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MIDDLE EAST DAILY BULLETIN 10 FEBRUARY 2016 NO: 2101 1. IRAQ, .................................................................................................................................... 4 Barzani Meets Secretary-General of the Iraqi Islamic Party ........................................................4 Iraqi joint force seizes cache of weapons in eastern Baghdad ....................................................4 Iraqi Woman Charged With Role in Kayla Mueller's Death..........................................................4 Volunteer forces kill 14 ISIS elements, foil attack southeast of Thurthar ....................................4 OPEC's Oil Price Downs A Little ....................................................................................................5 1 dead, 42 wounded in ISIS shelling on Ameriyat Fallujah, says District Council.........................5 Next Year Will Be Worse Economically If The Financial Crisis Persists ........................................5 ISIS imposes curfew on residents of Fallujah, Anbar....................................................................6 How Canada will expand its involvement in Iraq while halting its air war against the Islamic State .....................................................................................................................................................6 Ten ISIS fighters killed in Iraqi airstrike northwest of Ramadi .....................................................6 Ramadi completely cleared of IS after Iraqi forces' operation.....................................................6 Eight ISIS fighters killed in battles southwest of Kirkuk ...............................................................7 Congress Considering Safe Zone for Persecuted Christians, Yazidis in Iraq .................................7 Iraqi Army Deploys Thousands of Troops to Liberate Mosul From Daesh ...................................7 How to overcome Iraq’s economic crisis......................................................................................8 Fears of dam collapse in Iraq spurs emergency plan by military .................................................8 Russian Deputy PM to Head Delegation to Meet With Iraq Leadership ......................................8 Influx of U.S. troops, weapons bolster Anbar fight ......................................................................9 Iraq PM says to bring in technocrats in cabinet reshuffle ............................................................9 2. SYRIA .................................................................................................................................... 9 Despite war at home, more Syrian refugees return from Iraq ....................................................9 Shaaban: Diplomatic efforts to overcome terrorism wouldn’t be successful as long as there are countries that support terrorist organizations ..............................................................................9 Border camps full as Syria families escape regime offensive .................................................... 10 U.S. official says Syrian government unlikely to collapse.......................................................... 10 Fighting kills at least 500 in Aleppo province since Syrian army offensive began: Monitor ..... 10 36 Iranian army officers killed in Syria in 5 days ....................................................................... 11 Russian airstrikes kill 15 in opposition-held Syrian villages ...................................................... 11 Syrian Army Makes Great Advances in Northern Parts of Aleppo ............................................ 11 'Hundreds killed' in battle for Aleppo as air strikes pound villages .......................................... 11 Syria Air Strike Hits MSF-Supported Hospital, 3 Dead............................................................... 12 The World Bank to Asharq Al-Awsat: Aid to Syrian Refugees Will be Monitored Every 6 Months .............................................................................................................................................. 12 3. IRAN ....................................................................................................................................12 Iran deal will delay bomb up to 15 years .................................................................................. 12 US-Iranian businessman’s jailing sends chilling message to investors...................................... 12 IRGC Commander: World Powers' Attempts to Overthrow Assad Blocked by Iran ................. 13 President of Italy Chamber of Deputies due in Iran .................................................................. 13 Air defense takes delivery of Samavat artillery systems ........................................................... 13 Sayfa 1 Iran needs $200b to develop oil industry: Zanganeh ................................................................ 14 President: Ground prepared for Iran to make big breakthrough.............................................. 14 Iran to receive 1st batch of Russian S-300 system by 1st quarter of 2016: Dehqan ................ 14 Russia's S-300 missile system ready to be delivered to Iran ..................................................... 14 ISRAEL – PALESTINE..............................................................................................................15 Israel extends ex-PM Olmert’s prison sentence........................................................................ 15 Gaza interior ministry denies treating wounded from Sinai ..................................................... 15 Israel locks down Palestinian village after settler stabbed ....................................................... 15 Palestinian government says willing to step down for unity .................................................... 15 New law allows Netanyahu to oust Arab parliamentarians ...................................................... 16 Israel accuses UN of promoting ‘terror’ .................................................................................... 16 State opposes plan for Arab school near east Jerusalem Border Police base .......................... 16 UN encourages Palestinian unity talks ...................................................................................... 17 Palestinian assailant wounds Israeli jogger in Gush Etzion stabbing ........................................ 17 Israeli Troops Fatally Shoot Teen near Hebron ......................................................................... 17 JORDAN and LEBANON.........................................................................................................17 Captured Hezbollah members “received little training" ........................................................... 17 Lebanon army arrests man attempting to smuggle chemicals to ISIS: report .......................... 18 Twinning project with EU to improve Kingdom's real estate mapping ..................................... 18 Bolotin talks about the military coordination with Jordan in Amman ...................................... 18 King, Arab leaders discuss anti-terror drive, region .................................................................. 18 PM: Jordan backs Palestinian declaration of Jerusalem as Islamic cultural capital .................. 19 Geagea Urges International Community to Intervene to 'Halt Massacres in Syria' .................. 19 King, Tunisian leader discuss ties, fight on terrorism ................................................................ 19 Democratic Gathering Warns against Lebanon's Slide to 'Totalitarianism' .............................. 20 Ambassador of Tunisia, Falha discuss bilateral ties .................................................................. 20 ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA ....................................................................20 Yemeni VP Bahah: ‘We are on the outskirts of Sanaa’ .............................................................. 20 Kuwait backs alliances against Islamic State, but no troops ..................................................... 20 Saudi gives Yemen 4,000 food baskets ..................................................................................... 21 UAE tries ‘Hezbollah’, ‘Qaeda’ cell members ............................................................................ 21 Bahrain imprisons anti-regime protesters ................................................................................ 21 Saudis Encourage US to Send Troops, 'Fight Their War in Syria for Them' ............................... 22 Family of 5 killed in coalition strike on Yemen capital .............................................................. 22 UAE announces happiness ministerial post .............................................................................. 