Syrian Information Minister: Egypt-Syria Relations Deep

In an interview with the Egyptian government daily Al-Ahram, Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said that relations between Egypt and Syria were deep and that Egyptian-Syrian unity and Arab unity were the only way to deal with the Israeli threats.

Source: Al-Ahram, Egypt, July 2, 2009

Cartoon In Saudi Paper: U.S. Begins Pullout From Iraq

Cartoonist: Fahed Al-Khamaisi

Source: Al-Iqtassadiya, Saudi Arabia, July 1, 2009

Report: Al-Qaeda Attack on U.S. Embassy in Algiers Foiled

An Algerian newspaper reports that security forces have foiled a planned attack by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on the U.S. Embassy in Algiers. The British and Danish Embassies were also reportedly targets...

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Cartoon In Bahraini Paper: U.S. Forces Transfer Iraqi Security To Iraqis

Source: Akhbar Al-Khaleej, Bahrain, July 2, 2009

Syrian President Sets Minimum Prison Sentence For Family Honor Murders

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has issued an order setting a minimum prison sentence of two years for murder for violations of family honor.

He abolished Section 548 of the penal code, which exempts anyone committing such a murder from punishment.

Source: Al-Thawra, Syria, July 2, 2009

Saudi Arabia To Erect Largest Border Fence In Region

Saudi Arabia has announced that it will erect a security fence along its borders, which will be the largest of its kind in the region.

The fence will be backed up by a sea and air border monitoring and control system.

The project is to be executed by the French company EADS, and will take five years to cmoplete.

Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, July 2, 2009

Uzbek "Islamic Jihad Union" Releases Russian-Language Jihadi Anthems

On July 1, 2009, the Ansar Al-Mujahideen jihadist forum posted a collection of 15 Russian-language jihad songs. The anthems were produced by the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), an Al-Qaeda-linked Uzbek jihadist group based in Waziristan that has recently carried out attacks in Afghanistan and in Uzbekistan's Ferghana Valley...

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Large Number of Teenage Girls In Syrian Prisons

It is estimated that due to emigration and forced expulsion between 1975 and 2007, seven million Iraqis are living outside their country.

Not unlike the Palestinian refugees, the problem of Iraqi refugees is increasingly becoming a chronic problem, with no solution in sight. There are as many as two million Iraqis in Syria.

Dr. Abdul Samad Abdul-Rahman, Iraq's minister for immigrants and deportees, drew attention to "a horrible humanitarian situation" as reflected in the incarceration of a large number of teenage girls in Syrian prisons and detention camps.

[The minister did not offer explanation about the exact number or the reasons for the girls' incarceration.]

Source: Al-Mada, Iraq, July 2, 2009

Claim: ISI Material Sent to 260,000 Mailboxes

In a post from July 2 on the Ansar Al-Mujahideen jihadist forum, the "Jihadi Internet Raid Brigades" claimed that they sent 260,000 emails in the course of 48 hours containing an audio interview with the Islamic State of Iraq's War Minister, Abu Hamza Al-Mujahir...

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Al-Sadr Calls On Supporters To Cease Attacks In The Cities

Radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr has called on his supporters to cease "resistance operations" in the cities and villages from which U.S. forces have withdrawn.

Two years earlier, Al-Sadr called on his militia [Jaysh Al-Mahdi, or Mahdi Army] to terminate their operations against the U.S. army, and went to Iran to pursue higher religious training.

[Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has been courting the Sadrists as potential partners in the general elections.]

Source: Al-Zaman, Iraq, July 2, 2009

Talabani's Son: U.S. Administration Not Interested In Iraq's Destiny – Withdrawal Is Premature

Qubad Talabani, who is the son of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and who represents the Kurdish Regional Government in Washington, has said that some members of the U.S. administration have absolutely no interest in the destiny of Iraq.

He said that there is internal disagreement between those who do not wish to meddle in Iraqi affairs and those who believe that Iraq's security and prosperity is in the vital interest of the U.S.

Qubad Talabani called the U.S. withdrawal premature and said that the U.S. forces may have to reenter to maintain the security of the cities.

[It is well known that the Kurds, concerned about their own safety, have persistently called for the U.S. forces to stay in Iraq, even offering them military bases in areas under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government.]

Source: Al-Zaman, Iraq, July 2, 2009

Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Claims Advance on Presidential Palace in Mogadishu

In a communiqué dated July 1, 2009, Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen claimed to have captured new positions in the vicinity of the presidential palace in Mogadishu: "… A fierce battle took place in the neighborhoods of Yaqshid and Karan, near the Presidential palace, on Wednesday, 8 Rajab 1430 / July 1, 2009, and victory fell to the mujahideen...

