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Israel Revokes Order to Cut AP Live Gaza Video Feed 

A ship transporting international humanitarian aid is moored at the US-built Trident Pier as Palestinians walk along a main road near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas group. (AFP)
A ship transporting international humanitarian aid is moored at the US-built Trident Pier as Palestinians walk along a main road near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas group. (AFP)
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Israel Revokes Order to Cut AP Live Gaza Video Feed 

A ship transporting international humanitarian aid is moored at the US-built Trident Pier as Palestinians walk along a main road near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas group. (AFP)
A ship transporting international humanitarian aid is moored at the US-built Trident Pier as Palestinians walk along a main road near Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas group. (AFP)

Israel walked back its decision to shut down an Associated Press live video feed of war-torn Gaza on Tuesday, following a protest from the US news agency and concern from the White House.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said he had revoked an earlier order that accused the AP of breaching a new ban on providing rolling footage of Gaza to Qatar-based satellite channel Al Jazeera.

"I have now ordered to cancel the operation and return the equipment to the AP agency," Karhi said in a statement, after Washington called on Israel to reverse the move.

"We've been engaging directly with the government of Israel to express our concerns over this action and to ask them to reverse it," a White House spokesperson said.

Karhi's original order earlier Tuesday said communications ministry inspectors had "confiscated the equipment" of AP on orders approved by the government "in accordance with the law".

AP said Israeli officials had seized its camera and broadcasting equipment at a location in the Israeli town of Sderot that overlooks the northern Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued after the order, the news agency said it "decries in the strongest terms" the move by the Israeli government.

Reacting after Israeli officials ordered the equipment to be returned, it added: "While we are pleased with this development, we remain concerned about the Israeli government's use of the foreign broadcaster law and the ability of independent journalists to operate freely in Israel."

AP said Al Jazeera was among thousands of clients that receive live video feeds from the agency.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the government "went crazy".

"This is not Al Jazeera, this is an American media outlet that has won 53 Pulitzer Prizes," he wrote on social media platform X.

- 'Attack on press freedom' -

AFP global news director Phil Chetwynd said Israel's initial order was "an attack on press freedom".

"The free flow of verified information and images from reliable sources is vital in the current highly-charged context," he said in a statement.

"We would urge the authorities to immediately reverse this decision and to allow all journalists to work freely and without hindrance."

The United Nations said it was "shocking".

"The Associated Press, of all news organizations, should be allowed to do its work freely and free of any harassment," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera was taken off the air in Israel this month after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government voted to shut it down over its coverage of the Gaza war.

Al Jazeera's Jerusalem offices were shuttered, its equipment confiscated, and its team's accreditations pulled.

The AP said communications ministry officials arrived at its location in Sderot on Tuesday afternoon and seized the equipment.

It said officials had handed the AP a piece of paper, signed by the communications minister, alleging it was violating the country's new foreign broadcast law.

The ministry later confirmed the incident.

It said the US news agency regularly took images of Gaza from the balcony of a house in Sderot, "including focusing on the activities of IDF (army) soldiers and their location".

"Even though the inspectors of the Ministry of Communications warned them that they were breaking the law and that they should cut off Al Jazeera from receiving their content and not transfer a broadcast to Al Jazeera, they continued to do so," it said.

- 'Outrageous censorship' -

The AP said it had been broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza before its equipment was seized, and that the live feed has generally shown smoke rising over the Palestinian territory.

"The AP complies with Israel's military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcasts of details like troops movements that could endanger soldiers," the agency added.

The Foreign Press Association in Israel said it was "alarmed" by the confiscation of the AP's equipment, calling it "a slippery slope".

It denounced Israel's "dismal" record on press freedom during the Gaza war, and called the move against AP "outrageous censorship".

In the 2024 press freedom index by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Israel ranked 101st out of 180 countries -- dropping four positions from the previous year.

After the order to restore AP's equipment was announced, RSF said on X that it was "good to see a rapid reversal of this outrageous decision, but @AP never should have been blocked".

"The ban on @AlJazeera must also be immediately reversed - and the international community should show the same support it showed today," it added.