22 Bahrain's king hands 'sword of victory' to Putin after Syria talks ............................................. 22 Legitimate Forces in Yemen Advance Towards Sana’a ............................................................. 23 EGYPT ..................................................................................................................................23 Jihadist attacks bring Egypt's tourist industry to its knees........................................................ 23 Egypt activists recall Mubarak ouster as a distant dream......................................................... 23 Egypt policeman jailed for beating vet to death ....................................................................... 24 Price rise fears as Egypt restricts import of 50 items ................................................................ 24 Nile dam talks breakthrough: contracts to be signed shortly ................................................... 24 Court acquits Mubarak-era information minister of corruption............................................... 24 4. 5. 6. 7. Sayfa 2 8. Egyptian killed following fight in Riyadh: Egypt's immigration minister ................................... 25 Egyptian-US relations keystone of our foreign policy over past decades: Shoukry .................. 25 Egypt's Shukri, Kerry discuss security challenges, cooperation in Washington D.C. ................ 25 Sisi stresses support toward national accord government in Libya .......................................... 25 NORTH AFRICA.....................................................................................................................26 Algeria’s president warns his people of ‘dangerous adventures’ ............................................. 26 Expert: Tunisia preparing for military action in Libya ............................................................... 26 Tunisia increases military at border as Libya concerns grow .................................................... 26 Algeria-Denmark relations,“strong” .......................................................................................... 27 Presidency Council stalemated over defence ministry appointment granted more time by HoR to name government......................................................................................................................... 27 Terrorist eliminated in Bouira ................................................................................................... 27 Tripoli authorities threaten to close Tunisian border if Tunis airport not reopened to Libyan planes ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Caïd Essebsi, Essid discus security situation in wake of latest developments in region ........... 28 Cabinet meeting considers project on national territorial coverage in municipal system ....... 28 9. AFGHANISTAN – PAKISTAN ..................................................................................................28 US to Send More Troops to Afghanistan ................................................................................... 28 Pakistan inks long-term LNG import agreement with Qatar..................................................... 29 Obama administration proposes $2.5b in aid to Afghanistan .................................................. 29 PIA’s JAC delegation meets Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore ............................................................... 29 Afghanistan risks political breakdown, warns US spymaster .................................................... 29 Govt’s ‘vague policy’ on Saudi-led coalition worries Senate committee .................................. 30 Terrorists Being Funded By Hostile Intelligence Agencies ........................................................ 30 Two children killed in Kunar blast ............................................................................................. 30 10. TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST ............................................................................................30 Explosives, Suicide Belts Found on Suspects at Syria Border .................................................... 30 Iran, Turkey deputy FMs meet amid disputes ........................................................................... 31 Sayfa 3 1. IRAQ, Barzani Meets Secretary-General of the Iraqi Islamic Party President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani discussed with Iyad al-Samarrai, secretary-general of the Iraqi Islamic Party, the political and security situation in the region. A statement of the presidency of the Kurdistan region said "the two sides exchanged views on the future of Iraq and the outstanding problems between Erbil and the federal government and threats of terrorists and foreign interference in Iraqi affairs and how to free Mosul from Daash terrorist and the situation that will follow the liberating and working to bring the co-existence of national and religious components especially in the provinces of Nineveh and Kirkuk. More Details: http://www.ninanews.com/News_Details.aspx?GvwRIVSU%252f9q8fecbCwzMbA%253d%253d Iraqi joint force seizes cache of weapons in eastern Baghdad A source in the Iraqi police said on Tuesday, that a joint force had seized a store of weapons in eastern the capital Baghdad. The source said in a brief statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “A joint force belonging to Baghdad Police Command and Baghdad Intelligence had managed to find a cache of weapons containing rockets and explosive devices inside a field in the area of al-Nahruwan in eastern Baghdad.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/iraqi-joint-force-seizes-cache-weapons-eastern-baghdad/ Iraqi Woman Charged With Role in Kayla Mueller's Death The wife of a senior Islamic State leader who was killed in a U.S. raid last year has been charged in federal court with holding American Kayla Mueller hostage and with contributing to the aid worker's death, the Justice Department said Monday. More Details: http://english.shafaaq.com/politics/17387-iraqi-woman-charged-with-role-in-kayla-mueller-sdeath.html Volunteer forces kill 14 ISIS elements, foil attack southeast of Thurthar Saraya al-Jihad militia belonging to the paramilitary al-Hashed al-Sha’bi force announced on Tuesday the killing of 14 ISIS elements as well as the seizure of an armored vehicle during clashes with ISIS southeast Thurthar. The militia said in a press statement received by IraqiNews.com, that it had Sayfa 4 “repelled an attack by ISIS terrorist gangs in the vicinity southeast of Thurthar during their attempt to approach the first defensive line,” adding that, “The Saraya managed to kill 14 terrorists and seize a booby-trapped armored vehicle before detonating it by the terrorists.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/147912/ OPEC's Oil Price Downs A Little The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $29.00 a barrel on Monday, compared with $29.30 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). More Details: http://www.ninanews.com/News_Details.aspx?2%252f4zIevnMyWsTZmClEKwzg%253d%253d 1 dead, 42 wounded in ISIS shelling on Ameriyat Fallujah, says District Council The head of Ameriyat Fallujah District Council, Shaker Mahmoud al-Isawi, announced the killing and wounding of 43 civilians in a shelling by ISIS that targeted a popular market in the district. Isawi said in a statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “ISIS fired tens of mortar shells and rockets since yesterday evening and until this moment against a popular market in the district of Ameriyat (23 km south of Fallujah),” adding that, “The ISIS shelling resulted in killing a civilian and wounding 42 others including women and children.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/1-dead-42-wounded-isis-shelling-ameriyat-fallujah-saysdistrict-council/ Next Year Will Be Worse Economically If The Financial Crisis Persists An economic expert said next year would be the worst economically if the economic crisis continued and government inaction to do economic reform continued. Durgam Mohammed Ali told the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / "Iraq has now exhausted all available resources and even possible borrowing, which narrows the agreed solutions for the next year after exhausting the possibility of domestic and external borrowing after the accumulation of international loans to Iraq without a real reform." More Details: Sayfa 5 http://www.ninanews.com/News_Details.aspx?6TGOalTa4dc0tybTfXYlNQ%253d%253d ISIS imposes curfew on residents of Fallujah, Anbar A local source in Anbar province said on Tuesday, that the so-called ISIS has imposed a curfew on the city of Fallujah after a number of youths had raised the Iraqi flag over one of the bridges in the city. The source reported for IraqiNews.com, “This morning, ISIS imposed a curfew on the residents of the city of Fallujah and prevented everyone from leaving their houses in the city,” noting that, “The curfew is ongoing until this moment.