New Iranian drone base destroyed near Abu Kamal. First Saudi unit lands at Syrian oil field

A new Iranian drone base near the eastern Syrian town of Abu Kamal was flattened early Saturday, Dec. 21 in this month’s fourth unidentified attack in this part of Syria. DEBKAfile military sources report that the target was Hamadan airport, which stood derelict until recently. Iranian forces moved in, carried out repairs and lately installed […]

The True Meaning of Hanukkah

Amir’s commentary on Hanukkah as Jews worldwide commemorate the “Festival of Lights”. ***************************************** Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a holiday based on the story and tradition of the Jewish people’s defeat of the Seleucid Empire (Syrian-Greeks) in the Holy Land. In the 2nd century BC (165), a small army of Jews […]

UAE foreign minister tweets article about Israel, Arab alliance

“Israel is being seen by moderate Arab governments as a trade and security partner,” Ed Husain wrote at The Spectator. SETH J. FRANTZMAN DECEMBER 21, 2019 17:54 Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the United Arab Emirates, tweeted an article supporting an emerging alliance of Arab states […]

Lebanon’s new Hezbollah-backed PM begins consultations over next Cabinet

Hassan Diab will have to steer Lebanon out of its worst economic crisis in decades, amid ongoing popular protests By Agencies Today, 4:24 pm BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s newly designated prime minister began his consultations on Saturday with parliamentary blocs to discuss the shape of the future government. Hassan Diab, a university professor and former […]

The unknown Holocaust in the former Soviet Union

While Auschwitz and the Warsaw Ghetto are the most common symbols of the Holocaust, one must go beyond to fully comprehend its reach and impact By ALAN ROSENBAUM DECEMBER 21, 2019 05:26 “For many years, the Holocaust was symbolized by two places – Auschwitz and the Warsaw Ghetto. These are commonly perceived as the primary […]

Syria says 3 oil, gas facilities hit in possible drone attacks

No initial claim of responsibility for near-simultaneous strikes in Homs region; Syrian oil ministry says some ‘production units’ damaged By AP Today, 10:59 am BEIRUT (AP) — Near-simultaneous attacks believed to have been carried out by drones hit three government-run oil and gas installations in central Syria, state TV and the oil ministry said Saturday. […]

Cyprus rallies Israel, other neighbors to buck Turkey-Libya maritime deal

Netanyahu backs joint diplomatic effort after Erdogan claims economic rights over large swath of eastern Mediterranean, threatening Israeli gas pipeline By AP Today, 6:42 am The president of Cyprus said Friday that he’s in touch with the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Greece and Lebanon to formulate joint diplomatic action aimed at countering a Turkey-Libya maritime […]

Pompeo: US ‘firmly opposes’ ICC announcement on alleged Israeli war crimes

US secretary of state says International Criminal Court’s move ‘unfairly targets’ Jewish state, calls for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians TOI staffToday, 3:28 am US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday decried a decision by the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor to proceed with an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed in […]