The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Hamas also took 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 35,647 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

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Arab World

Iraqi Politicians Sentenced to Prison in Oil Corruption Case

A scene from a session of Iraq's parliament (Social media)
A scene from a session of Iraq's parliament (Social media)
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Iraqi Politicians Sentenced to Prison in Oil Corruption Case

A scene from a session of Iraq's parliament (Social media)
A scene from a session of Iraq's parliament (Social media)

Iraq's judiciary announced Thursday that two senior Sunni politicians had been sentenced to prison for profiting from contracts involving oil refinery companies, as part of a government anti-corruption campaign launched in June.

Muthanna al-Samarrai, leader of Iraq's second-largest Sunni political alliance, was sentenced to six years in prison, while lawmaker Ziad al-Janabi, former chairman of parliament's Integrity Committee, received a five-year sentence.

The Federal Commission of Integrity said in a statement that the two were convicted of benefiting from contracts involving the North and South Refineries companies.

The court also ordered Samarrai to repay 30 billion Iraqi dinars, which the commission said he had obtained by acting as an intermediary in the contracts. Janabi was ordered to return 4 billion dinars that he had gained from the same deals, according to the statement.

Samarrai was arrested on June 28, 2026, in a sweeping crackdown on current and former lawmakers and officials accused of corruption. Local media dubbed the operation "Dawn Assault."

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi launched the campaign after taking office in May, pledging to pursue those implicated in corruption. But the crackdown later lost momentum amid political pressure, according to local media reports.

The refinery case centers partly on Adnan al-Jumaili, a former Oil Ministry official, and allegations of illicit benefits and commissions from government contracts.

Samarrai was prosecuted under Article 319 of Iraq's Penal Code, which prohibits public employees and those entrusted with public duties from benefiting, directly or indirectly, from contracts or projects tied to their official responsibilities.

The rulings follow a string of judicial actions against current and former lawmakers and officials, including Alia Nassif, Talal al-Zobaie, Mohammed al-Karbouli, Baha al-Nouri, Hassan al-Khafaji, Bushra al-Qaisi and Hind al-Abbasi, as well as Oil Ministry officials.

Several wanted officials remain at large, according to available information. Among them is former Labor and Social Affairs Minister Ahmed al-Asadi, who previously led an armed faction within the Popular Mobilization Forces.

Crackdown falls short, former anti-graft chief says

Mousa Faraj, a former head of Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity, said al-Zaidi's campaign marked progress from earlier periods when government decisions helped shield corrupt officials or obstruct oversight bodies and the judiciary.

The campaign had delivered results in the refinery corruption case, drawing on testimony provided by Jumaili to judicial authorities, and had made headway in illicit enrichment investigations, Faraj said.

But he warned that the crackdown remained too narrow, leaving major corruption cases involving currency transactions, real estate, oil smuggling and ghost employees largely outside its reach.

Faraj told Asharq Al-Awsat that the campaign had also failed to hold political blocs accountable for officials accused of corruption, despite their influence and the benefits they derived from some of those implicated.

He said the campaign's effectiveness would hinge on widening investigations, tackling major corruption cases and preventing political blocs from simply replacing convicted members with other candidates from their ranks.

Political power-sharing drives up investment costs

Corruption continues to weigh on Iraq's economy, driving up business costs, obstructing development and discouraging domestic investment, said Nabil al-Marsoumi, an economics professor at the University of Basra.

Marsoumi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the crackdown was a positive step, citing the detention of prominent figures and the recovery of substantial public funds. But he said it had yet to reach everyone involved.

Lasting progress, he said, would require pursuing corruption across all levels of government and cutting off its sources, particularly the system of partisan and political power-sharing.

He also called for stronger, more independent oversight institutions capable of carrying out their duties.

Prison sentences remain open to appeal

Legal expert Saif al-Saadi said both convictions rested on Article 319 of Iraq's Penal Code, which penalizes public employees and those entrusted with public duties who profit, directly or through intermediaries, from contracts or projects they help prepare, award, execute or oversee, or receive commissions linked to them.

The orders to repay the money were based on the amended Federal Commission of Integrity and Illicit Gains Law No. 30 of 2011, particularly Article 19, Saadi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said criminal court verdicts could be challenged before the Federal Court of Cassation within 30 days of the ruling.

If upheld, the sentences would become final, allowing the remaining legal procedures to proceed.

Any vacancies left by Samarrai and Janabi in parliament would be governed by Iraq's Law on the Replacement of Members of Parliament once the verdicts became final and the necessary legal requirements were met, Saadi said.

