Middle Orient

Basra light crude witnessed an increase on Thursday to about 68 dollars per barrel, while heavy crude prices dropped.Al Basra light crude exports to Asia fell to 67.14 dollars, in time the heavy crude witnessed a decrease to 63.50. Saudi light crude reached 65.85 dollars per barrel, while the Emirati …

Iraqi security forces raided a hideout and confiscated a suicide vest and ammunition in Nineveh today, Saturday. A statement by the Iraqi Intelligence Directorate said, “the Detachments of the Military Intelligence Division in the 15th Division, in cooperation with the third regiment of the 21st Infantry Brigade, and in coordination …

Elliott Abrams said that going back to the JCPOA in 2021 is not a simple prospect. If Iran is “absolutely determined” to develop a nuclear weapon, the only way to stop the rogue regime may be militarily, according to Elliott Abrams. If that assumption is correct, then “ultimately Israel and …

Is it a coincidence that one day a US newspaper reports on alleged Israeli attacks and the next day Iran says that a ship is targeted? An enduring mystery surrounds the timing of Iran’s claim that one of its ships was struck by an explosion en route to Syria, and …

Israeli officials did not comment on Friday when asked if Israel was involved in the incident on Wednesday. Israel is highly likely to have been behind an attack in the Mediterranean this week that damaged an Iranian container ship, an Iranian investigator was quoted as saying on Saturday by Iran’s …

The Syrian government seeks to strengthen its military presence in Ain Issa and the area overlooking the M4 international highway, which are under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The Syrian government, with the support of Russia, is trying to boost its military presence in the areas of northeastern …

The UAE’s EDGE and Israel Aerospace Industries agreed to develop a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System for the Emirates. A United Arab Emirates state-owned arms maker announced an agreement to develop anti-drone technology with an Israeli state company on Thursday. EDGE signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to …

Turkey’s efforts to secure a demarcation agreement with Egypt in the eastern Mediterranean seem fruitless as Cairo remains indifferent to Ankara’s signals. Turkey is trying to pull Egypt to Ankara’s side in the energy rivalry over the eastern Mediterranean by sending constructive signals to Cairo after Turkish “hard power” tactics …

Top officials from Russia, Turkey and Qatar have agreed to apply the Astana peace process through humanitarian intervention, writes Etihad Press. Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov (of Russia), Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Rahman (of Qatar), and Mevlut Cavusoglu (of Turkey) announced the launch of a new joint consultative process regarding the Syrian …

An Iranian container ship has been damaged in an attack in the Mediterranean, the state-run shipping company says, adding it would take legal action to identify the perpetrators of what it called terrorism and naval piracy. The ship, Shahre Kord, was slightly damaged by an explosive object which caused a …