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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

16-May-2017

Egypt

Politics

“Sawarka tribe proclaims war on ISIL in Sinai” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Terrorism

On May 15, the Egyptian Youm 7 newspaper carried the following report: “The Sawarka tribe announced in a statement it was continuing to deter the Takfiri tide and fight the terrorist ISIL organization in Sinai. It assured: “In light of the developments witnessed in Sinai against the Takfiri terrorist gangs, we, the free men of the Sawarka tribe, are obligated to define our position towards the direct armed confrontation with these gangs… Consultations have taken place between historical and tribal symbols from among the tribe’s members who actually enjoy the needed influence to mobilize their popular bases, and who believe in a combat doctrine enabling them to offer major sacrifices and give all that is precious to them in the way of God and our beloved homeland… We firstly reached the conclusion that the Sawarka tribe believes, in full conscience and awareness, that ISIL in Sinai is a cancerous extension of the mother ISIL organization in the region… (Read More)

Iran

Politics

“Will there be an upcoming clash between Iran and Pakistan?” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security

On May 12, Mohammad Kawwas wrote the following piece in the London-based Al-Arab daily: “Iran’s threat regarding its possible military intervention in Pakistan reveals the former’s growing concern over the international and regional pressures, which are escalating on a daily basis. The interesting part in these threats is that Iran has started to sense a transformation in Pakistan’s position, one that could turn any uncalculated friction into a clash between the two countries and one that could turn the Sunni-Shi’i strife, which is taking face under equivocal faces, into a major confrontation, something that Iran doesn’t want and that Pakistan is not seeking… (Read More)

Iraq

Opinion

“Role of drunken pilots in Mosul’s bombing” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 16, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Haifa Zangana: “An investigation conducted by two American federal investigators broke the agreed upon silence on the Iraqi and American levels surrounding the work of the so-called security companies in Iraq, and brought back to mind the horrific image of the crimes being perpetrated and concealed under the pretext of protecting the US embassy and bases. Indeed, the Associated Press carried an investigation featuring the testimony of two investigators who were dismissed when they insisted on the accuracy of the outcome they had reached after a year’s work, revealing the “hidden” facets of Sallyport Global’s activities, a security company contracted by the US Administration for $686 billion to secure Al-Balad airbase, from which F-16 jets are taking off to fight the Islamic State organization… (Read More)

Politics

“Al-Muhandis: We enjoy official channels with Damascus in case we are forced to move inside Syria” (Website, Middle East)

Military and Security

On May 12, Al-Mayadeen.net carried the following report: “Deputy Head of Popular Mobilization Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis considered that the battle to liberate Kirwan from ISIL’s control was the second chapter of the battle to liberate Western Mosul, stressing that the purpose of Kirwan’s liberation was to control the border with Syria and close it in the face of ISIL’s terrorists. During an interview with Al-Mayadeen, Al-Muhandis stressed that the “closing of the border in ISIL’s face is a strategic Iraqi goal,” serving Iraq’s main objective of destroying ISIL. As for the situation in Syria, it is something to be discussed later on, as per Al-Muhandis’ statements. He continued at this level that Popular Mobilization would only enter the Syrian territories based on an agreement between the Syrian and Iraqi commands, revealing however the existence of official channels with the Syrian government, in case a move towards the Syrian territories is needed… (Read More)

“Kidnapping operations in Iraq, security deterioration or collusion?” (Al-Jazeera.net, Qatar)

Corruption - Unrest

On May 14, the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera.net news website carried the following report by its correspondent in Baghdad Muhammad Jalil Allaw: “The Iraqi capital Baghdad and other governorates are witnessing noticeable security deterioration, featuring the repeated kidnapping of Iraqis, Arabs and foreigners at the hands of armed militias, which have clearly and publicly been imposing their control over the Iraqi street since June 2014. The last of these kidnappings targeted seven university students and civic activists in the popular action demanding reform, the correction of the political course and the fighting of corruption, at the hands of an armed group riding vehicles similar to those used by government and security staff. The kidnapping operation ended three days later, after a police patrol found them on the edge of a road in northern Baghdad… (Read More)

Jordan

Politics

“Vital, important and honest meeting with US Army: Jordan complains about “dangerous shortage” of information…” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Military and Security - USA Europe

