The exit of the late Kuwaiti emir and crown prince in August 1990—when Iraq invaded Kuwait—is considered the most important step in killing off invader Saddam Hussein’s dream of eliminating the legitimacy of the Kuwaiti state. After invading Kuwait, the then-Iraqi president tried all possible means
Every Tuesday, our dear colleague Asharq Al-Awsat Deputy Editor-in-Chief Ali Ibrahim would write his weekly op-ed. However, for two weeks now he has been absent from his family, friends and readers—as well as his extended family here at Asharq Al-Awsat. After attending the editorial meeting on
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s Shi’ite Houthi militia have announced that President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is a fugitive from justice as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states welcomed his return to the Yemeni presidency. Hadi escaped from house arrest in Sana’a on Saturday to retract his resigna
Mecca, Asharq Al-Awsat—Biased media outlets cannot harm the historical ties that bind Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb said. In exclusive comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, the head of Egypt’s Al-Azhar Institute—the highest religious authority in the
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The decision by Libya’s parliament to withdraw from UN-brokered negotiations was made in order to sideline the Muslim Brotherhood from any future unity government, a Libyan official told Asharq Al-Awsat. The talks have been suspended as a result of parliament’s wit
Beirut, AP—Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants have abducted at least 70 Assyrian Christians, including women and children, after overrunning a string of villages in northeastern Syria, two activist groups said Tuesday. The extremist fighters swept through the Assyrian villages nestled
Brussels, AP—An official at the European Union’s executive branch said Tuesday that the list of reform measures Greece has sent to its creditors in order to get final approval for a 4-month bailout extension “is sufficiently comprehensive to be a valid starting point.” The official
Mecca, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia will spare no effort in the global and regional fight against extremism and terrorism, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz said on Sunday. “Our security services have been relentless in blocking the efforts of terrorists,” the King said in
Benghazi, Reuters—Libya’s elected parliament voted on Monday to suspend its participation in a UN-sponsored dialogue between Libya’s rival conflict parties, vying for control of the oil producer, lawmakers said. The United Nations had been planning to hold a new round of talks in Morocco
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Turkey informed the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) of Saturday’s operation to evacuate 40 of its soldiers in northern Syria and relocate the tomb of a revered Turkish figure, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday. Around 570 Turkish troops and more than 100 armored v
These days all someone needs to transform themselves into a bona fide terrorist is an iPhone and an Internet connection. If you’re in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, say, within two days you can be in Raqqa, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) stronghold in Syria, ready to enlist in their c
London, AP—Two former senior British government ministers denied wrongdoing Monday after they were caught in a hidden-camera sting appearing to offer access to politicians and diplomats in return for cash. Prime Minister David Cameron said the allegations against Jack Straw and Malcolm Rifkind were
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—One day after his reported escape from house arrest in Sana’a, Yemen’s Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is taking steps to form a new interim government to run the country’s affairs from the southern city of Aden, which he will soon declare as the new capital of Yemen, sources told Ash
Sydney, Reuters—Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday announced a national security crackdown that could deny welfare payments to people seen as potential threats, strip the passports of those with dual nationality, and curb travel overseas. Abbott, bruised politically and facing pressure
During this critical stage there are many who are angered by any closeness or cooperation between Egypt and the Gulf states. There are also those who stand by the Muslim Brotherhood and its “accessories after the fact,” the “revolutionary set” among Egypt’s youth. They would all do well to follow cl
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran has been coordinating with Al-Qaeda and its affiliates since 2007 with the aim of carrying out terror attacks against US targets in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, informed sources have told Asharq Al-Awsat. Speaking under condition of anonymity, the sources said coordination be
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who resigned as president of the country last month and has been under a month-long house arrest in Sana’a, on Saturday escaped to the south of the country and appeared to rescind his resignation. Hadi, who had been held at his home in the capi
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The fight against extremist groups in Libya represents a “holy war,” the army general leading military operations against jihadist groups in the country said on Saturday, in response to a deadly suicide bomb attack in the east of the country which killed more than 40 people. S
In a recent speech, US President Barack Obama spoke about the need to confront extremism and terrorism, while defending Islam and calling for the need to correct misconceptions about it. For all its truth and nobility, what Obama said amounts to nothing more than a theoretical argument. Obama’s defe
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The sudden death of Parviz Isfahani, an Iranian publisher and editor, brought together more than 300 Iranian “cultural workers” in exile for a memorial service in London with speeches denouncing the current wave of repression in Iran. Isfahani died, aged 69, of complica
