Latest news with #TheNewArab
Gulf Insider
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
US To Formalize Military Presence In Syria
The US is working to formalize its military presence in Syria by signing a deal with the new al-Qaeda-linked government, according to a report from The New Arab . The report was published Friday and said that a high-level US military delegation was expected to meet with Syrian officials in the coming days with the goal of shifting the US military presence from an illegal occupation to a formalized, legal partnership. The report comes as the US has been drawing down its forces in northeastern Syria and handing over some bases to the Kurdish-led SDF. The US is expected to maintain only one base in Syria, the al-Tanf Garrison in the south, which is situated where the borders of Syria, Iraq, and Jordan converge. From al-Tanf, the US helped its proxy militia, known as the Syrian Free Army (previously known as the Revolutionary Commando Army), join in on the offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024. A formal deal on al-Tanf would signal that the US is planning a long-term or even potentially a permanent military presence in Syria. The Pentagon has said that it's currently working to reduce its forces in Syria to fewer than 1,000 troops in the country. According to the latest reports, approximately 1,500 US troops are currently stationed in the country. The US has embraced the new Syrian government that's led by HTS despite the group still being listed by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization due to its al-Qaeda roots. President Trump recently met with HTS's leader and Syria's de facto president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, and praised him as a 'young, attractive guy' with a 'very strong past.' Sharaa got his start with al-Qaeda in Iraq, where he fought an insurgency against US troops before being imprisoned from 2006 to 2011. In 2012, he traveled to Syria and formed al-Qaeda's affiliate in the country, the al-Nusra Front. In 2016, Sharaa claimed the al-Nusra Front was cutting ties with al-Qaeda. At the time, he thanked the 'commanders of al-Qaeda for having understood the need to break ties.' In 2017, he merged his group with several other Islamist factions to form HTS. Also read: 'Clean Sweep': RFK Jr. Boots Entire CDC 'Rubber-Stamp' Vax Panel
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Trump demands free Suez Canal access for Yemen intervention
According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump informed Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that Washington hoped for his support in its campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, whether militarily, through intelligence sharing, or financially, with the Suez Canal's passage rights possibly being reduced. "These canals wouldn't exist without the United States of America," declared Trump on April 27, referring to the Panama and Suez Canals, for which he demanded free passage for all U.S. vessels, military and commercial. The U.S. administration launched near-daily strikes against Yemeni rebels starting March 15 as part of the operation "Rough Rider." The aim is to prevent Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea to ensure freedom of navigation, after the rebels announced they would resume targeting ships linked to Israel due to the complete blockade imposed by the Jewish state on Gaza ten days earlier, while the cease-fire was still in effect. Transactional view of international relations According to observers, the U.S. operation has already cost more than a billion dollars in one month, not counting the loss of at least seven MQ-9 Reaper drones, amounting to over $210 million, and more recently an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet estimated at more than $60 million. In this scenario, Trump seeks compensation for U.S. operations that benefit others. The Suez Canal is one of Cairo's main sources of foreign currency revenue, which has been heavily affected by the strikes launched from Yemen since Nov. 2023, claimed in support of the Palestinians. While he announced a decrease in canal revenue of nearly $7 billion for 2024, representing a drop of more than 60%, the Egyptian president claimed last month that Egypt was losing about $800 million per month due to the "regional" situation, without further details. His statement, took place two days after the launch of the U.S. airstrikes campaign in Yemen, intended to allow merchant ships to safely navigate Bab al-Mandeb Strait to avoid having to bypass the African continent. Several days later, on April 1, Trump reportedly raised the issue of Suez free passage for U.S. ships with his Egyptian counterpart during a phone call, reports the media The New Arab. This transactional mentality already appeared in messages exchanged by high-ranking officials of his administration in their Signal chat about the military campaign in Yemen, which leaked to the press. "The president was clear: green light, but we must promptly clarify to Egypt and Europe" what we expect in return, wrote a participant with the initials S.M., identified as the national security adviser Stephen Miller. "If the U.S. manages to restore freedom of navigation at great cost, they should secure additional economic gains in exchange," he explained. According to the canal authority, American-flagged vessels represent a small part of total maritime traffic, a relatively modest sum in itself, analysts note, highlights the Wall Street Journal. Cairo walking a tightrope Al-Sisi, on his part, reportedly refused the U.S. proposal, indicating that a cease-fire in Gaza would be a better way to stop Houthi attacks, the newspaper continues, as the rebels had suspended their activities during the cease-fire effective Jan. 19 and Israel broke on March 18. Cairo continues to keep communication channels open with the Houthis, further reported The New Arab, in a context where the country is the only one sharing a border with Gaza, fearing the destabilization that could be caused by forced displacement of Palestinians by Israel, with support from the Trump administration. A matter of national pride, the sovereignty of the Suez Canal remains a sensitive issue in Egypt, where several expansion projects have been launched in recent years. Inaugurated in 1869, it had been granted to the Universal Suez Maritime Canal Company, dominated by the French and British, before being nationalized in 1956 by Gamal Abdel Nasser during the Suez Crisis amid the Cold War. While Washington exerted pressure after the invasion of Tel Aviv, Paris, and London that followed, the U.S. played no role in the establishment of the canal. In Egypt, the reactions have thus been scathing in response to Trump's demand for free passage for U.S. ships. "The Suez Canal was officially inaugurated in 1869, while you had just finished your Civil War, still owned slaves, and barely had an operational railway," recalled Lamees al-Hadidi, one of the most well-known pro-government journalists. The son of former president Hosni Mubarak, ousted during the Arab Spring, Alaa Mubarak, thus asked Donald Trump to "wise up," saying "enough with these silly things," he added according to The National. It is difficult under these conditions for the government to accede to U.S. demands. For now, Washington has not cut military aid to Egypt but has already threatened to do so if Cairo does not agree to host Gazans while it intends to empty the Gaza Strip.
