Israel Racing To Wrest Full Control Over Jerusalem Al-Quds: Al-Aqsa Preacher
New
Age Islam News Bureau
01
February 2021
Al-Aqsa
----
• Jared
Kushner, Avi Berkowitz Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize For Israel Deals
• Islamophobic
Attacks In France Increase By 53% In 2020
• Karnataka
Govt May Not Table ‘Love Jihad’ Bill In Budget Session Scheduled To Be Held In
March
• 'Imran
Khan's Silence On Uyghur Issue Undercuts His Projection As Muslims' Defender'
• Tatarstan
Islamic Body Calls for Halal Approval of Russian COVID-19 Vaccines
• UN Lists
Candidates To Run Libya’s Transitional Government
• Bangladesh
Expects Myanmar To Keep Rohingya Repatriation Commitments
Mideast
• Israel
Racing To Wrest Full Control Over Jerusalem Al-Quds: Al-Aqsa Preacher
• Iran
Welcomes ‘Inclusive Government’ In Afghanistan
• Arab
Coalition intercepts, destroys Houthi drone targeting Saudi Arabia
• Israel
to give some 5,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to Palestinians
• Houthi
military projectile lands close to hospital in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
• Iran’s
administration renews allegiance to Imam Khomeini’s ideals
• Iran
kicks off 10-day celebrations marking victory of Islamic Revolution
--------
North
America
• Jared
Kushner, Avi Berkowitz Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize For Israel Deals
• US,
NATO Allies Slam Taliban For Destroying Vital Infrastructure In Afghanistan
• UAE
Plays ‘Troubling’ Role In Humanitarian Crises, Regional Instability: US Think
Tank
• US
military lands Daesh terrorists behind PMU positions in Jurf al-Sakhar: Expert
• Biden
has huge opportunity with Iran but will he take it?
• Biden's
pick who said US 'owns' Syrian oil territory draws flak
• Biden
renews deportation protections for Syrians in US
--------
Europe
• Islamophobic
Attacks In France Increase By 53% In 2020
• Islamic
Jihad delegation visits Russia for talks
• Macron
Speaks To Lebanon’s Aoun, Affirms France’s Support In Government Formation
--------
India
• Karnataka
Govt May Not Table ‘Love Jihad’ Bill In Budget Session Scheduled To Be Held In
March
• Fatima
is now called Swapna: Raised as Hindu For 15 Years, Girl Discovers Family
Muslim
• India-Made
Covishield Part Of Pakistan Jab Drive Under Vaccine Alliance
--------
Pakistan
• 'Imran
Khan's Silence On Uyghur Issue Undercuts His Projection As Muslims' Defender'
• After
Failing To Force PM’s Resignation: PDM Faces Challenging Circumstances,
Differing Strategies
• Pakistan
Appeals Against Acquittal In Daniel Pearl Murder Case
• Islamophobia:
A fungible prop for Muslim religious soft power
• First
batch of 0.5m vaccine doses arrives in Islamabad from China
• Nawaz,
Zardari will be behind bars soon: Khattak
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Tatarstan
Islamic Body Calls for Halal Approval of Russian COVID-19 Vaccines
• Hadi
throws a spanner in the works of Biden-Muhyiddin ties
• Tun
Dr Mahathir Mohamad Was Not Agreeable To The Idea Of Malaysia Expelling
Fugitive • Muslim Preacher Dr Zakir Naik: Tommy Thomas
• Preacher
Ebit Lew continues humanitarian mission in Sabah with mass Bajau Laut
‘conversion’
• Protect
Indonesian society, largest Muslim group told
--------
Africa
• UN Lists
Candidates To Run Libya’s Transitional Government
• UAE
says will cooperate with UN, US on Libya conflict
• Fugitive
leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray issues new call for arms: Audio
• Car
bomb explosion hits Somali hotel, militants claim responsibility
• Army
operation kills 5 al-Shabaab militants in Somalia
--------
South
Asia
• Bangladesh
Expects Myanmar To Keep Rohingya Repatriation Commitments
• NATO
to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond May deadline agreed with Taliban: Sources
• Senior
Afghan peace ministry official survives ‘IED explosion’
• Taliban
dubs EU, Foreign community claims ‘baseless’
• Japan
approves millions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan
• Afghan
negotiating team warns Taliban it must resume talks
--------
Arab
World
• Beirut
Port Blast Survivors Still Endure Psychological Toll
• Iraq’s
Popular Forces Repel Daesh Attack On Jurf Al-Sakhar
• Egypt’s
Current Account Deficit Widens To $2.8 Billion In July-Sept
• One
killed, several injured in northeast Syria pro-government protest
• At
least five people killed in car bomb attack in Syria’s Afrin
• Saudis,
allies dropped over 3,000 cluster bombs on Yemen since 2015: Official
• Iraq
arrests top Daesh informant in Saladin province
• 11
killed in car bomb explosions in Syria’s Aleppo province
• US-led
military convoy targeted in Iraq’s Babil province
• US-backed
SDF militants shoot dead civilian, injure others in northeastern Syria
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/israel-racing-wrest-full-control/d/124198
--------
Israel
Racing To Wrest Full Control Over Jerusalem Al-Quds: Al-Aqsa Preacher
Al-Aqsa
----
31
January 2021
Former
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem al-Quds, Sheikh Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, has warned that
the Israeli occupying regime is escalating efforts to wrest full control over
the occupied holy city and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The
cleric, who is currently heading the Higher Islamic Council in occupied
Jerusalem al-Quds, lambasted the Israeli regime for its provocative digging and
construction works at the al-Aqsa Mosque’s Western Wall in the Old City.
“The
occupying regime has always sought to find antiquities related to their ancient
history and these excavations started in the 18th century through British
archeologist groups that were pretending to search for antiquities, but their
real intents were to prove any Jewish connection to Jerusalem,” he said in a
press release on Sunday
Sabri
described the ongoing Israeli excavations in al-Buraq Square as “new but part
of old efforts attempting to find signs of Hebrew history in the holy city.”
“The
Tel Aviv regime is focusing its excavations nowadays in al-Buraq Square — which
is originally al-Maghariba quarter and its land is Islamic mortmain property —
with the aim of obliterating Islamic remains,” he said.
Sabri
called on Israel to immediately halt all digging activities on the site.
“The
regime has not found a single stone related to the ancient Hebrew history
despite the huge excavations and the millions which it has spent to falsify
history,” the senior cleric added.
“Things
have not stopped at this point. The occupying regime has kept destroying,
hiding or obliterating any Islamic antiquities it finds in an attempt to avenge
the failure of its efforts to obtain any evidence proving its entitlement to
the holy city.”
In a
statement last year, spokesman for Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dhaifullah al-Fayez stressed that the Western Wall is an integral part of the
al-Aqsa Mosque, which along with the Dome of the Rock Mosque, makes the al-Aqsa
Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Fayez,
whose country is the custodian of the holy sites at the compound, added that
al-Quds Awqaf and Aqsa Affairs Department has exclusive jurisdiction, under
international law, over all affairs related to the al-Aqsa Mosque.
He
stressed that all maintenance and restoration works at the al-Aqsa Mosque,
including its walls, are within the exclusive powers of the al-Quds Awqaf.
Israel
occupied the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds during the Six-Day War of 1967.
After the end of hostilities, the regime allowed the Awqaf to retain authority
over the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, or the Haram al-Sharif.
In a
statement earlier this month, Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned
"in the strongest terms" the Israeli excavations and called them
"an extension of the Israeli plans to Judaize the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque
and its surroundings."
The
Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas has also recently censured the Israeli
regime over attempts to change the geographic and demographic character of
occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.
Hamas
attributed increasing settlement activities in al-Quds to normalization
agreements between some Arab countries and Israel, emphasizing that such
accords had emboldened the regime to annex more Palestinian lands.
Sabri
has already denounced desperate attempts by a number of Arab states to
normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, warning that such measures would
encourage the Tel Aviv regime to further press ahead with its criminal acts of
aggression against the Palestinian nation.
The
“deal of the century” that former US President Donald Trump brokered envisions
Jerusalem al-Quds as “Israel’s undivided capital” and allows the Tel Aviv
regime to annex settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
Trump
also ordered relocation of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
al-Quds.
Israel
lays claim to the entire Jerusalem al-Quds, but the international community
views the city’s eastern sector as occupied territory and Palestinians consider
it the capital of their future state.
United
Nations Security Council Resolution 478, adopted on August 20, 1980, prohibits
countries from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem al-Quds.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644266/Palestine-Israel-Sheikh-Ekrima-Sa-id-Sabri--al-Buraq-Jerusalem-al-Quds,--
--------
Jared
Kushner, Avi Berkowitz Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize For Israel Deals
FILE
PHOTO: White House adviser Jared Kushner, flanked by aide Avi Berkowitz (L)
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
------
01
February 2021
Former
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and his deputy, Avi Berkowitz, were
nominated on Sunday for the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in negotiating
four normalization deals between Israel and Arab nations known as the “Abraham
Accords.”
The
deals were announced in a four-month span between mid-August and mid-December
and were the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East in 25
years as the region girds for a prolonged confrontation with Iran.
Nominating
the pair of former deputies to then-President Donald Trump was American
attorney Alan Dershowitz, who was eligible to do so in his capacity as a
professor emeritus of Harvard Law School.
Dershowitz
had defended Trump in his first impeachment trial last year and said in a Jan.
20 comment in the Wall Street Journal that the Senate should dismiss the
article of impeachment against Trump over the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol
as he is no longer president.
Kushner,
who is Trump’s son-in-law, and Berkowitz, who was the Middle East envoy, were
key figures in negotiating deals between Israel and the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.
In a
statement, Kushner said he was honored to be nominated for the prize, which
will be awarded in October.
President
Joe Biden’s administration is expected to review all national security deals
struck during the Trump administration, including arms packages for the United
Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Some
lawmakers have complained about the Morocco deal because, to win the nation’s
agreement, the US recognized its sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara.
Trump
left office on Jan. 20 under a cloud of controversy, potentially affecting
whether the two aides would be awarded the Nobel.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/02/01/Jared-Kushner-Avi-Berkowitz-nominated-for-Nobel-peace-prize-for-Israel-deals
--------
Islamophobic
Attacks In France Increase By 53% In 2020
A
police officer stands guard as people enter the Grand Mosque of Paris, in
Paris, France, May 27, 2017. (AFP Photo)
------
JAN
29, 2021
The
number of Islamophobic incidents in France, home to Western Europe's largest
Muslim community, rose sharply last year amid controversy over the government's
stance toward the religious minority, the head of a monitoring group said
Friday.
According
to the head of the National Observatory of Islamophobia, Abdallah Zekri, there
were 235 attacks on Muslims in France in 2020, up from 154 the previous year, a
53% jump. Most of the attacks took place in the Ile-de-France (greater Paris),
Rhones-Alpes and Paca regions of the country, Zekri said in a statement,
according to remarks carried by Anadolu Agency (AA). Attacks on mosques jumped
35% in the same year, Zekri added.
Stating
that 70 threatening letters were sent to the headquarters of the French Council
of Muslim Worship (CFCM) or its administrators last year, Zekri raised the
alarm over the spread of lies about Islam and Muslims as well as emails that
incite hatred against Muslims.
The
scourge of far-right extremism, which has targeted Muslims in particular, has
increased in Europe, and recent reports show that France suffers most from this
atmosphere of hatred. Muslims in France are worried about the negative views
some members of the French public have about Islam, Zekri said, adding that
there are no links between Islam and terrorism, and Muslims in France should be
able to practice their religion freely like members of other faiths.
The
French government has been criticized for its actions and rhetoric regarding
Islam and Muslims, including President Emmanuel Macron's October claim that
Islam is "in crisis,” raids on mosques and Islamic foundations, and a
proposed "anti-separatism” law that would slap wide-ranging restrictions
on the Muslim community.
The
bill, which is set for a vote in the French Parliament, would interfere with
mosques and their administrators as well as control the finances of
associations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) belonging to Muslims.
Some critics suggested that the bill is politically motivated ahead of France’s
2022 elections. Experts say that the new law is a political maneuver by Macron,
who aims to win the favors of followers on the far-right.
The
topic is delicate because of the large Muslim population in France, estimated
at 5 million. The proposed law, with the title “Supporting Republican
Principles,” directly mentions neither Islam nor Islamism in an effort to avoid
stigmatizing Muslims. Introducing the bill on the fight against separatism,
Prime Minister Jean Castex stressed that it “is not a text against religions or
against the Muslim religion in particular.” He asserted that it is “a bill of
freedom, a bill of protection, a bill of emancipation from Islamist
fundamentalism” or other ideologies pursuing the same goals.
The
country's government announced the anti-Muslim bill after the gruesome killing
of a French teacher in October last year by an 18-year-old suspect of Chechen
origin. The French authorities have adopted an approach of collective
punishment and inflicted anti-Muslim rhetoric, prompting widespread
condemnation. The teenager attacked Samuel Pati in broad daylight, killing him
outside a school in Conflans-Saint-Honorine, a suburb about 15 miles (24
kilometers) from central Paris. A few days after the assassination, the government
launched a crackdown on Muslim organizations, while vigilante groups attacked
mosques.
Macron
has become a figure of hate in some Muslim countries with many boycotting
French products after the French president defended Charlie Hebdo’s provocative
caricatures attacking the Prophet Muhammad. He has also been forced to the
defensive by critical headlines in influential English-language media outlets
such as the Financial Times and The New York Times.
Muslims
in France – the former colonies of which include predominantly Muslim countries
in North and West Africa as well as the Middle East – are about 6% of the
population.
https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/islamophobic-attacks-in-france-increase-by-53-in-2020
--------
Karnataka
Govt May Not Table ‘Love Jihad’ Bill In Budget Session Scheduled To Be Held In
March
Feb
1, 2021
BENGALURU:
The much-talked-about bill against ‘love jihad’ will not be introduced in the
current legislature session, with the BJP government deciding to go slow on it.
Party sources said it may not be tabled even during the budget session,
scheduled to be held in March.
Karnataka
was set to be the fourth state after Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana
to enact the anti-love jihad law that envisages stringent punishment to those
involved in forceful religious conversions and using marriage as a means.
Supporters of the proposed law include state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel,
party’s national general secretary CT Ravi and others who were vocal about the
need to curb ‘love jihad’ in Karnataka.
However,
the government hasn’t even started drafting the legislation and it did not
figure among the 11 draft bills enlisted for the weeklong session which began
on January 28. “At present, we’re not looking at the option of tabling the bill
in the legislature. Several factors, including legal issues, are to be
considered before that,” said law and parliamentary affairs minister Basavaraj
Bommai.