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/isis-imposes-curfew-residents-fallujah-anbar/ How Canada will expand its involvement in Iraq while halting its air war against the Islamic State Last month, Canada was left out as seven major players in the fight against the Islamic State group met in Paris. U.S. defense officials said at the time that the meeting included only those countries with the most “skin in the game,” a comment that made front-page news in Canada considering its long-term partnership with the United States in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. More Details: http://english.shafaaq.com/politics/17385-how-canada-will-expand-its-involvement-in-iraq-whilehalting-its-air-war-against-the-islamic-state.html Ten ISIS fighters killed in Iraqi airstrike northwest of Ramadi A security source in Anbar Province announced on Tuesday, that ten fighters of the so-called ISIS were killed and their vehicles were destructed in an air strike targeted ISIS site northwest of Ramadi (110 km west of Baghdad). The source said in a brief statement received by IraqiNews.com, “The Iraqi Air Force launched an air strike using Sukhoi aircrafts on a site belonging to ISIS in Albu Thiyab area northwest of Ramadi,” pointing out that, “The operation resulted in the killing of ten ISIS members.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/ten-isis-fighters-killed-in-iraqi-air-strike-northwest-of-ramadi/ Ramadi completely cleared of IS after Iraqi forces' operation Iraq's military media announced in a statement on Tuesday, February 9, that Iraqi forces were able to completely retake Ramadi and drive Islamic State militants out. The military, Anbar province police, Sayfa 6 counter terrorist forces and the Public Mobilization Units (PMU) were all part of the operation that retook Ramadi. More Details: http://www.pukmedia.com/EN/EN_Direje.aspx?Jimare=37669 Eight ISIS fighters killed in battles southwest of Kirkuk The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Mosul announced, that the bodies of eight members of the so- called ISIS arrived to the forensic medicine department in Mosul, while pointed out that dead fighters were killed in the military operations in southwest of Kirkuk. The Media official of Kurdistan Democratic Party in Mosul Ghias al-surja told reporters, “The Forensic Medicine Department at Mosul Hospital received eight bodies belonging to ISIS fighters.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/eight-isis-fighters-killed-in-the-southwest-of-kirkuk-battles/ Congress Considering Safe Zone for Persecuted Christians, Yazidis in Iraq Former Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) said that Congress is considering the creation of an autonomous region in Iraq to protect Christians and Yazidis from persecution by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and criticized the State Department’s lack of involvement in the ongoing discussions. “There are discussions and there will be a resolution introduced in the House, I believe, to set up an intothe-plains, basically a protectorate, whereby Christians, Yazidis and other minorities [will be protected],” Wolf said at an event last week at the National Press Club in Washington. More Details: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/jose-r-gonzalez/congress-will-push-safe-zone-persecutedchristians-yazidis-iraq Iraqi Army Deploys Thousands of Troops to Liberate Mosul From Daesh The Iraqi army is sending thousands of soldiers to a northern base for operational training to retake Daesh’s hub city of Mosul, officials said on Monday. Daesh captured Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city in June 2014 and except for airstrikes it has held the city largely unopposed for over 18 months as the country's security forces fought the militants in other areas. More Details: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160209/1034452394/iraq-daesh-mosul-battle.html Sayfa 7 How to overcome Iraq’s economic crisis Iraq’s economic crisis is about to get worse. The government, which relies on oil for 90% of its revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings, faces plunging oil prices combined with rampant corruption and the exorbitant cost of battling the Islamic State (IS). Iraqi officials must come up with solutions that take all those circumstances into account. The country's economic problem is influenced particularly by two factors. The first is related to Iraq's socialist economic system and its absence of an economic infrastructure and free active market correlated with global markets. The Iraqi infrastructure is significantly damaged as a result of long-term wars and sanctions. The economic system was mostly controlled by the government for more than half a century. More Details: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/02/iraq-economy-crisis-solutions-promote-smallbusinesses.html Fears of dam collapse in Iraq spurs emergency plan by military The threat of a collapsing dam in Iraq that could send water flooding over millions of people has forced Australia's military to make emergency plans to protect soldiers and diplomats. The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, told a Senate hearing on Wednesday that military planners were deeply worried about the state of the dam and had put "contingency plans" in place if it collapses. More Details: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/fears-of-dam-collapse-in-iraq-spursemergency-plan-by-military-20160210-gmqhbb.html Russian Deputy PM to Head Delegation to Meet With Iraq Leadership According to the Kommersant, the delegation will arrive in Iraq with a two-day visit on Wednesday. Rogozin will hold a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, the paper added. During his visit, the Russian official will meet with the chairman of the commission, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, and President Fuad Masum, the paper reported. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as well as a number of other deputy ministers are expected to accompany Rogozin as part of the Russian delegation, according to the paper. More Details: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160210/1034488197/rogozin-will-head-delegation-to-iraq.html Sayfa 8 Influx of U.S. troops, weapons bolster Anbar fight American troops are making an increasing impact in the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group in Anbar province, four weeks after U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced a new deployment of 1,800 troops to Iraq.For Anbar’s formal security forces and aligned tribal militiamen, the American intelligence and firepower is reinforcing the victory over the IS group in the capital of Ramadi, which is now almost cleared of IS fighters. More Details: http://www.iraqoilreport.com/news/influx-u-s-troops-weapons-bolster-anbar-fight-17975/ Iraq PM says to bring in technocrats in cabinet reshuffle Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday he would reshuffle his cabinet to appoint technocrats to replace ministers appointed on the basis of political affiliations. He gave no details about the timing of the change or what positions would be affected, but promised decisions soon including ones related to fighting corruption. More Details: http://news.trust.org/item/20160209212651-m2x9k 2. SYRIA Despite war at home, more Syrian refugees return from Iraq Under a cold winter sun, 65-year-old Nazo Osi Ali and her two daughters pull their bulging suitcases out of the back of a blue station wagon at this town in northwest Iraq across the Tigris River from Syria. Ten months ago Nazo fled to Iraq to escape the fighting in Syria, but now she needs to return home to her war-ravaged country for medical reasons. "I have high blood pressure and a bad tooth and I want to see my own doctor and dentist," she says. "It is too expensive to get treatment in Iraq." More Details: http://www.unhcr.org.uk/news-and-views/news-list/news-detail/article/despite-war-at-home-moresyrian-refugees-return-from-iraq.html Shaaban: Diplomatic efforts to overcome terrorism wouldn’t be successful as long as there are countries that support terrorist organizations Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban said that combating terrorism and realizing stability in the region are the basic criterion for those who want to have a solution to the crisis in Syria.