Daily News Brief - 28/09/2022
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Please find below today’s daily news brief.
Egypt | Jordan: Egypt and Jordan warn Israel against escalating tensions in Jerusalem
Egypt and Jordan issued statements on Tuesday warning Israel against measures that would escalate tensions in Jerusalem after violent confrontations erupted at the Al-Aqsa Mosque between Palestinians and Jewish settlers who stormed the compound under heavy police protection. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned in a statement “the repeated and escalating violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, committed by extremist Jewish elements” while Jordan described the incidents as “blatant and unacceptable violations of international law and the current legal and historical situation for Jerusalem and its sanctities.”
Iran: Authorities vow to crackdown on protesters as demonstrations enter their 13th consecutive day
Iran’s police command said on Wednesday that its force would come down hard on the protesters who took the streets after the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16 while in the custody of the so-called morality police. According to a statement, “officers will oppose with all their might the conspiracies of counter-revolutionaries and hostile elements, and deal firmly with those who disrupt public order and security anywhere in the country.” The UN called on the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to refrain from using disproportionate force against the protesters. UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric also expressed concerns “about reports of rising fatalities, including women and children, related to the protests.”
Iran | Iraq: Iranian drone and artillery attacks continue in Iraq’s Kurdistan region
Iranian drones and artillery continue their attacks on Kurdish opposition groups located in Iraq’s Kurdistan region with several targets being hit in areas south of Sulaymaniyah and north of Erbil. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that “headquarters of anti-Iranian terrorists were targeted,” adding that the operations will continue. Earlier this week, the IRGC accused Kurdish groups in Iraq of supporting the current protests in Iran and even attempting to smuggle weapons across the border.
Iraq: Parliament scheduled to vote on speaker’s resignation amid deepening political crisis
The Iraqi parliament is expected to vote on Wednesday on speaker Mohammad al-Halbousi’s resignation announced on Sunday. The parliamentary session will take place amid tight security measures implemented around the capital Baghdad as the situation is expected to worsen by Saturday with calls for massive demonstrations to commemorate the third anniversary of the 2019 October protests. Coordination Framework, a Shia pro-Iran political alliance opposed to the Sadrist Movement, prime-minister nominee Mohammad al-Sudani announced that he will vote against al-Halbousi’s resignation as his withdrawal is seen as undermining the coalition’s efforts to form a new alliance. Meanwhile, independent member of the parliament Adel al-Rikabi revealed on Tuesday that independent representatives, Imtidad Movement, and the New Generation Movement will form a new alliance targeting the speaker of the legislature position.
Israel | Palestine: Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces during a raid in Jenin
Three Palestinians were killed and 16 others were wounded on Wednesday during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank’s city of Jenin. The Israeli forces stormed the Jenin refugee camp on Wednesday morning and surrounded the house of Ra’ad Hazem’s family, the perpetrator of a shooting attack in Tel Aviv last April that left three Israelis dead. Violent confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers erupted as explosions began to echo throughout the camp.
Israel | Palestine: Palestinian president holds phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog on Tuesday to discuss civil and security cooperation. The Israeli president emphasized “the importance of joint activities to ensure calm and to stop violence and extremist forces,” while both leaders expressed hope that “civil and security cooperation will be enhanced and quiet and security will be restored.” Abbas further wished Herzog and the people of Israel a happy new year.
Saudi Arabia: King appoints crown prince as prime minister in a cabinet reshuffle
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has been appointed as prime minister through a royal decree by King Salman who also ordered a limited cabinet reshuffle. The premiership of the kingdom is assumed by the monarch of the country and the naming of Mohammad bin Salman represents an exception from the law. King Salman’s second son, Prince Khalid has been appointed as defense minister.
Syria | Lebanon: Survivors of a migrant boat that sank off the Syrian coast were allegedly detained by security forces
Several NGOs reported that Syrian security agencies detained some of those who survived the migrant boat that sank off Syria’s coast. The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria, a London-based human rights group said that the survivors were detained because they are allegedly wanted for compulsory military service. The Consolidated Rescue Group and Humanitarian Relief also warned of the possibility of the survivors being detained for interrogation, adding that most of them are from the opposition-held Idlib province. Syrian authorities announced on Tuesday that they had recovered 100 bodies from the boat that sank off Tartus’ coast.
Turkey | Syria: Two people were killed in Turkish shelling of northern Syria
Two people were killed and eight others were wounded on Tuesday during Turkish shelling of areas in Syria’s northern province of Hasakah. According to the reports, the attacks targeted villages controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In response, the SDF retaliated by shelling villages controlled by Turkey in northern Hasakah.
UAE | Israel: UAE foreign minister holds phone conversation with Israeli prime minister
The Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan wished Prime Minister Yair Lapid a happy new year during a phone call on Tuesday evening. Bin Zayed also emphasized that the success of the relations between the two countries is a “clear embodiment of the benefits of peace for ‘our region and our ability’ to work together for a prosperous future for generations.”
Yemen | UN: UN special envoy to Yemen concludes visit to Saudi Arabia and Oman ahead of the truce expiration date
The UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg met with several officials in Riyadh and Muscat to discuss ongoing efforts to implement and extend the truce that will expire on October 2. He emphasized the importance of a longer extension to provide the space to prepare for inclusive political negotiations, including a nationwide ceasefire. In Oman, Grundberg also met with Ansar Allah’s chief negotiator to discuss the extension of the truce.