Latest news with #Iranian-supplied
The National
21-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Damage control for Ahmad Al Shara after brother's links to pro-Assad tribal figure condemned
Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara has distanced himself from one of his four brothers after a public outcry over the sibling's involvement with a tribal figure who supported the previous Assad regime. The episode illustrates the limits to Mr Al Shara's policy of accommodating elements of the former regime in his efforts to consolidate control of Syria since his rebel allies made him President on January 31. This month, Mr Al Shara's ruling Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group overcame a rival militia leader in southern Syria, helped by an alliance with a warlord who was loyal to former president Bashar Al Assad. A statement by the presidency late on Sunday admitted a 'controversy' had arisen after Jamal Al Shara, an elder brother of Mr Al Shara, last week visited Farhan Al Marsoumy in Damascus. During the civil war, Mr Al Marsoumy built a fief in his home region of Albu Kamal with the help of the former regime and Iran. Albu Kamal is near the Iraqi border in eastern Syria, an area that was crucial for Iranian-supplied weapons, smuggled through Iraq and Syria, to the Lebanese Shiite guerrilla group Hezbollah. Although the influence of Iran has all but ended in Syria, many of its former allies, such as Mr Marsoumy, have survived, either because they have sought accommodation with the new regime through deals in which they have surrendered assets, or because the authorities have found them politically useful. 'Mr Jamal Al Shara does not occupy any position in the institutions of the state and does not have any official privileges,' the presidency's statement said. The visit was made in a 'personal capacity', it added. Culture Minister Mohammad Saleh, who is also from the east, accompanied Jamal Al Shara on the trip. The two men were filmed being given an abaya, or Bedouin gown, and wearing it. They also ate from a huge tray of mansaf, a traditional meal of rice and lamb in a yoghurt sauce. In an attempt to explain the footage of the encounter, Mr Saleh said that 'every day I am asked for hundreds of photos' with people he does not know. 'I want to apologise to the great Syrian people for any unintended photo with anyone belonging to the bygone regime.' The two men came in for widespread criticism, particularly on social media, even from people supportive of the new President. Firas Andeen, a human rights lawyer, said 'floating the symbols and criminals of the former regime is shameful'. Muhannad Al Katee, a Syrian researcher who specialises in the east of the country, said Mr Saleh 'should resign today and not tomorrow'. He said the visit was motivated by 'errors that cannot be justified'. Little is known about Jamal Al Shara except that he previously worked in the IT education sector and left for Egypt around 2013. This month, the President appointed Maher Al Shara, another brother, as Secretary General of the Presidency, a position similar to chief of staff. The President, who was born in 1982, has four brothers, all of whom are his elders. An offensive led by Ahmad Al Shara and HTS, a group formerly linked with al Qaeda, ended 54 years of Al Assad family rule over Syria in December. The Al Assads belong to the country's Alawite minority but their dominance was partly underpinned by alliances with Sunni tribes.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon Needs Help From the U.S. to Finish Disarming Hezbollah
For the first time in the history of the often-uneasy relations between Lebanon, Israel and the United States, all three sides agree on a common end state for Lebanon: The Lebanese state should gain a monopoly on the use of force in that country, and the Lebanese army should become its sole legitimate provider of security. In practical terms, this means the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other armed militias operating on Lebanese soil, consistent with United Nations Resolutions 1559 and 1701. The three sides still disagree on how to achieve that outcome, and U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is running out of patience with the impasse. But through U.S.-facilitated confidence-building measures between Lebanon and Israel, the current diplomatic deadlock can be broken. This is urgently needed to preserve the momentum created since the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah last November, avert a new war and ultimately achieve a lasting peace between the two countries. But first, it's important to recognize how monumental this moment is and how the three sides got here. Hezbollah emerged severely weakened from its latest war with Israel, which began when the group started launching rockets, drones and missiles against northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in support of Hamas. The conflict ended after a sustained assault by Israel last summer and fall that left Israeli forces in control of five strategic positions in southern Lebanon. The war may not have dealt a fatal blow to Hezbollah, but it is definitely not the force it once was. Israel has decapitated the group, deeply penetrated its upper-echelon leadership and destroyed much of its arsenal, thus casting serious doubt about its future as a coherent armed unit. Hezbollah's significant loss of influence—coupled with the collapse of the regime of former dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which had long been a major conduit of Iranian-supplied weapons for the Shiite party—has had immediate effects on Lebanon's internal power dynamics. Because Hezbollah is no longer able to exercise a veto on political developments in the country, let alone impose its will on its domestic adversaries as it did in recent years, a pro-reform tandem is in now charge in Beirut: President Joseph Aoun—the highly respected former army chief—and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are charting a new political course for Lebanon, one that is centered on holistic change and free of the dominance of Hezbollah and its main ally, Iran. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. To be sure, Lebanon is still faced with numerous challenges, including fixing a severe economic crisis, securing the independence of the judicial system, reforming the state bureaucracy and restructuring the banking sector. Yet none is more significant and urgent than identifying a viable path toward disarming Hezbollah. Indeed, Hezbollah's weapons are the biggest obstacle to any Lebanese state-building project, as they enable and sustain all of the above-mentioned problems. Brokered by the U.S. and France, the ceasefire agreement that ended the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah last year calls on the former to withdraw all its troops from southern Lebanon and the latter to move its fighters away from the northern bank of the Litani River. The Lebanese army, with the help of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, is expected to substantially increase its deployment in the area and seize all arms belonging to Hezbollah. The Lebanese army has made important strides in destroying Hezbollah stockpiles in the area south of the Litani River, with little to no resistance from the group. Since the ceasefire, it has carried out more than 500 missions to inspect potential Hezbollah sites, dismantle infrastructure and confiscate weapons. It has even won praise for its efforts from the commanding officer of the U.S.-French monitoring mechanism helping it locate those sites. While the Lebanese army has admirably pursued its mission in the area south of the Litani River, it has struggled in the northern part, whose Lebanese Shiite communities have long been a base of support for Hezbollah. Indeed, it only started to move very slowly and carefully toward the area north of the Litani, where it is suspected that heavy Hezbollah stockpiles are located, last week. Beirut has argued that the lack of progress in the area is due to Israel's continued occupation of the five key high points in southern Lebanon, in violation of the ceasefire agreement. The Lebanese government is reluctant to instruct the army to dismantle Hezbollah's weapons infrastructure north of the Litani more quickly and forcibly, because Hezbollah stores many of its weapons in the area in civilian homes, meaning the army would have to enter those homes to confiscate them. It fears that, absent a full Israeli withdrawal, Hezbollah and its supporters may be less compliant than they have been to date south of the Liani. And the army, which remains one of the few state institutions to enjoy broad popular trust in Lebanon, is not about to fight the very people it is supposed to protect for the sake of Israeli security. If it does, it could lose that societal consensus on its role and see defections within its ranks. That's a recipe for disintegration along sectarian lines, which has happened twice in Lebanon's recent history, in 1976 and 1984. For its part, Israel cites security concerns for keeping its troops in Lebanon, claiming that Hezbollah—also in violation of the ceasefire—is attempting to rebuild in the south as well as in Beirut's southern suburbs. There have also been several instances of rockets having been fired against Israel from southern Lebanon since the ceasefire. In addition to remaining in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military has been conducting periodic attacks against Hezbollah operatives and facilities anytime it sees a threat. Israel has at least three reasons for wanting to maintain a troop presence in southern Lebanon: first, to create a buffer zone that might alleviate the concerns of Israelis who had to flee their homes in the north during the 13 months of fighting with Hezbollah; second, to exercise political pressure on the Lebanese government to expedite the process of Hezbollah's disarmament; and third, to maintain the unity and cohesion of the ultra-rightwing Israeli government, which opposes making any concessions in Gaza and Lebanon. The standoff ultimately comes down to an understandable lack of trust between the two sides, which only an incremental approach that includes confidence-building measures can fix. The Lebanese government can do its part by formally announcing that it is committed to a verifiable process to disarm Hezbollah, as well as a fixed timetable of at most a few months to do so. In addition, it should immediately instruct the Lebanese army to formulate and publicly communicate a comprehensive strategy for securing both its southern and northeastern borders. To make it politically credible and militarily effective, such a strategy would need to be developed with the help of U.S. Central Command and the U.S. Embassy's Defense Attache Office in Beirut. Over the years, U.S. military assistance has helped improve the capabilities of the Lebanese army, allowing it in 2017 to successfully evict scores of ISIS fighters in the north and pursue a range of counter-smuggling operations along the border with Syria. But even if the Lebanese government were to order the army to step up, it lacks the experience and the necessary funding, personnel, training and equipment to secure the borders with both Israel and Syria. Indeed, that the army has been able to survive at all despite years of political crises in Beirut and the collapse of the Lebanese economy is nothing short of a miracle. This is where U.S. engagement becomes crucial. If Washington significantly upgrades its military assistance program with Lebanon, it will enable the Lebanese army to deploy 15,000 troops south of the Litani in accordance with the terms of the U.S.