Hours after US military aircraft dropped ammunition and small arms to resupply Kurdish fighters in the embattled town of Kobani, Turkey’s foreign minister said Monday that the country would facilitate the movement of Iraqi Kurdish forces, or Peshmerga, to the city to join the fighting.
Saturday night saw some of the bloodiest fighting in a week, but on Monday a commander in Kobani said that “spirits and morale were high,” after the airdrops, which included twenty-seven bundles from Iraqi Kurdish authorities and contained medical supplies, ammunition, and weapons. A spokesman for the Kurdish fighters in Syria said that shipment included antitank weapons and that Kurdish forces expected more airdrops in the coming days. Turkey did not say how or when the Peshmerga fighters would cross into Kobani, but a Foreign Ministry official said that their passage through Turkish territory would be opened immediately.
EGYPT | LIBYA | SYRIA | TUNISIA | YEMEN | RELATED ISSUES
Cabinet reassures press syndicate of involvement in drafting laws
Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehlab said Saturday, “No law will be imposed on journalists and media professionals without the agreement of all parties involved.” His statement came during a meeting with head of the Supreme Press Council Galal Aref and Press Syndicate Chairman Diaa Rashwan. Mahlab’s previous decision to form separate cabinet committees involving representatives of the government to review media legislations and laws drafted by a committee of media figures provoked anger among journalists. They argued that such an arrangement breaches the constitution, which states the Supreme Press Council must have a say in press laws. [Ahram Online, DNE, Mada Masr, 10/19/2014]
Egypt refers sixty ‘pro-Brotherhood’ judges to disciplinary board
A judge referred on Monday sixty judges of different judicial levels to the disciplinary council for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. Judge Sherine Fahmy, delegated by the Cairo Appeals Court to investigate the issue, ruled to refer sixty judges to the board and called for them to be removed from office. Sherine accused the judges of signing a statement read out during the pro-Mohamed Morsi Rabaa al-Adawiya camp on July 24 last year. He also accused the judge who read out the statement, Mahmoud Mohi al-Deen, of fraud. Supreme Election Committee Head Nabil Salib mandated Sherine in July 2013 to investigate seventy-five judges who signed a statement called “the independence current.” The judges were accused of interfering in politics and violating the judicial authority law. [Ahram Online, Aswat Masriya, 10/20/2014]
Egypt army arrests Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis leader, says sources
Military forces arrested the leader of the military wing of the militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in North Sinai on Friday, reported Ahram Arabic news. An official source said that Walid Attalah is suspected of orchestrating an RPG attack late Thursday in North Sinai, which killed three policemen and injured seven others. “Walid Attalah received Egyptian citizenship during the era of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and he is of Palestinian origins,” the source said. Security officials are currently questioning Attalah. [Ahram Online, 10/18/2014]
Moody’s upgrades Egypt’s outlook to stable
On Monday, International credit ratings agency Moody’s upgraded Egypt’s outlook to stable from negative. This is expected to make the country’s struggling economy more hospitable to international investors. The decision was based on the country’s improved political stability, fiscal consolidation and signs of growth recovery. It remains limited by high fiscal deficits and government debt levels. A factor in upgrading the country’s rating was also the strong support from external donors. [Ahram Online, 10/20/2014]
Two rival Libyan governments claim to control oil policy
The rival government in Tripoli announced its own oil policies this week, drawing a rebuttal from Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni. Mashallah al-Zawi, the oil minister in the “National Salvation Government,” said that the ministry was working to resolve oilfield protests and discussing early retirement schemes for staff to make room for fresh recruits. Al-Thinni, whose government is recognized by the international community, said that oil revenues remain under the control of the state, referring to the government approved by the House of Representatives based in Tobruk. [Reuters, 10/18/2014]
United States and European countries condemn violence in Libya
The United States, France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom strongly condemned ongoing violence in Libya and called for an immediate ceasefire. The joint statement condemned Ansar al-Sharia and said that Libya’s “hard-fought freedom is at risk” if terrorists use Libya as a haven. They also expressed concern over Khalifa Haftar’s actions. The nations stand ready to use individual sanctions in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution against those who threaten or undermine Libyan peace and stability. [AP, 10/18/2014]
Egypt and Sudan to coordinate on Libya unrest