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Security Plan To Frustrate Coup Attempts Following U.S. Withdrawal From Iraqi Cities

Despite security plans in place to frustrate coup attempts in Iraq, Kamal Al-Sa'idi, an Iraqi MP from the Al-Da'wa Party (Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's party) did not rule out the possibility that some forces would attempt a coup.

Al-Sa'idi listed among the forces that might contemplate a coup the Ba'th Party, armed groups, officers in Saddam's army, and former security agencies, in addition to political figures who publicly espouse democracy but maintain disguised relationships with these forces.

Al-Sa'idi added that there was a desire among "regional forces" to change the Iraqi political system. If the coup attempts fail, these regional forces would seek to influence the outcome of the elections scheduled for January 2010 to pursue their agenda.

While these forces are prepared to spend billions of dollars to affect regime change, Al-Sa'idi speculated that they would not succeed without an American agreement.

Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, July 2, 2009

Afghan Website: Taliban Seize U.S. Soldier In Paktika Province

Taliban militants in Afghanistan have captured an American soldier and three Afghan security men in the country’s southern Paktika province, according to an Afghan news website.

Maulvi Sangin, who claims to speak for the Taliban in the province, said that the U.S. soldier was kidnapped on Wednesday, according to a report in the Afghan website pajhwok.com.

He added that the Taliban fighters seized the soldiers when they were on way to the Yousafkhel security checkpost and took them to a secret location, according to the report.

Sangin claimed that the abducted soldiers were drunk when they were captured by the Taliban.

Source: www.pajhwok.com, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009

"Wind of Paradise IV" Video Shows Footage of Al-Qaeda Fighters in Waziristan

On June 28, 2009, jihadist websites posted the fourth film in Al-Qaeda's "Wind of Paradise" series. The film, which runs slightly over an hour and was produced by Al-Qaeda's media wing Al-Sahab, eulogizes 13 Al-Qaeda "martyrs" who died in combat in recent years in Afghanistan and Pakistan. An address on martyrdom by Abu Yahya Al-Libi is shown in between the segments on the lives and deaths of the martyrs...

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Carton In Qatari Daily: Iraqi Security – Scarecrow That Can't Scare Terrorist Crows

Cartoonist: Eley Saleba

Source: Al-Watan, Qatar, June 29, 2009

Report: Kuwaiti-Syrian-Kazakh Terror Cell Arrested in Lebanon

According to a report from Lebanon, last month the country's intelligence services arrested an Al-Qaeda-linked terror cell consisting of a Kuwaiti, a Syrian, and a Kazakh...

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Iranian Website: Shi'ites In Saudi Arabia To Shout 'Allah Akbar' From Rooftops

The Iranian website Shia Online reported that a group of Shi'ites in Saudi Arabia today called to their coreligionists in the country to take to the rooftops starting tomorrow to shout "Allah Akbar" for half an hour, to protest against the arrest of many Shi'ites in Saudi Arabia, and to keep it up until the prisoners are released.

According to the group's manifesto, which was posted online, "calling Allah Akbar shakes the thrones of the tyrants."

Calling "Allah Akbar´ from the rooftops is a tactic widely used by those protesting over the Iran election.

Source: Shia Online, Iran, July 1, 2009

Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Appoints New Governor for Bay-Bakool District

The Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen movement in Somalia has announced the appointment of Mahdi Omar Abd Al-Karim as the new governor for the Bay-Bakool district...

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Cartoon In UAE Paper: Sarkozy And The War Against The Niqab

Cartoonist: Ali Khalil

Source: Al-Khaleej, UAE, June 29, 2009

Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Stones Rapist-Murderer to Death in Public

In the latest in a series of law-and-order communiqués from Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen in Somalia,[1] the movement announced on June 30, 3009 that it had conducted a public stoning of a man convicted of rape and murder...

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Elaph: Saudi-Syrian-Lebanese Summit Set For July 16

The liberal website Elaph reports on a meeting to be held July 16 in Damascus between Saudi King Abdallah, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Elaph said that the meeting was made possible by Saudi mediation efforts, supported by a French delegation headed by presidency director-general Claude Guéant, who visited Damascus this week.

Elaph reported that Lebanon's prime-minister designate Sa'd al-Hariri and Al-Assad will meet separately, and only after the Lebanese government is formed, which will require the opposition March 8 Forces to make concessions on weapons and the resistance and their right of veto in the government.

The London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi noted that the agreements between France and Syria on Lebanon are greater than the understandings between Saudi Arabia and Syria, and attributed this to the determined Saudi attitude on Hizbullah.

Sources: Elaph.com and Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, July 1, 2009

Saudi Arabia Asks Pregnant Women, Elderly to Postpone Pilgrimage

Saudi Health Minister Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Rabi'a has advised pregnant women, the elderly, and those with asthma and allergies to postpone this year's Hajj pilgrimage because of their susceptibility to swine flu.

The minister also recommended that they be vaccinated against the disease.

So far, Saudi Arabia has registered 81 cases of swine flu, including six new cases in Riyadh yesterday.

Sources: Al-Bayan, UAE; Al-Thawra, Syria, July 1, 2009

Baghdad to Rename Major Thoroughfares

The City of Baghdad is planning to rename some of its thoroughfares after key nationalist figures who played heroic roles in the history of the nation.

Source: Al-Bayan, UAE, July 1, 2009

Iraq Offers First Oil Contract to British-Chinese Consortium

Iraq has accepted a bid from a British-Chinese consortium to develop the giant Rumaila oil field in southern Iraq, with proven reserves of 17 billion barrels of crude.

The consortium has offered to increase the current production from 950,000 barrels (b/d) a day to 2.85 million b/d, and will receive $2 for each additional barrel produced.

Iraq has offered six oil fields and two gas fields for bidding, but has failed to attract suitable bids.

The government is due to consider whether the conditions it has offered to potential bidders are attractive enough.

Iraq seeks to increase production to 6 million b/d by 2017 from the current level of 2.4 million b/d.

Sources: Al-Sabah, Al-Zaman, Iraq, July 1, 2009

Iraq Takes Full Control of Cities

Iraq has taken a full control of the cities following the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces.

The security for the cities will be the responsibility of 500,000 policemen and 250,000 soldiers.

On this occasion, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki declared: "A grave mistake will be committed by anyone who thinks that the Iraqis are incapable of protecting the security of their country…"

He said the government was looking forward to the biggest achievement in 2011, when all foreign forces will withdraw from Iraq.

Source: Al-Mada, Iraq, July 1, 2009

Cartoon In Qatari Paper: Israel's Peace Owl

Cartoonist: Omaya Joha

Source: Al-Raya, Qatar, June 29, 2009

Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Polices Mogadishu Market, Confiscates Spoiled Foodstuffs

According to a communiqué issued on June 29, 2009, Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen inspected warehouses in the Bakara market in Mogadishu and closed down those selling spoiled foodstuffs...

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Cartoon In 'Al-Hayat': The Somalia Situation

Cartoonist: Habib Haddad

Source: Al-Hayat, London, June 29, 2009

Al-Qaeda Maghreb Threatens France over Proposed Burqa Ban

In a communiqué dated June 28, 2009, which was posted on jihadist websites on June 30, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) threatened to attack France and its interests in revenge for what it termed France's "renewed open war on our niqab-wearing sisters."

To View The Full Report, CLICK HERE.

Gulf Naval Force To Fight Piracy

During a meeting yesterday in Riyadh, leaders of the Gulf and Red Sea states decided to form a joint naval force to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The naval force is to be formed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen, and Djibouti.

Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, June 30, 2009

Iraqi Ambassador to Damascus Praises Security Collaboration

Iraqi Ambassador to Damascus 'Alaa Al-Jawadi stated yesterday that the security collaboration between Syria and Iraq is at the highest level.

In a press conference at the Iraqi Embassy in Damascus, he said: "We and Syria are in agreement and will spare no effort to restore Iraq to its leadership role in the region."

With regard to cooperation in the oil sector, he said the agreement exists but that there were technical difficulties that had caused the delay in rehabilitating the pipeline which would carry Iraqi oil from Kirkuk to the Syrian port of Latkia.

[MEMRI reported recently that the rehabilitation of the pipeline was delayed because Iraq was concerned about the flow of jihadists across the Syrian border into Iraq.]

Source: Al-Rafidayn, Iraq, June 30, 2009

Iraq, Iran Clash Over Oil Field

A source in the Iraqi border police said that Iranian military forces, using medium and heavy weapons, have occupied an oil field about 400 kilometers (222 miles) south of the city of Basra.

The border police, accompanied by a unit responsible for protecting Iraqi oil installations, engaged the Iranian invading force and forced it to retreat.

Both sides sustained a number of injuries.

According to police sources, this was the biggest in a series of Iranian incursions into Iraq's oil fields.

Source: Al-Zaman, June 30, 2009

Iraq Celebrates Sovereignty Day

The Iraqi government daily Al-Sabah writes about the manifestations of happiness which prevail in the Iraqi street on the eve of the U.S. forces' withdrawal forces from Iraqi cities.

A variety of programs with song and dance are planned for today.

As is customary on these occasions, poets will read their poems extolling Iraq's history, civilization and glories, and the unity of its people.

Source: Al-Sabah, June 29, 2009

Iraqi Press Dwells on Possibility of Iran Exporting Crisis to Neighbors, Surrogates

The Iraqi daily Al-Mada writes that the political situation in Iran, particularly following the announcement of the election results, would drive the country to export its crisis outside its borders to divert attention from its internal crisis.

The paper stated that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities could render Iraq particularly vulnerable.

The Iraqi daily Al-Sabah Al-Jadid writes that the nature of the Iranian regime has fractured, and the leaders are facing two difficult choices: a) the use of massive force to put down the intifada (uprising) "even if the blood flows like a river," which could lead to ethnic and sectarian conflicts that could eventually force the leadership to turn Iran into a complete totalitarian country, and b) the use of a measured amount of force to break the protests or to contain them, which could lead to paralysis.

However, the paper writes that there might be a third option, namely the exporting of the struggle outside the country.

That means activating the allies in Palestine, Lebanon, or the Gulf.

This could mean bringing the entire region into turmoil, without necessarily entering into direct conflict with the U.S.

The Iraqi daily Al-Zaman quotes General David Petraeus, U.S. military central command head, who following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that Tehran is continuing to arm and train extremist elements inside Iraq to cause security problems.

Sources: Al-Mada, June 30, 2009; Al-Sabah Al-Jadid, June 29, 2009; Al-Zaman, June 30, 2009

AQIM Communiqué Claims Responsibility for Murder of American in Mauritania and Addresses President Obama

In a June 24, 2009 communiqué, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the June 23, 2009 murder of U.S. citizen Christopher Legget in Nouakchott, Mauritania...

To View The Full Report, CLICK HERE.

American Pressure on Israel

Cartoonist: Hassan Idleby

Source: Al-Bayan (UAE), June 28, 2009

New Al-Qaeda Video Presents Last Statements of Terrorists Who Perpetrated Suicide Bombings in Yemen

A new video produced by Al-Malahim, the media company of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), features the last statements of two shahids who carried out suicide bombings in Yemen against South Korean nationals: 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Mahdi, who perpetrated the March 13, 2009 attack against Korean tourists in the Hadhramout region, and Khaled Al-Dhiani, who perpetrated the March 18, 2009 attack against the Korean delegation that came to investigate the first attack...

To View The Full Report, CLICK HERE.

French Group Discusses Construction of Two Airports in Iraq

A spokesman for the French group IDPA which manages French airports said the group is discussing with the Iraqi authorities the construction of two airports: one to be constructed between the Shi’ite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf in the center of Iraq and the second to be constructed in the capital city of Baghdad.

Source: Al-Ittihad, Iraq, June 27, 2009

Experts Warn of Desertification in Iraq

Environmental experts are warning of the desertification of central and southern Iraq.

Taha Yassin Mohammad, the chief of environment in the Province of Basra, said modern studies confirm that the desert areas in Iraq represent 45% of the Iraqi territory.

He attributes the phenomenon of desertification to the migration of farmers to the cities and towns or their turning away from agriculture.

Apart from these factors, desertification was also enhanced by wars (particularly Iraq-Iran war) and the stationing of armies on agricultural land, poor planning and poor use of natural resources such as water and soil, and the declining upstream quantities of water flowing into the two great rivers of the Tigris and the Euphrates.

[As a result of the declining productivity of its agricultural sector Iraq is increasingly becoming one of the largest importers of grain in the world.]

Source: Al-Ittihad, Iraq June 27, 2009

 New Messages from Al-Qaeda Leaders Osama Bin Laden & Al-Zawahiri Bin Laden: Obama And Administration Have 'Sown New Seeds That Will Increase Hatred And Vengeance Towards America'; 'American People... [Will] Reap What White House Leaders Are Sowing'; Ayman Al-Zawahiri: Obama, 'Global Criminal' and 'Chief of Oppressors,' Is Not Welcome in Egypt Special Dispatch Series - No. 2382- June 3, 2009

The State of Anarchy Within the Salafi-Jihadi Movement in Gaza: An Inside View  Special Dispatch Series - No. 2381- June 2, 2009

Taliban Editorial: Obama's 'Contradictory Decisions' Reflect Americans' 'Weakness' and the 'Wavering of Their Failed Policies' -Special Dispatch Series - No. 2380 - June 2, 2009

On Eve of Lebanon's Parliamentary Elections, Struggle between March 14 Forces, Hizbullah-Headed Opposition Heats Up-Inquiry & Analysis Series-No. 520- June 2, 2009 

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