“The sides which talk about cease-fire and humanitarian aid don’t want to combat Sayfa 9 terrorism or realize stability in the Middle East, but they want to divide the states,” Shaaban told alAlam TV in an interview broadcasted on Tuesday. More Details: http://sana.sy/en/?p=69026 Border camps full as Syria families escape regime offensive Emergency camps along Syria's border with Turkey are overwhelmed by a flood of displaced families, aid workers warned, as the regime kept up an assault against embattled rebels on Tuesday. In and around the Syrian town of Azaz near the frontier, people are sleeping in the streets, or up to 20 people to a tent, having left their homes with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. More Details: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75148 U.S. official says Syrian government unlikely to collapse The director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, said he does not think the Syrian government of Bashar Assad is likely to collapse or be defeated in the near term because of increased support from Iran and Russia. He said Assad’s forces will likely regain key territory in some key areas. More Details: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/09/U-S-official-says-Syrian-governmentunlikely-to-collapse.html Fighting kills at least 500 in Aleppo province since Syrian army offensive began: Monitor At least 500 people have been killed on all sides during fighting in Aleppo province since the start of a Syrian army and allied forces offensive began in early February, a war monitor said on Wednesday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, said this figure included at least 100 civilians. Reuters could not independently confirm the figures. More Details: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369872/fighting-kills-at-least-500-in-aleppoprovince-since-syrian-army-offensive-began-monitor Sayfa 10 36 Iranian army officers killed in Syria in 5 days Three Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers have been killed in Syria, bringing the total number of Iranian officers killed in Syria over the past five days to 36, Iranian media sources reported. According to Iranian media, the three officers were killed in battles in northern Syria, during their work as military advisors. More Details: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/23805-36-iranian-army-officers-killed-insyria-in-5-days Russian airstrikes kill 15 in opposition-held Syrian villages Fifteen civilians were killed and another 17 injured on Tuesday when Russian warplanes struck a handful of opposition-held villages in Syria’s Idlib province, local Civil Defense sources told Anadolu Agency. According to the sources, Russian warplanes targeted residential areas in four villages in Idlib. Firas Faham, a local media activist based in Idlib province’s city of Maarat al-Nuuman, told Anadolu Agency that thousands of Syrians who had recently fled Aleppo due to fierce Russian airstrikes had since come to Idlib seeking refuge. More Details: http://www.albawaba.com/news/russian-airstrikes-kill-15-opposition-held-syrian-villages-803626 Syrian Army Makes Great Advances in Northern Parts of Aleppo Syrian Army backed by national defense forces has established control in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Damascus, Lattakia, Idlib, Deir Ezzur, Dara’a and continues its advances 4 sides of the country. The terrorist groups sustained heavy casualties and losses in tough battle with the militants across Homs province. More Details: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1788002 'Hundreds killed' in battle for Aleppo as air strikes pound villages More than 500 people, including dozens of civilians, have been killed since a major Russian-backed regime offensive in Syria's Aleppo province began this month, a monitor said on Wednesday. The UKbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of sources on the ground in Syria for its figures, said the toll of 506 included 23 children killed in Russian air strikes on Aleppo city and its surroundings since the operation was launched on 1 February. More Details: Sayfa 11 http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hundreds-killed-10-day-battle-aleppo-monitor-955705045 Syria Air Strike Hits MSF-Supported Hospital, 3 Dead An air strike hit a hospital in southern Syria that is supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), killing three people and wounding six, the medical charity said on Tuesday. "The strike on Tafas field hospital, some 12 kilometers (seven miles) from the Jordanian border, took place on the night of February 5. It caused partial damage to the hospital building, and put its heavily-used ambulance service out of action," MSF said in a statement. More Details: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/201718-syria-air-strike-hits-msf-supported-hospital-3-dead The World Bank to Asharq Al-Awsat: Aid to Syrian Refugees Will be Monitored Every 6 Months The Vice President of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa Hafez Ghanem confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the World Bank “aims to give $20 billion to the Middle East to help ease the Syrian crisis” within the next five years. More Details: http://english.aawsat.com/2016/02/article55347421/the-world-bank-to-asharq-al-awsat-aid-tosyrian-refugees-will-be-monitored-every-6-months 3. IRAN Iran deal will delay bomb up to 15 years The deal between world powers and Iran has delayed Tehran's acquisition of nuclear weapons by 10 to 15 years, the head of a top defence think-tank told AFP on Tuesday. The agreement struck in Vienna in July between Iran and the permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5 plus one) sees sanctions progressively lifted in return for Tehran ensuring its nuclear programme remains for civilian use. More Details: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75162 US-Iranian businessman’s jailing sends chilling message to investors When Iran and the United States sealed the implementation of a deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme with a prisoner exchange last month, Siamak Namazi was among the detainees some Sayfa 12 expected to be freed by the Iranian authorities. The businessman with dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship was on a list of four prisoners to be released published by the official Islamic Republic News Agency and the Tabnak website on the day of the swap, Jan. 16. His name was withdrawn with an apology but no explanation. More Details: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369770/us-iranian-businessman-s-jailing-sendschilling-message-to-investors IRGC Commander: World Powers' Attempts to Overthrow Assad Blocked by Iran Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Hossein Salami underlined Iran's influential role in the region, and said the country stopped foreign powers from overthrowing the government in Damascus. "All big powers were there in Syria. Iran was there too, determined to keep Bashar Assad in power. In the end, they failed to affect regime change," Salami said, addressing a large gathering of Basij Volunteer Force officials in Tehran on Wednesday. More Details: http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941121000670 President of Italy Chamber of Deputies due in Iran President of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini will pay an official visit to Tehran to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. Boldrini’s visit will take place at the invitation of Iranian parliament (Majlis) speaker Ali Larijani, IRNA quoted an informed source at Iran’s embassy in Rome as saying on Tuesday. More Details: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/02/09/449439/Iran-Italy-Larijani-Boldrini Air defense takes delivery of Samavat artillery systems The Samavat 35mm towed anti-aircraft twin-cannon has been delivered to Iran’s air defense bases, announced Brig. Gen. Farzad Eslamili on Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmaili, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base, told Mehr News Agency on Tuesday that the Samavat smart artillery control system is ‘dual-purpose’, meaning it can function as both active and passive. More Details: http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114318/Air-defense-takes-delivery-of-Samavat-artillery-systems Sayfa 13 Iran needs $200b to develop oil industry: Zanganeh Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on Tuesday that $200 billion investment is required to develop the country’s oil industry. “Internal resources are not enough to meet such need, therefore we should attract foreign investment”, Zanganeh said in a press conference. More Details: http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=252897 President: Ground prepared for Iran to make big breakthrough President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the ground is prepared for Iran to make a big breakthrough. The President made the remarks at a ceremony to inaugurate 549 sports and educational projects in different parts of the country. More Details: http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81958087/ Iran to receive 1st batch of Russian S-300 system by 1st quarter of 2016: Dehqan Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the country will take delivery of the first batch of Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system in the first quarter of 2016. Dehqan, who was speaking in a televised interview on Tuesday night, said that under a contract signed between Iran and Russia, the S-300 missile system will be delivered to Iran in two parts, adding that the first batch of the military hardware is ready for shipment, presstv.ir reported. More Details: http://www.iran-daily.com/News/136542.html Russia's S-300 missile system ready to be delivered to Iran Russian air defense missile system, S-300 is ready to be delivered to Iran, said the country's Defense Minister Hossein Dehgan. Dehgan said that a part of S-300 systems will be delivered to Iran in first quarter of 2016 and the remaining parts until the end of 2016. More Details: http://en.trend.az/iran/politics/2492442.html Sayfa 14 4. ISRAEL – PALESTINE Israel extends ex-PM Olmert’s prison sentence An Israeli court extended former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s 18-month prison sentence by a month Wednesday for pressuring a confidant not to testify in multiple legal cases against him. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court rejected a plea bargain Olmert signed in January in which he pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction of justice in an attempt to avoid additional jail time. More Details: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/10/Israel-court-extends-ex-leaderOlmert-s-prison-sentence.html Gaza interior ministry denies treating wounded from Sinai A spokesman for the Palestinian Interior Minister in Gaza has denied Israeli claims that casualties from the unrest in Sinai receive medical treatment in the besieged territory, Palsawa.com reported on Monday. "The Israeli occupation authorities’ claims regarding the wounded from Sinai receiving medical treatment in Gaza’s hospitals are false,” insisted Iyad Al-Bozom. “They have nothing to do with reality." More Details: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/23821-gaza-interior-ministry-deniestreating-wounded-from-sinai Israel locks down Palestinian village after settler stabbed The Israeli army locked down a village in the occupied West Bank, the military said, as part of efforts to find the perpetrator who stabbed a Jewish man from a nearby settlement Tuesday. The army spokeswoman said only “humanitarian cases” would be let in and out of Nahalin, southwest of Bethlehem and a short distance from the settlement of Neve Daniel. More Details: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/10/Israel-locks-down-Palestinian-villageafter-settler-stabbed.html Palestinian government says willing to step down for unity The Palestinian government said on Tuesday it was ready to step down to enable a new national unity government, as rivals Fatah and Hamas engaged in a new reconciliation effort. Prime minister Sayfa 15 Rami Hamdallah was "ready to resign to support the formation of a national unity government and to take every effort to achieve genuine reconciliation", a statement read. More Details: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369769/palestinian-government-says-willing-tostep-down-for-unity New law allows Netanyahu to oust Arab parliamentarians The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has given overwhelming support to a new law proposed by the Likud-led coalition government which will allow Arab Knesset members (MKs) to be ousted, Anadolu reported on Monday. The law was first suggested by the right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a punishment for the Arab parliamentarians who visited families of the victims of Israeli security forces. The visits were made at the request of a civil society organisation to see if the MKs could help to have the bodies of those killed released by the authorities for burial. More Details: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/23816-new-law-allows-netanyahu-to-oustarab-parliamentarians Israel accuses UN of promoting ‘terror’ Israel has accused UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of promoting "terror" after he defended the Palestinian uprising as a natural response to the Tel Aviv regime's illegal occupation of their lands. In a letter to Ban on Monday, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon urged Ban to withdraw the comments he made in last month's address to the UN Security Council. More Details: http://www.albawaba.com/news/israel-accuses-un-promoting-%E2%80%98terror%E2%80%99803556 State opposes plan for Arab school near east Jerusalem Border Police base The state opposes the building of a school for Arab students in east Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood because it is slated to be built next to a Border Police base, and thus will increase chances of terror attacks, Army Radio reported on Wednesday. More Details: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/State-opposes-plan-for-Arab-school-near-eastJerusalem-Border-Police-base-444445 Sayfa 16 UN encourages Palestinian unity talks The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process expressed his support on Tuesday for the Palestinian unity talks between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas taking place this month in Qatar. Nickolay Mladenov said in a statement that he "welcomed" the unity talks that kicked off on Sunday in the Qatari capital, Doha. More Details: http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=770212 Palestinian assailant wounds Israeli jogger in Gush Etzion stabbing An Israeli jogger was wounded and two knife wielding female Palestinian teenagers were arrested in three separate incidents in Jerusalem and the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank on Tuesday. Tomer Ditore, 28, was stabbed in the evening as he ran on the Derech Ha’avot path near the Neve Daniel settlement. More Details: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Initial-report-One-wounded-in-suspected-Gush-Etzionterror-stabbing-444360 Israeli Troops Fatally Shoot Teen near Hebron Israeli forces Wednesday shot dead a Palestinian teen during clashes in al-'Arrub refugee camp, north of Hebron, in the southern West Bank, according to Palestinian medical sources. Palestinian medics at al-Mizan hospital in Hebron said that Omar Jawabra, 16 years old, was shot in the chest and head with two live steel rounds, and was rushed into the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. More Details: http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=J2z8kGa30132499980aJ2z8kG 5. JORDAN and LEBANON Captured Hezbollah members “received little training" Lebanese journalist Carol Malouf has released the entirety of her interview with two Hezbollah members held captive by Al-Nusra Front in Syria, less than a week after local station MTV aired a substantially abbreviated version of the video after coming under pressure from the party. In the one-hour video—published Monday on YouTube—Hassan Nazih Taha and Mohammad Mehdi Shuaib spoke at length about their deployment as Hezbollah technicians in Syria, working alongside the party's fighters aiding the Bashar al-Assad regime. Sayfa 17 More Details: https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/566590-captured-hezbollah-members-received-littletraining-lost Lebanon army arrests man attempting to smuggle chemicals to ISIS: report The Lebanese Army Wednesday arrested a Lebanese national allegedly attempting to smuggle chemicals to ISIS militants on the outskirts of a northeastern border town, the state’s National News Agency reported. More Details: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2016/Feb-10/336517-lebanon-army-arrestsman-attempting-to-smuggle-chemicals-to-isis-report.ashx Twinning project with EU to improve Kingdom's real estate mapping The EU and the Department of Lands and Survey (DLS) on Tuesday launched a 1 million euro twinning project aimed at enhancing the technical and administrative capacities of the DLS in the fields of cadastre (mapping real estate ownership and values) and administration. Finance Minister Omar Malhas said public agencies always seek to reach solutions and make use of modern technologies to facilitate procedures in public transactions. More Details: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/twinning-project-eu-improve-kingdoms-real-estatemapping Bolotin talks about the military coordination with Jordan in Amman Bolotin Boris, the Russian ambassador in Amman ,Monday evening revealed that there is a mechanism for Russian-Jordanian military assortment in Amman. Bolotin said during a meeting between him and media people in journalists syndicate with attendance of chief of foreign affairs committee dr.Nabeel al Shareef that there is " a communication between Jordanian militants and the Russian". More Details: http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=30306#.Vrs-6fmLTcs King, Arab leaders discuss anti-terror drive, region His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday had several phone calls with Arab leaders and discussed with them bilateral relations, the anti-terror drive and regional and international developments. In a Sayfa 18 phone call with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, the