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Escalating Disputes Between Muslim Brotherhood Abroad Impede Reconciliation Attempts

The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)
The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)
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Escalating Disputes Between Muslim Brotherhood Abroad Impede Reconciliation Attempts

The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)
The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)

The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions, and removed Ibrahim Munir from his position.

Over the past weeks, the Muslim Brotherhood saw a recurring struggle to resolve the “battle of managing the organization” abroad, between the branches in Istanbul and London.

The Istanbul Front, led by Mahmoud Hussein, the former secretary general of the organization, announced the dismissal of Munir, who leads the London Front, as the Brotherhood’s acting guide.

In a statement on Friday, the Istanbul Front said that its “General Shura Council” decided to form a temporary committee from among its members, to carry out the tasks of the “General Guide” for a period of six months. The new committee members would be announced at a time specified by the council.

According to the statement, “the committee started its work, and announced the designation of Mustafa Tolba as its official representative.”

Commenting on the developments, Amr Abdel Moneim, a researcher in fundamentalist affairs in Egypt, noted that the latest announcement by the Shura Council confirmed “the failure of all attempts to heal the rift within the organization.”

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abdel Moneim said: “The organization is now witnessing a state of uncertainty, lack of clarity of vision, confusion, data war, and internal rift.”

Disputes between the Istanbul and London fronts deepened after Munir announced the dissolution of the Administrative Office for Organization Affairs in Turkey, and the dismissal of Mahmoud Hussein and others. The crisis further escalated with Hussein’s announcement of Munir’s dismissal from his post.

The Shura Council’s decisions were preceded by a conference held in Turkey, which saw an agreement to form a committee to support the new acting leader.

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Arab World

Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)

Israeli forces have launched their largest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the conflict began, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River near Deirmimas.

They entered the town’s edges in an effort to separate Nabatieh from Marjayoun and prepare for an attack on the town of Taybeh from the west and north.

This move also aimed to neutralize Taybeh hill, which overlooks the Khiam plain, where Israel plans to extend its operations and capture the city of Khiam.

Lebanese media reported that Israel set up a checkpoint at the Deirmimas junction, cutting off Marjayoun from Nabatieh.

They also blocked the western entrance to Deirmimas near a fuel station using earth mounds, with Israeli military vehicles stationed there. Reports also said Israeli forces prevented UNIFIL and the Lebanese army from passing toward Marjayoun.

Lebanese sources following the battle in the south reported that Israeli forces advanced five kilometers west from the town of Kfar Kila, moving through olive groves. This advance took advantage of the absence of Hezbollah fighters in Christian areas like Qlayaa, Bir al-Muluk, and Deirmimas.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that this allowed Israeli forces to reach the outskirts of the Litani River for the first time since 2006, cutting off Nabatieh from Marjayoun. Israeli artillery had previously targeted this route several times, and drones had carried out strikes there.

Israel supported its ground advance with heavy artillery fire. Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery targeted hills overlooking Deirmimas throughout Thursday night into Friday, hitting locations like Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Yihmour, Wadi Zawtar, and Deir Siryan.

This fire typically provides cover for infantry advances. The sources also confirmed that Israeli ground movements were backed by airstrikes and drones for added security.

They speculated the advance followed a route from Kfar Kila through Tall al-Nahas and Bir al-Muluk toward Deirmimas, which is almost empty of residents and has no Hezbollah presence.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli forces in the area, with three statements confirming the targeting of Israeli positions and vehicles near Deirmimas.

Media reports mentioned multiple rocket strikes on Israeli targets in Khiam and near Tall al-Nahas, as well as a guided missile attack on Israeli movements near oil groves close to the Marqos station at Deirmimas’ edge.

A photo shared by Lebanese media showed an Israeli tank behind an exposed hill east of Qlayaa, protected from the west and north. To the south, Israeli forces entered the town of Deirmimas, which overlooks the position.

Military expert Mustafa Asaad said the image, showing a bulldozer behind a tank at the Qlayaa-Marjayoun-Deirmimas junction, suggests that infantry units secured the area—either on foot or in fast vehicles—before entering Deirmimas.

The town’s mayor confirmed to local media that Israeli forces made a “small incursion” into Deirmimas, advancing through olive groves from Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah has stated it does not have military positions in Christian or Druze areas in southern Lebanon, as these communities oppose its presence. Sources close to Hezbollah say this is due to political reasons and security concerns.