Arab World

Aoun Says No Progress Made in Talks, Berri Warns Against Ending UNIFIL Mission

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan (Lebanese Presidency)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan (Lebanese Presidency)
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Aoun Says No Progress Made in Talks, Berri Warns Against Ending UNIFIL Mission

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan (Lebanese Presidency)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan (Lebanese Presidency)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to diplomatic and negotiated solutions to disputes, saying that negotiations with Israel have yet to yield the desired progress. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warned of the dangers of ending the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon before UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is fully implemented and Israeli occupation ends completely.

The two leaders made their remarks during separate meetings with German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan, who also met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Beirut.

The meetings focused on developments in Lebanon and the wider region, ways to strengthen cooperation between Lebanon and Germany, and European support for Lebanese institutions.

Aoun: Diplomacy, not military force, key to stability

Aoun said Lebanon remained committed to diplomacy and negotiations to resolve conflicts, arguing that wars had failed to achieve their intended goals and that military force alone could not secure lasting stability.

He called for an end to Israeli attacks and compliance with existing agreements, warning that continued military operations and strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure were deepening suffering and undermining efforts to restore stability.

Residents of southern Lebanon, he said, needed security and reassurance to return to their normal lives.

Aoun: No breakthrough in talks with Israel

Aoun said Lebanon had put four key issues on the negotiating table: a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, border demarcation and prisoners. But the progress Beirut sought had yet to materialize, he said.

Aoun stressed that the Lebanese state and army were ready to address security concerns through official channels and established coordination mechanisms rather than military action.

He urged Europe to step up support for the Lebanese army, citing its role in maintaining stability, fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, securing borders and combating irregular migration.

Backing Lebanon's military and security institutions, he said, was a direct investment in regional stability that would also bolster European security, given the close ties across the Mediterranean.

On economic reforms, Aoun said Lebanon was pressing ahead with the International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions to complete reforms and rebuild confidence in its economy.

He also voiced hope that Germany would help finance reconstruction, particularly through any framework developed under World Bank leadership in coordination with the Lebanese government.

Aoun called for a gradual shift from emergency aid toward a lasting economic and development partnership.

Berri warns against UNIFIL withdrawal before full implementation of Resolution 1701

Berri, meeting Alabali-Radovan alongside German Ambassador Thomas Seidel, raised concerns over continued Israeli attacks and the destruction of villages and towns in southern Lebanon.

He accused Israel of disregarding international resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 1701, as well as agreements reached in 2024 and the latest framework agreement, both brokered by the United States.

With the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) set to expire at the end of the year, Berri warned against ending its mission before Resolution 1701 is fully implemented and Israeli occupation ends completely.

He also called for stronger ties between Lebanon, Germany and the European Union, alongside continued support for the Lebanese army.

Salam seeks support for southern Lebanon's recovery

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam thanked Germany for its continued support, stressing the need to help southern Lebanon recover and rebuild.

He also called for assistance to enable displaced residents to return to their villages and strengthen the Lebanese state's capabilities.

Germany backs reforms, warns against security vacuum in south

Alabali-Radovan reaffirmed Germany's support for Lebanon's reform efforts, stronger state institutions and better living conditions, particularly for those hardest hit by the country's crisis.

Speaking after meeting Aoun at the presidential palace, she said Berlin was seeing progress in the Lebanese government's reforms and would continue supporting its institutions.

German cooperation, she said, would focus on better governance and transparency, economic growth, vocational training and rebuilding infrastructure in affected areas.

On UNIFIL's future, she said Germany was closely monitoring developments and warned against leaving a vacuum.

"We are monitoring the situation closely, and of course there must be no vacuum in this regard," she said.

Alabali-Radovan also pledged continued German backing for the Lebanese army, calling it a cornerstone of national stability.

"Germany wants to support the Lebanese army because it is indeed a fundamental pillar of the country's stability, and we will do so now and in the future," she said.

Arab World

Intensive Strikes Target Houthis Amid Suspicions of Toxic Shells Used by Militias

Smoke billows from a site that was targeted west of the city of Taiz, on October 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows from a site that was targeted west of the city of Taiz, on October 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Intensive Strikes Target Houthis Amid Suspicions of Toxic Shells Used by Militias

Smoke billows from a site that was targeted west of the city of Taiz, on October 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows from a site that was targeted west of the city of Taiz, on October 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Fighting has intensified across Yemen, with battles spreading to several provinces as Operation "Dawn of Yemen" entered its 25th day and Houthi attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure continued in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition said Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward the kingdom's Eastern Province early on Thursday.

