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While there is a broad range of Arabic language media outlets reporting stories from and about the Middle East, there is currently no affordable and reliable means for English speakers to gain access to this content. As a result, many English speaking businesspersons, students, journalists and others who have an interest in the affairs of the region are largely unaware of what the Middle East media is covering and how they are covering these stories.



Mideastwire.com aims to close this gap by offering a daily menu of translations covering some of the key political, cultural, economic and opinion pieces appearing in the media of the 22 Arab countries and the Arab Diaspora. Through this effort, we hope to address at least one element of a global disconnect that continues to threaten a wide spectrum of socio-political and economic relationships, both here in the region and beyond.



TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING
19-Feb-2021
Iran
Politics
“Fakhrizadeh’s assassination reveals what was hidden: Revolutionary Guard is infiltrated”  (Al-Jarida, Kuwait)
Military and Security
On February 19, the independent Al-Jarida newspaper carried the following report from Tehran by its correspondent Farzad Qasimi: “A source in the office of Iranian Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei revealed to Al-Jarida that the Guide recently received a security report drawn up by Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi surrounding the dispute between his ministry and the Revolutionary Guard over the assassination of military nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The last few days had witnessed new chapters in the public dispute between the two security bodies after Alavi spoke publicly on the official TV channel about the implication of a Revolutionary Guard element – whom Al-Jarida learned was a general – in the assassination that occurred in November. And according to the source, Alavi’s report, which he drew up upon the Guide’s request, reached the conclusion there were major security infiltrations in the ranks of the Guard and its affiliated bodies by foreign intelligence services, namely American and Israeli ones… (Read More)
Iraq
Politics
“Bombing of Arbil: Multiple messages”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)   
Military and Security - USA EU
On February 19, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following opinion piece by Iraqi writer Yaya al-Kabissi: “In a statement called “Statement #1” issued on August 26, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq – The Guardians of Blood Brigades, claimed responsibility for the targeting of an American military convoy that was “pulling out from Taji camp towards Ain al-Assad base” in Ghazaliya area west of Baghdad. Back then, the Iranian Al-Alam TV carried a video of the operation, while Anwar TV 2 carried the statement on its Twitter page. The statement also claimed responsibility for the targeting of “a security convoy affiliated with American intelligence” in Bartala in East Mosul, though it later turned out… it was two motorcycles belonging to the World Food Program… [Many statements ensued] until the one issued on February 16, 2021, in which the Guardians of Blood Brigades claimed responsibility for the targeting of Arbil… (Read More)
Lebanon
Politics
"A coup at the Baabda Palace?"  (Newspaper, Middle East)   
Democracy and Party Politics
On February 18, the Nida al-Watan daily carried the following report by Najm al-Hashem: "Journalist, Antoine Constantine, who is the media and political advisor of the FPM's Chairman, Minister Gibran Bassil, has now been appointed to the post of President Michel Aoun's media and political advisor, a matter that has suddenly emerged to the limelight. The matter was not limited to this extent as there have been leaks indicating that a number of advisors will be dispatched to the Baabda Palace to form a backup force around the president throughout his remaining time as president until October 31, 2022, and perhaps even to prepare for his persistence at the palace following the elapse of this term in order to prevent a presidential void even if this violates the constitution… (Read More)
“Macron’s mistakes open Lebanon’s door to Russia”  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Democracy and Party Politics - USA EU
On February 18, the Lebanese privately-owned Al-Joumhouria newspaper carried the following report by its correspondent Johnny Menayyar: “Russia may have wanted to announce clearly and to whom it may concern that it wished to assume a role in the ongoing action on the Lebanese arena. In the past, the Russian officials clearly reiterated before their Lebanese visitors that they did not want any role on the Lebanese scene despite the important cards they were holding starting from the Syrian scene. And this was due to many reasons, namely the fact that the Lebanese political tendency was American, regardless of the sacrifices which Russia could make for Lebanon, noting that when Russia tried to play a role in the resolution of the Syrian refugees’ problem, it was immediately obstructed by US reservations, which nipped the Russian initiative in the bud despite President of the Republic Michel Aoun’s visit to Moscow… (Read More)
Libya
Politics
"Al-Dabaib balances out relationship with Egypt and Turkey"  (Newspaper, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy
On February 19, the London-based Al-Arab daily newspaper carried the following report: "The new Libyan PM, Abdul Hamid al-Dabaib, has carried out a symbolic visit to Cairo on Thursday with the aim of reassuring the latter with respect to his close relationship with Ankara. Egyptian President Abdul Fattah es-Sisi held talks with Al-Dabaib at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on Thursday… Al-Dabaib used a diplomatic discourse to express his country's appreciation of Egypt's efforts to resolve the crisis… (Read More)
Palestine
Politics
"Pre-elections arrangements: Hamas organizing its lines"  (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)
