Middle East Experience

The White House set clear red lines on cyberwar, but don’t expect much progress in the months to come..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Was the Biden-Putin Summit a Success?

Most recently, the same team provided support to those affected by the Meron tragedy, those injured, mourning and to the first responders themselves.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel sends support to victims of condo collapse

Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday repeated pledges to import Iranian fuel should shortages across the country persist.Nasrallah, who heads the Iranian-backed armed Lebanese group, said earlier in June Iran could give fuel to Lebanon in local pounds, avoiding a foreign currency crunch.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.For weeks worsening fuel shortages on the back of Lebanon’s deepening financial crisis have forced motorists to queue for hours for very little gasoline.“I want to stress that I promised and I’m still promising ... if we have to go to Iran to get gasoline and fuel oil we will even if it causes a problem,” Nasrallah said in a televised speech.Earlier on Friday caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab approved a decision to import fuel at a weaker Lebanese pound to dollar exchange rate, in effect decreasing the subsidy on gasoline.“Everything is ready....all we need is permission to move,” Nasrallah said, adding that this would not be done through the central bank in order to avoid sanctions.Read more:Iran deal return ‘very hard’ if talks drag on, warns Blinken during France visit ‘No reply’ from Iran over expired nuclear inspections agreement: UN watchdog IAEA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon’s Hezbollah says logistics ready for Iranian fuel imports

The police made arrests in two incidents where people bearing weapons approached the parade area. Other non-violent disruptors were also arrested.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Police thwart multiple terrorist attacks on Tel Aviv Pride parade

The parade featured party trucks and DJs, ending at a huge party featuring performances by leading artists at Charles Clore Park.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Over 100,000 celebrate at Tel Aviv Pride despite attempted attacks

Iran and Canada continue to engage in a war of words over Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752, which was shot down over Tehran last year.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran, Canada spar over downed plane report

A senior US official Friday warned Arab countries against normalizing ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.Assad was re-elected for a fourth term last month in what the West dubbed as “illegitimate elections,” and he has ruled Syria since 2000.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.And for the last ten years, his deadly crackdown and brutal oppression of what began as a peaceful pro-democracy protest in 2011 have marred his tenure.Despite being kicked out of the Arab League, countries in the Middle East have softened their stance on Assad and his government in recent years.The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reopened their embassies in Damascus in 2019, and last year, Oman became the first Gulf state to send its ambassador back to Syria.Syria has also been pushing for more countries in the region to normalize ties; however, the wrath of US economic sanctions continues to pose a threat.On Friday, Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood reiterated that the US would not alter its stance on the Assad regime “absent a major change in behavior on his part.”Asked about traditional US allies in the Middle East potentially re-establishing ties with Damascus, he said the US was asking them to consider “very carefully the atrocities committed by the regime on the Syrian people over the last decade.”Hood also cited the regime’s continuing efforts to block access to humanitarian aid to many parts of Syria.“I would also, of course, add that we have Caesar [Act] sanctions; this is a law that has wide, bipartisan support in the Congress and the [Biden] administration is going to follow the ball on that,” Hood said in response to a question from Al Arabiya English.“So, governments and businesses need to be careful that their proposed transactions don’t expose them to potential sanctions from the United States, under that act,” Hood warned.With a little less than 400,000 people left dead from the ongoing war in Syria and over six million Syrian refugees, the regime has been unable to draw investment to begin reconstruction efforts.Russia and Iran, Assad’s main backers, do not have the economic or political power to attract or provide the necessary funding.The Caesar Act was law implemented by the Trump administration last June in an effort to thwart any potential business dealings with the Assad regime.In March, the top UAE diplomat said the US sanctions were the biggest challenge to working with Syria.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Citing sanctions, US cautions Arab states against normalizing ties with Syria’s Assad

The Health Ministry issued a new directive to wear masks indoors beginning at 12 p.m., as the country registers some 227 cases, the highest in over two months.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Health Ministry: Indoor mask mandate reinstated on Friday, as cases rise

After registering its highest daily caseload in more than two months, Israel has reimposed a mandate on mask usage indoors.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel renews indoor mask mandate amid COVID-19 surge 

The Washington Free Beacon reported that the Biden administration would be “walking back” President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the Golan Heights as Israeli.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: State Department says no change in US recognition of Israel's claim to Golan Heights