Yemeni Officer Succumbs to Houthi Sniper Shot in Hodeidah

Yemeni local coast guards talk to each other after their deployment at Hodeidah port in Hodeidah, Yemen May 13, 2019. (Reuters)
Yemeni local coast guards talk to each other after their deployment at Hodeidah port in Hodeidah, Yemen May 13, 2019. (Reuters)
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Yemeni Officer Succumbs to Houthi Sniper Shot in Hodeidah

Yemeni local coast guards talk to each other after their deployment at Hodeidah port in Hodeidah, Yemen May 13, 2019. (Reuters)
Yemeni local coast guards talk to each other after their deployment at Hodeidah port in Hodeidah, Yemen May 13, 2019. (Reuters)

A Yemeni officer died in Aden on Friday after succumbing to a gunshot by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in the coastal city of Hodeidah.

Mohammed al-Sulihi was shot by a Houthi sniper in March while he was manning a United Nations observation post on the outskirts of the city.

The legitimate Yemeni government had criticized the UN for failing to transfer him abroad where he could receive better medical treatment.

UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths tweeted his condolences, saying: “My deepest condolences for the tragic death of Col. Al-Sulihi to the Government of Yemen and his family. He was shot in Hodeidah in a deplorable and unacceptable attack. He will be remembered for his service in support of bringing peace to his country.”

The envoy’s “mild” condemnation was criticized by Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani, who accused Griffiths and head of the UN mission to Hodeidah of “shirking” their duties and failing to “clearly” condemn the attack against Sulihi.

He also accused them of failing to act after his health deteriorated.

Eryani stressed that Sulihi’s death demonstrates again that the Houthis never fulfill their pledges and cannot be trusted as real partners in peace.

Head of the government team at the Hodeidah redeployment committee, Mohammed Ayda, offered his condolences over the officer’s death, saying it also marked the “death” of the Stockholm agreement.

President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi sent a cable of condolences to Sulihi’s family, hailing his “national role in cementing peace and enforcing the ceasefire” in line with the Hodeidah agreement.

Saudi-led Arab coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki, meanwhile, slammed the Houthi escalation against civilians, which underscores their rejection of all efforts and initiatives to reach a ceasefire.

The coalition said the militias had fired a ballistic missile towards civilian locations in the city of Marib.



Israeli Troops Kill Hamas Man Who Army Says Attacked Post in West Bank

A protester hurls stones at members of the Israeli forces as they clash in the village of Kfar Qaddum, in the occupied West Bank, on September 29, 2023, during a demonstration against expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A protester hurls stones at members of the Israeli forces as they clash in the village of Kfar Qaddum, in the occupied West Bank, on September 29, 2023, during a demonstration against expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
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Israeli Troops Kill Hamas Man Who Army Says Attacked Post in West Bank

A protester hurls stones at members of the Israeli forces as they clash in the village of Kfar Qaddum, in the occupied West Bank, on September 29, 2023, during a demonstration against expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)
A protester hurls stones at members of the Israeli forces as they clash in the village of Kfar Qaddum, in the occupied West Bank, on September 29, 2023, during a demonstration against expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Israeli soldiers on Friday killed a member of the Hamas group who the army said was among assailants who threw fire bombs at a military post in the occupied West Bank.

The military said the attack on the post was near Psagot, an Israeli settlement.

"Soldiers conducting routine activity at the scene identified the suspects and responded with live fire. Two assailants were neutralized and transferred to receive medical treatment," Reuters quoted the army.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said one of the men later died of his wounds. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip but has strong support in the West Bank as well, claimed the man as a member.

Violence in the West Bank has raged for more than a year, amid stepped-up Israeli military raids, increased settler assaults on Palestinian villages, and a spate of Palestinian attacks on Israelis.