-French roadmap, which itself could alleviate the security concerns of Israel and incentivize it to withdraw from the five hilltops it now occupies. The troops aren't a the Lebanese army lacks in particular to fulfill its duties is a multidomain awareness concept and system to carry on and expand the disarmament of Hezbollah along the southern border with Israel, and to prevent the smuggling of goods, arms and people across the northeastern border with Syria. Some of the requirements for implementing such a strategy include enhanced capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, such as unmanned aerial surveillance and targeting systems, radars, ground sensors and human intelligence assets. But that only covers data collection. The Lebanese army would also have to analyze, fuse and disseminate that data effectively, which would require AI-driven threat analysis, a joint operations intelligence center and improved connectivity. Finally, to act on this data, the Lebanese army would have to create two additional Land Border Regiments as well as a Quick Reaction Force equipped with tactical and reconnaissance vehicles, helicopters and maritime assets. All of this would require U.S. security cooperation. But in addition to helping to build the capacity of the Lebanese army, the U.S. must also try to bridge the divide between the Lebanese and Israeli positions and push both sides to make concessions in the interest of a common end state and regional security. Indeed, it is uniquely positioned to do so, but as mentioned already, the Trump administration's patience is wearing thin. Israel must realize that it is shooting itself in the foot by continuing to occupy Lebanese territory without a clear security rationale, while Lebanon must appreciate that the new strategic environment has dramatically shifted in favor of Israel and that the window of opportunity for U.S. engagement will not remain open forever. The worst-case scenario for Lebanon would be if the U.S. loses interest in the country. We're not there yet, but unlike in the past, it's no longer an unthinkable scenario, especially if Lebanon continues to avoid the hard decisions on disarming Hezbollah and kick the can down the road. Bilal Y. Saab is the senior managing director of TRENDS US, an associate fellow with Chatham House and an adjunct professor with Georgetown University. The post Lebanon Needs Help From the U.S. to Finish Disarming Hezbollah appeared first on World Politics Review.
Shafaq News
10-03-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq, US vow to strengthen economic and security ties
Shafaq News/ Through a phone call between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Iraq and the United States reaffirmed, on Sunday, their dedication to enhance their bilateral relationship. According to the Prime Minister's media office, al-Sudani emphasized Iraq's ongoing efforts to foster a stable business environment and attract American investment, highlighting the key reforms designed to create an investment-friendly climate. "Iraq remains dedicated to strengthening its economic partnership with the United States and establishing a business environment that benefits both nations," al-Sudani stated. In turn, Waltz stressed the importance of increasing American corporate engagement in Iraq, acknowledging the challenges US businesses face, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, and underscoring the need to remove obstacles to investment. "The US is eager to see American companies play a greater role in Iraq's economic development, and we encourage efforts to remove any barriers that hinder their success," Waltz noted. The two also discussed Iraq's long-term stability and the role of American companies in supporting the country's economic growth. Waltz reaffirmed Washington's commitment to helping Iraq achieve energy independence and offered continued cooperation to advance this goal. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the recent US decision to end the waiver for Iranian-supplied electricity, a key element of Washington's Maximum Pressure Policy. "The end of the Iranian electricity waiver is tied to the Maximum Pressure Policy. It highlights the need for strong coordination between our two nations to avoid any negative impacts on Iraq's stability," Waltz explained. For years, Iraq has been heavily reliant on Iranian electricity and gas, particularly during the summer months when domestic production struggles to meet demand. The country has depended on recurring US exemptions, granted multiple times annually. Ali Shaddad, spokesperson for the Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, revealed that the Iraqi government is exploring alternatives, including importing gas from Gulf countries instead of Iran. Shaddad also announced that a high-priority project aimed at facilitating this transition is already underway in Basra, southern Iraq.