The
‘love jihad’ ordinances promulgated by the UP and MP governments have been
entangled in legal quagmire with the provisions being challenged in their
respective high courts. A petition against the UP ordinance is pending before
the Supreme Court. The Karnataka government wants to wait for the outcome of
the case, Bommai said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/no-consensus-govt-may-not-table-love-jihad-bill-in-budget-session/articleshow/80618594.cms
--------
'Imran
Khan's silence on Uyghur issue undercuts his projection as Muslims' defender'
January
31, 2021
Washington
[US], January 31: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's work in extending
himself as the savior of Muslims around the planet has been undermined by his
stunning quietness on the monstrosities on the Uyghur Minorities by the
nation's all-climate partner China, said Michael Kugelman, the Deputy Director
of the Asia Program and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center.
In an
assessment piece in Foreign Policy, Kugelman refered to the purpose for Khan's
quiet on the issue, saying Islamabad relies intensely upon Beijing for monetary
and political help. Pakistan just can't bear to offend Beijing by getting down
on it.
When
gotten some information about the Uyghurs issue, Khan's reactions range from he
thinks minimal about the issues to saying he is secretly examining the issue
with Beijing.
As
indicated by Kugelman, one of Khan's top guide, Moeed Yusuf, ventured to such
an extreme as to say that the public authority is "100% fulfilled"
that the circumstance was a "nonissue," adding: "We have zero
concerns, totally zero concerns."
Additionally,
a portion of Khan's sponsor guarantee he stays quiet as the issue is carefully
inward to China. In any case, Kugelman said this hasn't prevented him from
saying something regarding the situation of Muslims in Myanmar or, most as of
late, France.
"Yet,
Khan's work in advocating the world's Muslims is undermined by his stunning
quiet on the mistreatment of the Uyghur people group in China," he
composed.
"The
genuine explanation behind Khan's quiet is straightforward: China is ostensibly
Pakistan's nearest partner, and Islamabad relies vigorously upon Beijing for
monetary and political help. Pakistan essentially can't stand to estrange
Beijing by getting down on it," he added.
China
has been reproached universally for taking action against Uyghur Muslims by
sending them to mass confinement camps, meddling in their strict exercises and
sending individuals from the local area to go through some type of coercive
re-instruction or inculcation.
Beijing,
then again, has passionately rejected that it is occupied with denials of basic
liberties against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang while reports from writers, NGOs and
previous prisoners have surfaced, featuring the Chinese Communist Party's
severe crackdown on the ethnic local area, as per a report.
As of
late, a commission of the United States Congress, in another report, said that
China has potentially completed "decimation" against Uyghurs and
other minority Muslims in its western area of Xinjiang.
The
report, delivered by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC),
expressed that the Chinese government and Communist Party have found a way to
expand their abusive strategies through restriction, terrorizing, and the
detainment of individuals in China for practicing their basic freedoms.
The
Muslim world restricts its analysis of China to try not to imperil basic
exchange and speculation openings, Kugelman said.
"At
times, it has even loaned its help: In 2019, individuals from the Organization
of Islamic Cooperation, a worldwide body involving almost 50 Muslim-greater
part states, delivered one articulation adulating Beijing's treatment of
Muslims and another concurring with China's case that confining Uyghurs is a
compelling counterterrorism strategy. From that point forward, the association
has been openly quiet on the issue," he composed.
"Worldwide
Islamophobia is a revolting reality, and Khan's assurance to battle it is
commendable. Be that as it may, inasmuch as he stays quiet about the Uyghurs,
the promises he makes to advocate the reasons for the world's Muslims will ring
empty," he further composed. (ANI)
https://www.news15.news/2021/01/imran-khans-silence-on-uyghur-issue.html
--------
Tatarstan
Islamic Body Calls for Halal Approval of Russian COVID-19 Vaccines
February
01, 2021
Irek
Ziganshin, Chairman of the Halal Standard Committee of the Muslim Spiritual
Directorate of Tatarstan, said some 25 million Muslims live in Russia,
including many in Tatarstan, and they want to make sure that the vaccines
comply with Halal standards.
He
said Muslims in other countries also follow the same principle, as in Malaysia
and Indonesia in which a number of COVID-19 vaccines received Halal
certificates recently, RT Arabic reported.
Ziganshin
noted that if a vaccine contains elements like gelatin coming from porcine
materials, it will be Haram (not allowed for Muslims to use).
Halal
is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or
engage in, according to Islamic law.
Coronavirus
vaccines used in many Muslim countries should undergo approval process by the
Halal organizations.
People
in Russia are currently being inoculated against COVID-19 with the country’s
Sputnik V vaccine.
Produced
by Russian Health Ministry’s Gamaleya Center, Sputnik V has so far been approved
for use in 14 countries.
https://iqna.ir/en/news/3473858/tatarstan-islamic-body-calls-for-halal-approval-of-russian-covid-19-vaccines
--------
UN
lists candidates to run Libya’s transitional government
31
January 2021
Participants
at Libya’s UN-sponsored peace talks have approved a list of candidates seeking
to lead a transitional government that will prepare the North African state for
a national election at the end of 2021, the United Nations said.
The
transitional government will oversee preparations for the vote that aims to end
a decade of chaos and conflict that has left Libya split down the middle and
hammered its vital oil exports on which the country’s economy depends.
The
75 participants at talks in Switzerland, ranging from regional and tribal
figures to representatives of political factions, will vote next week to pick a
three-person presidential council and a prime minister.
They
will pick from 24 candidates for the three presidential council posts, while 21
people are vying for the post of prime minister, according to the UN list
released on Saturday.
While
UN-backed talks have progressed, many Libyans fear competition for posts could
yet trigger fresh fighting, unraveling a ceasefire that has largely held since
October.
Participants
at the UN talks agreed a formula for voting on the candidates for the
transitional government this month.
The
list of approved candidates includes Aguila Saleh, head of the eastern-based
parliament, while they also include the GNA’s Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha,
defense Minister Saleh Namroush and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeg.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2021/01/31/UN-lists-candidates-to-run-Libya-s-transitional-government
--------
Bangladesh
expects Myanmar to keep Rohingya repatriation commitments
February
1, 2021
DHAKA:
Bangladesh called for “peace and stability” in Myanmar after a military coup on
Monday, and said it hoped its neighbour makes genuine efforts to move forward
the stalled process of voluntary repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees.
Mainly-Muslim
Bangladesh has sheltered 1 million Rohingya who had fled violence in
Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where most of them are denied citizenship.
A
UN-backed repatriation process has failed to take off despite multiple attempts
from Bangladesh, which has now started sending some refugees to an isolated
island in the Bay of Bengal.
“We
have been persistent in developing mutually beneficial relations with Myanmar
and have been working with Myanmar for the voluntary, safe and sustained
repatriation of the Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh,” the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs told Reuters in a statement.
“We
expect these processes to continue in right earnest.”
Myanmar’s
military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected
government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with
other leaders of her National League for Democracy party in early morning
raids.
“We
hope that the democratic process and constitutional arrangements will be upheld
in Myanmar,” Bangladesh said.
Suu
Kyi’s international reputation was damaged after she failed to stop the forced
expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from western Rakhine State in
2017.
Nevertheless,
Rohingya in Bangladesh expressed fears for their people still in Myanmar
following the military’s ouster of Suu Kyi.
“She
was no good for us but there was still hope that through the democratic process
we could achieve our rights. Now it seems Myanmar has no democratic future in
the near term,” a 31-year-old Rohingya told Reuters by telephone from a refugee
camp, asking not to be named for fear of reprisal.
“We
are very concerned… Terrified about what’s going to happen to the Rohingya
Muslims in Myanmar,” he said.
Dil
Mohammed, a Rohingya leader in one of the camps, told Reuters: “We urge the
global community to come forward and restore democracy at any cost”.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2021/02/01/bangladesh-expects-myanmar-to-keep-rohingya-repatriation-commitments/
--------
Mideast
Iran
Welcomes ‘Inclusive Government’ In Afghanistan
31
Jan 2021
Javad
Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister on Sunday met with the Taliban delegation and
called for an inclusive government.
The
delegation led by Mullah Baradar was welcomed and the idea of an “all-inclusive
government with the participation of all ethnic and political groups in
Afghanistan” was praised.
According
to Zarif, “Political decisions could not be made in a vacuum, and the formation
of an all-inclusive government must take place in a participatory process and
by taking into account the fundamental structures, institutions, and laws, such
as the Constitution,”.
He
told the Taliban delegation that Iran is ready to facilitate the Afghan peace
process.
“The
noble people of Afghanistan have been wronged. The war and occupation of
Afghanistan have dealt heavy blows to the Afghan people”, Iran’s Foreign
Minister added.
Mullah
Baradar in return “denounced destructive role of ISIK in Afghanistan” and
expressed “satisfaction with the process of intra-Afghan talks” and described
the inclusive government important.
Meanwhile,
the Afghan Republic’s religious delegation of peace talks team met with leaders
of the International Union of Muslim Scholars in Qatar.
Both
sides have discussed the peace negotiations and its procedures.
Republic’s
team in a thread of tweets said IUMS described the Afghan war lacks religious
legitimacy, and it is important to seek a political solution for the prolonged
war to be ended.
IUMS
called for an immediate ceasefire and called it a religious obligation.
The
union demanded from all warring parties to agree to the ceasefire and peace as
soon as possible.
According
to IUMS war in Afghanistan is based on “political differences” and the role of
neighboring countries in the peace process is fundamental.
This
comes as Afghan parliament on Sunday formed a 21 member committee on peace
process, for directly being involved in the ongoing peace efforts.
Mir
Rahman Rahmani, Parliament Speaker said, that both sides of peace negotiating
teams are trying to achieve power and this committee will encourage both
parties to reach and gain real peace.
“Going
forward, the Wolesi Jirga should be directly involved in the peace process,”
Rahmani added, “The Wolesi Jirga should find out which side is delaying the
talks, and evaluate the claims both sides are making of the other. The
parliament delegation should be made aware of the reality and make a
comprehensive plan based on it”.
The
Afghan parliament speakers indicated he has found access to an interim government
draft setup.
Rahmani
said he has found access to the draft of an interim setup and he welcomes it
but added that the plan needs to be comprehensive.
According
to Rahmani the draft is said to have been prepared by the United States and the
Taliban for establishing an “interim government”, the parliament speaker
welcomes the plan but as it mentions staying with the current system and
national assembly but had many problems to be discussed.
Earlier,
The EU Delegation and international diplomatic missions in Afghanistan in a
joint statement condemned the targeted killings and kidnappings in the country
on Sunday.
The
EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of Australia, Canada, the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the NATO Senior Civilian
Representative in Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United
Kingdom, and the United States said that the continuation of assassinations,
kidnappings, and destruction of vital infrastructure – all which directly harm
the Afghan people.
“The
international community has invested heavily in energy, food security, water
resources, and road infrastructure for the benefit of the Afghan people,”
adding that, “We condemn the on-going destruction of vital infrastructure,
including digging up roads, destroying cell towers, and blowing up energy
stations by the Taliban”.
“These
actions serve no purpose besides hurting the Afghan people who – largely due to
decades of conflict -suffer from food insecurity and significant economic and
development challenges, further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic,” the
statement added.
“We
are standing side by side with those who are committed to bringing about an end
to the conflict through an inclusive political settlement that ensures this
country remains sovereign, united and democratic, at peace with itself and its
neighbors, and preserving the human rights, development and economic
achievements made over the past 19 years,” the statement read.
“We
continue to be steadfast in our resolve to assist the people of Afghanistan in
achieving peace, justice, and development. We expect the Taliban to demonstrate
its support for the people of Afghanistan by ending the violence, stopping the
destruction of vital infrastructure, and committing to a sustainable peace, for
the benefit of all Afghans,” the statement concluded.
https://www.khaama.com/iranian-foreign-minister-calls-for-an-inclusive-government-5665566/
--------
Arab
Coalition intercepts, destroys Houthi drone targeting Saudi Arabia
Ismaeel
Naar
30
January 2021
The
Arab Coalition confirmed it has intercepted and destroyed a drone in Yemeni
airspace launched by the Houthi militia targeting Saudi Arabia.
The
coalition affirmed that the Houthi militia continues to deliberately attempt
and target civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom.
Coalition
spokesperson Col. Turki al-Maliki said forces are taking the necessary measures
to neutralize and destroy the Houthi capabilities in accordance with
international law.
Last
Saturday, Saudi air defenses intercepted a missile launched by the Houthi
militia toward the capital Riyadh.
The
coalition also announced on January 15 that it had intercepted and destroyed 3
booby-trapped drones launched towards the Kingdom by the Houthi militia.
The
Houthis have intensified the use of explosive and reconnaissance drones, which
the United Nations previously said were assembled from external components and
shipped to Yemen, and are nearly identical in design, dimensions, and
capabilities to Iranian-made drones.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/01/30/Arab-Coalition-intercepts-destroys-Houthi-drone-targeting-Saudi-Arabia
--------
Israel
to give some 5,000 coronavirus vaccine doses to Palestinians
31
January 2021
Israel
has agreed to transfer 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the
Palestinians to immunize front-line medical workers, Israeli Defense Minister
Benny Gantz's office announced Sunday.
It
was the first time that Israel has confirmed the transfer of vaccines to the
Palestinians, who lag far behind Israel's aggressive vaccination campaign and
have not yet received any vaccines.
The
World Health Organization has raised concerns about the disparity between
Israel and Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, and
international human rights groups and U.N. experts have said Israel is
responsible for the well being of Palestinians in these areas. Israel says that
under interim peace agreements reached in the 1990s it is not responsible for
the Palestinians and in any case has not received requests for help.
Gantz's
office said early Sunday the transfer had been approved. It had no further
details on when that would happen. There was no immediate comment from
Palestinian officials.
Israel
is one of the world's leaders in vaccinating its population after striking
procurement deals with international drug giants Pfizer and Moderna. The Health
Ministry says nearly one-third of Israel's 9.3 million people have received the
first dose of the vaccine, while about 1.7 million people have received both doses.
The
campaign includes Israel's Arab citizens and Palestinians living in annexed
east Jerusalem. But Palestinians living in the West Bank under the autonomy
government of the Palestinian Authority and those living under Hamas rule in
Gaza are not included.
The
Palestinian Authority has been trying to acquire doses through a WHO program
known as COVAX. But the program, which aims to procure vaccines for needed
countries, has been slow to get off the ground.
The
dispute reflects global inequality in access to vaccines, as wealthy countries
vacuum up the lion’s share of doses, leaving poorer countries even farther
behind in combating the public health and economic effects of the pandemic. It
has also emerged as another flashpoint in the decades-old Mideast conflict,
even as the virus has wreaked havoc on both sides.
https://english.alarabiya.net/coronavirus/2021/01/31/Israel-to-give-some-5-000-coronavirus-vaccine-doses-to-Palestinians
--------
Houthi
military projectile lands close to hospital in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
Ismaeel
Naar
30
January 2021
A
military projectile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia fell near the
al-Harath General Hospital in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan, according to civil defense
team in the southern city.
