Archives for April, 2023

A municipal worker sweeps water from a public square in Baghdad after Wednesday's storm

Three electrocuted in Iraq floods

Agence France-Presse

Syria's long-isolated President Bashar al-Assad (L) and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R)

Saudi readies Arab talks on Syria as Mideast diplomacy shifts

Agence France-Presse

Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich applauds, as players celebrate their league title win at the end of the Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Sunderland, Stamford Bridge, London, United Kingdom, May 21, 2017.

US, UK target Israeli-Russian oligarch Abramovich enablers with more sanctions

The Western allies announced new sanctions against financial fixers for Roman Abramovich and fellow Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, for their financial support of and close ties to President Vladimir Putin.

A woman walks with an umbrella at Enghelab Square in Iran's capital Tehran on December 5, 2022. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

China's Saudi-Iran deal clouded by uncertainty on protests, nuclear talks

The evolution of the Saudi-Iranian agreement hinges the factors that led to it: Iran’s nuclear program and political unrest, future of Russia’s war in Ukraine, US-China relations, and whether these will lead to a new world order.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi receiving the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan at the presidential palace in Cairo

Egypt's Sisi meets UAE leader amid economic woes

Agence France-Presse

Macron Xi

Analysis

Macron visit to China adds European dimension to Beijing in Middle East

The French president's comments during his state visit acknowledge the reality of Chinese influence in a multipolar world.

Gilles Kepel

By Gilles Kepel

Here are the biggest Middle East disclosures in the leaked intel docs

Turkey, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are among the Middle East countries named in a major leak of classified US intelligence documents.

Co-leader of the People's Democratic Party (HDP) Mithat Sancar.

Will Turkey’s top court disband pro-Kurdish party ahead of May elections?

The HDP, which might be one step closer to closure with this move, is competing in the crucial polls next month under the list of the Green Left Party.

Etihad Airways

Two Etihad Airways ads banned in UK over greenwashing claims

The Gulf carrier was accused of exaggerating climate claims by the British Advertising Standards Agency.

The US Central Command Commander General Michael Kurilla speaks at the 18th IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain's capital on November 19, 2022. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Breaking | Last Updated: April 12, 2023, 10:12 pm

CENTCOM eyeing artificial intelligence to counter Iran’s drones, says Kurilla

The top commander of US forces in the Middle East expressed concerns over China's inroads the region and told Al-Monitor he wants to turn up the heat at the next Red Sands exercise in Saudi Arabia to simulate more complex drone attacks.

Washington Connection

The US Treasury Department in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2023. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

US targets firms in UAE, Turkey over Russia sanctions evasion

The latest tranche of sanctions come as the Biden administration seeks to crack down on Russia’s financial facilitators.

Fighters loyal to Yemen's Huthi rebels stand guard in the capital Sanaa during a rally on March 26, 2023

Yemen prisoner exchange postponed to Friday: official

Agence France-Presse

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad meets with his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh, on April 12, 2023.

Breaking | Last Updated: April 13, 2023, 6:42 am

Syrian foreign minister makes surprise visit to Saudi Arabia

Syria and Saudi Arabia said they took steps towards resuming consular services and flights between their countries following Faisal Mekdad's first visit since the start of the civil war.

Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers in China

Iranian Embassy reopens its gates in Saudi Arabia after 7 years of closure

The move comes as Saudi Arabia and Iran advance their deal to normalize full relations, while Washington scrambles to maintain its relations with the Gulf kingdom.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East debt issuances nearly triple in Q1 2023 as Saudis take lead

In Q1 of 2023, Saudi Arabia was the leading debt issuer in the MENA region.

The annual Holy Fire ceremony marks the most important event in the Orthodox calendar and takes place on Easter Sunday in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Christians believe Jesus's tomb lies

Jerusalem church slams Israel's 'heavy-handed' Easter curbs

Agence France-Presse