
Iraqi authorities release Political Analyst Abbas Al-Ardawi on bail

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Netanyahu rejects latest Gaza proposal
Shafaq News – Middle East On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to end the war in Gaza. Citing an official from Netanyahu's office, Israel's public broadcaster reported that he refused to approve the proposal, "which Hamas had accepted.' The official added that Netanyahu dismissed what was described as a partial deal and insisted on the release of all hostages at once. 'We will not leave any hostages behind." Netanyahu's decision came hours after Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, announced that Hamas had given a very positive response to the Egyptian-Qatari proposal, affirming that the group's reply closely aligned with terms previously approved by Israel. Al-Ansari further explained that the proposal closely mirrored the plan circulated by the US special envoy Steve Witkoff. 'What Hamas approved yesterday matches 98% of Witkoff's proposal," al-Ansari said.


Shafaq News
an hour ago
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Syria seizes Grad rockets bound for Lebanon
Shafaq News – Damascus Syrian Security Forces intercepted a truck carrying "Grad" rockets bound for Lebanon, local media reported on Tuesday. According to the Syrian channel Al-Ikhbariya, security agencies carried out a "well-planned ambush" near the Lebanese border, seizing the truck. The Lebanese authorities have not commented on the incident. قيادة الأمن الداخلي بمحافظة حمص تضبط شاحنة محملة بصواريخ غراد كانت متجهة إلى لبنان في كمين محكم قرب الحدود اللبنانية وتصادر المضبوطات وتنظم الضبط اللازم أصولاً #الإخبارية_السورية — الإخبارية السورية (@AlekhbariahSY) August 19, 2025 The interception comes amid rising tensions along the Syrian-Lebanese border, which has grown increasingly volatile following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Authorities on both sides have stepped up efforts in recent months to prevent the flow of weapons, particularly in Al-Qusayr, a known corridor for arms smuggling often linked to Hezbollah. In June, the Internal Security Directorate in Al-Qusayr, in the Homs countryside, intercepted a truck carrying weapons destined for Lebanon. The Syrian army also blocked another attempt to transport shells and rockets near the Bsibis-Hermel area, confiscating the shipment.


Shafaq News
2 hours ago
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Illegal water use chokes Iraq's Diyala river flows
Shafaq News – Diyala Iraq's Diyala Provincial Council reported on Tuesday that the illegal use of water resources and river routes has reached critical levels, prompting a series of measures to address the violations. In a press briefing, Omar Al-Karawi, Chairman of the Council, highlighted 301 unofficial fish ponds and more than 40 unauthorized irrigation reservoirs. He noted that authorities have already referred 139 violators to the judiciary, further stressing the need to negotiate with the Kurdistan Region and Iran to increase the dams' water quota, ensuring more consistent and sufficient flows to the province. Fares Mazahim Al-Jubouri, Deputy Head of the Council's Security Committee, pointed out that influential individuals are creating fish ponds while exerting pressure on officials, including the deputy governor and department heads. Confirming that four to five additional fish ponds and wells were being established even during this press conference, he warned that the crisis is worsening across the province and its villages, with negative effects on agriculture and local communities. Meanwhile, Raaed Al-Tamimi, head of the council's Agriculture Committee, reported that water releases from Darbandikhan Dam to Hamrin Dam total 50 cubic meters per second, but only eight cubic meters per second reach Diyala due to illegal fish ponds and diversions. He also added that outsiders have dug ponds on 4,000 hectares across four districts, obstructing river routes and water flows beyond the province's boundaries. Iraq faces a severe water crisis driven by years of upstream damming, reduced rainfall, and aging infrastructure, which have led to dwindling river flows. The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources reports that the country's water availability has fallen below 1,000 cubic meters per capita annually, placing Iraq among water- scarce