Middle East Experience

Russia and Iran are back to promoting the International North-South Transport Corridor as an alternative future option to the Suez Canal after a giant container ship went aground in the canal last month, disrupting global trade traffic for a week.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Russia, Iran again promote alternative to Suez Canal

Assassinations and attacks are on the rise in the Syrian city of al-Bab controlled by the Free Syrian Army, and the perpetrators remain unknown.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Security chaos prevails in FSA-controlled town of north Syria

The United Arab Emirates announced 1,973 new COVID-19 cases, 1,744 recoveries and two deaths in the last 24 hours, state news agency WAM reported on Friday.The UAE’s health authorities carried out 202,068 coronavirus tests to determine Friday’s numbers.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.According to the country’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), the country’s active cases have mounted to 16,614 and the death toll to 1,567.The number of diagnosed cases since the beginning of the outbreak increased to 506,845 and the total recoveries to 488,664, NCEMA figures showed on Friday.The country’s vaccination campaign has made great strides in the fight against the virus, with over 10 million vaccine doses already administered. More than 65 percent of the eligible population and around 75 percent of residents from the vaccine target group have already been immunized.Read more:Over 65 pct of eligible UAE population fully vaccinated against COVID-19UAE surpasses 10 million COVID-19 vaccine dosesUAE urges youths to take COVID-19 vaccine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE records 1,973 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths

The Israeli military is concerned by the failure to intercept a long-range missile fired from Syria.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian missile exposes Israel’s fragility

Saudi Arabia’s health ministry on Friday reported 1,098 new coronavirus cases, 1,205 recoveries and nine deaths in the last 24 hours.The majority of the cases were recorded in Riyadh and Makkah, 454 and 244 respectively.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.There are currently 9,660 active COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom, 1,205 of which are critical.Friday’s numbers caused the Kingdom’s death toll to mount to 6,878 and total recoveries to 393,653.The total number of recorded COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the outbreak now sits at 410,191.On Thursday, Saudi airline announced on Twitter that the previously imposed travel ban on individuals travelling from or through 20 countries that the Kingdom have categorized as ‘red-list countries’, would still be in effect once international flights resumed on May 17, in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.Read more:Saudi Arabia vaccinates about 68 pct of state security prison inmatesSaudi Arabia travel ban on 20 countries to remain when flights resume in mid-MaySaudi Arabia reports 1,055 new COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia records 1,098 new COVID-19 cases, nine deaths

Saudi Arabia has decided to prohibit the consignments of Lebanese fruits and vegetables from entering or transiting through the Kingdom which will be effective as of 9 a.m. on April 25, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.The decision is expected to remain in effect until the concerned Lebanese authorities provide sufficient and reliable guarantees that they will take the necessary steps to halt systemic drug smuggling operations.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Saudi Interior Ministry has decided to take the step after finding an increased activity in drug smuggling originating from Lebanon or passing through its territory into Saudi Arabia and through the Kingdom’s neighboring countries, according to SPA.It has also been found that vegetables and fruits were the primary consignments used for smuggling the drugs.The preventive measures were taken by Saudi Arabia’s authorities to protect the Kingdom’s citizens and residents from anything that could potentially jeopardize their safety and security, after finding that no practical measures were taken to curb these practices despite numerous attempts to urge the concerned Lebanese authorities to do so.In addition, the Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the concerned authorities, will continue to follow up and monitor other consignments coming from Lebanon, to consider the need to take similar measures towards such activity.The Interior Ministry statement also affirmed that it will continue to monitor everything that targeted the security of the Kingdom and protect its citizens and residents from the scourge of drugs, be it from Lebanon or other countries, and take necessary measures to address it.The decision came after a smuggling attempt took place on Friday, carrying over 2.4 million amphetamine narcotic tablets into the Kingdom which were hidden in a pomegranate fruit shipment coming from Lebanon, which was foiled and seized by Saudi Customs, SPA reported.According to an official statement made by the spokesperson of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), Captain Mohammed al-Nujaidi, there were five culprits involved in the incident, one of whom was an emigrant while the other four were citizens.The detainees are expected to first go through legal procedures prior to undergoing public prosecution.Read more:Saudi Customs foils 2.4 mln narcotic tablet smuggling attemptYemen’s Houthis say attacked Aramco facility in JizanSaudi energy prowess here to stay as Kingdom turns attention to solar
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to prohibit Lebanese fruits, vegetables shipments due to drug smuggling

Iran’s foreign ministry rejected on Friday remarks made earlier this week by a former Iranian official about Tehran’s support to the Houthi militia in Yemen.The remarks by Rostam Ghasemi, former oil minister and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander, “are contrary to reality and the policies of Iran in Yemen,” Iran’s foreign ministry said in a short statement published on its website.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iran’s “support for Yemen is [solely] political,” the statement said, adding that Tehran supports efforts to find a political solution to the conflict.Ghasemi had said in an interview with Russia Today on Wednesday that the IRGC has provided weapons to the Houthi militia in Yemen and trained the militia in manufacturing weapons. Ghasemi, a potential candidate for Iran’s upcoming presidential elections in June, said there is currently a “small” number of “advisors” from the IRGC on the ground in Yemen.Iran has long been accused of providing financial and military support to the Houthis.“All the weapons the [Houthis] possess is thanks to our aid,” Ghasemi said.He added: “We helped them with weapons manufacturing technology, but the weapons production takes place in Yemen, they make them themselves, the drones and missiles are Yemeni-made.”Ghasemi claimed his country is currently unable to send any weapons or even humanitarian aid to Yemen due to the “siege” imposed on the country.“We have provided weapons in a very limited way. We have provided more consultations compared to supplying weapons to Yemen.”Iranian admissions about military support to the Houthis are rare, but not unprecedented.In 2018, Iran for the first time acknowledged being involved in the Yemen conflict when then-IRGC head Mohammad Ali Jafari said Iran provided “advisory assistance” to the Houthis.In 2019, the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces Mohammad Bagheri said the IRGC is providing the Houthis with “advisory and intellectual assistance.”US Special Envoy on Yemen Tim Lenderking said on Wednesday that “Iranian support [for the Houthis] is quite significant, and it’s lethal.”Speaking during a congressional hearing in Washington, Lenderking said that the Houthis’ behaviour showed they were not devoted to the interests of the Yemeni people.The Houthis have conducted 150 attacks against Saudi Arabia this year, according to Lenderking.Read more:US hits out Yemen’s Houthis, blasts Iran for impeding ceasefire effortsArab Coalition intercepts 3 Houthi drones fired at Saudi Arabia’s southern regionTop US diplomat for Yemen calls on Houthis to end assault on Marib
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran rejects remarks by former official about military support to Yemen’s Houthis

"Nations that work together to invest in a cleaner economy will reap the rewards for their citizens," the Democratic president said at the virtual summit.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Biden's climate summit zeroes in on technology to help fight global warming

General Frank McKenzie of the US Central Command said American troops will remain in Iraq to fight IS, apparently contradicting earlier US statements about a withdrawal..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: ‘We’re going to stay in Iraq,’ says top US commander

The ban will be a blow to Lebanon's crumbling economy..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Saudi Arabia bans Lebanese produce because of drug smuggling