On May 16, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its Amman Office Chief Bassam Bdareen: “The security reasons that pushed Jordan to be less lenient towards the developments on its northern border with southern Syria during the last two weeks are becoming clearer, especially since Commander of the United States Central Command General Votel listened on Monday night to security fears over ISIL organization’s expected geographic progress. And while the American general spoke about his country’s full solidarity with Jordan, and its willingness to offer guarantees enhancing Jordan’s defensive security, Arab sources that are allied with Amman revealed to Al-Quds al-Arabi that the American military side was not providing reassuring answers to Jordan’s security questions… (Read More)

Lebanon

Politics

“Pressures behind Hezbollah’s pullout from Syria” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security

On May 12, the London-based Al-Arab daily carried the following report: “Well-informed Lebanese sources said that Hezbollah’s decision to dismantle its military units along the Syrian borders comes in anticipation to the measures that will be seen by the region and that will not allow the Party to remain in Syria. The Party felt that and thus chose to return to Lebanon in order to consolidate the situation there in a way that serves its interests… (Read More)

“A crisis of confidence between March 8 and Baabda” (Ad-Diyyar, Lebanon)

Democracy and Party Politics

On May 12, the Ad-Diyyar daily carried the following report by Ali Dawi: “So far, Hezbollah has been distancing itself from the growing crisis of confidence between Baabda and the March 8 parties’ alliance. In this context, prominent leading sources within March 8 stressed that the atmosphere is so tense between the March 8 parties and the Free Patriotic movement to the extent that any meeting between the representatives of the two sides is almost always ridden with debates, skirmishes or high toned conversations all the way to screaming… (Read More)

“A calm plan to ‘clean’ Ersal and its barren areas” (Newspaper, Middle East)

Military and Security - Unrest

On May 11, the Al-Joumhouria daily carried the following report by Toni Issa: “…Military and security sources in Lebanon were recently informed of the fact that ISIL, and in order to make up for its consecutive defeats in Syria and Iraq, might seek to carry out a confusing action from the back, i.e. from the Lebanese side, where this is the least expected. For this reason, Lebanon is to confront any possibility, be it on the “front,” i.e. Ersal and the barren areas of Ras Baalbek and Kaa, or within the country such as the Ain el-Helweh camp and specific areas like Tripoli… (Read More)

Palestine

Opinion

“Questions surrounding assassination” (Al-Hayat al-Jadidah, Palestine)

Terrorism

On May 16, the pro-PA Al-Hayat al-Jadidah newspaper carried the following opinion piece by Omar Hilmi al-Ghoul: “During a press conference held last Thursday in front of martyr Mazen al-Fuqaha’s home in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, Hamas Chief Isma’il Haniyah announced in the presence of a number of movement leaders, the most prominent of whom was Gaza Military Governor Yahya as-Sinwar, that 47 days after the assassination, his movement was able to identify the murderer and his group, whom he said was called Ashraf Muhammad Abu Laila from the Strip’s central district. The announcement was accompanied by information leaks from the representatives of Hamas’s apparatuses about the crimes committed by the killer Abu Laila against Fatah’s militants and the national security bodies during the coup on the legitimate authority… (Read More)

Saudi Arabia

Politics

“The demolition of Al-Masoura neighborhood: Al-Riyadh seeking vengeance the Awamiyah opposition” (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)

Unrest

On May 12, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: “The Saudi authorities implemented their earlier threats by demolishing the historical neighborhood of Al-Masoura in the town of Awamiyah in Al-Qatif governorate, which is administratively part of the Eastern Province. The people of the neighborhood are living in a state of terror as their neighborhood has turned into a real war zone. The same goes for the neighboring neighborhoods as the authorities have imposed a strict security belt on the entire Awamiyah by closing all the town’s entrances… (Read More)

Syria

Opinion

“What’s the secret behind Washington’s announcement of the Kurds’ armament at this specific timing?” (Website, Middle East)

Financial Markets - Military and Security

On May 12, the El-Nashra website carried the following piece by Maher al-Khatib: “Over the past few days, a number of questions were raised on the secret behind the US Defense Department’s announcement indicating that President Donald Trump approved the plan to arm the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, the military wing of the Democratic Union Party, at this specific timing where Washington is receiving a delegation from the Turkish government to prepare for the expected visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the next days and especially since the USA is well aware of the fact that this step will anger Ankara as the later deems these units as terrorist groups just like ISIL and the Fatah al-Sham front… (Read More)

Co-Founder: Nicholas Noe

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