Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—New terror legislation expected to be approved by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi later this week has stirred controversy among journalists and human rights activists in the country. The new bill, which amends existing anti-terror laws, includes an article stipulating
Tobruk, Asharq Al-Awsat—In a new strategic shift in its fight against extremists in Libya, the Libyan National Army has begun deploying fast-moving ground-troop units in a bid to counter the spread of insurgents throughout the war-torn country. The army says that in addition to ground troops, the ne
Tehran, Asharq Al-Awsat—A copy of a high-level classified document obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat has revealed the extent of Tehran’s support for the Houthi movement currently in control of large parts of Yemen. The document, marked “secret,” is a message from Mohammad Ali Shahidi, the head of the Iran
Beirut and Washington, Reuters—Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters seized a Syrian town back from Kurdish-led forces near Raqqa city on Monday, a group monitoring the war reported, recovering ground near its de facto capital two days after it was pummeled in heavy US-led airstrikes. The
Sana’a and Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Saudi-led coalition targeting the Houthi movement in Yemen currently in control of large parts of the country on Friday launched airstrikes on a weapons factory outside the Houthis’ northern stronghold of Saada. Local sources said the strikes, which took place at
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—Tunisia’s President Beji Caid El-Sebsi on Saturday announced a month-long state of emergency in the country, saying Tunisia faced further terrorist threats from extremists following last week’s attack on tourists at a beach resort in Sousse. Speaking in a televised address, Se
Last week terrorists ruined any chance for Egyptians to celebrate President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s first full year in power. The assassination of the country’s top judicial official, prosecutor-general Hisham Barakat, who was killed when a car bomb targeted his motorcade in central Cairo, and the at
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syrian activists and economists have proposed a new initiative to use the Turkish lira as the main currency in liberated areas of Aleppo, following recent gains made by rebels in Syria’s largest city. The initiative calls for Syrians owning more than 10,000 Syrian pounds to c
This month is dedicated to a global media campaign against torture. Documented testimonies, investigations, articles and videos of survivors from across the world are being broadcast on alternative media platforms and websites in an attempt to exert more pressure on the parties who engage in torture
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Dozens of militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group have entered Egypt from Libya in recent months, security and military officials warn. Salaheddin Abdul Kareem, a Libyan military adviser, told Asharq Al-Awsat that a recent Libyan army crackdo
Kuwait City and Manama, Asharq Al-Awsat—Sunnis and Shi’ites held a joint prayer in Kuwait on Friday in a gesture of solidarity one week after an attack on a mosque left dozens killed and injured. Hundreds of members of both sects have gathered at Kuwait City’s grand mosque to show national unity in
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syria’s armed opposition has said it is willing to allow members of President Bashar Al-Assad’s cabinet, who have not taken part in bloodshed, to participate in any future transitional government. Rami Dalati, a member of the Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) Military Command Hi
Faced with the growing threat of terrorism, Western officials and analysts seem hard put as to how to deal with something they find difficult to understand. British Prime Minister David Cameron has advised the media not to use the term “Islamic State” for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)&#
Riyadh and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s government-in-exile has called on the UN to form a joint Arab military force to oversee the withdrawal of Houthi rebels from the areas they control across Yemen, officials say. The demand is part of a package of seven proposals the government submitted to t
The United Arab Emirates has given, through law, a practical lesson after its Federal Supreme Court sentenced to death Alaa Al-Hashemi, the woman known as the Al-Reem Island ghost, who stabbed to death an American woman at an Abu Dhabi shopping mall last December. The court rejected claims that Hash
London, Reuters—Britain is considering whether it could and should do more to help defeat Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants in Syria after a deadly attack in Tunisia last week killed up to 30 of its nationals, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday. As part o
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egypt launched a series of airstrikes against militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in North Sinai on Wednesday, after over 50 people were killed in coordinated attacks in the province earlier in the day. The army said 100 militants and 17 Egypti
Aden and Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Dozens of Yemenis have been killed and injured by rockets fired by Houthi rebels in a residential area in the southern city of Aden, health officials say. The Houthis fired rockets at a residential area and a market in Aden before dawn on Wednesday, killing at least
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—An initial report by authorities in Tunisia into last week’s attack at a tourist resort in the coastal city of Sousse has found that both the country’s security services and the hotel did not do enough to stop the massacre. Thirty-nine people, mostly British tourists, were kil
Terrorism hit three continents on the same day last week, causing dozens of deaths on a beach in Tunisia and a mosque in Kuwait as well as the beheading of a man at a factory in France where the murderer posed for a selfie with his victim’s decapitated body—an act betraying his mental derangem
