White House to release half of Middle East peace plan in June

Trump admin planning to publicize economic component of Mideast peace plan in late June – with release of political portions pushed off. David Rosenberg, 19/05/19  The Trump administration is planning to release the economic component of its upcoming Middle East peace plan in late June, the White House said Sunday, adding that it would break […]

Huge explosions reported near US embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone

Explosions apparently caused by projectiles landing in the vicinity of the US embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone have just been reported without details. Iraqi authorities have not yet commented on the event. Iraqi social media report a rocket attack on the US embassy in Baghdad. The fortified Green Zone houses Iraqi government buildings and foreign […]

Gunboat diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean

The growing standoff between Turkey and Cyprus over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean runs the risk of turning into a regional conflict. Shaul Shay Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the fifth Israel-Greece-Cyprus Summit in Beersheva on Dec. 20, 2018. Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO. (May […]

Israel working on anti-missile berm near Gaza border

The Defense Ministry has begun building a large dirt berm along a road that runs near the northern Gaza Strip, to protect vehicles from anti-tank missiles being shot by Palestinian terrorists, Ynet reports. A video published by the Kan public broadcaster shows the berm near Kissufim and the Black Arrow memorial site. In November, a […]

Gunboat diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean

The growing standoff between Turkey and Cyprus over energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean runs the risk of turning into a regional conflict. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the fifth Israel-Greece-Cyprus Summit in Beersheva on Dec. 20, 2018. Credit: Kobi Gideon/GPO. (May 19, 2019 […]

Houthi drone attacks in Saudi Arabia: Might we see more?

Drones are relatively simple to manufacture and use, and for countries like Saudi Arabia, which apparently has a long way to go in fine-tuning its radar, they are relatively difficult to detect. LAWRENCE RIFKIN/THE MEDIA LINE May 19, 2019 18:30 The May 14 attack on an oil pipeline deep inside Saudi Arabia could indicate a […]

Israeli strikes reported in Damascus over the weekend

Israeli strikes reported over the weekend; IDF refuses to comment on reports; Iranian targets believed hit in strikes; Syrian army claims it downed three Israeli missiles. Israeli strikes were reported in Syria on both Friday and Saturday, reports claiming the strikes were on Iranian targets. Explosions were reported, as well as Israeli fighter jets, on […]

Iran surprised enemies with move on nuclear deal: IRGC Commander

Press TV – Chief Commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hussein Salami has said that the United States and allies have been taken by surprise by Iran’s recent decision to suspend parts of its commitments under an international nuclear deal, saying Washington expected Tehran to surrender in the face of mounting pressures. Speaking […]

Arab League calls on Germany to reverse anti-BDS motion

Official says Bundestag resolution denouncing boycott movement tactics as anti-Semitic is biased in favor of Israel By AFPToday, 5:36 pm  0 0shares A picture from November 19, 2017, shows a general view of the Arab League headquarters during a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo. (AFP/Khaled Desouki) CAIRO — The Arab League called Sunday on the German […]

17 wounded in bombing of tourist bus near Egypt’s pyramids

Israeli consul in Cairo says no Israelis injured in blast; South Africans, Egyptians said to be among those hurt By AGENCIES and TOI STAFFToday, 5:01 pm  0 3shares A bus purportedly targeted by a bomb near Egypt’s Giza pyramids on May 19, 2019. (screen capture: Twitter) An explosion struck a tourist bus on Sunday near Egypt’s famed pyramids, injuring 17 […]

Europe, stop trying to save the Iran deal

The fate of the free world depends on the EU not saving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action but walking away from the worst deal of the century.  by  Rachel Avraham  Published on  2019-05-19 13:57 Last modified: 2019-05-19 13:57 In recent days, Iran has threatened to withdraw from parts of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action unless […]

Iraq oil minister calls Exxon Mobil’s evacuation of foreign staff ‘unacceptable’

Exxon Mobil’s decision to evacuate its foreign staff from the West Qurna 1 oilfield in southern Iraq on Saturday was “unacceptable and unjustified”, Iraq’s Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban said on Sunday.   “The withdrawal of multiple employees – despite their small number – temporarily has nothing to do with the security situation or threats in […]

Iranian envoy to Iraq warns US of any stupid move

FNA – Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi warned that any stupid measure by Washington will have disastrous consequences for them. “Any stupid measure by the US will undoubtedly bring regret and failure for them,” Masjedi said in a meeting with Head of the Sunni Endowment Diwan in Iraq Abdul Latif al-Hamim in Baghdad on […]