Two videos that went viral in the last two weeks summarize the current situation in Lebanon. The first one shows the execution of the third Lebanese soldier from among the military personnel kidnapped by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front terrorists. The video showed the l
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—In spite of security fears a new festival is underway in Lebanon. The CO² Choreographers and Composers Festival kicked off on September 28, displaying a blend of experimental dance and musical improvisation. More than 35 artists from Lebanon, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Mor
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Kurdish forces captured a strategic crossing on the Iraqi-Syrian border from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Tuesday, according to Kurdish military officials. “Our forces managed in the early hours of the attack to make significant progress on all fronts, t
Paris, Reuters—Ancient Iraqi artifacts are appearing on the black market as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (SIS) militants use intermediaries to sell priceless treasures to finance their activities after sweeping through the north of the country, Iraqi and Western officials said. The militants gain
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—US-led airstrikes targeted the positions of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) near the strategic town of Kobani, located on Syria’s north border with Turkey, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Aerial bombardment hit two major villages to the east and the west of the Kurdish-m
Cairo, Reuters—Egypt has offered to train pro-government forces battling rival armed groups in Libya, stepping up efforts to eradicate what it says is a threat to its own stability from the anarchy engulfing its neighbor. The offer was the latest sign of intervention by competing Arab powers in Liby
Hong Kong, Reuters—Thousands of pro-democracy protesters thronged the streets of Hong Kong on Wednesday, some of them jeering National Day celebrations, as demonstrations spread to a new area of the city, ratcheting up pressure on the pro-Beijing government. There was little sign of momentum f
While US President Barack Obama has said his country’s intelligence services underestimated the strength of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Saudi Interior Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Naif said: “We know that ISIS was not randomly formed but rather sponsored by states and organizations t
In 1948, some Yemeni tribes besieged the capital Sana’a and threatened to seize it following battles between the rebels and ruler Imam Yahya’s forces. Abdullah Al-Wazeer, the rebel leader, traveled to Jeddah seeking the help of Saudi ruler King Abdulaziz. The Saudi King reprimanded Wazeer, telling h
Amman, Asharq Al-Awsat—“Serious steps” are being taken to clear an exiled Iraqi politician of terror charges as a prelude to his nomination as minister of defense, sources close to Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi informed Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday. “Iraq’s judiciary and federal court have taken serio
Algiers, Reuters—Algeria awarded four of 31 oil and gas field blocks on offer to foreign consortiums on Tuesday in its first attempt since a disappointing 2011 bid to draw investors to help offset its stagnant production. Spain’s Repsol in partnership with Royal Dutch Shell won the Boughezoul
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Houthi movement continued to consolidate its hold over Sana’a on Monday, seizing more state institutions and buildings amid an almost total absence of the Yemeni military on the capital’s streets. According to several reports, Houthi rebels, who have been in virtual contr
In a statement on Sunday, Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad Bin Naif shed some light on the puzzle of the phenomenon of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He said the Islamist organization was not randomly formed, but rather sponsored by states and organizations that employ all the
Tobruk and London, Reuters/Asharq Al-Awsat—Libya’s elected parliament held UN-brokered talks on Monday with a rival assembly in a bid to agree a ceasefire by armed factions and more dialogue to end a confrontation driving the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member state cl
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Turkey could become involved in the international fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) if a motion to send Turkish ground troops into Syria is passed in the Turkish parliament on Tuesday. The motion, which Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu submitted on Thursd
Hong Kong, Reuters—Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters extended a blockade of Hong Kong streets on Tuesday, stockpiling supplies and erecting makeshift barricades ahead of what some fear may be a push by police to clear the roads before Chinese National Day. Riot police shot pepper spray a
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—“Every Mosque or building built by a Muslim should be ‘green,’ that is, friendly to the environment,” says Baraka Khan, the 23-year-old Cambridge University student who is raising funds for a project to build Europe’s first ecologically friendly mosque in the British city of
Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Palestinian factions are getting closer to reopening the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian territories, following an agreement last Thursday between rivals Hamas and Fatah to hand over control of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian unity government. Inform
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Fighting between government forces and rebels affiliated with both Al-Qaeda and less radical groups continued in western Syria on Sunday, as US and allied jets continued to strike militant targets in the east of the country. Syrian government forces reinforced by fighters fro
Kabul, Reuters—Afghanistan inaugurated its first new president in a decade on Monday, swearing in technocrat Ashraf Ghani to head a power-sharing government just as the withdrawal of most foreign troops presents a crucial test. The first democratic handover of power in Afghan history has been far fr