Syrian Kurdish Fighters Say They've Captured Senior ISIS Militant

ISIS militants - AFP/File Photo
ISIS militants - AFP/File Photo
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Syrian Kurdish Fighters Say They've Captured Senior ISIS Militant

ISIS militants - AFP/File Photo
ISIS militants - AFP/File Photo

Syrian Kurdish fighters and American forces have captured a senior member of the ISIS group, a militant described as one of its “key facilitators," the force said Friday.

Mahmdouh Ibrahim al-Haji, also known as Abu Youssef, was taken into custody on Thursday in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, according to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, just days after the US military said it had captured another ISIS operator in northern Syria.

According to a statement from the Syrian Kurdish fighters, al-Haji “was actively involved in enabling ... terrorist cells in the region.” It added that the joint force raided his hideout west of Raqqa, "and successfully apprehended him.”

Despite their defeat in Syria in March 2019, ISIS sleeper cells are still able to carry out deadly attacks that have killed scores of people over the past year.

According to The AP, the US has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering the remnants of ISIS, which had held a wide swath of the country until 2019.

ISIS declared a self-styled caliphate across the territory in Syria and Iraq that it seized in 2014. It was declared defeated in Iraq in 2017, following a three-year battle that left tens of thousands of people dead and cities in ruins.

UN experts said last month that ISIS still commands between 5,000 and 7,000 members across its former stronghold in Syria and Iraq and that its fighters pose the most serious threat in Afghanistan today.


Palestinian Security Force Deploys in School Compound in Lebanon Refugee Camp

A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
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Palestinian Security Force Deploys in School Compound in Lebanon Refugee Camp

A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A member of the joint Palestinian security force stands guard in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A Palestinian security force deployed Friday in a school complex in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp in the country’s south, replacing gunmen who had occupied it since fighting broke out in late July leaving more than 30 people dead.

The deployment raises hopes that a nearly two-week ceasefire can hold at the Ain el-Hilweh camp near the southern port city of Sidon and that school buildings can be restored. On Sept. 14, members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group and two militant factions, Jund al Sham and Shabab al Muslim, agreed to a cessation of hostilities.

The complex includes eight schools. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has been urging gunmen from various factions who had dug into position in around the compound to evacuate the area ahead of the school year that is supposed to start in early October.

In the afternoon, a security force of 55 armed fighters who had been considered neutral in the recent clashes — from factions including Hamas, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Asbat al-Ansar — took over the badly damaged compound.


Four More Officials Held after Libya Flood Disaster

People clean their homes which were impacted by fatal floods in Derna, Libya, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
People clean their homes which were impacted by fatal floods in Derna, Libya, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
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Four More Officials Held after Libya Flood Disaster

People clean their homes which were impacted by fatal floods in Derna, Libya, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
People clean their homes which were impacted by fatal floods in Derna, Libya, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

Libya's prosecutor general has ordered the arrest of four more officials, bringing to 12 the number held as part of an inquiry into this month's flood that killed thousands.

Flooding caused by hurricane-strength Storm Daniel tore through eastern Libya on September 10, leaving at least 3,893 people dead and thousands more missing.

The seaside city of Derna was the worst-hit in the flash flood, which witnesses likened to a tsunami. It burst through two dams and washed entire neighborhoods into the Mediterranean.

The four additional suspects, including two members of the Derna municipal council, were arrested for suspected "bad management of the administrative and financial missions which were incumbent upon them", said a statement issued overnight Thursday-Friday by the prosecutor general's office in Tripoli, western Libya.

On Monday the office ordered the arrest of eight officials, including Derna's mayor who was sacked after the flood.


Netherlands Deploys More Troops to NATO Mission in Iraq

Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Netherlands Deploys More Troops to NATO Mission in Iraq

Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

The Netherlands will deploy around another 120 soldiers and three Chinook transport helicopters to the ongoing NATO alliance mission in Iraq, the Dutch government said on Friday.

The deployment is in addition to the infantry unit of around 145 soldiers the Netherlands said in July they would send to Iraq from Jan. 1, 2024.

