Iran slams US and Israel in high-level meetings with Iraq

Iraq wants to reduce tensions between US and Iran-backed militias even as video shows IRGC Quds Force commander Ghaani in Iraq. SETH J. FRANTZMAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 00:52 Iran is pushing Iraq to eject US troops, but is wary of carrying out attacks that could cause casualties to US personnel in Iraq. On Saturday, Iraqi […]

German police threaten Israeli with crime for show of Israeli flag

German Muslims call young Israeli musician a ‘Nazi’ By BENJAMIN WEINTHAL SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 02:00 The police in the German city of Frankfurt launched a criminal investigation against the young Israeli musician Ana Agre for her display of an Israeli flag at an anti-Jewish state demonstration  organized by a pro-BDS group that supports convicted Palestinian […]

Has Hezbollah defeated France in Lebanon?

France had wanted to reduce the sectarian nature of the government, but Hezbollah has increased its clout in recent years. SETH J. FRANTZMAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 01:27 A month and a half after a massive explosion in Beirut caused a crisis in Lebanon that saw the government fall, France’s decision to try to push for […]

US is beefing up forces in eastern Syria to counter Russian harassment

BEHIND THE LINES: Parallel to the campaign of harassment, the Russians are seeking to slowly and incrementally draw the Kurdish ruling authorities in this area back under their political patronage. JONATHAN SPYER SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 08:37 The United States this week reinforced its military presence in northeastern Syria. Six Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles were deployed […]

Is Turkey planning to recruit Syrians to fight Armenia?

Turkey has upped its rhetoric against Armenia in recent days, threatening the country and claiming Armenia is “playing with fire” and alleging Armenia has recruited “terrorists.” SETH J. FRANTZMAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 11:16 Several hundred Syrian refugees have been recruited by Turkey to fight against Armenia in the disputed Karabagh region, according to claims by […]

Lebanon’s PM-designate resigns after failing to form govt

26 Sep, 2020 08:28 Lebanon’s Prime Minister-Designate Mustapha Adib has stepped down, after efforts to create a new government fell through. Adib announced his resignation after meeting with President Michel Aoun on Saturday, saying that he was not able to fulfill the “task of forming the government.” He had struggled for more than a month […]

Zarif calls Russia one of Iran’s strategic friends

September 25, 2020 – 17:49 TEHRAN – At the end of his two-day visit to Russia, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran and Russia need to constantly hold talks with Russia, calling Moscow one of Iran’s “strategic friends”. “We need to have constant and continued talks with the Russian friends given the regional and […]

Iran assails Saudi Arabia as ‘source of instability’ in region

September 25, 2020 – 16:47 “Saudi Arabia has been a source of instability in the region for decades,” Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement, IRNA reported on Friday. “It is a well-established fact that Saudi Arabia was the main financial supporter of the Iraqi dictator, Saddam, in his eight-year […]

UAE-Israel deal changes the players in the Middle East energy game

The newly formed gas bloc comes after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed normalization deals with Israel last month, sending shockwaves through Middle Eastern political corridors. MOHAMMAD AL-KASSIM/THE MEDIA LINE SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 09:44 Egypt, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority signed the charter of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) […]

UAE minister: Iran’s aggression made Arab world look at Israel ‘with fresh eyes’

Emirati official says if Jerusalem looks at deals `transactionally’ he believes they will normalize relations with more Arab countries; slams Turkey’s opposition as ‘hypocrisy’ Edith M. LedererToday, 9:14 am UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Arab Emirates didn’t need peace with Israel to counter Iran, a top UAE official said Friday, but he said Iran’s […]

Israel and Lebanon to launch direct maritime border talks, report says

After visit from senior US State Department official, negotiations that likely required tacit Hezbollah approval reportedly set to take place in southern Lebanon next month Jacob MagidToday, 12:38 am After years of on-and-off negotiations, Israel and Lebanon have reportedly agreed to launch high-level, direct talks aimed at demarcating a maritime border. The talks will take […]