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Sunday his country will work with Sudan to support Libya’s military against Islamic militants in a bid to restore stability. Making remarks at the end of a two-day visit by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, al-Sisi said Sudan and Egypt agreed to coordinate efforts to support Libya’s state institutions, primarily the military. The two leaders said they want to move past recent strains in relations over divergent views on shared water resources and borders. [AP, 10/19/2014]
US airdrops military supplies in Kobani; Turkey will usher Peshmerga from Iraq
Hours after US military aircraft dropped ammunition and small arms to resupply Kurdish fighters in the embattled town of Kobani, Turkey’s foreign minister said Monday that the country would facilitate the movement of Iraqi Kurdish forces, or Peshmerga, to the city to join the fighting. Saturday night saw some of the bloodiest fighting in a week, but on Monday a commander in Kobani said that “spirits and morale were high,” after the airdrops, which included twenty-seven bundles from Iraqi Kurdish authorities and contained medical supplies, ammunition, and weapons. A spokesman for the Kurdish fighters in Syria said that shipment included antitank weapons and that Kurdish forces expected more airdrops in the coming days. Turkey did not say how or when the Peshmerga fighters would cross into Kobani, but a Foreign Ministry official said that their passage through Turkish territory would be opened immediately. [NYT, WSJ, AFP, Washington Post, 10/20/2014]
European Union to expand Syria sanctions
European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed to expand sanctions against Syria, adding sixteen names and two entities to the blacklist. Most of the new names were targeted for their role in government-directed repression in Syria and others for offering “practical support” to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, one diplomatic source said. Another source said the changes were made to include recently appointed Syrian officials on the sanctions list. The EU also maintains an oil embargo on Syria and curbs on financial transactions. [AFP, 10/20/2014]
Israeli Arab doctor killed fighting for ISIS in Syria
Israel’s domestic security agency reported that an Israeli Arab doctor was killed while fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The Shin Bet said Othman Abu al-Qiyan, who studied medicine in Jordan and worked as an intern at an Israeli hospital, was killed fighting in Syria in August. “This is a dangerous phenomenon, as those leaving for the [Syrian war] theater undergo military training, are exposed to extremist global jihad ideologies, and there is a concern that they will be used to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel at the end of the day,” the agency said. [AFP, 10/19/2014]
Syrian Kurds find refuge in camp named after suicide bomber
Syrian Kurdish refugees who streamed into Turkey from Kobani have found sanctuary in a new camp named after a female Kurdish suicide bomber who died last month while battling Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) militants in the besieged Syrian town. Officials from the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP), noted that the new camp, located in the border town of Suru, was renamed to honor Arin Mirkan’s valor and sacrifice as Kurdish forces continue to battle ISIS militants for control of Kobani. Sources suggest that Arin was a full-time fighter with the Syria-based Kurdish rebel group the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and that her suicide attack successfully killed several ISIS militants earlier this month. [Naharnet, 10/20/2014]
Tunisia prepares for terror trials
Tunisia plans to try hundreds of terrorism suspects in the first terror-related trials since the ouster of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Justice Minister Hafedh Ben Saleh told reporters last week that the at least 1,000 terrorism suspects were facing prosecution for terror-related crimes under the 2003 terrorism act. Security forces have arrested about 1,500 terrorism suspects this year alone and Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa announced on October 11 that about 500 of them would appear in court this month. [All Africa, 10/20/2014]
Nidaa Tounes and Ennahda lead mass rallies over the weekend
Nidaa Tounes and Ennahda held large rallies over the weekend in Kairouan and Sfax increasing their campaign efforts ahead of parliamentary elections on October 26. Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi headed a public event in Sfax, Tunisia’s second largest city, where he discussed his party’s commitment to leadership by consensus. Nidaa Tounes, viewed by many as Ennahda’s chief rival in this fall’s elections, held their campaign event in Kairouan where presidential candidate Beji Caid Essebsi vowed to improve living conditions and upgrade the city’s declining infrastructure, if elected. [Tunisia Live, 10/20/2014]
Foreign minister urges Libyan government to secure the release of abducted journalists
Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi announced Friday that the Libyan government was responsible for the safety of two Tunisian journalists abducted in Libya. The minister spoke with his Libyan counterpart on the sidelines of the World Investment Forum, held last week in Geneva, where he urged the Libyan government to secure the release and safe return of the two journalists. [TAP, 10/20/2014]