NATO says its non-combat mission in Iraq is aimed at strengthening Iraqi security institutions and forces so they can prevent the return of ISIS, fight terrorism and stabilize the country.

The new Dutch unit will primarily be used to supply food and equipment to troops and for transport of military staff and equipment.


Tunisia’s Ghannouchi Starts 3-Day Hunger Strike in Prison

FILE PHOTO: Tunisia's Rached Ghannouchi is surrounded by presidential guard members upon his arrival for questioning after he was summoned by Tunisian anti-terrorism police in Tunis, Tunisia April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tunisia's Rached Ghannouchi is surrounded by presidential guard members upon his arrival for questioning after he was summoned by Tunisian anti-terrorism police in Tunis, Tunisia April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo
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Tunisia’s Ghannouchi Starts 3-Day Hunger Strike in Prison

FILE PHOTO: Tunisia's Rached Ghannouchi is surrounded by presidential guard members upon his arrival for questioning after he was summoned by Tunisian anti-terrorism police in Tunis, Tunisia April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tunisia's Rached Ghannouchi is surrounded by presidential guard members upon his arrival for questioning after he was summoned by Tunisian anti-terrorism police in Tunis, Tunisia April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File Photo

Jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has begun a three-day hunger strike in support of other imprisoned opposition figures, his Ennahda party said on Friday.

Ghannouchi, 82, was sentenced to a year in jail in May on charges of incitement and plotting against state security. More than 20 other opposition figures have been detained this year.

An Ennahda party statement said its leader had launched the three-day action to support fellow jailed opposition figures who are protesting at what they say is unjust imprisonment.

Jawher Ben Mbarak, a prominent opposition figure who has been detained for more than seven months, began an open-ended hunger strike this week, arguing that his jailing was politically motivated.

President Kais Saied has called his critics criminals, traitors and terrorists and warned that any judge who freed them would be considered to be abetting them.

Ghannouchi was parliament speaker from the 2019 election and his party was the biggest in the legislature until Saied sent tanks to shut it down in 2021.


Successive Egyptian-Iranian Moves Increase Chances of Improving Relations

Ghalibaf during a meeting with the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament (Mehr News Agency)
Ghalibaf during a meeting with the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament (Mehr News Agency)
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Successive Egyptian-Iranian Moves Increase Chances of Improving Relations

Ghalibaf during a meeting with the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament (Mehr News Agency)
Ghalibaf during a meeting with the Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament (Mehr News Agency)

Political, economic and parliamentary movements between Egypt and Iran have increased the chances of improving ties between the two countries, heralding the return of relations between Cairo and Tehran.

Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament Hanafi Gebaly and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stressed “the importance of cooperation between Egypt and Iran,” during their meeting in Johannesburg, days after talks between Egyptian Minister of Finance and the Iranian Minister of Economy, and another meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

The past period has witnessed frequent Iranian statements regarding rapprochement with Cairo. In remarks in May, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian expressed hope that relations with Egypt would witness “mutual development and openness.”

On Wednesday, Gebaly met with Ghalibaf on the sidelines of the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Johannesburg. Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that the meeting came in light of “increasing diplomatic movements in recent months to improve relations between the two countries.”

The agency quoted the Iranian official as saying that Egypt has always been “an influential country in history and Islam, and we must try to strengthen the relationship between Islamic countries in West Asia and the North Africa region.”

For his part, Gebaly said: “I believe that by participating in the BRICS group, we are on the right path towards the two countries’ development. We must try to increase bilateral relations and cooperation on various levels.”

In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister and member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Rakha Ahmed Hassan, said that the recent Egyptian-Iranian meetings signaled the near return of diplomatic relations.

In July, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid noted that as the result of the development in Iranian-Gulf relations during the recent period, “some expect that it is normal for Egyptian-Iranian ties to witness a similar progress.”

He added: “Interaction and communication are always present and have not been interrupted at any stage.”

On the sidelines of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) meeting in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh this month, Egyptian Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait and Iranian Minister of Economy Sayyed Ehsan Khandozi, discussed bilateral and trade relations.