The
media spokesman for the Civil Defense Directorate in the Jazan region said they
had received a report about the projectile landing close to the hospital.
“The
Civil Defense received a report about the fall of a military projectile
launched by the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia from inside the Yemeni
territories toward the al-Harath Governorate in the Jazan region,” Colonel
Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ghamdi said.
“The
competent authorities found a Katyusha-type military projectile which fell in a
garden adjacent to the al-Harath General Hospital. Its shrapnel was scattered
in several different locations and it did not result in any injuries or damages
- thank God - and the procedures adopted in such cases were directly
implemented,” he added.
An
hour earlier, the Arab Coalition confirmed it has intercepted and destroyed a
drone in Yemeni airspace launched by the Houthi militia targeting Saudi Arabia.
The
coalition affirmed that the Houthi militia continues to deliberately attempt
and target civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/01/30/Houthi-military-projectile-lands-close-to-hospital-in-Saudi-Arabia-s-Jazan
--------
Iran’s
administration renews allegiance to Imam Khomeini’s ideals
01
February 2021
The
Iranian administration has renewed allegiance to the ideals of the late founder
of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, in the run-up to the 42nd anniversary
of the Islamic Revolution.
President
Hassan Rouhani and other members of his cabinet visited Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum
in southern Tehran on Monday, paying tribute to the late leader and his legacy.
The
president delivered an address during the visit, recalling how the late Imam
led the Islamic Revolution to victory.
This,
he added, made the Islamic Revolution distinct from those that depended on
military or paramilitary strength.
The
president recalled how Imam Khomeini’s return to the country to a massive
welcome marked the most momentous development that preceded the victory of the
Islamic Revolution, calling the occasion the day when Imam Khomeini projected
the revolution’s social assets to the world.
Leader
of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei attended the mausoleum
on Sunday, paying tribute to the late Imam by reciting the Qur’an and praying for
his lofty soul.
Imam
Khomeini flew back to Iran after spending almost 15 years in an exile that had
been imposed on him by the former Western-backed Pahlavi regime.
But
the exile in Turkey, Iraq and France did not dampen the revolutionary zeal that
he had kindled in the hearts of Iranians.
That
zeal generated a swell of public agitation which became too strong to be put
down, forcing former shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to flee and draw the curtain on
2,500-old monarchy in Iran.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/02/01/644296/Iran-Islamic-Revolution-administration-Rouhani-tribute-Imam-Khomeini-Mausoleum
--------
Iran
kicks off 10-day celebrations marking victory of Islamic Revolution
31
January 2021
Yusef
Jalali
Iran
has kicked off the annual celebrations marking the anniversary of the victory
of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The
nationwide celebrations start on the anniversary of the homecoming of the late
founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, after several years of exile,
and ends on the anniversary of the victory of the revolution.
As of
every year, the ceremonies began with a visit by Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum. The
mausoleum, south of the capital Tehran, also hosts senior Iranian officials, as
well as ordinary people, particularly on the first day of the celebrations.
Led
by Imam Khomeini, the Islamic Revolution was driven by anti-imperialist
sentiments since former Iranian monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was heavily
dependent on Western powers, not least the United States.
People
sought to establish a new political system that was based on their will and
Islamic values – and that was the Islamic Republic.
This
year, authorities in charge of the 10-day ceremonies say no mass gatherings
will be allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The
occasion is marked without mass celebrations but organizers say the message is
the same.
Instead
of public celebrations, the Mehrabad Airport hosted a motorcycle parade by
Iran’s armed forces through the route Imam Khomeini took from the airport in
1979 as millions of people flocked to the streets to welcome him.
To
Iranians, the 10-day ‘dawn’ period is reminiscent of their struggle for
independence. This has echoed through the decades and has been heard by
generations.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644244/Iran-victory-Islamic-Revolution
--------
North
America
US,
NATO allies slam Taliban for destroying vital infrastructure in Afghanistan
JAN
31, 2021
The
United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies on
Sunday demanded the Taliban to end its activities such as assassinations,
kidnappings, and destruction of vital infrastructure in Afghanistan.
"We
expect the Taliban to demonstrate its support for the people of Afghanistan by
ending the violence, stopping the destruction of vital infrastructure, and
committing to a sustainable peace, for the benefit of all Afghans," a
joint statement published by the US embassy in Kabul said.
While
urging the Taliban to stop its violence, the statement said, "The
international community has invested heavily in energy, food security, water
resources, and road infrastructure for the benefit of the Afghan people.
The
allies further condemned the "on-going destruction of vital infrastructure,
including digging up roads, destroying cell towers, and blowing up energy
stations by the Taliban. These actions serve no purpose besides hurting the
Afghan people who - largely due to decades of conflict -suffer from food
insecurity and significant economic and development challenges, further
exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic."
The
intra-Afghan peace talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban had
resumed earlier this month but no progress till now has been made.
Instead,
the Taliban's Doha-based leader embarked on a trip to Iran on Sunday for talks
with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on the implementation of the Doha deal with
the US, according to a report by Sputnik.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news
--------
UAE
plays ‘troubling’ role in humanitarian crises, regional instability: US think
tank
31
January 2021
An
American think tank says the United Arab Emirates has contributed to
humanitarian crises and instability in the Middle East region, urging the
administration of Joe Biden to halt Washington’s support for the Arab nation.
The
UAE “spends lavishly throughout the corridors of power in Washington, DC to
portray itself as a pillar of stability and progress. But the actions of the
United Arab Emirates these past four years reveal a different, more troubling
reality,” said an article published on Responsible Statecraft, a publication of
the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.
The
essay noted that the harmful conduct of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Zayed - commonly known as MBZ- was enabled by the former administration of
Donald Trump, adding that the UAE's foreign policy "undermines US
strategic interests in the Middle East."
It
stressed that the new administration should not only revise Trump’s “egregious
missteps,” but also “put an end to US arms sales to and diplomatic support for
the UAE, which have helped create humanitarian crises and regional
instability.”
The
article referred to the UAE's role in the chaos that has gripped Libya, saying
Abu Dhabi “persistently violated a UN arms embargo by funding and arming the
renegade warlord Khalifa Haftar in his campaign against the internationally
recognized Libyan government in Tripoli.”
It
also noted that the UAE has established its own military base in the north
African country, and sent drone aircraft to conduct unlawful airstrikes that
claimed the lives of tens of civilians.
The
article also described the UAE’s role in Yemen as “even more grim.”
The
UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led aggression and siege against Yemen.
Riyadh
and a number of its regional allies launched the devastating war on Yemen in
March 2015 in order to bring former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to
power and crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement.
The
US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit
conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than
100,000 lives over the past years.
“There,
despite its declared troop withdrawal, the UAE remains a party to the
intractable war causing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, leaving
millions of Yemenis on the brink of starvation,” the think tank said.
It
noted that the UAE conducted “deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on
civilians, as well as hospitals, schools, universities, and residential areas,
reducing them to rubble,” and “operated secret detention centers with credibly
documented reports of torture and murder of detainees.”
The
article also pointed out that the UAE “supported mercenaries accused of
funneling US-made arms and materiel to al-Qaeda-linked militias in Yemen.”
It
also referred to the UAE's support for Southern separatists in a war against
Hadi himself, while claiming to want to restore him to power.
“Biden
should move to end arms sales to the UAE, the principal fuel for its disastrous
interventions, and end diplomatic support for the reckless policies of an
unaccountable leader,” the article said.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644230/UAE-contributed-humanitarian-crises
--------
US
military lands Daesh terrorists behind PMU positions in Jurf al-Sakhar: Expert
31
January 2021
The
US military airlifts groups of Daesh Takfiri terrorists to areas behind the
positions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in Jurf al-Sakhar region in
the central province of Babil, says an Iraqi security expert.
Sabah
al-Akili told Iraq’s al-Maloumeh news website on Sunday that the move is aimed
at infiltrating and targeting the PMU positions and sabotaging power
transmission lines.
“The
strategic military goal of the US forces is to cause division in Jurf al-Sakhar
in order to create a threat to nearby provinces and to invent a pretext for
American forces to stay in Iraq,” he said.
Al-Akili
argued that the move also provides a justification for the Iraqi government to
ask the US troops to remain in the Arab country.
“Foreign
and [Iraqi] political parties, backed by the US, are doing their utmost to
drive the Hashd al-Sha'abi (PMU) forces out of Jurf al-Sakhar, which connects
the provinces of Babil, al-Anbar and Baghdad via the holy [city of] Karbala,”
he added.
The
remarks came a day after the PMU announced its forces had thwarted an attack
launched by the remnants of Daesh on Jurf al-Sakhar.
The
PMU’s communication office said in a statement that the attack was repelled by
the Al-Jazirah Operation Headquarters Command.
Jurf
al-Sakhar was liberated from Daesh terrorists in 2014 in Operation Ashura,
which was led by Iran’s top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem
Soleimani, who was killed by the US military in January 2020, in an
assassination lauded by Daesh. Over 200 Takfiri terrorists were killed during
Operation Ashura.
Iraq
declared victory over Daesh in December 2017, after over three years of death
and destruction by the terrorist group against the Iraqi people. However,
remnants of Daesh still carry out terrorist attacks across the country from
time to time.
Earlier
this month, a twin bombing by the Takfiri terrorist group in a busy square in
Baghdad killed more than 30 people.
Iraq’s
Kata’ib Hezbollah, which is part of the PMU, blamed the “American-Saudi-Israeli
alliance” for the bombing, and warned that Iraqi resistance forces will target
the main source of Takfiri violence.
“The
perpetrators of the massacres in Iraq are the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel,”
Abdul-Ali al-Asgari, Katai’b’s security chief, wrote in a tweet on January 24.
“Revenge
should be exacted by retaliating against the source and fountainhead of fire,
not its branches,” he added.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644248/US-airlifts-Daesh-iraq
--------
Biden
has huge opportunity with Iran but will he take it?
31
January 2021
American
author and political commentator John Steppling believes President Joe Biden
has a huge opportunity to improve US ties with Iran by removing illegal
sanctions and rejoining the nuclear deal.
But
the analyst warned that Biden is a “liberal interventionist” who was
“instrumental in the invasion of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Ukraine, Venezuela, and
Bolivia.”
Steppling,
who is based in Norway, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on
Sunday when he was asked by Press TV whether the Biden administration
would avail the opportunity to rejoin
the Iran nuclear deal and remove illegal sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s
UN ambassador has that the ball is America’s court regarding the nuclear
agreement that it abandoned in 2018, adding that Tehran is waiting for the new
US administration to take the first step to lift the unlawful sanctions and
then rejoin the 2015 multilateral accord.
In an
interview with NBC News on Monday, Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran was not
prepared to offer goodwill gestures or confidence-building measures until
Washington removed its sanctions and returned to the Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action (JCPOA).
‘It’s
up to the US to decide what course of action to take. We’re not in a hurry,’ he
said.
In
2015, Iran and six world states — namely the US, Germany, France, Britain,
Russia and China — signed the JCPOA which was ratified in the form of UN
Security Council Resolution 2231.
However,
the US under former president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the JCPOA
in May 2018 and reinstated the anti-Iran sanctions that had been lifted by the
deal.
The
Trump administration also launched what it called a maximum pressure campaign
against Iran, targeting the Iranian nation with the ‘toughest ever’ restrictive
measures.
“If
you ask the question, is there an opportunity for anything and you're speaking
about US foreign policy, the answer is well of course there is. I mean there's
always an opportunity but it never materializes because the US government
doesn't think about these things the way you and I think about,” Steppling
said.
“US
foreign policy since the end of World War II has been driven by the same
concerns for every single decade and that is the protection of Western capital
and markets, the possibility of new markets, and it was driven by
anti-communism. And if you look at the record in Africa, for example, the US
fought against African independence movements. The Soviet Union, Cuba fought
for African independence movements. The US was complicit with the UK in the
assassination of Lumumba who was probably the single most important African
leader of the 20th century whose life was cut very short,” he said, referring
to Patrice Lumumba who was an anticolonial Congolese politician and
independence leader who served as the first Prime Minister of the independent
Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo) from June until
September 1960.
Lumumba
resisted Belgian colonialism and corporate interests. He was assassinated in a
US-backed coup on January 17, 1961.
“So,
is there an opportunity to change direction on Iran? Yeah, but I can't see that
happening. I mean the X Factor in this, the variable in this right now of
course, is that we're seeing a massive contraction of capital. And this is part
of ‘the great reset’ is all about. The Klaus Schwab World Economic Forum idea
and this is being driven by a certain faction of the ruling class - people of
extreme wealth. And it's tied into depopulation schemes and all sorts of stuff,
because of the idea of being that since the financial crisis in 2008 the
profits are not consistent and they're not reliable, and the profits are much
smaller than they were in the past, except for a few people like Jeff Bezos or
whoever,” he noted.
“So,
they're looking to usher in a more controlled form of capital -- call it
whatever you want, people have come up with different names for it, feudalism
being one -- but it's not likely to succeed the way they imagine for a variety
of reasons we don't have to get into here but it will impact how the US views
its interventions. Now Biden is a liberal interventionist. He was instrumental
in the invasion of Iraq. He was instrumental with Syria, Libya, Ukraine,
Venezuela, Bolivia. I mean Biden's track record is terrible,” he stated.
“And
I can't imagine why he would change given that his appointments so far are all
liberal interventionists just like him. They all think alike. And so I can't
imagine anything is really going to change. I mean there are always cosmetic
differences. Biden will probably return to the perception management style that
Obama employed especially in his second term,” he noted.
“And
that will be less bellicose and extreme than Trump was. But, it's frankly not
substantially going to be different, and Iran loons with Russia as an economic
enemy. China, I think, is hard to calculate exactly where China is in this
because I think they probably have a lot of backdoor collusion with the US, and
we see Xi speaking at the opening of Davos. So that's hard to know and I'm not
an economist and I don't pretend to be but it seems to me that what we're going
to see is a more controlled form of US imperialism with a sort of more narrowly
targeted goals,” he said.
“But
Iran is useful to the US as an international ‘villain.’ That also suits the
needs of Israel. It suits Saudi Arabian needs as well. Iran becomes the
justification for any aggression they commit.
And Israel and the KSA are both, essentially, US proxies in the region,”
he added.
“So,
there's an opportunity but it's not going to be taken. I don't think, I can't
imagine any way that Biden suddenly changes his very hawkish policies, I mean
the hawkish policies he's employed for 30 years,” he concluded.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644247/Joe-Biden-is-liberal-interventionist
--------
Biden's
pick who said US 'owns' Syrian oil territory draws flak
30
January 2021
Syrians
and others are outraged by President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon’s
Middle East desk who once said Washington "owned” Syria’s oil and gas
resources in the war-torn country’s occupied northeast.
