Beirut and Mürşitpınar, Reuters—The head of Syria’s Al-Qaeda branch said militants will attack the West in retaliation for US-led air strikes in Syria and Iraq, and President Barack Obama acknowledged on Sunday that US intelligence had underestimated the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Houthis and their Ansar Allah affiliates are now in complete control of the Yemeni capital Sana’a, UN Special Adviser on Yemen Jamal Benomar told Asharq Al-Awsat in an exclusive interview, as violence continued to rage in and around the capital on Sunday. “The reality is
For more than a year now, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been breaking all diplomatic customs and political protocols with his extreme enmity towards all that is Egyptian and his clear support for the Muslim Brotherhood, which was booted out of power by the Egyptian people. This came to
Hong Kong, Reuters—Hong Kong democracy protesters defied volleys of tear gas and police baton charges to stand firm in the center of the global financial hub on Monday, one of the biggest political challenges for Beijing since the Tiananmen Square crackdown 25 years ago. China wagged its finger at t
Beirut and Istanbul, Reuters—Airstrikes believed to have been carried out by US-led forces hit three makeshift oil refineries in Syria’s Raqqa province early on Sunday as part of an assault to weaken Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, a monitoring group said. The Britain-based S
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The controversial British Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary was released from police custody on bail on Friday, after being arrested on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. Choudary, one of the most high-profile radical Islamists in the UK, was arrested in London on Thursday
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Attempts by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to distance himself from the legacy of his predecessor Nuri Al-Maliki have created a rift between the two that is hindering attempts to appoint ministers to key posts, an informed source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday. The s
Tobruk, Reuters—Libya’s Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani and his cabinet took the oath of office on Sunday after lawmakers approved the lineup, but will struggle to rule a country where a rival parliament sits in the capital Tripoli. Libya is struggling with anarchy as two governments compete
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Most of the prisoners freed from Yemen’s national security headquarters in Sana’a by Houthi rebels on Wednesday were Iranian military personnel and members of Lebanese Hezbollah, a Yemeni intelligence source told Asharq Al-Awsat, as clashes reignited in the capital early on S
Hong Kong, Reuters—Central Hong Kong descended into chaos on Sunday as chanting pro-democracy protesters converged on police barricades surrounding their colleagues despite the territory’s leader calling for a halt to “illegal” demonstrations. Chanting “remove the blockade,&#
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syria’s Kurdish fighters, who are battling the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in a strategic border town, have threatened to disrupt the peace process with Turkey if it fails to provide them with military support, Asharq Al-Awsat has learned. “The peace process betwee
The world has finally come to realize that the complete eradication of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Nusra Front, Ahrar Al-Sham and all other terrorist organizations in Syria will not be possible without the establishment of a central authority in Damascus that can effectively gover
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—MTV Lebanon’s new weekly show Deprived of Freedom hopes to reduce crime rates by allowing its audience a window into the criminal lives of the country’s prisoners. According to programmer and presenter Samir Youssef, the aim of the show is to raise awareness of criminal
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Forces with links to Iran and Shi’ite Lebanese militia Hezbollah are helping Houthi rebels to strengthen their hold on the Yemeni capital Sana’a, intelligence sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Elements affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah,
United Nations, AP—Facing pressure at home to come up with a new strategy for achieving Palestinian statehood, Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he would ask the UN Security Council to dictate the ground rules for any talks with Israel, including setting a deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from Pales
Hong Kong, Reuters—Hong Kong riot police used pepper spray to disperse protesters around government headquarters on Saturday, fueling tension ahead of a planned sit-in by pro-democracy activists to protest against Beijing’s tightening grip on the city. Clashes through the night between p
Amman, Asharq Al-Awsat—Two of Jordan’s Salafist preachers, Abu Qatada and Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, can lead Islamist efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Hashemite Kingdom, experts claim. The newly released preachers, considered respected authorities within Salafis
Nouakchott, Asharq Al-Awsat—Mauritanians are thrilled that Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu is in the running for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2015 Oscars. It is the first time that a film by a Mauritanian director has received the prestigious nomination. The emotional drama, revolving aro
It is no exaggeration to say that we will pay a hefty price if we continue to neglect the tragic situation in Libya. News coming out of this Arab country indicates that things are going from bad to worse and fighting between the warring militias is becoming more ferocious, while the world continues
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Members of UK parliament voted in favor of Britain’s involvement in air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq on Friday. The motion passed in the House of Commons does not authorize air strikes in Syria. Downing Street said a small number of
