Many have welcomed with cheers the sudden Israeli strike on Sunday that killed six Hezbollah members and a general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps who, for some reason, were secretly present in Syria’s Quneitra region. The cheering for this act on social networking platforms is an exp
A few days ago, Hassan Nasrallah vowed that the axis of resistance—Iran, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and Hezbollah—will not stand idly by in the face of Israeli strikes against Assad’s regime. What is Nasrallah’s position now after the painful and humiliating Israeli airstrik
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—There is little chance of Egypt’s diverse political parties being able to respond to a presidential call to put aside their differences and take part in the forthcoming democratic elections as part of a unified electoral list, the head of Egypt’s Congress Party, Omar El-
Sana’a, AP—Yemen’s powerful Shiite Houthi rebels shelled the residence of the country’s embattled president Tuesday and simultaneously swept into the presidential palace in the capital, Sana’a, as a top military commander warned that a full-fledged “coup” was unde
Paris, AP—Five Russians have been arrested in southern France, including one with a cache of explosives, a local mayor said Tuesday as four other men appeared at a court in Paris, the first to face charges in the Paris terror attacks. The reports came as the French prime minister asked his nation to
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—IPO activity in the Middle East is expected to increase considerably during 2015, a report by global professional services firm Ernst Young concluded, as the region recorded its most successful year for stock market debuts since before the global financial crisis. The report,
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The commander of the Libyan National Army, Gen. Khalifa Haftar, is operating on the authority of the internationally recognized Libyan government based out of Tobruk, Libyan authorities confirmed this week. The statement of support for Haftar’s position comes amid specul
London, Reuters—Brent crude oil prices steadied below 49 US dollars a barrel on Tuesday after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its forecast for global economic growth in 2015 implying lower demand for fuel. Global growth is projected at 3.5 percent for 2015 and 3.7 percent for 2016, the IMF
Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Tel Aviv’s decision to withhold funds from the Palestinian Authority (PA) will not prevent it from seeking statehood, a senior Palestinian official told Asharq Al-Awsat, calling on the Israeli government to “shoulder its responsibilities towards the Palestinian people.” Spe
Cairo, AP—The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group threatened to kill two Japanese hostages Tuesday unless they receive 200 million US dollars in 72 hours, directly demanding the ransom from Japan’s premier during his visit to the Middle East. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to save th
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s president and representatives of the insurgent Houthi movement were reportedly holding talks on Tuesday, following an outbreak of deadly violence between Houthi fighters and government troops earlier this week. Fighting flared up between Houthis occupying the ca
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Sectarian militias and other armed groups are a danger to the “unity and prestige” of the Iraqi army, the head of the Shi’ite Sadrist Movement, Moqtada Al-Sadr, said on Sunday. Speaking at a joint press conference with Iraq’s Minister of Defense Khaled Al-Obaidi at his
Do you remember last year’s #BringBackOurGirls solidarity campaign? It was launched in response to the abduction of around 300 girls from their school in Nigeria by members of the extremist gang that calls itself Boko Haram. These girls have not been returned to their families, and Boko Haram contin
Yaounde, Cameroon, AP—About 30 hostages abducted in Cameroon over the weekend by members of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram have been released, Cameroon’s military said Monday. Military spokesman Col. Didier Badjeck said some of the more than 60 hostages taken had escaped, while others
Abu Dhabi, Asharq Al-Awsat—Regional efforts to combat terrorism, the situation in Libya and Emirati investment in Egypt were among the most pressing matters discussed by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the leaders of the UAE during Sisi’s two-day visit to the Gulf country, informed sourc
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) transported hundreds of elderly and sick Yazidis captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to the city of Dahuk in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region on Sunday, after they were unexpectedly freed by the extremist group. The
The French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo committed a grave error when it chose to misuse the freedom it enjoys—which in the West has few limits, especially in France—by insulting more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world under the guise of freedom of expression. Indeed it is a c
Brussels, AP—The European Union on Monday called for an anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information-sharing in the wake of deadly attacks and arrests across Europe. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Monday that “we need an alliance. We need to st
Sana’a, AP—Rebel Shi’ite Houthis battled soldiers near Yemen’s presidential palace and elsewhere across the capital Monday, seizing control of the country’s state-run media in a move an official called “a step toward a coup.” The fighting near the palace marks the
Beirut, AP—An Israeli strike in Syria on Sunday killed the son of a slain top Hezbollah commander and at least five other fighters in a move that could ratchet up tensions with the powerful Lebanese Shi’ite movement, which recently boasted of rockets that can hit any part of the Jewish state.
