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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.



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Today’s Snapshot

  • Egypt–Israel–Ethiopia Axis (Al-Araby al-Jadeed, Times of Israel)
    Cairo is alarmed by Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar’s high-level visit to Ethiopia. Egyptian diplomatic sources view this as a strategic Israeli effort to counterbalance Egyptian influence in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea, potentially worsening Egypt’s position in the GERD negotiations.

 

  • Iraq: Iran Orders Militias to Stand Down (Al-Mada)
    Citing orders from top Iranian figures like Qaani, armed factions in Iraq have frozen operations. Disarmament negotiations continue, but real progress hinges on broader U.S.-Iran talks. Baghdad is quiet to avoid antagonizing powerful Shiite groups ahead of al-Sudani’s re-election bid.

 

  • Lebanon: Abbas Seeks Palestinian Disarmament (Rai al-Youm)
    Abbas plans to visit Beirut to push for the handover of Palestinian weapons in refugee camps. Arab states back this as a preemptive measure against Israeli escalation. Hamas may resist or set conditions.

 

  • Turkey–Hezbollah–Israel (Asas Media)
    Hezbollah tipped off Turkey about Israeli booby-trapped pager shipments intended to cause mass casualties. This rare intelligence cooperation underlines Ankara’s complex positioning amid regional espionage.

 

  • Sudan–UAE Red Sea Confrontation (Al-Akhbar)
    Sudan cut ties with the UAE after accusing it of launching drone strikes from Somali territory. Sudanese officials call this an act of war, hinting at a deeper Emirati military entanglement.

 

  • Syria–Israel Backchannel via UAE (Al-Arab)
    The UAE is mediating indirect talks between Syria and Israel, focusing on mutual security concerns. The quiet track began after President al-Sharaa’s UAE visit and could de-escalate Israeli airstrikes.