In remarks on the occasion, Khandozi stressed that Iran is “ready to develop cooperation in the field of Asian banking and infrastructure.”
He also proposed the formation of a joint committee between the Iranian Deputy Minister of Economy and the Egyptian Deputy Minister of Finance to maintain communication and follow up on the planned projects.

For his part, the Egyptian Minister of Finance pointed to his country’s readiness to implement the proposals presented by his Iranian counterpart, saying: “Egypt believes that it is important to expand and develop relations with Iran.”

Also this month, discussions took place between the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in New York.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that the meeting opened a “new horizon” in the course of relations between the two countries.

The Arab World News Agency also quoted the Egyptian Foreign Minister as saying that there were “positive signs” regarding relations between Egypt and Iran.


King Mohammed VI Grants Pardon to 742 Detainees on Prophet’s Birthday

The King of Morocco presiding over a religious ceremony in Rabat. (MAP)
The King of Morocco presiding over a religious ceremony in Rabat. (MAP)
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King Mohammed VI Grants Pardon to 742 Detainees on Prophet’s Birthday

The King of Morocco presiding over a religious ceremony in Rabat. (MAP)
The King of Morocco presiding over a religious ceremony in Rabat. (MAP)

Marking Prophet’s birthday, King Mohammed VI has granted pardon to 742 detainees, sentenced by various courts across the country, according to a press release from the Ministry of Justice.

Beneficiaries of the Royal Pardon in detention amount to 528 detainees, including 22 convicts who benefited from pardon over their remaining prison terms.

About 503 detainees had their prison sentence commuted, while 3 detainees saw their life imprisonment commuted to a fixed-term sentence.

Beneficiaries of the Royal Pardon who are free amount to 214, including 50 inmates that benefited from pardon over their prison sentence or its remainder.

The number also includes 8 people who benefited from pardon over their prison sentence with their fines maintained.

This category also features 146 people who saw their fines annulled, while nine others saw both their prison and fine sentences annulled.

One person benefited from pardon over the remainder of their prison term and had their fine annulled.

King Mohammed VI presided over a religious ceremony on Wednesday evening at the Hassan Mosque in Rabat, in commemoration of Prophet’s birthday. The Sovereign was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid, Prince Moulay Ahmed, and Prince Moulay Ismail.

The Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, presented the report on the activities of the Ulemas of the Supreme Council and local councils, before handing over the report to the Sovereign.

Toufiq also assured that the scholars, through their main task of “Tabligh” or communication, are working to establish a sound methodology based on their rich experience.

Subsequently, the King awarded the Mohammed VI Prize for Islamic Thought and to Ibrahim Id Ibrahim from the city of Agadir. This prize is awarded annually to reward eminent scientific personalities and encourage them to conduct research in the field of Islamic studies, in accordance with the teachings of the noble Sharia, which advocates the pursuit of knowledge and encourages its beneficial use.

The King was then greeted by Hamza Sabou from the city of Tangier, who received the International Mohammed VI Prize for Memorization, Recitation, and Exegesis of the Holy Quran from the Sovereign.

The Sovereign also presented the International Mohammed VI Prize for Quranic Recitation with Memorization of five Hizbs to Omar Ben Abdelaziz El Baridi from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


Lebanon’s Central Bank: No Funding for the State, Neither in LBP nor in USD

Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Beirut
Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Beirut
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Lebanon’s Central Bank: No Funding for the State, Neither in LBP nor in USD

Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Beirut
Economic, Social and Environmental Council in Beirut

Acting Governor of Banque du Liban (BDL), Dr. Wassim Mansouri, said that the policy of the central bank would not change, reiterating that there would be no funding for the state, “neither in Lebanese pounds nor in US dollars.”

He also called for holding a joint workshop to respond to the citizens’ inquiries about their deposits in US dollars.

Mansouri was speaking during a meeting at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESC), where he outlined the BDL’s financial and monetary policies.