Forty killed in clashes between Houthis, Sunni tribes, and al-Qaeda
Over forty people were killed in fighting in Yemen’s center this weekend as Houthi forces continued to push south from Sana’a. Clashes continued in the city of Ibb, where fourteen Houthis and ten tribesmen were killed in combat on Friday. Hundreds more tribesmen surrounded the city Friday night, spurring more fighting as the Houthis tried to send reinforcements to Ibb. A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on a Houthi convoy Saturday left twelve dead. A mediation committee reportedly met to seek an agreement, with further discussions to take place Monday. In neighboring Bayda province, Houthis clashed with al-Qaeda militants in Rida but were forced to withdraw after two suicide bombings and RPG fire. Al-Qaeda militants also shot dead Saleh al-Subaihi, the head of a government-allied local militia in Lahij province, and two of his aides on Saturday. [AFP, 10/18/2014]
Houthis protest outside Saudi embassy in Sana’a; anti-Houthi protests in al-Hudaydah
Dozens of armed Houthi protesters demonstrated outside the Saudi embassy in Sana’a on Saturday, calling for the release of a Shiite cleric sentenced to death by the Saudi courts this week. Houthis demanded the release of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a cleric who called for greater religious rights for the kingdom’s Shia. Meanwhile, anti-Houthi protests took place in al-Hudaydah, which was captured without resistance by the group’s militants. Local citizens demanded that the Houthis leave the Red Sea port city, which the group has controlled since Tuesday. [Reuters, 10/18/2014]
Houthis dismantle protest camp along airport road
Members of the Houthi group dismantled a protest camp along Yemen’s airport road in accordance with the September 21 peace and partnership agreement, though armed gunmen remain in the area. The Yemeni Defense Ministry said that the Houthis cleared the camp, which had been blocking access to the airport, and that “life in neighborhoods of the airport road is back to normal.” The Houthis agreed to begin dismantling protest camps upon the appointment of a new prime minister. However, residents said that Houthi gunmen remained in the area, roaming the streets and maintaining checkpoints. [Reuters, 10/19/2014]
Coordinating council for southern independence movements plans Mukalla sit-in
The coordinating council for the freedom and liberation of the movements of the South announced that it was planning a sit-in around the port city of Mukalla in Hadramout province. The council said that various southern parties would plan to conduct the protest at various sites around the city. Meanwhile, mid-level leader in the Herak movement Sheikh Hassan Banan was released from custody on Monday after being held and questioned for five days by intelligence officials. Calls for southern independence have increased lately following the anniversary of the October 14 revolution against the British. [Aden al-Ghad (Arabic), 10/20/2014]
Iraq’s cabinet approves nominees for interior and defense ministries
Iraqi lawmakers approved Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s remaining cabinet nominees on Saturday—including those for the defense and interior portfolios—completing the formation of a government that will strive to push the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS or Islamic State) out of the territory it seized. Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni lawmaker from Mosul, was selected as defense minister by a vote of 175-85 while Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a Shia lawmaker with Abadi’s State of Law political bloc, was approved as minister of interior in a 197-63 vote. [The World Post, 10/20/2014]
Arab League affirms support for Iraq, vows to defend region against ISIS
Arab league Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby on Sunday reiterated the organization’s commitment to fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and al-sham (ISIS or Islamic State) during a visit to Baghdad that marked the arrival of an Arab League delegation to Iraq. At the same news conference, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said that Iraq welcomed aid from fellow Arab League members, but said Baghdad “has not requested and will not request” the intervention of Arab or other ground troops on its territory as part of the fight against ISIS. The minister, however, welcomed support in arms and intelligence noting that the Iraqi security forces were capable of combating the ISIS threat independently. [Asharq al-Awsat, 10/20/2014]
Dozens killed in suicide, car bomb attacks in Baghdad
Militants on Monday launched a series of attacks in Shia-dominated neighborhoods in Baghdad killing at least thirty-three people in the first of two attacks that left scores of Iraqis dead. Security officials noted that a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a Shia mosque after midday prayers killing at least seventeen people and wounding twenty-eight others. In Karbala, militants detonated three separate car bombs simultaneously, killing at least sixteen people and wounded four. The recent rise in militant attacks, inside Baghdad, continues to challenge the Iraqi government as it battles the Sunni-led insurgency by the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). [Asharq al-Awsat, Naharnet, 10/20/2014]