In an
interview with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) back
in October 2019, Dana Stroul had said that the US military was using the
territory as "leverage” in the conflict.
“The
United States still had compelling forms of leverage on the table to shape an
outcome that was more conducive and protective of US interests,” Stroul said
then.
“The
first one was the one-third of Syrian territory that was owned via the US
military with its local partner, the Syrian Democratic Forces. Now this was a
light footprint on the US military, only about a thousand troops over the
course of the Syria Study Group’s report; and then the tens of thousands of
forces, both Kurdish and Arab, under the Syria Democratic Forces. And that
one-third of Syria is the resource-rich – it’s the economic powerhouse of
Syria. So where the hydrocarbons are, which obviously is very much in the
public debate here in Washington these days, as well as the agricultural
powerhouse.”
“We
argued that it wasn’t just about this one-third of Syrian territory that the US
military and our military presence owned, both to fight ISIS (Daesh) and also
as leverage for affecting the overall political process for the broader Syria
conflict,” she added.
Stroul’s
comments were met with harsh responses from social media users and activists,
who highlighted the plundering of Syria’s natural assets by the US
administrations over the years.
Sarah
Abdallah, an independent Lebanese geopolitical commentator, said in a tweet
that Washington is “proudly boasting about how the US military ‘owns’ the
resource-rich part of Syria, the economic powerhouse of Syria, where the oil
and wheat are.”
“Remember
this the next time the US claims it wants to bring freedom & democracy to
other countries,” she underlined.
Joe
Biden’s pick to head the Pentagon’s Middle East Desk boasting about how the US
military owns the oil-rich territory of #Syria, and will use it as leverage in
its ongoing war.
Remember
this the next time the US claims it wants to bring freedom & democracy to
other countries. pic.twitter.com/ALoz71hfvD
—
Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) January 29, 2021
Proudly
boasting about how the US military “owns” the resource-rich part of Syria, the
economic powerhouse of Syria, where the oil and wheat are.
Also
says the sanctions will continue and the US will prevent any reconstruction aid
from entering Syria.
—
Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) January 29, 2021
Lina
Arabi, a Syrian rights activist, posted on her Twitter page photos of Syrians
rummaging through garbage as Americans occupy an oil field in the background.
"Take
the oil" is not just a Trump thing, she wrote.
Look
at those photos while you hear Biden's pick to head Pentagon's Middle East
Desk, Dana Stroul, say the oil-rich territory is "owned" by the US
military.
"Take
the oil" is not just a Trump thing. pic.twitter.com/UqiN8VC7MU
—
Lina Arabi (@LinaArabii) January 29, 2021
These
photos of Syrians rummaging through garbage as Americans occupy an oil field in
the background.. pic.twitter.com/ofr8svVJqr
—
Lina Arabi (@LinaArabii) January 29, 2021
Syrian
people have repeatedly demonstrated against the looting and smuggling of oil by
the US-backed and Kurdish-led militants in the country’s north and east.
The
looting of Syrian oil by the US was first confirmed during a Senate hearing
exchange between South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and then-US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last July.
During
his testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 30, Pompeo
confirmed for the first time that an American oil company would begin work in
northeastern Syria, which is controlled by SDF militants.
The
SDF, a US-backed alliance of Kurdish militants operating against Damascus,
currently controls areas in northern and eastern Syria.
The
Syrian government has condemned any agreement inked to plunder the country’s
natural resources, including Syrian oil and gas, with the sponsorship of the
administration of former US President Donald Trump.
The
former US president acknowledged several times that American military forces
were in Syria for the Arab country’s oil.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/30/644170/US-Dana-Stroul-oil-resources-Syria-
--------
Biden
renews deportation protections for Syrians in US
Michael
Hernandez
29.01.2021
WASHINGTON
US
President Joe Biden extended Friday deportation protections for thousands of
Syrians currently in the US.
The
6,700 eligible Syrian nationals are currently recipients of what is known as
Temporary Protected Status, a program that allows migrants to live and work in
the US as long as their country is not safe to live in. Their eligibility in
the program has been extended through September 2022, the Department of
Homeland Security said in a statement.
The
protections can be extended to nationals whose home countries have been
affected by natural disasters, armed conflict or other extraordinary but
temporary conditions.
Syria
has been ravaged by a conflict that began in 2011.
The
extension stands in stark contrast to former US President Donald Trump's
immigration policies, which sought to curtail both legal and illegal migration
to the US.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/biden-renews-deportation-protections-for-syrians-in-us/2127749
--------
Europe
Islamic
Jihad delegation visits Russia for talks
Nour
Abu Eisha
01.02.2021
A
delegation from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group arrived in Moscow on Monday
for talks with Russian officials.
In a
statement, the group said the visit of the delegation, led by Secretary-General
Zeyad al-Nakhala, comes upon an invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The
talks will focus on bilateral relations and mobilizing international support to
the Palestinian rights, the statement read.
It
remains unclear for how long the delegation will stay in Moscow.
Russia
has invited several Palestinian groups in the past year in an effort to
actively contribute to achieving inter-Palestinian reconciliation.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/islamic-jihad-delegation-visits-russia-for-talks/2129675
--------
Macron
speaks to Lebanon’s Aoun, affirms France’s support in government formation
Rawad
Taha
30
January 2021
French
President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his country’s assistance to Lebanon in
terms of government formation during a phone call with Lebanon’s President
Michael Aoun on Saturday.
The
French president assured that his country was standing by Lebanon’s side in the
current circumstances it is going through.
Macron
has been trying to resolve the unprecedented socio-economic and political crisis
Lebanon has been facing over the past year through proposing a resolution plan
based on the formation of a new government.
Macron
visited Lebanon twice after the August 4 Beirut port explosion as he tried to
push the political class to adopt the “the French initiative for Lebanon,”
politicians have failed to agree on a cabinet since Hasan Diab’s government
resigned after the explosion.
Macron’s
phone call took place a day after he told Al Arabiya and other reporters in
Paris that the French proposal, a roadmap plan for Lebanon to crawl out of its
unprecedented economic crisis, was “still on the table” because there were “no
other solutions available.”
Macron
added on Friday that he would pay a third visit to Lebanon and he revealed that
preparations are underway for a new round of talks on the Lebanese file.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/30/Macron-speaks-to-Lebanon-s-Aoun-affirms-France-s-support-in-government-formation
--------
India
Fatima
is now called Swapna: Raised as Hindu For 15 Years, Girl Discovers Family
Muslim
Feb
1, 2021
HYDERABAD:
Every day for 15 years Sakina mourned the loss of her daughter Fatima who went
missing in Mecca Masjid when she was just two-and-half-years old during a visit
to city.
The
Muslim family of five from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh have finally traced her,
but Fatima is now called Swapna having been raised as a Hindu in a child
welfare home and doesn’t recognise her folks.
“It’s
a heart-wrenching situation. We will take our sister to our village and keep
her with us to introduce her to our friends and relatives. Later, we will send
her back to the children’s home in Hyderabad so that she can continue to focus
on her studies,’’ Abid Hussain, her brother, told TOI in a choked voice.
The
wait to get fully re-united will be a little longer as the child welfare
committee has recommended a DNA test confirmation before she is handed over to
her family.
It
was a chance visit to a child welfare home by two Hyderabad cops as part of
anti-child trafficking and rescue project called “Operation Smile” that led
them to the girl who is in class XI now.
A
probe revealed that a mason called Khwaja Moinuddin from Kurnool had lodged a
missing diary at a Hussainialam police station in 2005. “I got a confirmation
from my batch mate in Kurnool about the family’s genuineness and her mother
also correctly told us about the identification marks, including a mole on
Swapna’s leg,” Cyberabad SI (anti-human trafficking) N Sridhar said.
The
elated family members who rushed to Hyderabad a few days ago were surprised to
find that Fatima was now a staunch Sai Baba devotee. “She has grown up in a
completely different culture, with no remembrance of who her family was. This
reunion is the second unusual twist in her life. To her misfortune, exactly a
year ago, her father had also passed away,” said a senior police official.
Recollecting
their story leading to the fateful day, the family said they were on a
pilgrimage and had first gone to Ajmer Sharif and then came to pray at the
iconic Mecca Masjid where the girl went missing while following her father to
get water after lunch. The family camped in Hyderabad for several months in
search of Fatima.
“During
our stay in Hyderabad, I had to work in a hotel so that we could get something
to eat. Finally, after we lost hope we returned to Kurnool as it was a helpless
situation. My mother and father cried for days,” said Hussain.
“When
we went back my father had to face allegations that he had sold off his
daughter. He took so much pain,” Hussain added.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/lost-found-raised-as-hindu-for-15-yrs-girl-discovers-family-muslim/articleshow/80620667.cms
--------
India-made
Covishield part of Pakistan jab drive under vaccine alliance
Feb
1, 2021
NEW
DELHI: India’s vaccine diplomacy took further wing with 1 lakh anti-Covid shots
being sent to Oman, a close partner in the Gulf, after having supplied the jabs
to immediate neighbours. Later this week, India is scheduled to send over 5
lakh doses to Afghanistan.
India
will also send 2 lakh doses to Nicaragua, 1 lakh to Barbados, 70,000 to
Dominica and 1.5 lakh to Mongolia, though dates are yet to be finalised.
Egypt,
Algeria, UAE and Kuwait have all purchased vaccines and are on the commercial
export list. Apart from the gifts, Mongolia (10 lakh) Nicaragua (3 lakh), Saudi
Arabia (30 lakh), Myanmar and Bangladesh are among those who have contracted to
purchase vaccines from India. The purchases are made commercially but need
export clearance from the Indian government.
Meanwhile,
around seven million made-in-India doses of AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine
will be part of Pakistan’s free Covid-19 vaccination drive starting next week
under theglobal Covax alliance, PM Imran Khan’s special assistant on health Dr
Faisal Sultan said on Sunday.
As a
special Pakistani plane departed for China to fetch the first batch of
Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine, Dr Sultan announced that around seven million out
of the 17 million committed doses of Covishield would reach the country by
March.
“Though
AstraZeneca is being prepared in India, it will come through Covax, an
international alliance which has announced free vaccines for 20% of Pakistan’s
population. DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan) has already registered
both Sinopharm and AstraZeneca,” Dr Sultan said.
The
UN Covax initiative will see India selling about 100 lakh doses of vaccines. In
addition, the UN will be buying about 4 lakh doses for its own workers all over
the world.
India’s
vaccination drive is attracting attention, with Indian ambassador to the
Philippines Shambu Kumaran tweeting on Sunday that the Asean nation was
examining India's rollout of inoculations, pointing to reports in the local
media there.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-made-covishield-part-of-pakistan-jab-drive-under-vaccine-alliance/articleshow/80620189.cms
--------
Pakistan
After
failing to force PM’s resignation: PDM faces challenging circumstances,
differing strategies
Tariq
Butt
February
1, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
The ultimatum given by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to Prime Minister
Imran Khan to step down by December 31 has passed amid taunts and jeers and by
government leaders. The opposition alliance, however, has failed to come up
with any plausible justification for its failure to achieve its target.
Since
day one, sceptics had said that the PDM’s ambitious deadline was set without
any deep reflection or even a consensus within the PDM. The alliance was meant
to ratchet up enough pressure on the prime minister to bow out by the end of
the year or face the intensification of the opposition’s protest campaign. It
now appears that this was a hasty decision and certain PDM parties were in a
hurry to accomplish their intended objective without the required groundwork.
It is instructive to look at the phases of the movement that were to unfold and
the preparations done for their realization if Imran Khan did not resign by the
stipulated cut-off date.
Forty-seven
days ago on Dec 15, the PDM stated after a summit meeting at Raiwind that if
the premier did not quit by the deadline, the alliance would announce the
schedule for launching a long march on the federal capital on Feb 1. No such
deliberations are now planned on the day to firm up the date for the long
march. The PDM is scheduled to meet on Feb 4. If at all the grouping resorts to
this kind of protest, it may be held in March. Then there are differences in
the alliance over the conversion of the long march into a sit-in. The Pakistan
People’s Party (PPP) is strongly opposed to this move.
The
PDM’s second threat as part of its efforts to pile up pressure on Imran Khan
was to resign from the assemblies. There is hardly any talk of this option now
especially after the PPP publicly expressed its aversion to it. Asif Zardari is
known to be opposed to any move that brings down the system, whereas the
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) hold
an opposing view, pushing for a hard line.
After
the PDM was formed at an All Parties’ Conference hosted by the PPP in
September, it had made a good start and rattled the government with a series of
high profile events including public meetings. However, after the Lahore rally,
the pressure of the PDM on the government began to wane. Simultaneously, the
explosive rhetoric pushed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also been
missing. During the first few PDM public meetings, Nawaz Sharif had advanced
his narrative in an uncompromising tone.
It has
been quite a while now since the PDM organized any powerful and meaningful
activity. The harsh weather is being cited as one reason. However, the result
of this lull is that the government feels more confident and assured now.
However, despite this lull, to say that the PDM can simply be wished away and
dismissed as a non-entity is an erroneous view. It remains a potent force that
can unnerve the government by a single display of street power.
The
alliance has suffered a setback because of differences in its own ranks over
the options of agitation to intensify its drive. The government’s success in
changing the mind of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold
by-elections for seven federal and provincial seats created a difficult
situation which gave rise to the differences within the PDM. The PPP was
insistent upon contesting the by-polls while the PML-N and JUI-F had the
opposite view. Ultimately, the PML-N and JUI-F had to go along with the PPP’s
stand. However, it seemed paradoxical for the PDM to vie for the by-elections
on the one hand and talk about resigning from the assemblies on the other. The
PPP’s recommendation to move a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, which
it has repeatedly stressed, has not found favour with the other two major PDM
components.
The
reason why the PML-N and JUI-F have not created a scene with the PPP on
proposals they do not agree with is to keep the grouping intact despite heavy
odds. Not only do the two parties but the PPP too realizes that if the alliance
breaks down, everyone would suffer and their weight and relevance would whittle
down significantly. The talk of a no-trust motion, vacillation over the
resignation of lawmakers, indecision on the date of the long march, the absence
of a programme of any major public activity in the near future and the passing
of the deadline for Imran Khan’s resignation without success have created a
difficult situation for the PDM. For the time being, its biggest challenge is
to maintain a consensus and take along all its component parties to remain a
force to be reckoned with.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/783306-after-failing-to-force-pm-s-resignation-pdm-faces-challenging-circumstances-differing-strategies
--------
Pakistan
appeals against acquittal in Daniel Pearl murder case
Feb
1, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Authorities in Pakistan have petitioned the Supreme Court to review its
decision to free British-born Pakistani Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and his three
accomplices convicted of kidnapping and beheading American journalist Daniel
Pearl, the Pearl family lawyer confirmed on Sunday.
