Beirut, Reuters—The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group used poison gas in attacks against Kurdish-controlled areas of northeastern Syria in late June, a Syrian Kurdish militia and a group monitoring the Syrian conflict said on Saturday. Two UK-based organizations investigating the attack s
Riyadh and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Senior members of Yemen’s government-in-exile arrived in Aden from Riyadh in the early hours of Friday following the liberation of the southern city from Houthi rebels, a Saudi security source told Asharq Al-Awsat. The delegation which consisted of Yemeni ministers
When talks between Iran and the P5+1 group led by the US started two years ago the stated objective was to prevent Tehran from acquiring the means of building nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed by Washington, the United Nations, and the European Union. This week, the ta
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—A car bomb exploded at a police checkpoint near a high-security prison in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Thursday evening, killing the driver and injuring two security officers, the interior ministry said. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat the attacker had been identified a
Washington, Paris and Cairo, AP/Asharq Al-Awsat—President Barack Obama launched an aggressive and detailed defense of a landmark Iranian nuclear accord, rejecting the idea that it leaves Tehran on the brink of a bomb and arguing the only alternative to the diplomatic deal is war. The president vigor
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—It will take several months before the deal declared by Iran and the P5+1 group is out of danger zone and ready for implementation. But assuming the deal does not fall apart, as was the case with the Lausanne accords, what impact could it have on Iran’s relations with its nei
Jeddah, Riyadh and Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s government-in-exile said it has started returning to Aden after loyalists captured most of the southern city from Houthi rebels earlier this week. The government will “gradually” relocate to Aden from its current base in Riyadh, beginning with the min
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) has warned that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) plans to commit “genocide” against civilians and government troops in the central Iraqi city of Fallujah, as the Iraqi government’s operation to liberate the city an
As one Saudi official recently told Reuters, it would be “a happy day” for the Middle East if the nuclear deal stopped Iran gaining a nuclear arsenal. After all, no one in the region and the world will reject the deal if it succeeds in “freezing” Iran’s military nuclear program. This indeed seemed t
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—After almost two years of intense diplomacy regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Iran and the P5+1 group led by the United Sates have produced a 159-page document, labeled a “deal” designed to curb Iran’s program in exchange for an easing and eventual lifting of sanctions.
Aden, Sana’a and Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Forces loyal to Yemen’s exiled government said on Tuesday they have captured Aden’s international airport and several city districts from Houthi rebels, in a major military breakthrough that saw around 80 percent of the strategic city under the control of the
British Prime Minister David Cameron sparked a controversy a few weeks ago when he warned of those who preach extremist ideologies that act as incubators for terrorists, but are not directly involved in terrorism. Cameron is definitely right in the sense that the terrorist threats we are facing toda
Vienna, Reuters—Iran and six major world powers reached a nuclear deal on Tuesday, capping more than a decade of negotiations with an agreement that could transform the Middle East, and which Israel called an “historic surrender”. Under the deal, sanctions imposed by the United States, E
Jeddah and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Militants loyal to Yemen’s exiled government said on Monday they were set to launch an onslaught to “liberate” the southern city of Aden from Houthi rebels, one day after anti-Houthi forces, backed by Saudi-led airstrikes, restored a strategic village in central Ye
Rabat and Tobruk, Asharq Al-Awsat—Some of Libya’s rival factions on Saturday reached a UN-brokered agreement to form a unity government and end the fighting in the war-torn country. However, members of one of the factions chose not to attend the ceremony to sign the deal at the Moroccan coastal reso
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egypt and Yemen’s internationally recognized government on Sunday signed a security agreement to cooperate on counterterrorism efforts, after a meeting between Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Yemen’s Prime Minister and Vice President Khaled Bahah. An Egyptian Foreig
Brussels, Reuters—Euro zone leaders made Greece surrender much of its sovereignty to outside supervision on Monday in return for agreeing to talks on an 86 billion euros bailout to keep the near-bankrupt country in the single currency. The terms imposed by international lenders led by Germany in all
[inset_left]Destinies: Concerto of the Holocaust and NakbaRabee Al-MadhounArab Institute for Publication, 267 pagesBeirut, 2015[/inset_left] London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The subtitle of this new novel by Palestinian writer Rabee Al-Madhoun describes it as “a concerto in four movements.” However, th
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—One person was killed and 10 injured in an explosion that targeted the Italian consulate in Cairo on Saturday morning, according to health officials. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). A Twitter account affiliated with the group said it had c
Many counterterror experts believe they have pinpointed the source of the problem when it comes to terrorism and extremism. They believe social media networks are to blame because they play a hand in inciting extremism and help with the recruitment of militants. Some experts have even called for blo
