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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 Snapshot

Egypt

Cairo denies accusations of aiding Israel militarily or facilitating Palestinian displacement, framing such claims as efforts to undermine public trust (Asharq al-Awsat).

Iraq

A new law proposes integrating the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as an official military institution with expanded powers, raising concerns about institutional militarization and Iran’s influence (Asharq al-Awsat).

Kuwait

Trump-linked US officials claim Kuwait “owes” the US for liberation in 1991, sparking outrage; seen as pressure to invest more in the US and normalize ties with Israel (Asas Media).

Lebanon

The US is pushing Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, possibly through foreign intervention, while Hezbollah warns of civil conflict if the army is used against it (Al-Joumhouria).

Palestine/Gaza

Israel is pressuring Egypt to open the Rafah border via intensified bombing, seeking de facto displacement of Gazans (Al-Araby al-Jadeed).
Growing public anger and tribal opposition to Hamas over its wartime leadership; protests spread across Gaza (Al-Akhbar, Al-Arab, Asharq al-Awsat).

Syria

US military drawdown from northeast Syria may signal a full withdrawal; Kurdish forces move closer to Damascus (Al-Modon).
Israel escalates strikes to assert dominance and prevent Turkish influence in Syria (Al-Khaleej Online).

UAE

Criticism mounts over the UAE’s pro-Israel stance, normalization efforts, and complicity in Gaza displacement narratives (Arabi 21).

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

27-Mar-2025

Egypt

Politics

“Rumors surrounding displacement, supporting Israel: Repeated Egyptian denial…” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships

On March 26, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Cairo by its correspondent Hisham al-Mayani: “Rumors surrounding the “displacement of the Palestinians” and supporting Israel raised questions about those spreading them, amid repeated denial by Cairo. Experts, who spoke to Asharq al-Awsat, considered that the rumors circulating from time to time and claiming that Egypt was supporting Israel, aimed to “shake the Egyptian people’s trust in their command and its position against the displacement of the Palestinians and in support of stopping the war and establishing a Palestinian state.” On Tuesday night, Cairo had denied reports recently circulated about “the provision of military aid to Israel.”… (Read More)

Iraq

Politics

“Iraq to legalize [Popular] Mobilization: New structure with army prerogatives” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Democracy and Party Politics - Military and Security

On March 25, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Baghdad: “A document acquired by Asharq al-Awsat of a new draft law for Popular Mobilization in Iraq granted the “Committee” prerogatives similar to the army’s, outlining an organizational structure for the institution’s command while granting security consultations to the government and carrying out military and intelligence operations. Hence, a document carrying the name “Popular Mobilization Committee Law” stipulated that the latter was “part of the armed forces and affiliated with the General Commander of the Armed Forces.” At the same time, it gave the Committee the right to seek armament to protect the democratic and constitutional system in the country… (Read More)

Kuwait

Politics

“Trump is blackmailing Kuwait…” (Website, Middle East)

Monarchies/Dictatorships - USA Europe

On March 27, the privately-owned Asas Media website carried the following report by Nayef Salem: “Without any clear preamble or context, Kuwait was exposed to criticism from the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, who implied that Kuwait has not yet paid the bill for its liberation from the Iraqi invasion in the early 1990s. These statements sparked a wave of popular anger in Kuwait. It was not immediately clear whether this was a passing cloud or the beginning of a new narrative of “victimization and collecting money” that President Donald Trump has been promoting since his arrival in the White House… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“US ultimatum: Disarmament or war!” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On March 27, the privately owned Al-Joumhouria daily newspaper carried the following report by Mohammad Hamiyeh: “It is no mere coincidence that the series of positions taken by Hezbollah's opponents coincided with the latest round of Israeli airstrikes on the South and the Bekaa. Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji opened the round of escalatory statements when he said that the continued existence of Hezbollah's weapons is a pretext for Israel to continue its aggression against Lebanon. This was followed by statements by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in an urgent interview on Al-Arabiya, where he declared that the equation of “the army, the people, and the Resistance” was a thing of the past, as if to say that Hezbollah’s weapons were a thing of the past. This was followed by a statement by MP Ghassan Hasbani, which contained direct threats and a call for foreign military intervention against Hezbollah…… (Read More)

Palestine

Politics

“Exclusive: Israeli plan to displace Gaza population by forcing Egypt to open border” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security - Monarchies/Dictatorships - Refugees

On March 25, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from Cairo: “Egyptian sources told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the Israeli occupation was seeking to embarrass Cairo with a plan to displace the Gaza Strip population by force. Indeed, it is trying to coerce Egypt into opening the border with Gaza by intensifying the strikes on Rafah city south of the Strip, particularly the areas adjacent to the border with Egypt, as seen in Tal as-Sultan. This aims to pressure Cairo, in light of the increasing Israeli massacres against the Gazans, after Cairo repeatedly announced its refusal to succumb to the American and Israeli pressures in this regard. The Israeli side had officially informed the officials in Cairo of its rejection of the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip despite the approval of the Hamas Movement… (Read More)