King stressed the depth of bilateral relations and voiced interest to enhance them in different fields, serving mutual interests, a Royal Court statement said. More Details: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/king-arab-leaders-discuss-anti-terror-drive-region PM: Jordan backs Palestinian declaration of Jerusalem as Islamic cultural capital Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Tuesday Jordan would support Palestinian efforts to declare Jerusalem as the 2019 Capital of Islamic Culture and Bethlehem as the 2020 Arab Cultural capital. Ensour made the pledge as he welcomed Palestinian Culture Minister Ehab Bsiso, who briefed him on his ministry's bid, and stressed the need for an Arab "umbrella" in that endeavour, particularly by Jordan, where the holy city enjoys a special status. More Details: http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=30312#.Vrs_x_mLTcs Geagea Urges International Community to Intervene to 'Halt Massacres in Syria' Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea held on Wednesday the international community responsible for the prolongation of the war in Syria, labeling the developments in the country as a “major humanitarian tragedy.” He urged via Twitter the international community to “intervene quickly in Syria to halt the massacres taking place there.” More Details: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/201754-geagea-urges-international-community-to-interveneto-halt-massacres-in-syria King, Tunisian leader discuss ties, fight on terrorism His Majesty King Abdullah II and Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi Tuesday stressed the depth of Jordanian-Tunisian ties in various fields and their desire to further boost cooperation. During a telephone call, the two leaders discussed the latest regional and international developments, including efforts being made to combat terrorism and terrorist gangs within a holistic approach. More Details: http://petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?lang=2&site_id=1&NewsID=237097&CatID =13 Sayfa 19 Democratic Gathering Warns against Lebanon's Slide to 'Totalitarianism' Democratic Gathering bloc MP Marwan Hamadeh has rejected to turn Lebanon into a dictatorship through the appointment of a president rather than his election. Hamadeh told the Kuwaiti daily alSeyassah on Wednesday that “Lebanon, which has been a slogan for democracy in the Orient, should not slide into totalitarianism where a president is appointed without elections.” More Details: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/201727-democratic-gathering-warns-against-lebanon-s-slideto-totalitarianism Ambassador of Tunisia, Falha discuss bilateral ties The Tunisian Ambassador to Lebanon Karim Boudali visited on Wednesday the Director General of the Ministry of Information Dr. Hassan Falha at his office in the ministry, with talks featuring high on bilateral relations, especially in the media field. "The meeting was fruitful. We tackled the prospects of cooperation and agreed to activate them. Projects and agreements in the information field will be signed in the near future between the two countries' official radio and television," the ambassador said in the wake of the meeting. More Details: http://nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/56516/Ambassador-of-Tunisia-Falha-discuss-bilateral-ties 6. ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA Yemeni VP Bahah: ‘We are on the outskirts of Sanaa’ Yemeni Vice President Khaled Bahah said on Tuesday that his internationally recognized government and allies are now close enough to recapture the capital Sanaa from the Iranian-backed Houthi militias. “We are now in control of more than 80 percent of the Yemeni territories, and we are now close to Sanaa,” Bahah, who is also Yemen's prime minister, said during the World Government Summit (WGS) conference in Dubai. More Details: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/09/Yemeni-VP-Bahah-We-are-on-theoutskirts-of-Sanaa-.html Kuwait backs alliances against Islamic State, but no troops Kuwait backs international efforts against hardline Islamist groups in Iraq and Syria although the Gulf Arab state’s constitution prevents it from fighting in anything but defensive wars, a senior Kuwaiti Sayfa 20 official said. Kuwait, a U.S. ally and neighbour of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is part of a 34-nation alliance announced by Riyadh in December aimed at countering Islamic State and al Qaeda in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan. More Details: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369781/kuwait-backs-alliances-against-islamicstate-but-no-troops Saudi gives Yemen 4,000 food baskets King Salman Relief and Humanitarian Aids Center has recently distributed 4,000 food baskets in Al Wazi’iyah District at Taiz Governorate through the Humanitarian Aid Coalition and its partners from associations and institutions. The food baskets were distributed in the Directorate within the “distribution of 100,000 food baskets” project; while the rest of food baskets will be distributed to other directorates in the Governorate in the coming days. The food baskets will be distributed to 23 directorates across Yemen. More Details: http://www.albawaba.com/news/saudi-gives-yemen-4000-food-baskets-803784 UAE tries ‘Hezbollah’, ‘Qaeda’ cell members Separate trials have opened in the United Arab Emirates of three men accused of links to Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah movement and 23 others for ties to Al-Qaeda, newspapers reported Tuesday. The three Lebanese men charged with “forming and managing a group linked to Hezbollah without obtaining a permit” appeared Monday before Abu Dhabi’s state security, Emarat al-Youm newspaper said. More Details: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/02/09/UAE-tries-Hezbollah-Qaeda-cellmembers.html Bahrain imprisons anti-regime protesters A court in Bahrain has sentenced four anti-regime protesters to 10 years in prison each over their alleged role in an attack on police forces in the Persian Gulf Arab kingdom. The verdict was announced on Wednesday. No further details have been released yet. In another development, the European-Bahraini Organization for Human Rights has condemned the continued imprisonment of Bahraini journalist Ahmed al-Fardan, describing it as the suppression of freedom of thought and expression. More Details: Sayfa 21 http://www.albawaba.com/news/bahrain-imprisons-anti-regime-protesters-803882 Saudis Encourage US to Send Troops, 'Fight Their War in Syria for Them' Saudi Arabia has said that the oil kingdom is ready to participate in a US-led intervention in Syria and send conventional troops or special operations forces to Syria if the US decides to launch a ground offensive. "The Saudis are 'inviting' the US to put American soldiers at risk to advance their goals in Syria because they can't do it for themselves and probably wouldn't even if they could," he noted. They are essentially "trying to sucker the US into agreeing to fight their war for them." More Details: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1787898 Family of 5 killed in coalition strike on Yemen capital Five members of the same family were killed when a Saudi-led coalition air strike hit their home in Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, rescuers and neighbours said on Wednesday. According to neighbours who identified the body, the father was Mounir al-Hakimi a programme director at the Yemen Today television channel, which is owned by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. More Details: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/family-5-killed-coalition-strike-yemen-capital-840003770 UAE announces happiness ministerial post The UAE is planning a major shakeup of ministries and privatisation of some public services in the wake of falling oil revenues, the prime minister announced on Monday. As part of a plan to create a "young and flexible" government, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, attending the World Government Summit in Dubai, tweeted that he would establish a minister of happiness post. More Details: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-announces-happiness-ministerial-post-362872858 Bahrain's king hands 'sword of victory' to Putin after Syria talks Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a "sword of victory” made from Damascus steel during a visit to Russia that included talks with his host about the crisis in Syria. King Hamad and Putin exchanged gifts during a meeting at the Russian leader's residence in Sochi on the Black Sea coast on Monday, with Putin presenting the Gulf state ruler with a race horse, according to the Kremlin's press office. More Details: Sayfa 22 http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/sword-victory-presented-putin-bahraini-king-453188057 Legitimate Forces in Yemen Advance Towards Sana’a The Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz who is also Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense inspected Saudi troops in the southern region yesterday and chaired a meeting in which the military situation in the region and recent military operations carried out by units in accordance with the plans prepared were discussed. More Details: http://english.aawsat.com/2016/02/article55347442/legitimate-forces-in-yemen-advance-towardssanaa 7. EGYPT Jihadist attacks bring Egypt's tourist industry to its knees Said Ramadan has lost count of how much he's borrowed just to stay afloat while other vendors at Giza's pyramids have already lost hope, as jihadist attacks bring Egypt's tourist industry to its knees. "I have no money to buy clothes for my children ... I hardly make any money as so few tourists are coming," Ramadan, 42, said at his dilapidated one-storey brick house near the world heritage site. More Details: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75170 Egypt activists recall Mubarak ouster as a distant dream As the sun began to set on February 11, 2011, the protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square wavered between hope and despair, waiting for a signal that Egypt's autocrat would step down. Hosni Mubarak had been expected to resign the day before, after 30 years in power. Instead, he delivered a truculent speech insisting he would stay on until September. But the military had already decided his fate: he would have to go after days of protests had paralysed the country. So just before sunset, the announcement came. More Details: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/369832/egypt-activists-recall-mubarak-ouster-as-adistant-dream Sayfa 23 Egypt policeman jailed for beating vet to death An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced a policeman to eight years in prison for beating to death a veterinary surgeon in custody, a judicial official said. Mohammed Ibrahim was tried on charges of killing the vet in November in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya, and forging official documents to falsely accuse him of being a drug dealer. More Details: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75164 Price rise fears as Egypt restricts import of 50 items Tensions between Egyptian manufacturers and importers increased yesterday after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry restrict the import of 50 commodities. Earlier this year, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Tarek Kabil, issued the decision which includes some food products, cosmetics and garments. According to the decree, the items cannot be traded unless they are produced by factories registered at the ministry. More Details: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/23822-price-rise-fears-as-egypt-restricts-importof-50-items Nile dam talks breakthrough: contracts to be signed shortly Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan discussed on Tuesday the technical proposal to study the effects of the under-construction Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has troubled Egypt. After a meeting in Sudanese capital Khartoum, the three countries, each represented by a technical committee, arrived at a joint memo of their observations on the study proposal handed to them by two French firms that have been selected by the trio. More Details: http://www.albawaba.com/business/egypt-renaissance-nile-dam-talks-positive-contracts-to-besigned-shortly-803728 Court acquits Mubarak-era information minister of corruption Cairo Criminal Court has acquitted Mubarak-era information minister Anas al Fekky during his retrial on corruption-related charges Wednesday, Youm7 reported. In February 2014, the same court sentenced Fekky to a suspended sentence of one year in prison and fined him 1.8 million EGP ($210 million) over charges of illicitly gaining 33 million EGP while he was in office. More Details: Sayfa 24 http://thecairopost.youm7.com/news/193598/news/court-acquits-mubarak-era-informationminister-of-corruption Egyptian killed following fight in Riyadh: Egypt's immigration minister An Egyptian citizen was killed after being run over following a fight with Saudi nationals in Riyadh, Egypt's immigration and expatriate affairs minister Nabila Makram said on Tuesday. Makram said in a press statement that Saudi officials confirmed that four of those involved in the killing of Egyptian national Walid Hamdy El-Sayed were arrested, adding that an initial report by the Saudi officials said that the cause of death was 'intentional running over.’ More Details: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/187132/Egypt/Politics-/Egyptian-killed-followingfight-in-Riyadh-Egypts-i.aspx Egyptian-US relations keystone of our foreign policy over past decades: Shoukry Egyptian-US relations have been the keystone of Egyptian foreign policy throughout the past decades, Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said Tuesday. Shoukry told journalists, after his meeting with US secretary of state John Kerry Tuesday in Washington, that Egypt is committed to strengthening relations with the US on the political and economic levels, to address bilateral issues. More Details: http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/02/10/egyptian-us-relations-keystone-of-our-foreign-policyover-past-decades-shoukry/ Egypt's Shukri, Kerry discuss security challenges, cooperation in Washington D.C. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Tuesday as part of Shukri's three-day visit to Washington D.C. The visit, which began on Sunday, aims to bolster bilateral ties, Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement. More Details: http://en.aswatmasriya.com/news/view.aspx?id=a3544f2c-c109-477c-9370-4c6ad281b406 Sisi stresses support toward national accord government in Libya President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted on Tuesday Egypt’s support toward the political process in Libya sponsored by the United Nations as well as the efforts for forming a government of national accord. Sisi’s remarks came on Tuesday after receiving Akila Saleh, the president of Libya's parliament. Sayfa 25 More Details: http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/sisi-stresses-support-toward-national-accordgovernment-libya 8. NORTH AFRICA Algeria’s president warns his people of ‘dangerous adventures’ Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has warned the Algerian people of what he called “dangerous adventures” similar to the experiences that resulted in “chaos and civil wars” in some Arab countries. Algeria’s al- Khabar newspaper reported President Bouteflika on Monday calling on the Algerian people not to forget the devastating period of terror that prevailed in their country. More Details: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/23804-algerias-president-warns-his-people-ofdangerous-adventures Expert: Tunisia preparing for military action in Libya A former Brigadier-General in the Tunisian Armed Forces and Head of the Tunisian Centre for Comprehensive Security Studies Mokhtar Ben Nasr has said that military intervention in Libya is a matter of time and Tunisia must prepare for all possibilities. In remarks published by Tunis Afrique Presse, Ben Nasr said that the Tunisian army and security units are fully prepared and have increased joint patrols and coordination between the various units, which will make Tunisia safer in the event of military action in Libya. More Details: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/23803-expert-tunisia-preparing-for-militaryaction-in-libya Tunisia increases military at border as Libya concerns grow The meeting of the security co-ordination and monitoring unit, on Tuesday, in the government palace in Kasbah, was devoted to the examination of the security situation in the country and the latest developments in Libya in light of the proliferation of Daech group in this country and the attempts of infiltration of the terrorist elements on the Tunisian soil. More Details: http://www.albawaba.com/news/tunisia-increases-military-border-libya-concerns-grow-803610 Sayfa 26 Algeria-Denmark relations,“strong” The relations between Algeria and Denmark are “strong,” said Tuesday the Danish minister of Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen, underlining that his visit to Algiers allowed to “further strengthening them.” “We discussed the bilateral relations that are strong,” Jensen told the press at the end of the audience granted to him by the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. More Details: http://www.aps.dz/en/algeria/10747-relations-between-algeria,-denmark-are%E2%80%9Cstrong%E2%80%9D Presidency Council stalemated over defence ministry appointment granted more time by HoR to name government Facing stalemate over the choice of defence minister the Presidency Council meeting in Skhirat has been given until next Sunday to name its government. The extension, which had been requested by the Council, was agreed at a session of the House of