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Arab World

Arab League Summit to Kick off in Algeria with Condemnation of Houthi Militias, Foreign Meddling

A handout photo made available by the Algerian presidency's press service shows Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) receiving Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, Algeria, 31 October 2022. (EPA/Algerian Presidency)
A handout photo made available by the Algerian presidency's press service shows Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) receiving Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, Algeria, 31 October 2022. (EPA/Algerian Presidency)
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Arab League Summit to Kick off in Algeria with Condemnation of Houthi Militias, Foreign Meddling

A handout photo made available by the Algerian presidency's press service shows Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) receiving Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, Algeria, 31 October 2022. (EPA/Algerian Presidency)
A handout photo made available by the Algerian presidency's press service shows Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (R) receiving Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, Algeria, 31 October 2022. (EPA/Algerian Presidency)

Arab leaders and delegations began arriving in Algiers on Monday to attend the two-day Arab League summit that will kick off on Tuesday.

Among the arrivals were Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, Bahrain’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Relations and International Cooperation and Special Representative of the Sultan Asaad bin Tariq Al Said.

Senegal’s President Macky Sall, a guest of honor at the summit, was also among the arrivals.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Arab foreign ministers had held two days of consultations that led to agreements that would facilitate the proceedings of the summit. Among the issues at hand were food security in the Arab world and social and economic affairs.

Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a copy of the closing statement of the Algiers summit. It stressed that resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remained pivotal to the Arab world.

The conflict must be resolved in line with international resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace initiative, which stipulates the establishment of a Palestinian state according to the 1967 border and having East Jerusalem as its capital.

The statement backs the peace plan proposed by President Abbas that calls for the establishment of an international mechanism to sponsor credible peace negotiations.

Houthi condemnation

On Yemen, the statement underscored the commitment to the unity of the country, its sovereignty, security and stability. It backed the Yemeni government’s commitment to peace based on the three references: the Arab initiative and its executive mechanism, national dialogue outcomes and United Nations Security Council 2216.

It declared its backing to the Saudi peace initiative and condemned the escalation of the Iran-backed Houthi militias. It slammed the Houthis for their ballistic missile and drone attacks against civilian locations throughout Yemen.

It condemned the “grave Houthi human rights violations,” stressing support to “Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates’ right to defend themselves and retaliate against the Houthi attacks.”

It commended Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s keenness on respecting and committing to international law.

Iranian meddling

On Iran, the statement slammed its meddling in the internal affairs of Arab countries that is stoking sectarian conflicts. It condemned Iran for supporting groups that are fueling these conflicts, especially in the Gulf region.

The statement urged that the financing of armed groups and militias in the Arab world be ceased.

Moreover, it denounced the terrorist Houthis for firing Iranian-made ballistic missiles and drones against Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen. It deemed the attacks a threat to Arab national security, underscoring the Kingdom and UAE’s right to defend their territories in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The statement slammed Iranian meddling in Bahrain’s internal affairs, especially its support to terrorist acts and groups. It accused Tehran of stoking sectarianism aimed at destabilizing the kingdom and of forming terrorist groups that are trained and financed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

The statements also condemned Iran’s meddling in the Syrian crisis, warning that it has “dangerous” repercussions on the future of the Arab country, its stability, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity and the safety of the region.

Turkish violations

The Arab statements called for taking a united Arab stand against Turkish violations of Iraqi sovereignty. It demanded that it withdraw its forces from Iraqi territories in line with a 2015 Arab League resolution.

It urged Türkiye to refrain from carrying out provocations in Iraq that are threatening the stability and security of the region.

The statement also condemned Turkish attacks on Syria, saying they were flagrant violations of UN principles and Security Council resolutions that support the war-torn country’s unity and stability.

It slammed Türkiye for hosting extremist groups and providing them with safe haven. Türkiye was criticized for financing media platforms that incite the use of violence to destabilize Arab countries.

Support to Lebanon

Turning to Lebanon, the statement called for providing political and economic support to its government and constitutional institutions in order to preserve Lebanese national unity and the country’s stability, security and sovereignty.

