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Today’s Snapshot

Algeria–Mali

  • Algeria shot down a Turkish-made drone used by Mali near their shared border, escalating tensions over the Azawad issue. Algeria opposes Mali’s militarized response and supports dialogue (Al-Quds al-Arabi).

 

Egypt–US

  • Trump and Sisi held a tense call amid diverging views on Gaza and the Houthis. Egypt opposes military solutions and displacement plans, while the US prioritizes eliminating the Houthi threat (Asharq al-Awsat).

 

Iran–US

  • Iran warns it may develop nuclear weapons if attacked. With weakened proxies and regional setbacks, Tehran sees US-Israeli threats as a “hell scenario” that could upend the regional balance (Al-Quds al-Arabi).

 

Iraq

  • Pro-Iran militias fear Turkish influence as Khazali accuses Ankara of training rival militias. Meanwhile, controversial amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law could legalize child marriage, sparking backlash (Al-Arab, Al-Modon).

 

Lebanon

  • Hezbollah faces Israeli pressure, but refuses to disarm, citing deterrence needs and fear of future instability from Syria (Al-Modon, Al-Joumhouria). Civilians flee Beirut suburbs amid rising housing discrimination (Asharq al-Awsat).

 

Syria

  • Israel bombed strategic Syrian bases to block Turkish military expansion. Turkey’s entry is seen as a shift from Iranian to Sunni influence, triggering regional rivalry (Asas Media, Al-Araby al-Jadeed).

 

Nigeria

  • Shi’i communities face persecution from Salafists and police, pushing them closer to Iran. Tehran is leveraging this crisis to deepen its foothold in West Africa (Al-Arab).