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING
08-May-2025
Egypt
Politics
"Visit of Israeli foreign minister to Addis Ababa worries Cairo"  (Newspaper, Middle East)   
Military and Security - Peace Process
On May 8, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's visit to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, last Monday raised Cairo's concerns about growing relations between the two sides, at a time when relations between Egypt and Ethiopia are strained over security issues in the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. An informed Egyptian diplomatic source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Egyptian security and diplomatic agencies are closely monitoring the recent developments in Israeli-Ethiopian relations. Egypt is monitoring Israeli expansion in the Horn of Africa region and considers any rapprochement between Israel and Ethiopia an influential factor in Egyptian national security. The Israeli Foreign Minister's visit to Addis Ababa included official meetings with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his counterpart, Gideon Timothy, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in the fields of security, trade, agriculture, water technologies, and renewable energy. The Israeli Foreign Minister was accompanied by a high-level economic delegation, giving the visit a strategic dimension that goes beyond traditional diplomatic meetings between the two countries' foreign ministers… (Read More)
Iraq
Politics
"After 4 months of negotiations, factions' weapons still there, but unused based on Iranian decision"  (Al-Mada, Iraq)   
Military and Security - USA Europe
On May 8, the independent Al-Mada newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad by its correspondent Tamim al-Hassan: Iraqi factions still retain their weapons, but they are not using them on orders from Iran. After four months of government negotiations with these groups, electoral calculations are distorting the compass of understandings. According to sources close to the government, the "disarmament" has not backed down, but there is no timeframe for achieving this goal. It is assumed that these groups will transform into more than one category after the "disarmament" and become "obedient factions."… (Read More)
Lebanon
Politics
"Abbas to visit Lebanon to convince Palestinian factions of surrendering their weapons..."  (Website, Middle East)   
Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Peace Process
On May 8, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily carried the following report: Gaza – Exclusive to Rai Al-Youm – Nader Safadi. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to travel to Lebanon in the coming days to discuss the issue of handing over all weapons held by Palestinian factions and placing them in the hands of the Lebanese state. Arab sources confirmed that contact has taken place in recent hours between the Palestinian Authority and officials in Lebanon, and that discussions have taken place more than once regarding the handover of weapons to resistance factions inside Lebanon and its camps, based on understandings that will be agreed upon in the coming period, according to media reports… (Read More)
"...How did Turkey discover the pagers' shipment?"  (Website, Middle East)   
Military and Security
On May 8, the privately owned Asas Media website carried the following report: How did Hezbollah inform Turkey of the shipment of booby-trapped pagers? And why did Ankara choose to reveal the details of the operation?… (Read More)
"Two views within Hezbollah..."  (An-Nahar, Lebanon)   
Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security
On May 8, the An-Nahar daily newspaper carried the following report: An-Nahar has learned that two views prevail within Hezbollah's ranks. The first advocates for a de facto status quo, seeing no need to hold accountable those involved in the political and military spheres after the party's recent "support" war against Israel. The second calls, for the first time in the party's history since its inception in 1982, for "real accountability and zero tolerance for negligent individuals in various leadership positions, regardless of their rank." They note that, according to their perspective, dozens of party members were dismissed because they failed to report to their posts during the war, even though they were field fighters and were now in their homes. Meanwhile, no action has been taken against any high-ranking member of the Shura Council… (Read More)
"17 years after "May incidents," Hezbollah weapons are a burden on it and Lebanon"  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)   
Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security
On May 7, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Beirut by its correspondent Youssef Diab: The events known as "May 7, 2008" are still etched in the memory of the Lebanese, even though 17 years have passed since Hezbollah's military invasion of the capital, Beirut, and parts of Mount Lebanon. Concern about a recurrence of this tragedy resurfaces at every political turning point that provokes the party, especially with the rise of voices among the party's supporters demanding the implementation of a "new May 7," in response to demands to surrender weapons to the state. This was highlighted by the statement of the Deputy Chairman of Hezbollah's Executive Council, Mahmoud Qamati, who reiterated the statement that "any hand that reaches out to the resistance's weapons will be cut off."… (Read More)
Middle East
Politics
"Sudan - UAE: Boycotting with a taste of war"  (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)
Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships
On May 8, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: The Sudanese government announced the severance of relations with the UAE the day before yesterday, amid mounting tensions between the two countries. The decision was preceded by a decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the 5th of this month that it lacked jurisdiction over the lawsuit filed by Khartoum against Abu Dhabi, accusing the latter of involvement in "genocide" in the Darfur region. This was followed by a military escalation by the Rapid Support Forces, which bombed Port Sudan and its port with advanced drones… (Read More)
"How will the growing tension between India and Pakistan affect the Gulf interests?"  (Website, Middle East)
Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships
On May 8, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: India and Pakistan are witnessing an unprecedented escalation following the attack in Pahalgam on April 29, 2025, and its military repercussions, which escalated into a direct clash between the two nuclear-armed states… (Read More)
"Emirati mediation to build trust between Israel and Syria"  (Newspaper, Middle East)   
Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - Peace Process
On May 8, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: Damascus – The UAE has opened a communication channel for indirect talks between Syria and Israel, in an effort to build trust between the two countries. This would later lead, after the negotiation conditions are met, to an end to the ongoing Israeli military attacks on Syria and the resulting security and social tensions that are hindering the efforts of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government to achieve stability… (Read More)
Syria
Politics
"Fourth negotiation session between Damascus, SDF: No breakthrough in most important files"  (Newspaper, Middle East)   
Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security
On May 8, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Damascus by its correspondent Muhammad Amin: The Syrian government held a negotiating session with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to implement the agreement signed by the two sides last March, which aims to integrate these forces into the country's military system and decide the fate of the northeast, which they control. Media sources close to the government reported that a fourth negotiating session between Damascus and the SDF was held at the Al-Omar oil base in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor last Monday. The government delegation was headed by General Intelligence Director Hussein Abdullah al-Salama, while the SDF delegation was headed by Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi. It is worth noting that al-Salama led the negotiations with Abdi, which led to the signing of the March agreement… (Read More)
Tunisia
Politics
"Did Iraq use "wheat diplomacy" to convince Tunisia to attend Arab summit?"  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
Arab Diplomacy
On May 7, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Tunis: The news of the Iraqi government's donation of 50,000 tons of wheat to Tunisia has sparked political controversy in the country. The opposition viewed it as an attempt to persuade President Kais Saied to attend the Arab Summit, scheduled for the 17th of this month. This is especially true given that Saied, who missed last year's summit in Bahrain, rarely participates in international summits or engages in activities outside the country… (Read More)
Yemen
Opinion
"Trump's agreement with the Houthis: Did it exclude Israel?"  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)   
Military and Security - USA Europe
On May 8, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: In a surprise announcement, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the Houthis had "surrendered" and that US strikes in Yemen would cease. The president, eager to dramatically announce his victories, simplified the event, describing what happened as the Yemeni group "saying, 'Please don't bomb us anymore, and we won't attack your ships!'"… (Read More)
 
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