Middle east news

Iraqi VP Al-Nujaifi Calls To Investigate Excessive Use Of Coalition Airpower In Battle For Mosul
Iraqi Vice-President Osama Al-Nujaifi said that there was a “significant flaw” in the battle for Mosul and that there was “clear evidence that the airpower of the international coalition has been used in an exaggerated manner.” Speaking on Al-Arabiya network on March 28, Al-Nujaifi accused the Iraqi government of a “great failure” in directing the battle and called for an investigation.
EXCLUSIVE: Tunisian Authorities Launch Investigation After Students ‎Praise Osama Bin Laden, 9/11 Attacks During High School ‎Celebrations
‎On April 19, 2017, the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported that the Tunisian Ministry of Education launched an investigation after controversial banners allegedly praising late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks were raised during Tunisia’s annual Baccalaureate sports celebrations.
EXCLUSIVE: Iyadh Ag Ghali, Leader Of Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen (GSIM), The New Al-Qaeda Affiliate In Mali: ‘France Is Our [First] Enemy’
Issue 45 of the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Masra weekly newspaper, published April 3, 2017, included a full-page interview with Abu Al-Fadl Iyadh Ag Ghali, leader of the newly formed Mali-based Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimeen – The Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM).
ISIS Aleppo Video Denounces Turkey’s ‘Crimes’ In Al-Bab, ‎Urges Fighters To Remain Steadfast In Face Of Setbacks ‎
On April 16, 2017, the Islamic State (ISIS) Aleppo Province released a 20-minute video that denounces Turkey’s “crimes” against civilians in and around of Al-Bab in the northeastern countryside of the province. They video also attempts to justify ISIS’s defeat there after Turkish-backed rebels recently seized control of the city and neighboring villages.
Senior Khamenei Advisor Reveals Iranian Attempts To Arm Houthis With Surface-To-Surface Missiles
Iranian cleric Mehdi Taeb, head of the Ammar Strategic Base that advises Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, revealed that Iran had made three attempts to arm the Houthis in Yemen with surface-to-surface missiles, but that the shipments had been returned by Iranian President Rohani, who claimed that the Obama administration that threatened to halt the JCPOA negotiations. Thus, Taeb accused Rohani of sharing responsibility for the bloodshed in Yemen. Taeb also discussed scenarios of the Houthis taking over Jedda, Riyadh, and ultimately, the holy places of Mecca, using Iranian missiles to ground the Saudi airforce. The video was posted on social media networks in April, 2017.
By memri.org, april 2017