It expressed its support to Lebanon’s right to resist any hostile act through legitimate means.

Syria

On Syria, the statement stressed that an inclusive political solution was the only way to resolve the ongoing crisis. The solution must be in line with relevant international resolutions.

The Arab League stressed that it will continue to back UN efforts aimed at ensuring the success of Syrian negotiations. It underlined the need to intensify efforts to reach a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire, which would be a significant first step towards achieving the political solution.

It also emphasized the need to end foreign military intervention in Syria and the withdrawal of all foreign forces from its territories.

Libyan crisis

On Libya, the Arab statement stressed the importance of its unity and sovereignty, rejecting all forms of foreign meddling.

It urged against military escalation, underscored the fight against terrorist groups and called for the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya.

The Arab League called for establishing a constitutional foundation for holding transparent and free elections.

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Arab World

Saudi Reopening to Lebanese Exports Boosts Economic and Agricultural Hopes

A photo of the Lebanese and Saudi flags. (National News Agency)
A photo of the Lebanese and Saudi flags. (National News Agency)
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Saudi Reopening to Lebanese Exports Boosts Economic and Agricultural Hopes

A photo of the Lebanese and Saudi flags. (National News Agency)
A photo of the Lebanese and Saudi flags. (National News Agency)

Saudi Arabia’s decision to resume receiving Lebanese exports has revived hopes among Lebanese business and farming circles for the return of one of the country’s most important foreign markets after five years of disruption that left deep scars on Lebanon’s production and export sectors.

The move is seen in Lebanon as carrying significance beyond trade. It marks a new stage in restoring confidence in the Lebanese state under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, while offering a potential lifeline to sectors that have long suffered from shrinking export markets, difficulties marketing their output, and Lebanon’s prolonged economic and financial crisis.

Lebanon’s Agriculture Ministry said the decision was not merely a commercial measure, but an economic and development step of national importance.

It said the move would help Lebanese farmers remain resilient, restart the agricultural production cycle and revive sorting, packaging, marketing and export chains, directly benefiting thousands of families that depend on farming as a main source of income.

A positive shock for Lebanon’s economy

Economists say the Saudi decision will quickly feed through to Lebanon’s productive sectors, especially industry and agriculture, while helping draw more foreign currency into the country.

“The impact of this step is very good economically and politically,” economist Walid Abu Suleiman told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Economically, it is very important because Saudi Arabia was a key destination for Lebanese exports.”

He said Saudi Arabia ranked third among Lebanon's importers, with Lebanese exports to the kingdom totaling about $240 million in 2020.

Abu Suleiman described the reopening of the Saudi market as “a positive shock for the Lebanese economy,” noting that its importance extended beyond reviving exports to supporting monetary stability in a country facing a severe shortage of foreign currency.

“This step is also very important for the monetary situation, because the more exports increase, the more foreign currency enters Lebanon,” he said. “We know the extent of Lebanon’s suffering today in preserving what remains of its dollars and hard currencies.”

He said the Saudi market’s importance stemmed not only from its size, but also from its central place in the Arab economic system.

“We must not forget that the Saudi market represents about 85% of Gulf markets,” he said. “If we improve our products and succeed in offering quality goods at competitive prices, we can obtain a larger share of this market and increase our exports.”

Abu Suleiman said Lebanese products still had significant room for growth.

“It is possible for exports to rise from about $240 million to much larger figures, because the Saudi market is very large,” he said. “The opportunities for Lebanese products remain significant if this opening is properly used.”

He said the main beneficiaries would be the industrial and agricultural sectors, especially food processing and beverage industries.

“We hope this step will be followed by practical measures, and that matters will move in the right direction, given the positive impact this would have on the Lebanese economy and on production and export sectors,” he said.

Lebanese agriculture prepares to return

In the agricultural sector, the decision was warmly welcomed because of the heavy losses farmers have suffered since the Saudi market was closed in 2021.

Ibrahim Tarshishi, head of the National Federation of Lebanese Farmers, called the decision “a historic day in the life of the Lebanese economy.”