The
petition was filed by the provincial government of Sindh on Friday, a day after
the court acquitted Sheikh and others, who were convicted for the Wall Street
Journal reporter’s murder in 2002. “The petition was filed to seek a review and
request the court to recall the order of acquittal,” said Fayyaz Shah, the
prosecutor general for the Sindh government.
Following
the top court’s decision on Thursday, the Biden administration had expressed an
outrage, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki underscoring the new US
administration’s commitment to secure justice for Pearl’s family.
“This
decision to exonerate and release Sheikh and the other suspects is an affront
to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan,” she said, calling on
the “Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options including
allowing the United States to prosecute Sheikh for the brutal murder of an
American citizen and journalist”.
Washington
said last month that it “stands ready to take custody of Omar Sheikh to stand
trial insisting the US “cannot allow him to evade justice for his role in
Daniel Pearl’s abduction and murder.”
Legal
experts in Pakistan, however, maintain that the country’s laws do not allow another
country to undertake such an intervention.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-appeals-against-acquittal-in-daniel-pearl-murder-case/articleshow/80619367.cms
--------
Islamophobia:
A fungible prop for Muslim religious soft power
January
31, 2021
By
Dr. James M. Dorsey
Think
the Muslim world is united in opposing Islamophobia? Think twice.
Rising
anti-Muslim sentiment in countries like China, Myanmar, and India as well as
the West against the backdrop of increased support for anti-migration and
extreme nationalist groups, and far-right populist parties is proving to be a
boost for contenders for religious soft power in and leadership of the Muslim
world.
For
Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, supporters of different expressions of political
Islam, Islamophobia provides the backdrop for attempts to position themselves
as defenders of Muslim causes such as Palestinian rights in Jerusalem, the
third holiest city in Islam, the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar, and
conflict in predominantly Muslim Kashmir.
Absent
from the contenders’ list is China’s brutal crackdown on Turkic Muslims in its
troubled north-western province of Xinjiang. China, which aggressively has
sought repatriation of Turkic Muslims, recently ratified an extradition treaty
that Turkey, home to the largest Xinjiang exile community, insists will not put
Uighurs at risk.
By
the same token, Islamophobia has proven a useful tool to influence efforts by
men like French President Emmanuel Macron and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz
to crack down on political Islam and shape the faith in the mould of Turkey
& Co’s Middle Eastern rivals for religious soft power, Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates.
The
Gulf monarchies advocate a vague notion of ‘moderate’ Islam that preaches absolute
obedience to the ruler and is quietist and non-political. The two Gulf states
have gone as far as legitimizing China’s crackdown and persuading the 57-nation
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to endorse Chinese policy as an
effective way of countering political extremism and violence.
Economics
and trade are powerful drivers for the Muslim world’s refusal to hold China
accountable. But so are the brownie points that major Muslim-majority
contenders for religious soft power garner in Beijing. Muslim criticism of the
crackdown potentially could make the difference in pressuring China to change
its policy.
Saudi
and Emirati rejection of and campaigning against political Islam bolsters the
rationale of not only China’s crackdown but also Russian efforts to control
Moscow’s potentially restive Muslim minority. China may not like the
propagation of political Islam by the Gulf states’ religious soft power rivals
but values their silence.
Chinese
Turkic Muslims is not the only issue over which contenders, including Asian
states like Indonesia, irrespective of what notion of Islam they promote,
stumble in their quest for religious soft power.
So is
another litmus test of claims of a majority of the contenders to embrace
religious tolerance and inter-faith dialogue that raises the question of
whether contenders should clean up their own house first to give credibility to
their often-opportunistic embrace of ‘moderate’ Islam.
Among
the rivals, the UAE, populated in majority by non-nationals, is one of only two
contenders to start acknowledging changing attitudes and demographic realities.
Authorities
in November lifted the ban on consumption of alcohol and cohabitation among
unmarried couples. This week, the UAE opened the door to the naturalization of
foreign nationals.
The
other contender, Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim movement, has
begun tackling legal and theological reform of Islam with the encouragement of
the government. The movement offered in October a platform for then US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to lash out at China’s treatment of Turkic
Muslims.
By
contrast, Pakistan, in an act of overreach modelled on US insistence on
extra-territorial abidance by some of its laws, recently laid down a gauntlet
in the struggle to define religious freedom by seeking to block and shut down a
US-based website associated with Ahmadis on charges of blasphemy.
Ahmadis
are a minority sect viewed as heretics by many Muslims that have been targeted
in Indonesia and elsewhere but nowhere more so than in Pakistan where they have
been constitutionally classified as non-Muslims. Blasphemy is potentially
punishable in Pakistan with a death sentence.
The
Pakistani effort was launched at a moment that anti-Ahmadi and anti-Shiite
sentiment in Pakistan, home to the world’s largest Shia Muslim minority, is on
the rise. Recent mass demonstrations denounced Shiites as “blasphemers” and
“infidels” and called for their beheading as the number of blasphemy cases
being filed against Shiites in the courts mushrooms.
Pakistan’s
rivals in the competition for religious soft power have largely remained silent
about the worrying trend, raising questions about the integrity of their
commitment to religious freedom and tolerance as well as their rejection of
Islamophobia.
Newly
appointed Indonesian religious affairs minister, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, a senior
Nahdlatul Ulama official, is proving to be the exception that confirms the
rule. Mr. Qoumas pledged in one of his first statements as a minister during a
visit to a Protestant church to protect the rights of Shiites and Ahmadis.
Said
Indonesia scholar Alexander R Arifianto: “Qoumas’ new initiatives as Religious
Affairs Minister are a welcome move to counter the influence of radical
Islamists and address long-standing injustices against religious minorities. He
now has to prove these are not empty slogans, but an earnest attempt at
promoting equal citizenship for all Indonesians irrespective of their religious
beliefs.”
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2021/01/31/islamophobia-a-fungible-prop-for-muslim-religious-soft-power/
--------
First
batch of 0.5m vaccine doses arrives in Islamabad from China
February
1, 2021
The
first batch of Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Pakistan from China on Monday via a
special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft.
The
batch contains 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine that has been gifted by
China. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health (SAPM) Dr Faisal
Sultan announced the development in a tweet and expressed his gratitude to the
Chinese government and "everyone who made this happen".
"NCOC
and provinces played an instrumental role in tackling Covid. I salute our
frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they'll be first to get
vaccinated," he tweeted.
According
to real-time pictures shared with media, the PAF plane had landed in Beijing on
Sunday at 7pm (4pm PST) and Sinopharm’s vaccine was loaded on it.
The
plane landed at the Noor Khan Airbase in Islamabad on Monday morning. According
to a statement by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), a vaccine
handing over ceremony will be held at the airbase at 2pm and will be attended
by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan
Nong Rong.
China
has donated 500,000 jabs, with which the frontline healthcare workers will be
vaccinated. Over 400,000 health professionals have applied for vaccination.
The
registration process of citizens over 65 years would start in the next 10 to 15
days, Planning Minister and NCOC chair Asad Umar had told Dawn.
“As
the doses will be stored in Islamabad, there is a possibility that vaccination
will start a day earlier in the federal capital compared to the rest of the
country,” Umar added.
An
official of the Ministry of National Health Services, requesting not to be
named, said arrangements were in place to maintain the cold chain management of
the vaccine, right from storing it in a warehouse to its administration to
healthcare workers.
“There
is a warehouse of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) which will be
used to store the vaccine. Besides, we have developed the National Immunisation
Management System (NIMS) through which we will monitor from Islamabad the doses
utilised in each province and district and how many more were required. We will
ensure that the new stocks are available before the existing ones run out,” he
said.
“Not
only have we secured 500,000 free doses from our all-weather friend China but
another 1.1m jabs, which had been pre-booked from Beijing, will also arrive,”
the official said, adding that Covax had also given us a written assurance that
it would provide 17m doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the first six
months of the ongoing year.
“Out
of these 17m, around 7m will be received before the end of March. We are
confident that the healthcare workers, citizens over 65 years of age, people in
the age bracket of 50 and 65 years and those with chronic diseases will be
vaccinated by the end of June,” he added.
Vaccination
drive
Last
week, Umar had announced that the vaccination drive — which is already underway
in several countries — will begin in Pakistan this week, starting with
frontline health workers.
Pakistan’s
vaccine strategy has been finalised and, after announcement of registration of
different segments included in the priority list, citizens will have to send
their computerised national identity card (CNIC) number to 1166 through SMS or
through NIMS website for registration. After verification, a designated vaccine
centre on the basis of the present address mentioned in the CNIC as well as a
pin code will be sent to citizens through SMS.
People
will have the option to change their vaccine centre by visiting NIMS website or
by calling on the helpline 1166 within five days of the receipt of the first
SMS. A vaccination centre and appointment date will then be shared.
On
the date of the appointment, people will have to reach the centre with their
original CNIC and also share their pin code. After administration of the
vaccine, the recipient will remain in the centre for 30 minutes for post inculcation
monitoring.
So
far, Pakistan has approved three coronavirus vaccines — the Oxford-AstraZeneca
vaccine, the vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned firm China National
Pharmaceutical Group (SinoPharm) and Russian-developed Sputnik V.
Officials
say the authorisations will be reviewed quarterly with regard to safety,
efficacy and quality.
Special
Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has said Pakistan
could get “in the range of tens of millions” of vaccine doses under an
agreement with China's Cansino Biologics Inc.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604854/first-batch-of-05m-vaccine-doses-arrives-in-islamabad-from-china
--------
Nawaz,
Zardari will be behind bars soon: Khattak
Suhail
Kakakhel
February
1, 2021
NOWSHERA:
Defence Minister Pervez Khan Khattak on Sunday said that opposition leaders
Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari would soon be behind bars because of their
corruption.
Similarly,
he said, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman would also be behind bars as he had
failed to justify his assets accumulated beyond his known sources of income.
“If
justice is done, all these people will soon be in jail,” said Mr Khattak, while
talking to journalists after speaking at a public meeting at Irrigation Guest
House, Pabbi.
He
said that now only an honest leadership would take root in the country.
The
minister said that the PTI government was not facing any threat from anyone and
it would complete its constitutional term till 2023, and would again come into
power on the basis of its “performance”.
Referring
to his Saturday’s speech some portions of which went viral on social media, the
minister asserted that some people had distorted his speech and presented it
“out of context”.
“If
my entire speech was shown to the people, then the truth would come out,” Mr
Khattak said.
“I am
very sorry. Some people have distorted my speech. If I bring the whole part of
this speech before the people then the truth will come out. My point was that
Allah Almighty has given me ability of thinking,” the minister said.
He
said he could not think of going against Prime Minister Imran Khan and he was
ready to give sacrifices for the party.
About
Senate election, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to ensure free and
fair election through the open ballot to keep the masses informed who voted for
whom in the election. He, however, claimed that whether the election was held
through the open or secret ballot, the PTI would surely win the election.
The
minister claimed that all opposition parties had earlier been demanding holding
of Senate elections through the open ballot, but now they were opposing it
which was beyond comprehension.
Referring
to PDM’s rallies and public meetings to dislodge the government, the minister
said the opposition had badly failed on all fronts, adding that neither
lawmakers of opposition parties resigned from assemblies nor they brought
people out on streets.
Earlier,
the minister went to Pir Sabak, Bara Banada, Kheshgi Payan to offer condolences
with different families.
Speaking
at a public gathering at Manki Sharif on Saturday, Mr Khattak had said that
Prime Minister Imran Khan had obliged him so many times and opposition parties
also respected him and he also took care of them.
A
video clip of his speech had gone viral on social media on Saturday in which he
had said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government would not survive a single
day if he wanted creating problems for it.
“I
can take to heights of success anyone I want to and make him zero whenever I
want to do that and this is all the result of my hard work,” he had asserted in
the speech.
He
had further said that if he wanted to do mischief, the government of Imran Khan
would not survive even for a single day.
The
minister had further said it was his hard work and effort that today he was
competing with the entire country, adding that Mr Imran Khan was very kind to
him and he was indebted to him.
Mr
Khattak further claimed that he could not be deceived in politics as he knew
all politicians and their families personally.
He
said he not only handled government officials, but also dealt with opposition
leaders and everyone respected him.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604798/nawaz-zardari-will-be-behind-bars-soon-khattak
--------
Southeast
Asia
Hadi
throws a spanner in the works of Biden-Muhyiddin ties
K.
Parkaran
January
31, 2021
The
swearing in of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the US has inadvertently
exposed a major difference in the diplomatic stand of parties in Malaysia’s
ruling coalition.
Prime
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin congratulated Biden, but Muhyiddin’s key ally in the
ruling Perikatan Nasional, PAS, took a completely opposite stand, dismissing
Malaysia’s largest trading partner as oppressors of Islamic nations.
In
his congratulatory message, Muhyiddin told Biden that Malaysia was looking
forward to strengthening its partnership with the US under his leadership.
“Malaysia
hopes to continue and expand its existing partnership with the US on various
issues and global fronts, including fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said,
adding that he looked forward to meeting him personally.
It
may sound diplomatic and one that most countries usually do but the reality is
that Malaysia needs the US more if one cares to look at our trade figures. The
superpower comes in after China and Singapore as our main overall trading
partners.
In
terms of our supplies, again they are the third highest on the list. US goods
imports from Malaysia totalled RM168 billion in 2019, up 3.1% from 2018. In
addition, the US foreign direct investment in Malaysia was RM43 billion in the
same year.
Obviously
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang must have forgotten that we have a RM200 billion
annual trade with the US when he lambasted the new US leadership as one that
will continue with its “same chess game using countries as its pawns.”
But
most importantly, Hadi made the populist statement ignoring the fact that he
was the government’s special envoy to the Middle East, appointed by Muhyiddin.
He did not mince his words, throwing caution to the wind.
“The
change of the US leadership from Donald Trump to Joe Biden is unlikely to
change its foreign policy towards Muslim nations. Biden himself was a supporter
of Israel’s previous policy and intervened in the affairs of Islamic states,”
said Hadi.
“It
includes invading Afghanistan, ‘extinguishing’ Kurdish tribes along the borders
of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. In addition it was a proponent of proxy wars
in Syria, Libya and Yemen, dividing Iraq, and besieging Iran and threatening
all countries that did not want it,” he said in a strongly worded Facebook
post.
Hadi
said although Biden may choose a softer diplomatic approach, the US would
continue doing things as it wished.
“That
is also the US political reality…the chess board and chess pieces remain the
same, only now they are different players.”
We
all know that PAS plays quite an influential role in the PN government, with
all of its 18 MPs made ministers, deputy ministers or chairmen in GLCs. They
control three states too. Going by their own targets and ambitions, they are
aiming for a much stronger hold on the policies of the nation.
So
one can’t help wondering if Hadi’s statement, whether true or otherwise, will
be taken seriously given his Islamic credentials and scholarly standing in the
Muslim world. This is especially so when many Malaysians take his exhortations
and statements as gospel truth.