Mansouri assumed the position of acting governor of the BDL on the first of August, after the expiry of the term of Governor Riad Salameh.

Since the beginning of his duty, he has refused to use the Central Bank’s reserve funds, and has refrained from disbursing amounts to cover major government expenses, if legal cover was not available for them.
Mansouri stressed that the state would continue to pay public sector salaries in US dollars.

“We, as the Central Bank of Lebanon, agree to this mechanism from a purely monetary standpoint. This ensures living and social stability for about 400,000 families,” he stated.

However, the acting governor noted that these amounts were entirely derived from the revenues of the Lebanese state, not from the Central Bank. He explained that not a single dollar has been paid by the BDL since the beginning of August to finance the state.

Mansouri called for the holding of a joint workshop that includes representatives from the government, Parliament, the central bank, and the Economic Council, to give answers to the citizens regarding their stranded bank deposits in US dollars.

“The Central Bank is a strong institution and has capabilities. Diligent work is underway to improve all its governance mechanisms,” he said, calling on the Lebanese people to “trust the institution.”

In response to a question about whether more Lebanese pounds would be printed to maintain monetary stability, Mansouri stressed that there would be no change in the Central Bank’s policy.

“There will be no funding for the state, neither in lira nor in dollars, which means that, in principle, there’s stability, and the impact is more on the state than on the central bank...” he remarked.

For his part, the president of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, Charles Arbid, emphasized that monetary stability was one of the priorities of the council’s work.

He called on the political forces in Lebanon to expedite the election of a new president and form a capable and reliable government, stressing that political matters “have a fundamental impact on the monetary and economic situation and the social reality.”


Israel Doesn’t Want Escalation in Gaza

Palestinians burn tires during previous clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border fence between Israel and Gaza. (AFP)
Palestinians burn tires during previous clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border fence between Israel and Gaza. (AFP)
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Israel Doesn’t Want Escalation in Gaza

Palestinians burn tires during previous clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border fence between Israel and Gaza. (AFP)
Palestinians burn tires during previous clashes with Israeli soldiers near the border fence between Israel and Gaza. (AFP)

Tor Wennesland, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has affirmed that there are ongoing international efforts to avoid a security deterioration in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stressed that his government doesn’t want an escalation or fight in the Gaza Strip.

“This evening, it is important that we remind the terrorist elements in Gaza of the real power dynamics between the Israeli army and Hamas and its partners,” the minister said during a commemorative ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the October War.

“We don't want an escalation and we don't want to fight, but if we reach a situation where it is necessary to act, Operation Shield and Arrow should serve as a reminder to any terrorist elements what the capabilities of our security system are," Gallant said.

If Israeli citizens or Israeli army soldiers are harmed, “we will not hesitate to use the full force at our disposal to ensure the safety of our citizens, and to restore peace to the sector," he stressed.

Gallant had participated Wednesday in a consultative meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli army's Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, the head of the National Security Council of Israel Tzachi Hanegbi, and a group of officers attended the meeting that discussed expected scenarios of the protests in Gaza.

The intelligence revealed that “Hamas” doesn’t want an escalation, however, Bar stated that the protests increase the possibility of making a mistake that leads to a new escalation round that could be violent.

While the security officials advised Israel to contribute to the calm, they stressed the necessity to be prepared for "a potential escalation".

“The United Nations is talking to and working with all concerned to improve the lives of people in Gaza, particularly the most vulnerable,” Wennesland said Thursday on his X account.

One day after his meeting with “Hamas” officials in Gaza, he added: “The situation inside the Strip is dire and we must avoid another conflict that will have grave consequences for all. The people of Gaza have suffered enough and deserve more than a return to calm.”

Moreover, a regional diplomat said Egypt had stepped up its efforts to prevent a slide into another war, according to Reuters.

The diplomat added that international mediators have stepped up efforts to prevent a new round of armed confrontation between Israel and the Palestinian resistance forces.