Middle East Experience

The rockets come at a time of high tensions between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem and between Israel and Iran.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Three rockets fired from Gaza toward Israel

Greek authorities say they have seized more than four tons of cannabis hidden in a shipment of industrial cupcake-making machines heading from Lebanon to Slovakia.Greece’s financial crimes squad said in a statement late Thursday that the drugs were found in a shipping container in the country’s main port of Piraeus, following information received from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.The container, whose registered contents were three industrial cupcake-making machines, arrived by sea in Piraeus on April 14 and had been scheduled to be transported by rail on April 20 to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, through North Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Following the information from the DEA, Greek authorities raided the container on April 16. A total of more than 4.3 tons of processed cannabis were found in a hidden compartment built into a metal tank that was among the machinery, the financial crimes squad said. The street value of the drugs is estimated at around 33 million euros.Greek authorities said they received assistance in the case from the drug enforcement agency of Saudi Arabia. An investigation into the shipment is continuing.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Greece: Tons of cannabis seized in cupcake machine shipment from Lebanon to Slovakia

A Christian leader in the Palestinian territories has called on Hamas to establish a media center to counter Western propaganda about the movement’s ties with Christians.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hamas considers creating Christian media center

Videos have surfaced on social media purportedly showing the militarization of schools in Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In one clip, young children reportedly from al-Assriyah Modern School in Sana’a act out a play in which a boy is called to war and is killed in battle, supposedly becoming a martyr. The boy’s mother in the play then hands his rifle to another child.“For the sake of pride, for the sake of dignity, we must sacrifice so that future generations live in pride and honor,” the boy said in the performance that was watched by other schoolchildren.The Houthi militia have forcibly recruited 10,300 children in Yemen since 2014, according to a report released in February by The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and the SAM for Rights and Liberties.The same report showed that the Iran-backed Houthis use schools and other educational centers to recruit minors into their ranks.The militia has also targeted the education system by disseminating propagandistic textbooks spreading hate against the group’s opponents as part of the school curriculum, according to a study published by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE).Reading material for schoolchildren reportedly shows graphic images of deceased bodies and portrays the US as a “Greater Satan” responsible for the evils of the world.Yemen’s president Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi pledged to end child recruitment into the government’s armed forces in a 2012 meeting with the United Nations’ Leila Zerrougui, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi “also pledged to work towards the reintegration of children,” said Zerrougui after a 2012 meeting with al-Houthi.Read more: Houthis recruited more than 10,000 children in Yemen since 2014: ReportIran-backed Houthis using textbooks to spread rhetoric among Yemeni children: ReportYemen leaders pledge to end child recruitment: UN
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Videos surface online reportedly showing Iran-backed Houthi child soldier recruitment

Dubai Customs has seized 56 kilograms worth of illegal drugs from airports including 11.9 kilograms of marijuana and 9.6 kilograms of cocaine between January and the end of March 2021.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Illicit pills totaling 3,951 were confiscated over the same period, and the airports’ Passenger Operations Department completed 8,900 customs declarations.Four million bags and two million passengers passed through airports in the emirate in that time, according to the United Arab Emirates’ official news agency WAM.A total of 294 seizures were made, 24 relating to customs violations and 180 for criminal matters.“The Passenger Operations Department goes above and beyond to ensure a pleasant travel experience for all passengers coming to Dubai airports,” said Ibrahim Kamali, director of passenger operations department in a statement to WAM.“For this we adopt the best and most advanced technologies and AI applications.”He added that Dubai was ready to welcome international visitors for the Expo 2020 exhibition scheduled for October.Read more:Saudi Arabia announces ban on fruits, vegetables from Lebanon due to drug smugglingGreece: Tons of cannabis seized in cupcake machine shipment from Lebanon to SlovakiaSaudi Customs foils 2.4 mln narcotic tablet smuggling attempt
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai Customs seizes 56kg of illegal drugs from airports in Q1 2020

Saudi Arabia has recorded 1,072 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours as it ups its vaccination drive, administering more than eight million doses, according to the Ministry of Health.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A total of nine deaths related to COVID-19 have also been recorded in the last 24 hours.The Kingdom has now seen a total of 411,263 COVID-19 cases and 6,887 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.International flights in Saudi Arabia will resume on May 17, although a ban on travel from 20 countries including the United Arab Emirates and India will remain in place.Read more: Saudi Arabia records 1,098 new COVID-19 cases, nine deathsSaudi Arabia vaccinates about 68 pct of state security prison inmatesSaudi Arabia travel ban on 20 countries to remain when flights resume in mid-May
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia records 1,072 COVID-19 as vaccination doses surpass eight million

The United Arab Emirates has recorded 2,080 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP).For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A total of 1,569 people have now died from causes related to the virus in the UAE, and 508,925 people have been infected.The UAE has now administered more than ten million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as part of its mass inoculation drive.The country has so far approved the Sputnik V, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinopharm vaccines.A study conducted by Abu Dhabi’s public health body last week stated that no one who received the Sinopharm vaccine died from COVID-19 related causes in the emirate.Read more: No one who received Sinopharm vaccine doses has died of COVID-19 in Abu Dhabi: StudyUAE surpasses 10 million COVID-19 vaccine dosesOver 65 pct of eligible UAE population fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE records 2,080 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths in 24 hours

Lebanon registers 28 coronavirus deaths, 1,511 cases..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon registers 28 coronavirus deaths, 1,511 cases

The bans come after the UAE, which is home to roughly 3.3 million Indians, said it would suspend all flights to and from India from Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Kuwait, Iran restrict India flights over Covid-19 surge

It is important to understand that this timeline is similar to how tensions grew in 2014 and other cycles that led to tensions in Gaza and Jerusalem.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Escalation over Jerusalem is how wars start - analysis