Representatives (HoR) yesterday in Tobruk. The selection of a defence minister caused a bitter divide among some members of the Council, largely between Ali Gatrani, an ally of Khalifa Hafter, on the one side and, on the other, Misrtan businessman Ahmed Maetig, Mohamed Ammari, and Abdussalam Kajman. More Details: https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/02/10/presidency-council-stalemated-over-defence-ministryappointment-granted-more-time-by-hor-to-name-government/ Terrorist eliminated in Bouira A terrorist was eliminated, Tuesday afternoon in Bouira (122-km east of Algiers), by units of the People's National Army, said the Ministry of National Defence in a communiqué. "As part of the fight against terrorism, a detachment of the People's National Army of the operational area of Bouira (1st Military Region) has eliminated, this afternoon of 9 February 2016, a terrorist during a combing operation near the locality of Kaf Lehssane in the commune of Souk Lakhmis," said the communiqué. More Details: http://www.aps.dz/en/algeria/10745-terrorist-eliminated-in-bouira Tripoli authorities threaten to close Tunisian border if Tunis airport not reopened to Libyan planes The Tripoli-based administration led by Khalifa Ghwell has threatened to shut the border with Tunisia if the Tunisian authorities do not reopen Tunis airport to Libyan carriers. Speaking at a press Sayfa 27 conference in Tripoli today, Tripoli’s “foreign minister”, Ali Abuzakuk, said that it would take action on the basis of what he claimed was “reciprocity”. More Details: https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/02/09/tripoli-authorities-threaten-to-close-tunisian-border-iftunis-airport-not-reopened-to-libyan-planes/ Caïd Essebsi, Essid discus security situation in wake of latest developments in region President of the Republic Béji Caïd Essebsi and Premier Habib Essid Wednesday discussed the security situation in Tunisia, in the wake of the latest developments in the region. The state of affairs in the country and the furtherance of development projects designed to increase employability and improve the economic and social situation were also addressed, said a Presidency press release. More Details: http://www.tap.info.tn/en/index.php/politics2/33293-caid-essebsi-essid-discus-security-situation-inwake-of-latest-developments-in-region Cabinet meeting considers project on national territorial coverage in municipal system An inner Cabinet meeting, on Tuesday, considered a project on national territorial coverage in municipal system. The meeting held at the Government Palace in Kasbah under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Habib Essid discussed the national strategy on the generalisation of the municipal system to achieve an overall territorial coverage in all local communities in such a manner as to uphold the principle of equity and equality between citizens in political, civil and socio-economic rights. More Details: http://www.tap.info.tn/en/index.php/politics2/33284-cabinet-meeting-considers-project-onnational-territorial-coverage-in-municipal-system 9. AFGHANISTAN – PAKISTAN US to Send More Troops to Afghanistan The US Army will deploy hundreds of soldiers to the southern Afghan province of Helmand, where government forces have been pushed to the brink by Taliban militants, a US military spokesman said. It will be the largest deployment of US troops outside major bases in Afghanistan since the end of the NATO combat mission in 2014, the Houston Chronicle reported. More Details: Sayfa 28 http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941121000601 Pakistan inks long-term LNG import agreement with Qatar Pakistan and Qatar on Wednesday inked an agreement for supply of around US one billion dollars worth of Liquified Natural Gas to Pakistan annually to help the country meet its energy shortfall. The agreement on Long Term LNG Sale and Purchase was signed during the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s two-day visit to Qatar. More Details: http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/97339-Pakistan-inks-long-term-LNG-import-agreement-withQatar Obama administration proposes $2.5b in aid to Afghanistan The Obama administration proposed $2.5 billion in financial assistance to Afghanistan on Tuesday when Secretary of State, John Kerry said the aid would reinforce the country’s security and development. “Our proposal requests $2.5 billion for programmes that reinforce Afghanistan's security and development by maintaining the gains of the last decade, supporting military training and assistance…” Kerry said in his proposal to the Congress. More Details: http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2016/02/10/obama-administration-proposes-25b-aid-afghanistan PIA’s JAC delegation meets Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore A five-member delegation of Pakistan International Airline’s (PIA) Joint Action Committee (JAC) is holding a meeting with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore today (Wednesday). JAC Chairman Sohail Baloch is leading the delegation. Other members include Nasir Mehdi Janjua, Anjum, Zakir Naek and Shahid Qureshi. More Details: http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/97330-PIAs-JAC-delegation-meets-Shahbaz-Sharif-in-Lahore Afghanistan risks political breakdown, warns US spymaster Eroding political cohesion, assertions of authority by local powerbrokers, recurring financial shortfalls and sustained attacks threaten Afghanistan with a political breakdown, the US spymaster has warned. More Details: Sayfa 29 http://www.pajhwok.com/en/subscription-required?redirect_from=445974 Govt’s ‘vague policy’ on Saudi-led coalition worries Senate committee The government has avoided informing the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs whether or not it has decided to join the 34-nation coalition led by Saudi Arabia which is reportedly planning a ground operation in Syria. At a meeting of the committee held here on Tuesday, its members expressed concern over the possibility of Pakistan’s involvement in the Syrian conflict. More Details: http://www.dawn.com/news/1238578/govts-vague-policy-on-saudi-led-coalition-worries-senatecommittee Terrorists Being Funded By Hostile Intelligence Agencies The Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif presided over a Corps Commanders meeting at the Army General Headquarters. According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) wing of the Pakistan Army, the participants of the meeting took a holistic review of the internal and regional security situation including reconciliation with Afghanistan and the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. More Details: http://www.geo.tv/latest/101020-Terrorists-being-funded-by-hostile-intelligence-agencies Two children killed in Kunar blast Two children have been killed in a blast in Wata Poor District of eastern Kunar province. Police said the incident took place in Managy area around 5 pm on Tuesday. According to Kunar’s police chief Abdul Habib Sayedkhil and his spokesperson Faridullah, the blast was caused by an old shell, apparently left over from the Soviet time. More Details: http://www.khaama.com/two-children-killed-in-kunar-blast-4565 10.TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST Explosives, Suicide Belts Found on Suspects at Syria Border Turkish security forces seized explosives and four suicide vests in the baggage of a group of suspects stopped at the border with Syria, the Turkish army said on Wednesday. "Between 12 and 15 kilos of Sayfa 30 explosives and four belts that could be used for suicide attacks were found in two bags," the army said in a statement. More Details: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/201736-explosives-suicide-belts-found-on-suspects-at-syriaborder Iran, Turkey deputy FMs meet amid disputes After 6 months since FM Zarif’s visit to Turkey was canceled, deputy FM Rahimpour met his Turkish counterpart in Ankara on Tue. and discussed regional issues and bilateral relations. Ebrahim Rahimpour, Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and Commonwealth Affairs, arrived in Ankara on Tuesday and held talks with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Fereydoun Sinirlioğlu on regional developments and bilateral relations. More Details: http://en.mehrnews.com/news/114322/Iran-Turkey-deputy-FMs-meet-amid-disputes *This media summary is prepared by ORSAM Middle East Research Assistant Firuze Yağmur Gökler. It covers news and commentaries as reported by the national media sources publishing in the Middle Eastern countries. The views expressed are not those of ORSAM and their inclusion does not imply factual accuracy. *Bu bülten ORSAM Ortadoğu Uzman Yardımcısı Firuze Yağmur Gökler tarafından hazırlanmaktadır. Bülten Ortadoğu ülkelerinin yerel haber kaynaklarından derlenmektedir. Belirtilen görüşler bölge ülkelerinin haber kaynaklarına ve ismi geçen yazarlara ait olup ORSAM’ın görüşünü yansıtmamaktadır. Sayfa 31