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision to remove obstacles to Lebanese agricultural exports has restored economic vitality to Lebanon and reopened the channels of normal trade and communication with the kingdom and Gulf markets after years of disruption,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Tarshishi said agricultural trade ties between the two countries go back more than half a century. For decades, he said, the kingdom was the top destination for Lebanese agricultural exports, accounting for about 50% of total Lebanese agricultural exports to Arab countries.

In a sign of preparations to restart exports, Tarshishi said the Agriculture Ministry would hold a coordination meeting bringing together customs, IDAL, chambers of commerce, monitoring companies, exporters, refrigerated truck owners and agricultural unions to set the mechanisms for resuming exports and organizing land and sea freight, as well as transit procedures into Gulf markets.

Two thousand tonnes a day used to head to the Gulf

Recalling trade before the Saudi market was closed, Tarshishi said Lebanon used to export more than 30 trucks a day loaded with vegetables and fruit to the kingdom, or nearly 1,000 tonnes a day, in addition to about another 1,000 tonnes that crossed Saudi territory in transit to other Gulf countries.

He said Lebanese products in strong demand in the Saudi market included grapes, pears, peaches, plums and other seasonal fruits for which Lebanon is known. The kingdom, he said, had been the main outlet for these products during production seasons.

Losses exceeded $1 billion

Tarshishi said the damage suffered by the agricultural sector in recent years was substantial.

Lebanon used to export agricultural products worth nearly $200 million annually, he said, meaning the sector incurred losses exceeding $1 billion over the past five years because of the closure of the Saudi market and markets linked to it.

Tarshishi said the impact of resumed exports would not stop with farmers, but would extend across a long chain of economic activities tied to agriculture.

He said the decision would help keep farmers on their land, restart sorting and packaging centers, cardboard, wood and plastic factories and the transport sector, improve prices for agricultural products and curb the oversupply that in recent years forced many farmers to sell crops below production cost.

Arab World

Zaidi Urges Sharaa to Boost Baghdad-Damascus Coordination

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)
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Zaidi Urges Sharaa to Boost Baghdad-Damascus Coordination

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has sent a message to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa calling for stronger ties and closer security and economic coordination.

The move reflects Baghdad’s push to rebuild regional relations while, at home, working to bring weapons under state control and prepare for a planned visit to the United States.

The message was delivered by Hamid al-Shatri, head of Iraq’s National Intelligence Service.

The Iraqi prime minister’s media office said late Wednesday that Zaidi’s message stressed the need to develop relations between Baghdad and Damascus and step up coordination to confront regional challenges and crises, particularly in security and economic affairs, in line with the two countries’ shared interests.

The statement said Sharaa thanked Zaidi and the Iraqi government, and affirmed Syria’s commitment to working with Iraq to address common challenges arising from recent regional developments.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially on security and the economy.

The message comes as Iraq seeks to repair ties with its Arab neighbors under a broader approach built around three tracks: asserting state authority by “confining weapons to the hands of the state,” expanding regional outreach, and diversifying the economy by drawing foreign investment.

Zaidi to Washington

Baghdad has yet to set a date for Zaidi’s visit to the United States, which follows an invitation from US President Donald Trump. Iraqi officials say the visit is tied to a set of files the government has begun pursuing under fixed timelines, led by the effort to bring weapons under state control.

Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi told a news conference that the deadline for carrying out the weapons-control plan expires next September, coinciding with the scheduled withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq.

The timing is significant. It would complete arrangements agreed by the previous government, including ending the mission of the coalition formed to fight ISIS, moving Baghdad’s relationship with Washington into a bilateral framework based on the 2009 Strategic Framework Agreement, and ending the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, known as UNAMI.

The Iraqi government hopes to make tangible progress on the weapons file before the Washington visit. But positions taken by some Iran-backed armed factions have added pressure.

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, two of Iraq’s most prominent armed factions, have issued statements that raised questions over the future of the government’s weapons-control measures.