Khabar Agency
16-02-2025
- Politics
- Khabar Agency
U.S. Commends Yemeni Forces for Seizing Iranian Arms Bound for Houthis
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) praised Yemeni Coast Guard forces aligned with the internationally recognized government for intercepting a shipment of advanced Iranian weaponry destined for the Houthi militia during a maritime operation in the southern Red Sea last Wednesday. In a statement, CENTCOM confirmed the seizure, which included cruise missile components, suicide drones, naval radars, and cutting-edge jamming systems. 'Congratulations to the Coast Guard of the legitimate government of Yemen on their interdiction of Iranian advanced weapon components, drones, and communications gear that was destined for the Iranian backed Houthi terrorists". Congratulations to the Coast Guard of the legitimate government of Yemen on their interdiction of Iranian advanced weapon components, drones, and communications gear that was destined for the Iranian backed Houthi terrorists. On February 12, the Yemen Coast Guard interdicted a… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 16, 2025 On February 12, the Yemen Coast Guard interdicted a Dhow in the Southern Red Sea that was destined for Hodeidah port and reportedly originated in Iran. The dhow had a 40-foot container containing qualitative military equipment, including cruise missiles' structures, jet engines used in cruise missiles and suicide drones, reconnaissance drones, in addition to marine radars, a modern jamming system, and an advanced wireless communications system. CENTCOM said. This operation highlights intensified global efforts to curb illicit arms flows to the Houthis, who have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea using Iranian-supplied weapons. The militia's attacks, including drone and missile strikes, have disrupted maritime trade and drawn condemnation from the international community. The interception comes amid mounting evidence of Tehran's material support for the Houthis, further straining diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine says it's far along in developing laser weapons to take out Russian drones
Ukraine is testing laser weapons for use against Russian targets, a Ukrainian commander said. Vadym Sukharevskyi told RFE/RL that laser weapons are now hitting targets at "certain altitude." Lasers are likely best suited to countering drones, military analysts told BI. Ukraine is testing laser weapons to target Russian drones and other aircraft, a Ukrainian military official said this week. Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, the commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Ukraine was developing several new military technologies — including laser weaponry. He said that the technology was being developed to counter Russian aerial drone or UAV attacks, specifically those using Iranian-supplied long-range Shahed drones, which have a relatively low-altitude flight path. "Laser technologies are already hitting certain objects at a certain altitude," he said. This is the first time Ukraine has claimed to have deployed the weapon in tests. Sukharevskyi offered no details about where the weapon had been used, and Business Insider was unable to verify his claims. Militaries around the world are increasingly looking to develop laser weapons. Last year, the UK released images of its DragonFire weapon being test-fired. China, the US, and Israel also have laser weapons in the works. At an event in Kyiv last year, Sukharevskyi said that a laser weapon named Tryzub was being tested by Ukraine and was capable of shooting down targets at an altitude of around 1.2 miles. "It truly works, it truly exists," he said. James Black, assistant director of the Defence and Security research group at RAND Europe, told BI that it was plausible that Ukraine was beginning to deploy high-energy laser systems in a limited, largely experimental way, but that "there are enduring technical, logistical, and operational challenges to deploying such systems at scale." He said that questions remained around how to integrate the weapons with air defense systems and other military operations, how to ensure sufficient energy for them, and how to use them in adverse conditions like bad weather or smoke. Nic Jenzen Jones, director of Armament Research Services, said that laser weapons made with commercially available technology need to be trained on their target for a longer time to disable them, making them more useful against slower-moving vehicles. "Fast-moving aerial targets — such as fighter aircraft and many types of munitions — will be less susceptible to such a weapon," he said. But military analysts say that laser weapons, which work by training a powerful laser beam onto the target to disable it, may offer an effective way of countering drones. "There is a growing interest across global militaries in novel low-cost-per-shot ways of countering UAVs and other aerial threats," Black said. However, he added that the weapons are not a "silver bullet," saying their main use would likely be to "engage lower-value or lower-altitude targets such as cheap UAS, saving expensive missile interceptors for the more challenging targets." Read the original article on Business Insider
