Mideastwire.com

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While there is a broad range of Arabic language media outlets reporting stories from and about the Middle East, there is currently no affordable and reliable means for English speakers to gain access to this content. As a result, many English speaking businesspersons, students, journalists and others who have an interest in the affairs of the region are largely unaware of what the Middle East media is covering and how they are covering these stories.

Mideastwire.com aims to close this gap by offering a daily menu of translations covering some of the key political, cultural, economic and opinion pieces appearing in the media of the 22 Arab countries and the Arab Diaspora. Through this effort, we hope to address at least one aspect of a global disconnect that continues to threaten a wide spectrum of socio-political and economic relationships, both here in the region and beyond.

It is also important to note that, since our founding in 2005, Mideastwire.com is wholly funded by the content license fees paid by individuals and organizations. As such, there is no government, commercial or non-profit support, an aspect that we believe provides a relatively independent platform for better understanding.

Our Corrections Policy: We adhere to an honest and open corrections policy. Please email info@mideastwire.com if you notice any typo or if you disagree with our translation choices. Since we do not produce our own content, we only will consider corrections that highlight typos or dispute our translations, not the veracity or accuracy of the original content. Accepted corrections are applied directly to the relevant translations as soon as they are approved by the editor and our database is updated accordingly for all subscribers.

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

23-Dec-2024

Iraq

Politics

“An agreement between the Baghdad cabinet and the factions: Stopping the support and silence regarding Syria” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security

On December 23, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “A leader in the Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the Iraqi Resistance factions and the Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ as-Sudani, that the resistance would stop military operations against the Israeli enemy in the context of supporting the Gaza Territory, and would remain silent regarding the political changes taking place in Syria, within the framework of a dialogue between the two sides, against the backdrop of regional and international demands to dismantle the factions and hand over their weapons to the state… (Read More)

“… Will Iraq’s government be able to disband armed factions?” (Website, Middle East)

Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security

On December 20, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report by its correspondent Walid al-Khazraji: “Statements delivered by sources close to the Iraqi prime minister generated wide controversy in the political circles, seeing as how they spoke about external pressures on Iraq to disband the armed factions in the context of the developments in the region, particularly the toppling of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. The armed groups in Iraq are divided into two segments. The first includes the groups that are part of the Popular Mobilization Committee, which is linked to the prime minister. The second includes the so-called “resistance factions,” which wage attacks from time to time, whether on the American presence in Iraq or against Israeli targets in the occupied Palestinian territories… (Read More)

Jordan

Politics

“Jordan: Five reasons for the ‘Syrian’ concern” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On December 23, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report: “Jordan is next.” This expression has been circulating in some circles after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime and the Al-Baath rule in Syria. But why did this expression spread like that? Are there any reasons for concerns? And will the reassurances work to curb them?… (Read More)

“… Will Amman lose if it is late in shaking Damascus’ hand?” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On December 20, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its Amman Office Chief Bassam Bdareen: “Throughout two days, the Jordanian government allowed the dispatch and entry of around 700 trucks carrying goods into the neighboring Syria, in an implicit message granting the Jordanian and Syrian commercial sectors a chance to resume the transactions between the two countries under a political cover… The government in Amman adopted that step to send “friendly messages,” though programmed and accurate, to the new ruling administration in Syria, at a time when “political and media silence” prevailed over Amman and Damascus in parallel to a “preliminary impression” that the Jordanian side is trying to overcome the “alarming questions” and “wants to help… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“Was Walid Jumblatt too hasty in visiting Syria?” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Arab Diplomacy

On December 22, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report: “At the head of a delegation from the Progressive Socialist Party, MPs from the Democratic Gathering, and a number of Druze sheiks, headed by Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Mona, Walid Jumblatt entered the People’s Palace in Damascus, recalling memories that included many important historical milestones in his political career from Hafez al-Assad to his son Bashar, and the alliance followed by the disagreement between them that reached the point of hostility. However, this time, the Al-Assad family is no longer in power in Syria, but rather Ahmed al-Sharaa, aka Al-Julani… (Read More)

“America activates its sanctions on Bassil: Is this the price for opposing Aoun’s election?” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Corruption - Democracy and Party Politics - Financial Markets - USA Europe

On December 23, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “Two days ago, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control activated sanctions on the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, after 4 years of them being imposed by the US Treasury and State Department “due to his role in the spread of corruption in the country, under Executive Order No. 13818, which aims to combat corruption and prevent human rights violations around the world… (Read More)

“Ramallah meets the army’s steps: What about the camps?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On December 23, the privately-owned Nida al-Watan daily newspaper carried the following report by Alain Sarkis: “Eyes are currently focused on the practical steps that the Lebanese army is implementing in the context of the implementation of Resolution 1701. The fact that the military has seized control of the camps of the Palestinian factions affiliated with the Al-Assad regime in Bekaa constitutes an indication of the seriousness of the army’s action and its inflexibility with any team seeking to strike Lebanese sovereignty… (Read More)

Libya

Politics

“With imminent end of Ukraine war, Assad’s fall, does this affect Russian presence in Libya?” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On December 23, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following report by its correspondent Ala’a Farouk: “The news surrounding the imminent signing of a truce deal between Russia and Ukraine to stop the war, in addition to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, raised questions surrounding how this would impact the Russian role in the Arab region, especially Libya, and whether or not Moscow would view Libya as a safe haven, which would turn it into a new pit of global tensions… At this level, Western intelligence reports spoke about the beginning of the transfer of some of the Russian equipment stored in Syria to East Libya, quoting Western and Libyan military sources as saying that a Russian cargo plane left the Khmeimim Airbase in Syria to East Libya and that an air bridge was activated for military cargo planes to move defensive assets there… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

“A new reality” (Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

On December 20, the pro-monarchy Ar-Riyadh newspaper carried the following lead editorial by Deputy Chief Editor Hani Wafa: “Every observer and follower of the changes in the region knows that is a transformation that cannot be neglected. What is happening heralds a new reality, which we will witness firsthand in the coming days, and will alter the previous reality that failed to achieve the regional populations’ aspirations for peace, well-being, and prosperity. This could have been achieved had it not been for interferences that did not serve the interests of the people, but rather those of leaders who placed their interests and those of their clique above their countries’, thus causing consecutive crises and ongoing tensions that led to the collapse of those regimes and groups… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Ash-Shara to Asharq al-Awsat: Syria will not cause concern for any Arab state” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy

On December 20, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following interview with General Commander of the New Syrian Administration Ahmed ash-Shara by its Damascus correspondent Bissan ash-Shaykh… (Read More)

“Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Abdul Rahman talks to Al-Quds al-Arabi…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security

On December 23, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following interview with Interior Minister of the Syrian Interim Government Mohammad Abdul Rahman by its Damascus correspondent Hiba Muhammad… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“Extensive diplomatic meetings round Yemen in Al-Riyadh: What are their objectives?” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process - USA Europe

On December 22, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Saudi capital, Al-Riyadh, witnessed over the past few days an unprecedented diplomatic action by several Western ambassadors and diplomats in Yemen amidst news about a plan to enable the Yemeni government to return to Sanaa. For the first time in months, the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Al-Alimi, met in the presence of all its members in a meeting held on Tuesday (December 17) in Al-Riyadh, with the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United States, France and Britain… (Read More)