London, Asharq Al-Awsat—British Prime Minister David Cameron warned on Sunday that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) posed a threat to British and European security and promised new measures to combat the organization. Writing in London’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper, Cameron said: “The creat
Cairo/Jerusalem, Reuters—Hamas rejected on Saturday as insufficient offers made in Cairo to Palestinian negotiators seeking to end Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, and raised the possibility of renewed fighting when the current truce expires. Israel said it had also not yet accepted any p
We are witnessing a unique situation in which different countries, parties and tribes now have no choice but to take a position against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ISIS is the reason behind a strange gathering of opponents. Most of the Iraqi forces—whether Sunni, Shi’ite
The head of a prominent Sunni Arab tribe in Iraq has said that Arab Sunni leaders and clerics in Sunni-majority provinces are prepared to join the new government, but only if certain “conditions” are met. The news reports that covered this statement failed to clarify precisely what these “conditions
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Drones targeted the area near Iraq’s largest dam on Saturday in a bid to drive away militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It was unclear whether airstrikes were carried out by US or Iraqi forces. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, a senior Peshm
Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat—There is only a slight chance that indirect, Cairo-brokered talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis will lead to an overreaching permanent settlement over the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian delegation member told Asharq Al-Awsat. Bassam Al-Salhi, a member of the Pa
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan described the first civil trial against a bank under the Anti-Terrorism Act in the US, which centers around his account at the Arab Bank’s Al-Mazra branch in Beirut, as being politically-motivated. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamdan said
Algiers, Reuters—Algeria named all 23 players from their World Cup squad and eight more considered unlucky to miss the final cut for Brazil for their opening qualifiers for next year’s African Nations Cup finals, the country’s soccer federation said on Friday. Crystal Palace midfie
Baghdad, Reuters—Militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) “massacred” some 80 members of Iraq’s Yazidi minority in a village in the country’s north, a Yazidi lawmaker and two Kurdish officials said on Friday. “They arrived in vehicles and they sta
Islamabad, Reuters—The leaders of two Pakistani protest movements vowed on Saturday to keep their protests alive until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns, after thousands entered the country’s capital in the biggest challenge yet to the 15-month-old civilian government. “I will no
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Iraqi military is seeking the assistance of Saddam Hussein-era military officials in a bid to stem the advance of “terrorist” groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) which continues its advance in central and northern parts of the country. In
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Everything about it is mysterious, from its emergence and organization to its leader, the so-called “Caliph” Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, not to mention its strange, rapid expansion. According to figures provided by the intelligen
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—A London-born rapper who joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and who tweeted a controversial image of himself holding the decapitated head of a Syrian soldier, had been under “psychological pressure” after his father’s arrest. Abdel-Majid
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Doha has said it will no longer offer Qatari citizenship to citizens of other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in a bid to contain a diplomatic row with neighbor states who accuse it of threatening their national security. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, a senior G
Baghdad, Reuters—Nuri Al-Maliki finally bowed to pressure within Iraq and beyond on Thursday and stepped down as prime minister, paving the way for a new coalition that world and regional powers hope can quash a Sunni Islamist insurgency that threatens Baghdad. Maliki ended eight years of ofte
Pitigliano, (Italy), AP–Several hundred mourners packed the ornate cathedral of this hilltop Tuscan town on Friday to remember Associated Press video journalist Simone Camilli as a committed storyteller who had found personal and professional contentment in the Middle East. An image of Camilli
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s photo can be seen regularly on the cover of Western news magazines, and international television channels offer constant footage on various aspects of his checkered career. As the latest bête-noire of Western political and intellectual circles, Putin is also the su
Kamensk-Shakhtinsky (Russia), Reuters—Dozens of heavy Russian military vehicles massed on Friday near the border with Ukraine, while Ukrainian border guards crossed the frontier to inspect a huge Russian aid convoy. Kiev has said the humanitarian aid might be used as cover for a Russian milita
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and self-proclaimed caliph Abu-Bakr Al-Baghdadi fled the northern city of Mosul to return to Syrian territory after the US authorized airstrikes on ISIS positions in Iraq, a Kurdish official said. In comments to Asharq
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—After a damaging seven-year split between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank, the Palestinian unity government that was sworn into office at the beginning of June seemed to herald a renewal of ties and the opening of a new era of cooperation between the two moveme