Yemen's armed forces said on Thursday evening they had carried out 982 strikes on Houthi positions and fortifications in 24 hours, killing or incapacitating 324 commanders and fighters and destroying 108 military vehicles.

The strikes came as Operation "Dawn of Yemen," launched by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi to reclaim Houthi-held territory and restore state authority, entered its 25th day.

Authorities in Taiz called for an urgent investigation into reports that Houthi forces had fired shells suspected of containing internationally banned toxic substances.

They said earlier incidents had left civilians and soldiers suffering breathing difficulties, with some losing consciousness, and called for specialized testing to establish whether the symptoms were linked to substances released by the shells.

The authorities urged investigators to document witness accounts, medical records and reported cases, and identify any substances used. They also called on the United Nations and international organizations to support the inquiry and hold those responsible accountable if the allegations were confirmed.

Health officials in Taiz said Houthi shelling struck an ambulance on Wednesday as it tried to evacuate an injured civilian from a village in the al-Awat area, west of al-Shaqab in the Sabr al-Mawadim district, south of Taiz city.

The ambulance was badly damaged and put out of service.

The strike came amid heavy shelling of villages around Jabal Sabr, the officials said. They also reported that another ambulance had been hit by a shell the previous week and that Houthis had looted 15 ambulances from health offices and medical centers across several districts.

Aden airport reopens after missile strikes

Fighting spread from the outskirts of Taiz to fronts in Lahj province, Dhubab and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as coalition warplanes stepped up strikes along Yemen's western coast and Houthi missiles again targeted Aden International Airport.

Aden airport resumed operations on Thursday after engineers repaired runway damage caused by Houthi ballistic missile strikes the previous day.

Aviation sources said technical teams had worked intensively to restore the runway and allow flights to resume.

The Houthis fired two ballistic missiles at the airport on Wednesday, one at 1 p.m. local time and another at 3 p.m.

This frame grab taken from AFPTV video footage on October 28, 2026 shows smoke rising after a missile targeted Yemen's Aden airport for the second time. (Photo by AFPTV / AFP)

The group, which had demanded the airport be evacuated before the strikes, claimed it was targeting a military cargo aircraft. Airport security sources, however, reported no casualties or material damage.

The attacks drew widespread condemnation over the targeting of a civilian airport.

Critics said the Houthis' warnings to civilians on social media shortly before the strikes did not absolve the group of criminal responsibility and amounted to psychological pressure and intimidation against civilians and travelers.

Yemen's Transport Ministry condemned the attacks, saying the latest two strikes brought the number targeting the airport to six in recent days.

It warned that the shelling endangered passengers, aircrews and airport workers, threatened air traffic and posed serious risks to humanitarian and relief operations.

The ministry held the Houthis fully responsible and urged the international community and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to act urgently to protect civilian facilities and ensure aviation safety.

Yemenia Airways said it had diverted flights bound for Aden to Djibouti airport following the shelling.

The airline said the disruption was beyond its control and that the diversions were necessary to protect passengers, crews and aircraft and comply with aviation safety requirements.

Fighting spreads along western front

Ground fighting widened to the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Dhubab district, where military sources said government forces had repelled Houthi infiltration attempts.

The Houthis said they had attacked government positions in the two areas with ballistic missiles and heavy weapons.

In northwestern Lahj province, the Southern Giants Brigades struck Houthi concentrations along the al-Mudaraba and al-Subaiha front, inflicting casualties as clashes involving various weapons erupted.

Coalition warplanes backed the ground operations with a series of strikes along the western coast, including four targeting Houthi positions and movements near the port city of Mokha.

Other airstrikes hit Houthi fortifications in Jabal al-Nar, east of Mokha.

Government forces also repelled an attack on Kahlan and Hamma villages in the al-Misrakh district, west of Taiz, while military units continued clearing recently recaptured positions along the al-Dhabab front, around Jabal Han and near the old airport.

Artillery exchanges continued along the al-Shaqab, al-Aqrud and Sameh fronts in eastern and southern Taiz province.