The Shiite Coordination Framework had granted the prime minister a mandate over the mechanisms and procedures for confining weapons to the state. The move was seen as a withdrawal of the political cover long enjoyed by some armed factions, potentially putting them on a direct collision course with the government.

At the same time, influential forces within the Coordination Framework, which holds about 80 parliamentary seats, are seeking to expand their presence in government and secure ministerial posts after earlier US reservations about their participation eased.

The government says its handling of these files is based on a “national vision” backed by parliament. Aboudi said the government remains fully committed to confining weapons to the state according to the timelines set in its program.

Gas flares burn at the Rumaila oil field during an armed patrol by Iraqi Energy Police in Basra, Iraq, June 8, 2026. REUTERS/Essam Al-Sudani

Regional outreach for development

On the economic front, Baghdad is betting on major investment projects to reinforce long-term stability.

Aboudi said the “Development Fund” is an investment vehicle separate from the state budget, funded by international contributions from friendly countries, with guarantees ranging from $100 billion to $150 billion, to support development and sustainable stability.

Observers say the three files, security, regional outreach, and economic development, form the broad framework for Iraq’s current domestic and foreign moves.

Political science professor Talib Mohammed Karim told Asharq Al-Awsat that Zaidi’s expected visit to Washington cannot be separated from the changes underway in Iraq and the wider region.

He said Baghdad is working on three parallel tracks: strengthening state authority by confining weapons to the state, opening up regionally, including through improved ties with Syria, and diversifying the economy by reducing dependence on oil and attracting investment.

Karim said the visit matters because of its timing, as the balance of power in the Middle East is being reshaped after years of conflict. Iraq, he said, has a chance to move from being shaped by regional developments to helping shape stability, drawing on its geography and balanced relations with different sides.

Relations with Washington

Former prime minister Adil Abdul Mahdi also called for stronger Iraqi-US ties while preserving the agreements signed between the two countries.

Abdul Mahdi said he hoped Zaidi would succeed in his mission, adding that it was too early to judge the current government, which remains at the start of its four-year term.

He said Iraq needs friendly relations with the US and other countries while honoring existing agreements between Baghdad and Washington. He said the end of next September would mark a decisive point with the completion of the international coalition’s withdrawal from Iraqi territory.

Abdul Mahdi said stronger political and economic ties between Iraq and the US would serve mutual interests, citing the importance of Washington’s international role and Baghdad’s regional standing, as well as the shared benefits that closer relations could bring.

Arab World

Israel Releases Hamas Co-founder After 2 Years of Detention

This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows the sun setting behind destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on June 10, 2026. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows the sun setting behind destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on June 10, 2026. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
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Israel Releases Hamas Co-founder After 2 Years of Detention

This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows the sun setting behind destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on June 10, 2026. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)
This picture taken from a position on the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, shows the sun setting behind destroyed buildings in the besieged Palestinian territory on June 10, 2026. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP)

The son of a Hamas co-founder said that Israeli authorities released his father in the occupied West Bank on Thursday after holding him without trial for more than two years.

Hassan Yousef, 71, was "freed near the southern West Bank city of Hebron" and taken to a hospital in Ramallah where he resides, his son Owais Yousef said.

Yousef is a senior leader of Hamas in the West Bank, having co-founded the group in the 1980s along with Sheikh Ahmad Yassine and other Palestinian members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Israeli police did not immediately respond to an AFP request for confirmation.

Yousef had been held in Israeli administrative detention since October 2023, shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

Israel has increased its use of administrative detention against Palestinians since the war. The system allows it to detain individuals for renewable six-month periods without charge.

Israel says the procedure allows authorities to hold suspects and prevent attacks while continuing to gather evidence, but critics and rights groups say the system is abused.

Israel has arrested Yousef several times over the years. He was last released in July 2020 from 16 months of administrative detention.

A member of the now-defunct Palestinian parliament, Yousef is estranged from his eldest son Mosab Hassan Yousef, who for 10 years spied against his father's movement.

From 1997 to 2007, Mosab Hassan Yousef worked for Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet, before relocating to the United States, where he lives under a new identity and wrote the book "Son of Hamas".