Coming
at a time when the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reported
that Malaysia saw a sharp 68% decline in FDI last year while FDI in Southeast
Asia only decreased by 31% with the Philippines’ rising by 29%, he may just be
sending the wrong signal.
Hadi
and some of his PAS leaders ought to remember that we are a secular nation and
this will not change in a century, or more. Some of their recent statements
received global attention which is not flattering for Malaysia.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2021/01/31/hadi-throws-a-spanner-in-the-works-of-biden-muhyiddin-ties/
--------
Tun
Dr Mahathir Mohamad Was Not Agreeable To The Idea Of Malaysia Expelling
Fugitive Muslim Preacher Dr Zakir Naik: Tommy Thomas
31
Jan 2021
BY
IDA LIM
KUALA
LUMPUR, Jan 31 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was not agreeable to the idea of
Malaysia expelling fugitive Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik, as the then prime
minister said no third country wanted to accept the Indian national, former
attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas has reportedly said in his latest book.
Dr
Zakir, a preacher said to have controversial views, was previously given
permanent resident status by Malaysia. He is, however, wanted in his home
country India to face criminal charges, including for alleged money-laundering
and links to the alleged funding and alleged inciting of terrorist activities.
News
portal The Vibes noted Thomas as saying however that the home minister and
deputy prime minister in the previous Barisan Nasional government, Datuk Seri
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had allowed Dr Zakir to be a permanent resident in Malaysia
against the advice of the police’s Special Branch.
During
his time as the attorney general from June 2018 to February 2020, Thomas said
India’s high commissioner had told him that India would be happy even if
Malaysia chose to only expel Dr Zakir instead of extraditing him.
“Instead,
India just wanted Malaysia to expel him from our shores. Where Zakir travelled
thereafter was not Malaysia’s concern, and India would be happy that a thorn in
bilateral ties had disappeared,” Thomas was quoted saying in his memoir
released to the public yesterday.
In
his memoir titled My Story: Justice in the Wilderness, Thomas said he had then
communicated on this with the Inspector-General of Police and was told that the
police did not object to this, The Vibes reported.
Thomas
said he had then raised the recommendation of expelling Dr Zakir with Dr
Mahathir who was then the prime minister.
“Over
time, I brought up the subject of Zakir a couple of times with the prime
minister. On each occasion, the response was the same. No third country wished
to accept Zakir.
“My
observation that that would mean Malaysia was hostage to Zakir and would have
to provide him with a home did not move Tun,” Thomas was quoted saying in the
book by The Vibes.
Thomas
reportedly further discussed Dr Zakir’s matter with IGP Tan Sri Abdul Hamid
Bador, and was informed that there was no Muslim country — such as Bangladesh,
Iran, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — that wished to accept Dr Zakir.
Published
by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre (SIRD), the 573-page
book by Thomas is available for purchase from Gerakbudaya.
Dr
Zakir has been evading Indian authorities since 2016, when files were opened
against him for allegedly making hate speeches and laundering money after five
militants launched an attack at a bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh that ended with
29 dead.
One
of the attackers was reported to have claimed that he had been inspired by the
preacher’s speeches.
India’s
Ministry of External Affairs in June 2019 said the Indian government had made a
formal request to Malaysia for Dr Zakir’s extradition and would continue to
pursue the matter with Malaysia, while a court in India had also in June 2019
ordered Dr Zakir to show up there.
Locally,
Dr Zakir has been accused of denigrating other faiths and being a threat to
Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multicultural harmony.
In
July 2019, Dr Mahathir said that multiracial and multireligious Malaysia cannot
have Dr Zakir as the country does not want anyone who gives extreme views about
race and religion, but noted it was difficult to send him anywhere else as
“many countries” do not want the preacher.
In
August 2019 during Dr Mahathir’s administration, the authorities in Malaysia
banned Dr Zakir from delivering public talks in all states in the interest of
national security and to preserve racial harmony.
Prior
to the ban, Dr Mahathir had in August 2019 said that Dr Zakir had overstepped
the line when he told ethnic Chinese Malaysians to “go back” and questioned the
loyalty of Malaysian-Indians in two separate instances, also saying that the
latter had transgressed his privilege as a foreigner with permanent resident
status by issuing political statements.
Dr
Zakir was spotted in December 2019 attending the four-day Kuala Lumpur Summit
2019 which was chaired by Dr Mahathir, but did not speak to the media then.
The
Muslim missionary foundation Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim), which
had in September 2019 received a visit from Dr Zakir, had in September 2020
invited him to speak to young Muslim missionaries in one of its events. Yadim
had previously also posted a video clip from news outlet TV Al-Hijrah on Dr
Zakir sharing tips in the event to the participants on how to use social media
to spread Islam.
Dr
Zakir had on his official Facebook page also posted posters featuring
photographs of him, where he said he was addressing the 10 finalists of the
same September 2020 event dubbed “Young Da’ee Yadim 2020”.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/01/31/tommy-thomas-asked-about-indias-wish-for-malaysia-to-expel-zakir-naik-dr-m/1945615
--------
Preacher
Ebit Lew continues humanitarian mission in Sabah with mass Bajau Laut
‘conversion’
01
Feb 2021
BY
JULIA CHAN
KOTA
KINABALU, Feb 1 — After distributing aid to disadvantaged students and
churches, and setting up the internet in a rural village, preacher Ebit Lew also
brought Islam to a village of Bajau Laut sea gypies in Lahad Datu.
The
popular philanthropist, who is on day four of a 10-day humanitarian mission to
Sabah, posted on Twitter that he converted some 157 villagers from Pulau
Tatagan, Semporna to Islam.
“157
people recited the syahadah today. Praise be to God, I cried with joy. The
whole village embraced Islam today. Everyone did it with an open heart,
willingly without any force,” he tweeted.
Ebit
said the village was among his planned stops because he heard their food supply
had been cut off.
He
tweeted that he felt sad about how impoverished the community is, and after
hearing that parents only name their newborns after one year due to the high
incidence of infant mortality.
“I
asked them through an interpreter if anyone had explained religion to them.
They said, ‘No, we do not know. Please tell us.’ I got emotional and asked them
if they know God? What is God?
“They
immediately believed. I taught them the syahadah. This is both the saddest and
happiest day of my life. I will continue to bring food to this community. I am
arranging for a school to be built, and an ustaz to teach them,” he said.
The
Bajau Laut community of Semporna are typically Muslim but owing to their
nomadic way of life aboard boats, they lack proper facilities for worship, and
sometimes, have differing practice and views on religion.
Ebit’s
visit to Sabah began on January 28 when he travelled to the east coast of Lahad
Datu and visited a charity home for those with intellectual and physical
disabilities.
The
following day, he visited the St Dominic Catholic Church in Lahad Datu where he
donated 100 food baskets, 10 wheelchairs and face masks to the poor.
He
also set up a WiFi hotspot for Kampung Bangingod in Felda Sahabat in Tungku,
and distributed food and electronic tablets to students from SK Bangingod.
During
his visit, Ebit plans to cover the districts of Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak and
Semporna, together with an 18-strong team.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/02/01/preacher-ebit-lew-continues-humanitarian-mission-in-sabah-with-mass-bajau-l/1945904
--------
Protect
Indonesian society, largest Muslim group told
Katharina
Reny Lestari
February
01, 2021
Cardinal
Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta has called on Indonesia’s largest
moderate Islamic organization to be a “guardian of the state” by promoting a
stronger and fairer society.
His
comment came in a message during a discussion livestreamed on YouTube two days
before Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) celebrated its 95th anniversary on Jan. 31.
“I
believe that one of several ways to protect the nation is to strengthen
society. And I believe that the big family that is NU can lead the way in
achieving this,” he said.
Established
in 1926, the organization has more than 90 million members.
“NU
can and should produce figures who can uphold the three main pillars of a
civilized society — the common good, fairness and responsibility,” Cardinal
Suharyo said.
Cardinal
Suharyo, who is chairman of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI), pointed
to the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”
signed in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4, 2019, by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb,
the grand imam of Al-Azhar.
“The
document highlights many challenges which must be faced together … by all human
beings. Issues related to humanity must be faced together in spite of religious
differences. If we can do this, a true civil society can be achieved,” he said.
All
Indonesian citizens, he said, “hopes the NU family can play a significant role
in protecting the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia” amid friction
between religious groups.
“This
is the challenge facing NU now,” he said, referring to hardline groups within
Indonesia looking to undermine its secular ideology.
NU
chairman Said Aqil Siradj said his organization must fight for justice for all
Indonesian people in his address to mark its anniversary.
“Let
us stand up for justice because many people still face oppression, many people
still live in poverty, and many people still cannot enjoy their rights. Let us
stand by the small people who still need our help,” he said.
In a
statement seen by UCA News, Reverend Gomar Gultom, general chairman of the
Communion of Churches in Indonesia — the largest organization of Christian
churches in Indonesia — thanked NU for its contributions in opposing extremism.
“Our
nation is indebted to NU for its significant role in promoting the tolerance
and fraternity that have helped shape Indonesia, which upholds the values of
Pancasila,” he said.
Pancasila,
or five principles, refers to the national ideology that stipulates belief in
one God, a just and civilized society, a united Indonesia, democracy guided by
consensus, and social justice for all citizens.
“NU
is deeply rooted in these principles and has been proven effective in
countering those that seek to destroy diversity,” the Protestant pastor said.
https://www.ucanews.com/news/protect-indonesian-society-largest-muslim-group-told/91223
--------
Africa
UAE
says will cooperate with UN, US on Libya conflict
30
January 2021
The
United Arab Emirates has issued a statement Friday stating its readiness to
work “closely” with the new US administration for a peaceful solution to the
Libya conflict.
“There
is an urgent need for renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in
Libya,” Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE ambassador to the UN, said in a letter.
“The
UAE stands ready to work closely with all Security Council members, including
the new US administration, to achieve a peaceful settlement for the Libyan
people,” she said.
She
said the country welcomed the Security Council’s “call for all foreign forces
to withdraw from Libya. Foreign intervention in the conflict must end now.”
The
day before, during a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Libya, the
United States called on “all external parties, to include Russia, Turkey and
the UAE, to respect Libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all military
intervention in Libya.”
Together
with Egypt and Russia, the UAE is one of the main supporters of Khalifa Haftar,
the Libyan general the east of Libya who is fighting the Government of National
Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.
“The
UAE firmly believes that diplomatic and political solutions are the sole path
to end the Libyan conflict, Nusseibeh said.
“The
first priority is to preserve and reinforce the ceasefire agreement” agreed to
in October, she said.
“This
will enable and encourage a political process and a Libyan-led transition that
fulfills the aspirations of the Libyan people for stability, peace, and prosperity,”
she added.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2021/01/30/Libya-conflict-UAE-says-will-cooperate-with-UN-US-on-Libya-conflict
--------
Fugitive
leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray issues new call for arms: Audio
01
February 2021
The
fugitive leader of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has reportedly issued a
fresh call to his supporters to pick up arms against the federal government,
according to an audio message posted online.
“I
call upon you, wherever you are ... to organize and fight and to strive to make
all who have reached fighting age take up the fight, and through this to
shorten the lifespan of the enemy,” Debretsion Gebremichael said in the
recording via a media outlet affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation
Front (TPLF).
It
was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the 20-minute audio
message which was posted on Facebook, but it would be the first public
statement by Debretsion in nearly two months.
He
has been on the run since shortly after fighting broke out in early November
between Ethiopian and allied forces and armed militants of the Tigray region.
“They
(federal forces) have temporary military dominance,” said the recording,
alleging abuses such as rape, torture and looting, reports of which have also
been highlighted by the United Nations.
The
Tigray leader also called on the international community to investigate what he
alleged to be “genocide” in the restive northern region.
He
urged Tigray residents to “continue the struggle” and vowed to do the same
against those who are “working with all their might to destroy our existence
and identity.”
Early
in November, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered military operations
targeting leaders of the TPLF, the regional governing party. The move, according
to Abiy, was in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on federal army camps.
The
military operations ended less than a month after it had started. Debretsion
and other Tigray leaders fled into hiding in an unknown location.
The
TPLF had dominated Ethiopian politics for decades. However, after its clout
declined after Abiy came to power in 2018.
Since
Abiy's arrival, the government has introduced a number of reforms and measures
to increase transparency. In its clampdown on corruption, many senior Tigrayan
officials were fired and detained by the federal government.
The
conflict continues largely in shadow. Some communications links remain down and
almost all journalists are blocked. Thousands of people have died.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/02/01/644287/Ethiopia-Tigray-Debretsion-Gebremichael
--------
Car
bomb explosion hits Somali hotel, militants claim responsibility
31
January 2021
A car
bomb explosion has hit a hotel in the center of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu,
causing an unknown number of casualties.
The
Somalia-based al-Shabab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack
which took place at Afrik hotel, near Mogadishu’s strategic K-4 junction on
Sunday afternoon.
Police
said a vehicle loaded with explosives crashed into the entrance gate of the
hotel, which was followed by a shootout between a number of armed gunmen and
security forces.
Heavy
gunfire could be heard, police said, adding that many people were rescued from
the hotel.
“There
must be casualties because the militants first started the attack with a
suicide car bomb against the wall,” police spokesman Sadik Ali said. “The
operation still goes on, casualties will be known later.”
“We
know, they have changed nothing from their usual tactic, ramming explosives
into a building and following up, assaulting with rifles,” he said.
Security
forces immediately cordoned off the site of the attack.
There
was no immediate word from Somali officials or the African Union (AU)
peacekeeping mission, which supports the government against the al-Shabab
terrorist group.
In a
separate incident on Sunday, at least eight children were killed and 11 others
were injured when a mortar shell exploded in a town near Mogadishu.
Osman
Nur, chairman of Shalambood, a town 90 km (56 miles) from Mogadishu, said the
children were aged between 4 to 12.
The
al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants have been waging an insurgency for more
than a decade in Somalia.
Despite
being ousted from large parts of south and central Somalia, al-Shabab continues
deadly attacks across the country, which has been ravaged by decades of war and
poverty.
The
militant group aims to oust the government in Mogadishu and drive out African
Union peacekeeping troops. It has been carrying out militancy since 2006.
Al-Shabaab
militants have fought successive Somali governments as well as neighboring
governments in Uganda and Kenya, the latter of which sent troops to Somalia in
2011 to fight the group as part of the African Union forces.
Somalia
has faced instability and violence since 1991, when the military government was
overthrown.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644271/Somali-al-Shabab-militants-attack-hotel-gunfire-security-forces-Mogadishu-police
--------
Army
operation kills 5 al-Shabaab militants in Somalia
Mohammed
Dhaysane
30.01.2021
MOGADISHU,
Somalia
At
least five al-Shabaab militants were killed and several others were wounded
when the Somali army conducted an operation in the southwestern region of Bay,
an army official said on Saturday.