“Israel invests in the Gazan oppression: Rise against Hamas” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Military and Security

On March 27, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Occupation was quick to depict the protests in the city of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza, in the past two days as being directed against the Hamas Movement while in fact they are not and they do not represent a setback to the path of the Movement that is only abiding by the agenda of liberation. The developments [i.e., the protests] can be placed in the context of the discrepancy in the ability to bear the difficult circumstances, which is something commonly seen in all the liberation wars, especially if the price is this high. In Gaza’s case, this is something previously unseen in the entire world since the Occupation has the deadliest war machine and does not hesitate to commit the most hideous crimes in addition to having the open support of the major powers, mainly the United States… (Read More)

“Tribes’ anger mounts in Gaza…” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Unrest

On March 27, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: “The protests and slogans raised against Hamas are sending a clear message to the Movement indicating that the situation is not easy, especially since this is not about small groups protesting for a limited time. Instead, the tribes have openly announced their participation in the protests, meaning that the anger is mounting and could turn into an explosion in Hamas’ face. Hamas knows that its powerful opponents on the ground currently are the tribes’ dignitaries and members. This became clear ever since the Movement accused the tribes of taking and distributing the aid, knowing that Hamas was seeking to monopolize that with the aim of maintaining its authority…… (Read More)

“Protests escalating against Hamas, factions warn against Israeli “lurking”” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Arab Diplomacy - Military and Security

On March 26, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from Gaza: “The rare protests seen in parts of Gaza against the Hamas Movement raised questions surrounding their meanings and repercussions for the movement, the Strip, and the internal Palestinian political interactions, while also casting their shadow over the confrontation with Israel. On Wednesday, the protests escalated north of the Strip in the Shejaiya neighborhood…, noting that the demonstrations had started in Beit Lahia on Tuesday to demand the halting of the war, with the wide participation of the town’s population, whom the Israeli army asked to vacate it after the launching of missiles from it… (Read More)

Syria

Politics

“Syria: US military moves indicate a sudden pullout” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On March 27, the electronic Al-Modon daily newspaper carried the following report: “Syrian sources revealed to Al-Modon that the Washington-led International Alliance is pulling away cement blocs from the Tal Baidar base, west Al-Hasakah, using Iraqi trucks. The sources deemed this step a preface for a “sudden” American pullout from Syria that will likely be discussed during the expected visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the United States. This will be the first of its kind visit in the term of President Donald Trump. The Tal Baidar base is one of the most “vital” US bases in Syria and is equipped for the landing of combat helicopters… (Read More)

“What are the indications of the Israeli military escalation in Syria?” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On March 26, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Syrian lands have witnessed a major Israeli military escalation in recent days, culminating in bombing the town of Koya in the western Daraa countryside, killing seven Syrians. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on December 8, Israel has been launching airstrikes on Syria on an almost daily basis, destroying military sites, vehicles, and ammunition belonging to the current or former Syrian army. Information indicates that the Israeli escalation aims to counter the Turkish influence in Syria, particularly militarily, especially since Israeli media reported growing fears in Tel Aviv of a direct confrontation with Turkey in Syria… (Read More)

“Damascus and Moscow, a new step forward” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security

On March 27, the Qatari-owned London-based Al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper carried the following report from London by Bashir al-Bakr: “… Around two weeks after the Syrian coast incidents, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin sent a letter to [Syrian President Ahmed] Ash-Sharaa on March 20, which generated questions surrounding its timing and content, especially since he has rarely ever done so, using instead other channels to communicate with heads of state, such as sending envoys to relay his written or verbal messages… This reflected the importance of Syria and what it is going through for Russia. In his letter to Ash-Sharaa, which was announced by Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov as per TASS news agency, “Putin expressed his support for the efforts to stabilize the situation in the country as soon as possible, thus ensuring Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and safety.”… (Read More)

United Arab Emirates

Opinion

“The UAE’s bias against Arab security” (Website, Middle East)

Arab Diplomacy - Monarchies/Dictatorships - USA Europe

On March 25, the Egyptian Arabi 21 news site carried the following opinion piece by Sharif Ayman: “Sheikh Zayed – may God have mercy on his soul – had honorable positions regarding the Palestinian cause and Arab unity in general. However, these positions gradually changed after his passing, with a rapid escalation in the stance toward opposition movements, especially the Muslim Brotherhood. This was reflected in the UAE’s position toward the Arab revolutions and its decision to fully align against democratic courses, which led to a convergence with the Zionist stance toward the changes in the region, and the subsequent move closer to the occupation entity itself. Hence, the Emirates led the normalization agreements with the occupation at the end of Trump’s first term… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

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