aden and Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemeni government loyalists said on Monday they had seized control of Aden’s central Al-Tawahi district, the last remaining rebel stronghold in the southern city, following fierce clashes with the insurgents. “Resistance fighters have succeeded in controlling all of
United Nations and Dubai, Reuters—The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed Iran’s nuclear agreement with world powers but the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guard attacked the resolution, underlining powerful opposition to the deal. US President Barack Obama, who also faces
Aden and Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Around 100 people have been killed in shelling by Houthi rebels on the southern port city of Aden, according to international NGO Doctors Without Borders. The organization’s Hassan Boucenine told the Associated Press almost 100 people have so far been killed du
Sir Christopher Meyer, the former British ambassador to the United States and Germany, recently wrote an opinion piece in the London-based Daily Telegraph newspaper with the title, ‘Chaos in the Middle East means it’s time for an alliance with Iran.’ The main gist of the article is that since
Brussels, Reuters—The European Union approved the Iran nuclear deal with world powers on Monday, a first step towards lifting Europe’s economic sanctions against Tehran that the bloc hopes will send a signal that the US Congress will follow. In a message mainly aimed at skeptical voices in the
Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—Members of Yemen’s government met with local officials from Aden on Saturday, the first such meeting in the city since government loyalists captured it from Houthi rebels last week. A provincial official from Aden told Asharq Al-Awsat the cabinet members and local officials dis
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi security forces on Saturday arrested 431 people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and carrying out a number of attacks in the Kingdom as well as plotting future operations, officials said. Those arrested were planning to carry out atta
Why would we in the Gulf stand against Iran’s nuclear deal? We support any agreement ending all forms of confrontation with Iran and the sanctions imposed on it. The problem lies in the details. If it was a good deal, Iranians and Arabs would be happy neighbors. But it is not a good deal. The [&hell
Dubai and Beirut, Reuters—Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday the nuclear deal with world powers did not signal any wider shift in Iran’s relationship with Washington or its policies in the Middle East. The agreement struck this week was met with celebrations in the s
Recent news reports indicate that Yassin Salhi, the man who beheaded his boss and tried to attack a factory in France in late June, took a selfie with the victim’s severed head and sent the picture to someone believed to be fighting with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria. It is [&h
Sana’a and Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi-backed fighters are preparing to push into Yemen’s largest air base, a government source has said, one day after the country’s exiled leaders declared Aden liberated from Houthi rebels. Eyewitnesses said heavy Saudi-led airstrikes on Friday hit the Houthi-con