The
operation, launched by the Somali National Army backed by regional paramilitary
forces, took place outside the strategic town of Diinsoor, some 369 kilometers
(229 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
Ibrahim
Adan, Somali army operational commander in the area, told media that they
attacked an al-Shabaab base on the outskirts of Diinsoor while the Somali-based
al-Qaeda affiliated group were planning attacks against the government forces,
killing at least five militants, including two senior officials, and wounding
several others.
Eyewitness
in Diinsoor told Anadolu Agency over the phone that they heard fierce gunfight
between the Somali army and al-Shabaab militants.
Meanwhile,
the Security Ministry of Southwest State said that US airstrikes killed several
senior al-Shabaab commanders in the southwestern Bakool region.
According
to a statement issued by the ministry, the airstrikes took place in the
vicinity of Ma'moodow, 410 km (254 mi) from Mogadishu.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/army-operation-kills-5-al-shabaab-militants-in-somalia/2128091
--------
South
Asia
NATO
to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond May deadline agreed with Taliban: Sources
01
February 2021
The
US-led military alliance of NATO plans to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond the
May deadline -- a move that is expected to escalate tensions with the Taliban
demanding a full implementation of the Doha agreement with the United States.
Citing
four senior NATO officials, Reuters reported Sunday that the military alliance
plans “no full withdrawal” from Afghanistan “by April-end.”
Under
the deal signed last year between the Taliban and the administration of former
US President Donald Trump in the Qatari capital, Doha, all foreign troops are
expected to leave Afghan soil by May in exchange for the Taliban’s halting of their
attacks on international forces.
Trump
reduced the number of US troops in Afghanistan from approximately 13,500 to
2,500 before leaving office in mid-January.
But
the NATO says that “with the new US administration, there will be tweaks in the
policy, the sense of hasty withdrawal which was prevalent will be addressed and
we could see a much more calculated exit strategy,” according to the sources.
One
of the officials also alleged that “conditions have not been met” by the
Taliban.
The
officials said plans on what will happen after April were now being considered
and likely to be a top issue at a NATO meeting later this month.
The
report follows the latest accusation by the Pentagon on Friday that the Taliban
have not met their commitments.
Pentagon
spokesperson John Kirby said that “it's very hard to see a specific way forward
for the negotiated settlement. I don't think it is helpful to be drawn now into
specific hypothetical discussions about troop numbers on a specific calendar
basis.”
Later
in the day, the Taliban reacted to his remarks, warning that the longer US
forces remain in Afghanistan, the more troops will be killed.
On
Sunday, Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem also urged the US to live up to the
Doha agreement.
"The
stay of foreign troops beyond the pre-determined time is contrary to the
bilateral agreements," he added.
Naeem
said that the Taliban demand "a full implementation" of the peace
deal." If the deal is implemented, he said "all problems would be
solve."
The
US along with its NATO allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the guise of
fighting terrorism and dismantling al-Qaeda.
The
invasion — which has turned into the longest war in US history — removed the
Taliban from power, but the militant group has never stopped its attacks, citing
the foreign military presence as one of the main reasons behind its continued
militancy.
Over
2,400 American soldiers and tens of thousands of Afghan civilians have been
killed in the war.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/02/01/644289/NATO-Afghanistan-withdrawal-Taliban-peace-deal-Doha-violence
--------
Senior
Afghan peace ministry official survives ‘IED explosion’
01
Feb 2021
Khushnood
Nabizada, Chief of Staff at State Ministry for Peace and the founder of Khaama
Press News Agency, was targeted in an IED blast in PD10 Hangara Square of Kabul
city on Monday morning.
Nabizada
told Khaama Press that the blast happened as he was on his way to work, and he
was not seriously wounded in the incident.
He
had two of his children, a daughter and a son in the car with him, fortunately,
they did not inflict any injuries.
According
to Nabizada, his driver was mildly wounded.
He
added that there was no information on whether the blast was by a magnetic IED
or a roadside IED caused it.
Kabul
police also said that the blast took place on a cruiser in which one individual
was injured.
This
comes in a time as violence against civil society activists and journalists has
escalated and raged across the country, especially in Kabul and a member from a
media outlet or an activist is targeted on a daily basis.
No
group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
https://www.khaama.com/senior-afghan-peace-ministry-official-survives-ied-explosion-4545488/
--------
Taliban
dubs EU, Foreign community claims ‘baseless’
01
Feb 2021
Taliban
in a released statement on Monday said, that the claims of Taliban killing
civilians, targeted assassinations, and destruction of public infrastructures
by the foreign community is baseless.
ATN
news reported, that the Taliban stated “Representatives of a number of European
and other countries have baselessly asserted through a statement that the
Islamic Emirate is continuing a senseless war, is killing civilians, is
destroying public infrastructure and is involved in assassinations”.
“The
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan rejects all such allegations,” adding that “all
charges which they have leveled are unsubstantiated,” the statement read.
Taliban
stressed they absolutely have “no hand in civilian killings and neither is it
involved in the destruction of public infrastructure, rather it considers
safeguarding and securing public infrastructure its own responsibility.”
This
comes as EU Delegation and international diplomatic missions in Afghanistan in
a joint statement condemned the targeted killings and kidnappings in the
country on Sunday.
The
EU Delegation and the diplomatic missions of Australia, Canada, the Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the NATO Senior Civilian
Representative in Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United
Kingdom, and the United States said that the continuation of assassinations,
kidnappings, and destruction of vital infrastructure – all which directly harm
the Afghan people.
“The
international community has invested heavily in energy, food security, water
resources, and road infrastructure for the benefit of the Afghan people,”
adding that, “We condemn the on-going destruction of vital infrastructure,
including digging up roads, destroying cell towers, and blowing up energy
stations by the Taliban”.
“These
actions serve no purpose besides hurting the Afghan people who – largely due to
decades of conflict -suffer from food insecurity and significant economic and
development challenges, further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic,” the
statement added.
“We
are standing side by side with those who are committed to bringing about an end
to the conflict through an inclusive political settlement that ensures this
country remains sovereign, united and democratic, at peace with itself and its
neighbors, and preserving the human rights, development and economic
achievements made over the past 19 years,” the statement read.
“We
continue to be steadfast in our resolve to assist the people of Afghanistan in
achieving peace, justice, and development. We expect the Taliban to demonstrate
its support for the people of Afghanistan by ending the violence, stopping the
destruction of vital infrastructure, and committing to a sustainable peace, for
the benefit of all Afghans,” the statement concluded.
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-dubs-eu-foreign-community-claims-baseless-565655/
--------
Japan
approves millions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan
01
Feb 2021
Japan
has pledged to support Afghanistan to provide over $122 million to support humanitarian
and development programs for the year 2021.
On
Monday, the Japanese embassy issued a statement in Kabul saying this support is
a vigorous step “in realizing Japan’s pledge delivered at the Geneva Conference
in November 2020, where Foreign Minister Mr. Motegi Toshimitsu affirmed Japan’s
long-lasting friendship with and support for the people of Afghanistan, and
pledged financial assistance up to 180 million USD per year between 2021 and
2024, a figure comparable to the past four years”.
Japanese
embassy stated this aid forms a part of Japan’s assistance to Afghanistan and
will be disbursed in 2021.
“It
will enable implementation of 17 humanitarian and development assistance
projects orchestrated by various organizations throughout the country, aiming
for the betterment of livelihoods through multiple approaches,” statement read.
OKADA
Takashi said, “enhanced security sector plays an essential role in the
Afghan-led nation building as we gaze at peace on the horizon. Our continuous
contribution to the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA)
exemplifies Japan’s commitment for a peaceful Afghanistan, as LOTFA is a
significant multi donor program that plays a vital role in strengthening the
country’s security sector,” said Japan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan.
“In
light of the global pandemic, we also believe that assistance for vulnerable
segment of the population who are most severely affected is essential. We truly
hope that this new support will contribute to bringing about as many joyous
smiles of Afghan people as possible,” he added.
Japan
assisted Afghanistan in various development aspects including security,
agriculture, capacity building, health, education, rural development,
infrastructure, culture and tradition and provided the country with
humanitarian supports.
This
disbursement of $122.2 million will make a total of $6.9 billion Japanese
assistance to Afghanistan so far.
https://www.khaama.com/japan-approves-millions-of-dollars-in-aid-to-afghanistan-5656565/
--------
Afghan
negotiating team warns Taliban it must resume talks
JANUARY
31, 2021
Government
negotiator Rasul Talib said in a news conference the team is waiting for the
return of the Taliban leadership to Doha, where a second round of peace talks
began this month but have made little progress.
A
member of the Afghan government’s peace negotiating team on Sunday warned the
Taliban that if they don’t resume peace talks in Qatar soon, the government
could recall the team before a deal is reached.
Government
negotiator Rasul Talib said in a news conference the team is waiting for the
return of the Taliban leadership to Doha, where a second round of peace talks
began this month but have made little progress.
He
asked the Taliban to “stop spreading baseless remarks” and return to the negotiating
table, adding “The Taliban does not have the guts for peace, they are spreading
nonsense around.” There was no immediate response from the Taliban.
Mr.
Talib’s comments came as the Taliban leadership has recently been in Iran and
Russia for discussions on the negotiations, and as President Joe Biden’s new
administration has said it plans to review the peace agreement signed last
February between the U.S. and the Taliban.
The
Pentagon said last week that the Taliban’s refusal to meet commitments to
reduce violence in Afghanistan is raising questions about whether all U.S.
troops will be able to leave by May as required under the peace deal.
Following
discussions in Moscow on Friday, the head of the Taliban delegation, Sher
Mohammed Abbas Stanikzai, said the group expects the U.S. to fulfil its pledge
to withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan by May.
The
U.S. Pentagon announced in mid-January that the U.S. military has met its goal
of reducing the number of troops in Afghanistan to about 2,500.
Stanikzai
has also demanded the resignation of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, calling his
administration an obstacle to peace, and a spike in violence has decreased
optimism among Afghans the peace process will work.
Meanwhile,
the Afghan peace negotiating team praised President Biden’s administration for
its decision to review the U.S.-Taliban peace deal, saying the deal favours the
Taliban.
Mr.
Talib asked the new U.S. administration to withdraw its forces in a way that
will prevent a security vacuum in the country and prevent the possibility of
more militant attacks in Afghanistan and against the U.S. and other countries.
The
Taliban on Sunday mistakenly fired two mortars in northern Faryab province
killing two civilians and wounding 14 others, said the provincial police
spokesman, Karim Yuresh. He said Afghan security checkpoints were targeted but
the shells missed the checkpoints and hit the civilians.
Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group fired mortars toward civilians
and accused Afghan forces of firing the mortars and causing the casualties.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/afghan-negotiating-team-warns-taliban-it-must-resume-talks/article33710126.ece
--------
Arab
World
Beirut
port blast survivors still endure psychological toll
01
February 2021
Joana
Dagher lay unconscious and hemorrhaging under a pile of rubble in her apartment
after the massive Beirut port blast in August, on the brink of death.
She
survived because of the courage of her husband who got her out, the kindness of
a stranger who transported her in his damaged car and the help of her sisters
during the chaos at the overwhelmed hospital.
But
Dagher doesn’t remember any of that: The 33-year-old mother of two lost her
memory for two full months from the trauma she suffered in the explosion,
including a cerebral contusion and brain lesions.
“I
lost my life on August 4,” Dagher said. “I lost my house, I lost my memory, I
lost two friends,” she added, referring to neighbors killed in the explosion.
“I lost my mental health, and so I lost everything.”
The
Beirut explosion, which killed more than 200 people and injured more than
6,000, caused wounds on an even wider scale on the mental health of those who
lived through it.
Dagher
is gradually regaining her memory. But another kind of pain lingers.
“The
past 6 months have been a purgatory,” Jihane said. “When you see someone you
love suffer so much, everyone suffers with them, you are helpless.”
The
blast was caused by a fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate
stored in a port warehouse. One of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever
recorded, the force tore through the city, sending people flying across rooms
and slicing them with flying glass.
Even
in a country that has seen many wars and bombings, never had so many people —
tens of thousands — directly experienced the same traumatizing event at the
same time.
“There
are very high levels of anxiety and worry across the population,” said Mia
Atwi, psychologist and president of Embrace, an organization working on mental
health awareness and support. “There is a low mood bordering on clinical
depression for the majority of the population.”
Demand
for therapists has ballooned, making it hard to find treatment, especially
since many qualified experts are leaving the country.
Embrace
expanded its clinic after the explosion and still it has a 60-person-long
waiting list. It has provided support for 750 people since the blast. Most are
experiencing post-explosion symptoms, depression and anxiety, Atwi said. On Embrace’s
helpline, 67 percent of the phone calls since August are from people in
emotional distress, and 28 percent had suicidal thoughts.
The
blast left mental wounds even in those it didn’t wound physically.
Najla
Fadel, 33, was miraculously unscratched when the blast shattered the glass
windows of her house, badly injuring her child’s babysitter. In the last months
of her pregnancy with her second child, Fadel transported the bleeding woman to
the hospital by herself.
She
has since struggled with nightmares. She often wakes up, heart pounding,
thinking the explosion has happened again.
“I
jump at any sound and start looking for shelter,” she says.
The
worst, she said, are thunderstorms and the sound of the Israeli warplanes that
regularly violate and fly low through Lebanon’s airspace.
“A
few nights ago, when planes were roaming above Beirut, I slept in the
corridor,” she said. “This way I am halfway from my kids’ room, I can grab them
faster and run just in case.”
Fadel
saw a therapist for a while. Many others don’t get help.
“There
are a lot of people neglecting their mental health or don’t know what to do,”
said Souraya Frem, president and co-founder of Cenacle De Lumiere, an
organization that after the explosion began offering free mental health support
in Beirut.
“People
are struggling with poverty, how to make ends meet and so they don’t see mental
health as a priority,” Frem said.
From
Perth, Australia, where she moved after the blast, Sarah Copland said she has
been seeing two therapists to cope with her loss.
In
the explosion, a shard of glass tore through the tiny chest of her 2-year-old
son, Isaac, ending his short life. That day, she said, her life came to a
standstill.
“My
last image of my little boy is something a mother should never see,” she said.
“That comes into my mind when I least expect it — we are going to do something,
and it comes. It is very distressing.”
At
the time, Copland was employed by the UN in Beirut. Thousands of miles from
Lebanon, the memory haunts her.
“The
sight or sound of broken glass gives me anxiety,” she said. “Lying in bed at
night I hear the wind against the windows and that really freaks me out. I
freeze up because it reminds of the whishing sound as the explosion came
through our windows.”
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/02/01/Beirut-explosion-Beirut-port-blast-survivors-still-endure-psychological-toll
--------
Iraq’s
popular forces repel Daesh attack on Jurf al-Sakhar
30
January 2021
Iraq’s
Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha’abi, have
thwarted an attack launched by the remnants of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist
group on Jurf al-Sakhar region in the central Babil province.