LBCI
16-04-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Iraq summons Lebanese Ambassador over President Aoun's remarks on Popular Mobilization Forces
Iraq's state news agency reported on Wednesday that the Foreign Ministry has summoned Lebanon's ambassador in Baghdad following remarks made by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun about Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces. In an interview published the same day with The New Arab newspaper, Aoun said Lebanon would not follow the example of the Popular Mobilization Forces when enforcing the state's monopoly on weapons. The Popular Mobilization Forces is a state-sanctioned security body that includes several armed factions, some of which are backed by Iran. Reuters
Yemen Online
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Trump warns Iran of decisive US measures in newly revealed letter
Iran releases contents of letter from US president urging Tehran to engage in nuclear talks, offering sanctions relief but warning Islamic regime must end support for terror and threats to US and its allies. U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran earlier this month warning that the United States would not tolerate threats to itself or its allies, while also offering a path toward peaceful relations, according to a report by Sky News Arabic on Saturday. The correspondence, revealed for the first time this weekend, opened with an offer of reconciliation, including the lifting of sanctions and a 'clean slate' for U.S.-Iran relations. Trump's message also stressed that peace is not a sign of weakness but 'a choice made by strong people,' adding that 'the Iranian people deserve a better future.' Iran swiftly rejected the overture. Quoted by Qatari newspaper The New Arab, Iranian officials said they would not resume nuclear negotiations outside the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal, and ruled out any talks on their missile program. 'Our policy remains not to engage in direct talks with the U.S. due to its maximum pressure campaign and military threats,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in response to the letter. Tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent weeks. Iran warned it would respond militarily to any American or Israeli aggression after the U.S. bolstered its military presence in the region. At least five B-2 stealth bombers recently arrived at the U.S. base on Diego Garcia, a British territory in the Indian Ocean located near Iran and Yemen, with more bombers reportedly en route. The remote base has previously been used to launch strikes against targets in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Broadcast Pro
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Syria Television Network expands with launch of ‘Al-Thania' channel
'Al-Thania' will be available on Nilesat 201 (7° West), Frequency. The Syria Television Network, part of The New Arab's parent company Fadaat Media, has broadened its media reach with the launch of Syria TV2, known as Al-Thania , which began broadcasting on the first day of Ramadan 2025. With a focus on enriching the audience's viewing experience, Al-Thania will feature a diverse lineup of entertainment, cultural and heritage programmes, alongside drama productions and regular news updates. The network stated that the channel aims to uphold Syrian values and cultural identity while catering to evolving viewer interests. Designed to serve Syrian and Arab audiences, Al-Thania seeks to become a major media platform by offering high-quality, family-friendly content that reflects Syria's ongoing historical and social transformations. The channel's vision underscores its commitment to delivering programming that resonates with viewers and strengthens national identity. Hamza Al-Mustafa, General Director of the network, emphasised the need for media outlets to adapt to Syria's changing landscape. While Syria Television Network remains dedicated to its established political content, Al-Thania will broaden its appeal through entertainment and educational programming. 'Media carries a profound responsibility in fostering social cohesion, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening national identity,' Al-Mustafa stated. 'With Al-Thania , we are committed to producing meaningful content that respects both the audience and the homeland.'