Democracy and Party Politics - Health
On February 19, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: "Amidst a great deal of secrecy and hushed measures, today will see the launching of the first phase of the Hamas internal elections. The movement had decided to conduct these elections prior to the general elections that are planned to take place in May. In the meantime, the sacked Fatah official, Mohammad Dahlan, is intensifying his efforts to form a societal incubator for his movement in Gaza since this will give him some momentum in the elections and subsequently prepare him to inherit Fatah… (Read More)
Qatar
Politics
"Will Al-Riyadh seek Qatar's diplomacy to resolve Yemen's, Iran's crises?"  (Website, Middle East)
Arab Diplomacy - Peace Process
On February 17, the electronic Al-Khaleej Online daily newspaper carried the following report: "As the Houthis have escalated their attacks on the Saudi regions, the Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohamad Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, is seemingly launching a new action to open a diplomatic channel to resolve the escalating crises in the region… The Qatari minister arrived in Tehran on Monday, February 15, along with a high-ranking delegation to discuss a number of issues of common interest for the two countries mainly the nuclear agreement. During the visit, the Qatari president delivered a message to the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani from the Qatari Prince, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani… (Read More)
Sudan
Opinion
“Sudan: Secret Israeli delegation in intelligence hotel!”  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)
On February 19, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following lead editorial: “The last “secret” visit of an Israeli security delegation to Sudan (the fourth to date) carried a number of signs, which help explain the approach and dealings of the ruling authorities in the Arab countries in general, not just in Sudan, with the Hebrew state. At the same time, they help explain the way Tel Aviv deals with the elite groups, particularly the military and security ones. The “secret” facet of the Israeli visits to Khartoum makes them limited to a very small number of individuals, noting that some Sudanese media outlets indicated that unidentified Israeli security and military officials met with Chairman of the Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a.k.a. Hemedti, as though restricting Sudan to these two top military officials… (Read More)
Syria
Politics
"Russian leadership warns that its Syrian counterpart might be running out of patience…"  (Website, Middle East)
Military and Security
On February 19, the electronic Rai al-Youm daily newspaper carried the following editorial: "Alexander Lavrentiev, the envoy of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to the settlement negotiations in Syria has warned that "the Syrian government is running out of patience regarding the growing number of Israeli raids on its lands…" adding that these unconstructive raids must come to an end and "we hope that the Israeli side will listen to our concerns in this regard… (Read More)
“Syrian-Israeli deal under Russian tutelage: What are its elements?”  (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)
On February 17, the Saudi-owned London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper carried the following report from London by Ibrahim Hamidi: “Ever since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for an urgent government meeting on Tuesday night, there were expectations that this might be linked to the “swap deal” mediated by Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure the release of an Israeli national “arrested after entering Qunaitra by mistake,” and acquire information about the remains of Israeli nationals in Syria, in exchange for Tel Aviv’s release of Syrian detainees held in its prisons… But following the meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz imposed a blackout on what went on during the meeting, which was held through videoconferencing… And today, the official Syrian News Agency SANA reported that “work is ongoing to ensure the release of Syrians from the occupied Golan from the occupation’s prisons.”… (Read More)
United Arab Emirates
Politics
“… Activists question UAE’s connection to “Hope Orbiter””  (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)   
Media
On February 18, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi carried the following report from Tunis by its correspondent Hassan Salman: “The controversy is ongoing on social media surrounding the UAE’s successful mission to Mars, as many researchers and activists considered that the Emirates funded the “Hope Orbiter” project from the money deposited by former Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in its banks, at a time when the Americans and Japanese handled the execution of the project. A few days ago, the UAE had celebrated Hope Orbiter’s entry into Mars’ orbit after a 7-month mission, and the dispatch of the first images from it to Earth… But it seems that this unprecedented Emirati and Arab “accomplishment” did not convince many Arab researchers and activists… (Read More)
Yemen
Politics
"Ma'rib tribes smashing red lines: Saudi Arabia has no place among us!"  (Al-Akhbar Lebanon, Lebanon)   
Military and Security
On February 18, the Al-Akhbar daily newspaper carried the following report: "…As the Sanaa forces have achieved new gains on the northern and western fronts of the city of Ma'rib and managed, in the past 24 hours, to progress into the heart of Wadi Thanna, which is located between the two banks of the Ma'rib Dam…, the tribes in the governorate stressed that the red lines sketched by Saudi Arabia no longer exits. This comes as the cabinet opened all communication lines with these tribes in order to avoid any fighting in the center of the governorate thus allowing the fighters of the other side a chance to have "a safe exit… (Read More)
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