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING
04-Apr-2025
Algeria
Politics
“These are the details of Algerian army’s downing of “Turkish-made” drone…”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)   
Military and Security
On April 2, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Algiers: “In a noticeable development, the Algerian army announced the downing of an armed unmanned drone near the Tin Zaoutine commune on the border with Mali, which was denied by the Malian army that spoke about a technical error that affected the drone. For months now, Algerian-Malian relations have been witnessing tensions due to Bamako’s use of security solutions to deal with the Azawad problem. In a statement, the Algerian Defense Ministry said...: “This qualitative operation again confirms the high alertness and full preparedness of the units of the People’s National Army to protect our land, air, and sea border against any threat to national sovereignty.” Pictures circulated on social media showed that the drone was an Akinci drone, manufactured by the Turkish Baykar company… (Read More)
Egypt
Politics
“Trump-Sisi phone call: Will it contain Egyptian-American divergences?”  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)   
Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - USA Europe
On April 2, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Cairo by its correspondent Hisham al-Mayani: “At a time when the Egyptian-American positions are diverging over the ways to deal with the Gaza war, experts said that the phone call between US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah es-Sisi was “an attempt by Washington to ease tensions with Cairo, in the hope of reaching understandings that would help address the escalating situation in the Middle East.” Trump announced on Tuesday that he had a “good” phone call with Es-Sisi, which discussed the situation in Gaza and possible solutions to the ongoing war. He also mentioned on Truth Social that they discussed the “huge military progress” made in the confrontation with the Houthi group in Yemen… (Read More)
Iran
Opinion
“America and Iran: The negotiations and “hell” scenarios!”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
Military and Security - USA Europe
On April 3, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “Ali Larijani, the advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, raised the ceiling of potential reactions to a US-Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure by saying on Monday that his country was not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons but “will have no choice but to do so” if it is attacked. This was preceded by a statement from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who threatened a “severe strike” against whoever attacked his country… This happened at a time when the US strikes are continuing against the Ansarullah (Houthi) group, i.e. Iran’s allies in Yemen, with another US aircraft carrier heading to the region, amid confirmed reports surrounding the arrival of six B-2 bombers… (Read More)
Iraq
Society
“Amendments to the Iraqi Personal Status Law: A ‘Feminist Moral Massacre’”  (Website, Middle East)   
Human Rights - Women
On April 4, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report: “The amendments approved by the parliament to the Personal Status Law No. 188/1959 in Iraq took on unusual dimensions… The rush to approve them seemed to preempt changes that might occur, and perhaps not to the benefit of those currently occupying the throne of influence in Baghdad, where parliamentary representation is deficient, following the resignation of 73 members out of the 329-member parliament since May 2022… (Read More)
Lebanon
Politics
“The [Beirut] Suburbs are in the eye of the storm…”  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy - Governmental Reform - Peace Process - United Nations
On April 4, the privately-owned Al-Joumhouria daily newspaper carried the following piece by Mohammad Hamiyeh: “Clearly, the repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon in general, and Beirut's southern suburbs in particular, revolve around the following objectives: First, to provoke Hezbollah and lure it into a comprehensive war, based on the Israeli’ timing and supported by the United States. This would provide an opportunity to completely eliminate Hezbollah and dismantle its entire military and jihadist system…… (Read More)
“For these reasons, Hezbollah will not surrender its weapons!”  (Website, Middle East)   
Military and Security
On April 4, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report: “There is no doubt that the blows Hezbollah has suffered over the past seven months have been sufficient to undermine the greater part of its leadership, human resources, and military capabilities, leaving Iran’s advanced missile arm in the region defenseless with its leaders, cadres, and members being exposed to security threats, and its centers, weapons depots, and supply lines being targeted… (Read More)
Society
“Inhabitants of Southern Suburb of Beirut seeking alternative safe housing”  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)
Military and Security
On April 2, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Beirut by its correspondent Hanan Hamdan: “There is growing demand for houses outside of the Southern Suburb of Beirut among the Suburb’s inhabitants, who are seeking to leave it for fear of seeing the renewal of Israel’s war on Lebanon, especially after the former carried out raids against two targets during the last few days, saying they were Hezbollah targets. This means that nothing prevents Israel from carrying out new attacks, with or without warning. Hence, the Suburb’s inhabitants intensified their search for alternative housing, which would be close to the area that is located south of Beirut, or a little distant from it, at a time when many are facing numerous obstacles, including the high rental prices and their professional obligations… (Read More)
Middle East
Politics
“A Turkish-Israeli clash in Syria?”  (Website, Middle East)   
Military and Security
On April 4, the electronic Asas Media daily carried the following report by Ibrahim Rayhan: “Syria witnessed a preemptive round of fighting on Wednesday evening, the aim of which was not to strike the Iranian presence, but rather to prevent Turkey from establishing a military presence in what Tel Aviv considers its vital territory in Syria. Israeli aircraft targeted what remained of the T4 military airport in Homs and almost completely destroyed the Hama military airport. In Daraa, ground forces conducted maneuvers under the pretext of “destroying military infrastructure that poses a threat to Israel.”… (Read More)
Nigeria
Politics
“Police, Salafists’ pressures push Shi’i minority in Nigeria into Iran’s embrace”  (Newspaper, Middle East)   
Military and Security - Religion
On April 4, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Shi’is in Nigeria, a minority group representing around 1.3 percent of the total population, are facing pressures from the security forces in the country as well as the Salafists and all the Sunnis who oppose this sect, which is pushing them to become dependent on Iran and seek the latter’s support even if this leads to trouble and clashes with the state… (Read More)
Syria
Politics
“Israeli escalation in Syria pushed by multiple ambitions, pressures”  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Military and Security
On April 3, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Homs by its correspondent Abdullah al-Bashir: “On Wednesday evening, Israeli warplanes bombed the Hama Military Airport in central Syria, one of the most prominent airbases in the country, and carried out airstrikes on the T-4 airbase in eastern Homs. Field sources told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the Israeli raids caused the airport to go out of service, with reports of casualties from the bombing after it was hit by 21 airstrikes… Regarding the extensive Israeli strikes on the Scientific Research Center in Barzeh in Damascus, in parallel to the Israeli incursions and artillery shelling on sites in the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria, political researcher Mohammed Mustafa told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that today’s unprecedented Israeli offensive was driven by several objectives… (Read More)
“Statements of member in Syrian Fatwa Council to Quds Arabi ignite social media”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
Religion
On April 3, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report from Damascus: “The statements given by member of the Syrian Supreme Fatwa Council Sheikh Naim Arqasousi to Al-Quds al-Arabi ignited social media, as he said that one of the missions of the recently-established Council that were mentioned by President of the transitional phase Ahmed ash-Sharaa during his meeting with the [Council’s members], was to monitor the laws and the decisions of the ministers, as well as other decisions that might be issued by officials and could be in violation of the Islamic sharia. He added that the Council’s work went beyond answering questions it received and that its prerogatives were wider and more comprehensive, as it will act as the corrector, guide, and compass of the decisions that might be issued in violation of the sharia…… (Read More)
 
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