In a
short statement on Saturday night, the communication office of Hashd al-Sha’abi
announced that the attack was repelled by the Al-Jazirah Operation Headquarters
Command.
Terrorists
had earlier attacked a number of high-voltage AC transmission towers in this
region.
Jurf
al-Sakhar, which is part of the southwestern protective belt of Baghdad, is a
strategic region for access and entrance into the holy city of Karbala.
The
city was liberated from Daesh terrorists in 2014 in Operation Ashura, which was
commanded by Iranian anti-terror commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.
In
that operation, 40 senior Daesh forces and over 200 Takfiri terrorists were
killed, and their plots for 136 bombings were disclosed.
Iraq
declared victory over Daesh in December 2017 after a three-year
counter-terrorism military campaign.
The
terror outfit’s remnants, though, keep staging sporadic attacks across Iraq,
attempting to regroup and unleash a new era of violence.
Daesh
has intensified its terrorist attacks in Iraq since January 2020, when the
United States assassinated General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the
deputy head of the PMU, along with their companions in a drone strike
authorized by former US president Donald Trump near Baghdad International
Airport.
In
its latest attack, Daesh claimed responsibility for a rare twin explosion that
tore through a busy area of central Baghdad on January 21, killing at least 32
people and wounding 110 others.
Later
on January 23, at least 11 fighters from Hashd al-Sha’abi were killed in an
ambush by Daesh terrorists north of the Iraqi capital.
The
terrorists used light weapons and the cover of darkness to target the PMU
fighters east of Tikrit, the capital of Iraq’s Saladin province.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/30/644203/PMU-daesh-jurf-sakhar-terrorist
--------
Egypt’s
current account deficit widens to $2.8 billion in July-Sept
31
January 2021
Egypt’s
current account deficit widened to $2.8 billion in the July-September quarter
from $1.4 billion in the same quarter of 2019 as the coronavirus pandemic
caused tourism revenues to collapse and foreign investment in oil and gas fell.
This
“is an expected temporary increase in the (current account) deficit due to
travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic,” the central bank said in a
statement.
Revenues
from tourism plunged to $801 million in July-September from $4.2 billion a year
earlier, the central bank said, even after Egypt gradually reopened to
international flights in June after stopping most of them in mid-March.
Overall
revenues from tourism plunged almost 70 percent in 2020, the tourism ministry
said earlier this month.
Net
foreign direct investment (FDI) fell 31 percent year-on-year to $1.6 billion,
after net investment in the oil and gas sector shrank to a minus $75.3 million
from a positive $744.2 million a year earlier.
Meanwhile,
remittances from Egyptians working abroad rose 19.6 percent to $8.0 billion
during the quarter.
The
overall balance of payments registered a deficit of $69.2 million compared with
a surplus of $227 million in the same period a year earlier, the central bank
said on Sunday.
https://english.alarabiya.net/business/economy/2021/01/31/Egypt-s-current-account-deficit-widens-to-2-8-billion-in-July-Sept
--------
One
killed, several injured in northeast Syria pro-government protest
31
January 2021
Kurdish
security forces opened fire on pro-government protesters in northeast Syria on
Sunday, killing one person and wounding several others, a monitor and state
media said, as tensions rise between the sides.
Kurdish
forces control a large part of the northeast of the war-torn country, but regime
forces are also present there including in the main regional cities of Hasakeh
and Qamishli.
Damascus
and the Kurds have mostly coexisted during nearly a decade of conflict, but
tensions have risen in recent weeks with both sides accusing the other of
restricting goods movements to areas under their control.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
State
news agency SANA published images of dozens of men in civilian clothing
protesting in Hasakeh on Sunday against an alleged “siege” by Kurdish forces of
a government-held part of the city.
Kurdish
security forces shot at the crowd, “killing one civilian and wounding four
others,” SANA said.
The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on sources
inside Syria for its information, put the toll of wounded at three.
“The
Asayesh Kurdish police force opened fire, killing one person and wounding three
people among the protesters,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding
the person killed was a regime policeman.
An
Asayesh spokesman declined to respond to an AFP request for comment.
The
Observatory says regime forces are limiting access to Kurdish-majority areas
under its control in the northern Aleppo province, and imposing hefty fees for supplies
going into those areas.
SANA
has accused the Kurds of preventing fuel and flour deliveries into Hasakeh, and
of surrounding a neighborhood in Qamishli.
Syria’s
Kurdish minority built up their own semi-autonomous authorities in the
northeast of the country during the civil war, although some state institutions
remain.
The
Kurds have been a key partner in the US-backed military campaign against ISIS
terrorist group.
But
when Turkey launched a cross-border operation against them in late 2019, the Kurds
were forced to seek help from Damascus and the latter’s ally Russia to stem the
attack, leading to regime and Russian forces deploying in the area.
Moscow
has been trying to mediate between Damascus and the Kurds in recent weeks, the
Observatory says.
Syria’s
war has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions from their homes
since starting in 2011 with a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
Fighting quickly mushroomed into a multi-fronted conflict pulling in extremists
and foreign powers.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/31/Syria-crisis-One-killed-several-injured-in-northeast-Syria-pro-government-protest
--------
At
least five people killed in car bomb attack in Syria’s Afrin
30
January 2021
At
least five people were killed and scores wounded when a car bomb detonated in
the northern Syrian town of Afrin on Saturday, the Turkish defense ministry and
local civil defense said.
The
ministry said in a statement the bomb attack took place in an industrial site
at the center of the town and wounded 22 people, blaming the attack on the
Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.
There
was no immediate comment from the YPG.
Turkey
regards the YPG as a terrorist group tied to the PKK inside its own borders,
and has staged incursions into Syria in support of Syrian opposition factions
to push it from the Turkish frontier.
Ankara
now retains a large military presence in the area deploying thousands of troops
in the last opposition enclave.
The
local civil defense said the death toll due to the bomb stood at six, including
children.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2021/01/30/Syria-crisis-At-least-five-people-killed-in-car-bomb-attack-in-Syria-s-Afrin
--------
Saudis,
allies dropped over 3,000 cluster bombs on Yemen since 2015: Official
01
February 2021
The
director-general of the Yemen Executive Mine Action Center (YEMAC) has said the
Saudi-led coalition has dropped 3,179 cluster bombs on Yemen since the
beginning of its aggression against the defenseless Yemeni people in 2015.
Ali
Sofra said the civilian casualties of the bombardments, mostly women and
children, have exceeded 1,000, and most of them were in agricultural and
grazing areas, Iraq’s al-Maloumeh news website reported on Sunday.
Saudi
Arabia, accompanied by its allies including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has
been leading a war against Yemen since March 2015 with the aim of bringing the
former pro-Riyadh government back to power.
The
war has also been accompanied by an all-out siege of the impoverished country.
It has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis and turned Yemen into the world’s
worst humanitarian crisis.
Back
in June 2020, Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights warned that cluster munitions
pose a serious danger to the lives of civilians, especially women and children,
if they come in close contact with them.
The
ministry added that the Saudi-led coalition has used thousands of cluster bombs
on residential areas, leaving many civilians dead or injured.
“According
to accurate statistics obtained by the center, there are eight types of cluster
bombs that have been used in Yemen, which were made by the United States,
Britain, and Brazil,” Sofra said.
The
cluster bomb attacks concentrated in nine provinces, namely Sa'ada, Hajjah, the
capital Sana'a, Hudaydah, Jawf, Amran, Mahweet, Dhamar and Ta'izz, according to
YEMAC’s director.
Acting
Minister of Human Rights Ali Al-Dailami also said in remarks on Sunday that the
UN impedes cooperation to complete the file of removing the internationally
banned cluster bombs.
Al-Dailami
said cluster bombs that are used in the war on Yemeni people are part of the
internationally prohibited weapons, Yemen Press Agency (YPA) reported.
He
also indicated that the Saudi-led coalition countries intentionally bought
illegal weapons of unknown sources to escape legal liabilities.
In a
tweet early on Monday, Sofra criticized international and human rights
organizations for avoiding talking about the fact that there are airstrikes and
cluster bombs used against Yemen.
“Any
victims of cluster bombs in Yemen are not mentioned in their annual, human
rights and humanitarian reports,” he lamented.
The
new US administration announced on Wednesday that it has suspended weapons
sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which were authorized by former President
Donald Trump.
It
came a week after President Joe Biden, who has promised to reassess
Washington's relationship with Riyadh, was inaugurated.
The
announcement was welcomed by Amnesty International, which called on European
countries to follow suit and end weapons exports to the two countries involved
in the bloody war on Yemen.
“President
[Joe] Biden’s decision to freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
represents a welcome relief in an otherwise shameful chapter of history. Almost
six years of conflict in Yemen, fueled by irresponsible arms transfers, have
left 14 million Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance,” Philippe
Nassif, advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty
International USA, said on Thursday.
On
Friday, Italy announced that it had permanently stopped exports of arms to
Saudi Arabia and the UAE amid worries over their continued war crimes in Yemen,
citing Rome’s commitment to ending the bloodshed in Yemen and protecting human
rights
“This
is an act that we considered necessary, a clear message of peace coming from
our country. For us, the respect of human rights is an unbreakable commitment,”
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said in a statement.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/02/01/644290/Over-3000-cluster-bombs-used-by-Saudi-coalition-in-Yemen
--------
Iraq
arrests top Daesh informant in Saladin province
31
January 2021
The
Military Intelligence Directorate of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense says a top
Daesh informant has been arrested in a suburb of Shirqat town in Saladin
province.
According
to the Iraqi directorate, the Daesh informant was detained when the Iraqi
forces were chasing other remnants of the terrorist group.
The
informant was responsible for monitoring the Iraqi security forces’ movements,
according to the directorate.
Another
Daesh element arrested in Nineveh
The
police department of Iraq’s Nineveh province says Iraqi security forces
detained the terrorist in an area west of Mosul.
The
Takfiri element used to work with Daesh when the city of Mosul was fully
controlled by Daesh terrorists.
The
rapid reaction force of the police department of Nineveh has also arrested
another terrorist in Mosul al-Jadeed region.
End
of PMU mission in Anbar
Fighters
from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi,
have finished their security operation in Anbar province, the PMU announced
Sunday in a statement.
It
also said the PMU forces managed to secure four regions in the province, and
accomplished all the objectives of their mission by destroying several Daesh
hideouts and seizing their arms.
Iraq
declared victory over Daesh in December 2017 after a three-year
counter-terrorism military campaign.
The
terror outfit’s remnants, though, keep staging sporadic attacks across Iraq,
attempting to regroup and unleash a new era of violence.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644278/daeshterrorist-iraq-saladin-
--------
11
killed in car bomb explosions in Syria’s Aleppo province
31
January 2021
At
least eleven people were killed when two separate car explosions rocked Syria’s
northern Aleppo province, a London-based monitoring group reports.
The
so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the first attack, which was
carried out near a cultural center in the town of Azaz, killed six civilians,
including a young girl.
The
second incident involved another car bomb targeting a checkpoint of pro-Turkish
Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants near the town of al-Bab, killing six militants
and wounding four, FSA sources said.
Turkey
has been involved militarily in the conflict in Syria since early 2011. It has
provided the FSA with military assistance throughout the conflict.
In
2018 and 2019, Turkey launched cross-border military operations in northern
Syria with the declared aim of eliminating Syrian Kurdish militants of the
People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara regards as a terrorist
organization tied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Northern
Syria has been hit by sporadic bombing attacks, which Turkey usually blames on
“terrorists” linked to the PKK.
On
Saturday, eight civilians, including four children, lost their lives in another
car bomb explosion in the city of Afrin, which Turkish forces and their proxies
seized in an operation in January 2018.
According
to reports, the Sinaa neighborhood bombing in the city of Afrin on Saturday was
so massive that it inflicted huge damage to nearby buildings.
Damascus
has repeatedly said the United States, Israel and their allies have been aiding
Takfiri terrorist groups across the country to hamper the government’s efforts
to restore peace and order.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644260/car-bomb-northern-Syria
--------
US-led
military convoy targeted in Iraq’s Babil province
31
January 2021
A
US-led military coalition's logistics support convoy has been targeted in the
central Iraqi province of Babil.
Qasim
Al-Jabbarin group claimed responsibility for the attack that targeted the
logistics convoy by an improvised explosive device on Sunday.
No
casualties or damage were reported in the incident.
The
attack came four days after a US military supply convoy was targeted near the
Iraqi city of Samarra in the northern province of Salahuddin.
Over
the past months, attacks on US convoys in the Arab country have become a regular
occurrence and their intensity has been growing.
On
December 31, a roadside bomb exploded in the southern province of Basra,
targeting a US military coalition's logistics support convoy.
Also
on December 10, two separate attacks struck convoys of trucks carrying US
logistical equipment. The first occurred on a highway near Samawah. The second
attack took place in the Latifiya region on the outskirts of Baghdad.
The
attacks come amid rising anti-US sentiment, which has intensified since last
year's assassination by the US of senior Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror
commanders in Baghdad.
General
Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC), and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy
head of the Popular Mobilization Units, were targeted along with their
companions on January 3 last year in a terror drone strike authorized by former
US president Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport.
Two
days after the attack, Iraqi lawmakers approved a bill that requires the
government to end the presence of all foreign military forces in the country.
Currently,
there are approximately 3,000 American troops in Iraq.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644255/Iraq-US-military-logistics-convoy-attack-Babil
--------
US-backed
SDF militants shoot dead civilian, injure others in northeastern Syria
31
January 2021
US-backed
SDF militants have shot dead a protester and injured several others in Syria’s
northeastern province of Hasakah amid boiling public outrage over deteriorating
security conditions in areas held by the proxies.
Syria’s
official news agency SANA, citing local sources, said the attack came after a
group of people staged a demonstration in the provincial capital city of Hasakh
on Sunday to voice their resentment over the arbitrary practices of SDF
militants.
The
US-backed militants then intervened and opened fire at the protesters, leaving
a number of them injured. A demonstrator later succumbed to his serious gunshot
wounds, the report said.
Elsewhere
in al-Suwar town of the neighboring Dayr al-Zawr province, a similar rally was
staged to condemn the abduction of several young local citizens by SDF
militants.
Security
conditions have been deteriorating in the SDF-controlled areas in Hasakah, Dayr
al-Zawr and Raqqah provinces.
Local
Syrians complain that the SDF’s constant raids have generated a state of
frustration and instability, severely affecting their businesses and
livelihood.
Residents
also accuse the US-sponsored militants of stealing crude oil and refusing to
spend money on service sectors.
Local
councils affiliated with the SDF further stand accused of financial corruption.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/31/644233/US-backed-SDF-militants-shoot-dead-civilian-injure-others-in-northeastern-Syria
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/israel-racing-wrest-full-control/d/124198
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism