Archive for November 24, 2018

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Iran’s Rouhani calls for Muslims to unite against United States

November 24, 2018

Source: Iran’s Rouhani calls for Muslims to unite against United States

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Muslims worldwide on Saturday to unite against the United States, instead of “rolling out red carpets for criminals”.

Washington in May reimposed sanctions on Tehran, after President Donald Trump pulled out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran under which they had been lifted.

“Submitting to the West headed by America would be treason against our religion … and against the future generations of this region,” Rouhani told an international conference on Islamic unity in Tehran, in a speech broadcast live on state television.

“We have a choice to either roll out red carpets for criminals, or to forcefully stand against injustice and remain faithful to our Prophet, our Koran and our Islam,” Rouhani said, in an apparent reference to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states which have close ties to Washington.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are regional rivals and have supported opposing sides in conflicts in Syria and Yemen and different political factions in Iraq and Lebanon.

“We are ready to defend the interests of the Saudi people against terrorism, aggression and the superpowers… and we don’t ask for $450 billion to do it,” Rouhani said, referring to Saudi Arabia’s contracts with the United States.

Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Hugh Lawson

 

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Turkey protests US observation posts in north Syria – Al Arabiya English

November 24, 2018

Source: Turkey protests US observation posts in north Syria – Al Arabiya English

A file photo of a convoy of Turkish forces near the village of Kafr Karmin, some 35 km west of Aleppo, on January 30, 2018. (AFP)
AFP, IstanbulSaturday, 24 November 2018
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Turkey on Saturday sharply criticized a US plan to put observation posts in northern Syria so as to help prevent clashes between Turkish forces and a Kurd militia backed by Washington.

“I am of the opinion that these measures will only complicate further an already complicated situation,” said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, quoted by state-run news agency Anadolu.

“We have told our American counterparts about our unease several times,” Akar said, noting that he recently raised the issue with Joe Dunford, head of the US joint chiefs of staff.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday that Washington wanted the observation posts along Syria’s northern border with Turkey to help minimize tensions between the Turks and Washington’s Kurdish allies in the fight against ISIS extremist group.

The aim was to ensure the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, “are not drawn off that fight.”

“They will be very clearly marked locations day and night so that the Turks know where they’re at,” he said, noting that the decision was taken in close cooperation with Turkey.

Akar, again urging Washington to halt support for the YPG, said the observation posts would serve no use.

Turkey “will not hesitate to take the necessary measures on the other side of its borders to face up to the risks and threats which could result,” he added.

The SDF announced on November 11 it would resume its offensive against ISIS after having previously called it off due to tensions with Turkey, which had shelled its positions in northern Syria.

Syria’s long-oppressed Kurdish minority has established a semi-autonomous region in the north of the country, which has been wracked by conflict since 2011.

Turkey refuses to recognize the territory on its border, fearing it will stoke the separatist ambitions ofKurds in its own country.

Ankara has carried out two operations against Kurdish forces since 2016, the last against the border enclave of Afrin, which it seized in March and is now controlled by pro-Turkish Syrian rebels.

Last Update: Saturday, 24 November 2018 KSA 15:33 – GMT 12:33

 

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Iran’s Rouhani calls Israel a ‘cancerous tumor’ established by West 

November 24, 2018

Source: Iran’s Rouhani calls Israel a ‘cancerous tumor’ established by West | The Times of Israel

At Islamic Unity Conference, president, seen as a relative moderate who does not routinely employ such rhetoric, says Israel a ‘fake regime’

By NASSER KARIMIToday, 11:37 am  
In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani attends an annual Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani attends an annual Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called Israel a “cancerous tumor” established by Western countries to advance their interests in the Middle East.

Iran’s leaders frequently condemn Israel and predict its demise, but Rouhani, a relative moderate, rarely employs such rhetoric.

Addressing an annual Islamic Unity Conference on Saturday, Rouhani said “one of the ominous results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumor in the region.” He went on to refer to Israel as a “fake regime” set up by Western countries.

Iran supports terror groups like Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas that are pledged to Israel’s destruction.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long identified Iran as Israel’s greatest threat, pointing to its nuclear program, calls for Israel’s destruction and support of anti-Israel terrorist groups.

The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, routinely calls Israel a “cancer” of the region that must be removed.

Rouhani on Saturday said the United States cultivates close ties with “regional Muslim nations” to protect Israel, an apparent reference to Iran’s regional rival Saudi Arabia and the kingdom’s Sunni Arab allies. He said bowing to American pressure amounts to “treason.”

He added, however, that Iran was prepared to defend Saudi Arabia from “terrorism and superpowers.”

“We do consider you as a brother,” he said. “We do consider the people of Mecca and Medina our brothers,” he added, referring to Islam’s two holiest cities, in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran nearly three years ago after Iranian protesters stormed its diplomatic posts in Iran in response to the kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. The two countries support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.

 

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A French spy ship reserved for trouble spots joins USS Truman in Syrian waters – DEBKAfile

November 24, 2018

Source: A French spy ship reserved for trouble spots joins USS Truman in Syrian waters – DEBKAfile

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The advanced French Dupuy de Lome spy ship has reached Syrian waters and begun operating in conjunction with the USS Harry Truman and its five-ship strike force. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the Dupuy le Lome is normally reserved by the Directorate of Military Intelligence of France (DRM) for deployment to the world’s flash points ahead of or amid military flareups. During the Ukraine war and the Russian invasion of Crimea (2014-2015), the French signal intelligence ship was seen repeatedly in the Black Sea while tracking Russian military movements.

Since last weekend, the US Air Force has maintained flights around the clock over Syria,according to an earlier DEBKAfile report. Some of the aircraft take off from the Truman’s flight decks.

Not much is known about the surveillance systems aboard the French spy ship, but they are believed to be state of the art. They include a radar/radiation warning system, satellite communications systems and at least two navigational radar locators. The ship also has equipment for eavesdropping on enemy communications and command centers, reading plain and coded email and listening in on mobile phone communications.

Beamed to the French ship is intelligence gathered by US reconnaissance aircraft which have been in the air over Syria since last May. These USAF MC-12S EMARSS and MC-12W Liberty planes have for some months been making passes over Syria from their base on the island of Crete. The UAF planes are equipped with an Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS-S) which can listen in on conversations among enemy command centers. They can also capture military installations on video for relay to the US Army’s DCGS-A intelligence data network.

 

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