Daily Archives: October 12, 2020

2020-10-12: News Headlines

Patrick Cockburn (2020-10-12). Is Syria's Idlib the Next Gaza Strip? counterpunch.org "Many relatives of mine were living in camps near the border with Turkey," says Huda Husein, a 25-year-old teacher living in the rebel-held enclave of Idlib in northwest Syria. "But last month they returned home [to the cities and villages] because they prefer dying under an airstrike to dying in the camps." A cousin told her that "we are just fleeing from danger to danger", explaining that the misery of trying to survive in cramped tents was worse than bombardment by Russia and Syrian government forces.

Rania Khalek (2020-10-11). Aaron Maté On Western Countries Attacking OPCW Syria Testimony At The UN. thealtworld.com OPCW whistleblower Ian Henderson and former OPCW director José Bustani, who testified before the UN Security Council, were attacked by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany during two UN Security Council meetings in which they provided testimony. | Bustani was blocked from reading his prepared statement on the OPCW's cover-up of what they uncovered when investigators examined the scene of an alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, in April 2018. | Henderson was accused of being part of a "disinformation exercise," even though he was personally involved as an investigator, and physicist Ted Posto…

MEE and agencies (2020-10-11). Iraqi armed groups agree conditional suspension of attacks on US targets. middleeasteye.net Iraqi armed groups agree conditional suspension of attacks on US targets | Spokesperson for Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah says worse attacks could follow unless US withdraws its forces from Iraq | Sun, 10/11/2020 – 13: 54 | Mask-clad members of the Popular Mobilisation Front paramilitary force take part in a military parade in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on 14 June 2020 (AFP) | Several…

Elijah Magnier (2020-10-11). Difficult negotiations between Lebanon and Israel ahead. thealtworld.com Amid the domestic split between members of different political groups in Lebanese society, the country is preparing to start an indirect negotiation with Israel, pursuing a decades-old border dispute. After nine years of indirect discussion, both sides have agreed on a road map negotiated by the Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri. The negotiations over the final borders are expected to begin in the week starting 14 October in the neighbouring Lebanese city of Naqoura at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and under its auspices. The negotiation is far from being a Lebanese normalisa…

Abdel Bari Atwan (2020-10-11). The Saudi campaign against the Palestinians. thealtworld.com A concerted effort is underway to prepare public opinion for normalization with Israel | In June 2006, about a week after Israel's assault on Lebanon began, a Saudi delegation visited Washington and met with President George Bush Jr., who made an exception to receive them at the White House on a Sunday. The delegation was led by the then foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, and included the national security advisor and former ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin-Sultan, and the serving ambassador and ex-intelligence chief, Prince Turki al-Faisal. | The day after that meeting, the three princes sent a…

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-11). Iran, Afghanistan discuss strengthening bilateral relations. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 12 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Kabul Bahador Aminian voiced Iran's readiness to expand bilateral relations with Afghanistan in various fields.

Professor Piers Robinson (2020-10-11). The War on Truth, Dissent and Free Speech. globalresearch.ca On Saturday 13 June 2020 the Times newspaper published its third attack on academics associated with researching British government propaganda and the war in Syria. This time the attack focused on smearing myself and Professor David Miller with the objective …

Kaamil Ahmed (2020-10-10). Two killed as wildfires rage through Lebanon, Syria. middleeasteye.net Two killed as wildfires rage through Lebanon, Syria | Firefighters have been tackling hundreds of fires in both countries, while blazes in Israel prompt evacuations | Sat, 10/10/2020 – 15: 52 | A man watches as wildfires burn in Lebanon (Reuters) | At least two people have been killed in forest fires burning through Syria and Lebanon, state media and officials said. | Hundreds of hectares have burned…

Sondoss Al Assad (2020-10-10). Yemen's Ongoing Slaughter Needs to be Looked at from a Saudi Oil-Interest Perspective Says Yemeni Activist Mohamed Alzubaidi. thealtworld.com Exclusive- Impoverished Yemen has been devastated by an ongoing bloody war since March 2015, when Saudi Arabia and …

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-10). NAM urges Zionists' withdrawal from occupied Golan territory. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) — It its latest political declaration, the 120 member-strong Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has urged the Tel Aviv regime's withdrawal from occupied Syrian territories in the Golan Heights.

sputniknews (2020-10-10). Iranian Diplomat Held for Trial in Belgium Over Alleged Bomb Plot Reportedly Warned of 'Retaliation'. sputniknews.com In July 2018, Assadollah Assadi, a Vienna-based Iranian diplomat, was arrested in Germany on a European warrant over charges of allegedly plotting to bomb an Iranian opposition rally in Paris. He was later extradited to Belgium, where two alleged co-conspirators had been arrested with explosives in their possession.

Kareem Chehayeb (2020-10-09). In Lebanon, students hit by coronavirus, Beirut blast and continuing economic woes. middleeasteye.net In Lebanon, students hit by coronavirus, Beirut blast and continuing economic woes | Organisations warn of increased risk of school dropouts, as the country reels from the effects of the explosion | Fri, 10/09/2020 – 14: 10 | A Lebanese pupil at Our Lady of Lourdes school in the Lebanese city of Zahle on 30 June 2020 (AFP) | "I asked you to call me at this time because that's when my son has…

RT (2020-10-09). 4 killed, dozens injured in gas tank explosion in Beirut neighborhood (VIDEOS). rt.com The Lebanese capital Beirut has been rocked by a powerful blast after a diesel tank blew up in a densely-populated residential area. At least four people died and scores were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire. | Photos and videos published on social media show streets littered with debris and rubble, as well as damaged buildings, as firefighters try to extinguish blazes raging at what appears to be the scene of the blast. | ŸÅŸàÿ¨ ÿßÿ∑ŸÅÿßÿ° ÿ®Ÿäÿ±Ÿàÿ™ Ÿ&agrav…

_____ (2020-10-09). Russia's Strategic Intervention in Syria Five Years On — An 'Unpardonable Blow' to U.S. Empire. strategic-culture.org Five years ago this month, Russia began conducting fateful military operations in Syria at the request of the government in Damascus. It was a momentous "turning point," as More than salvaging Syria from a nearly decade-long war — vitally important though that was — Russia's pivotal intervention also marked the strategic setback for a Western-b…

_____ (2020-10-08). OPCW Syria Whistleblower and Ex-OPCW Chief Attacked by U.S., UK, France at UN. strategic-culture.org At the UN Security Council, the US, UK and France were confronted with testimony from OPCW whistleblower Ian Henderson and ex-OPCW chief Jose Bustani that challenged the rationale for their bombing of Syria in April 2018. They responded by attacking and silencing the witnesses. Aaron Maté recaps the extraordinary events.

Andrew Korybko (2020-10-08). Does Damascus Regard the Syrian Armenians Reportedly Fighting in Azerbaijan as Traitors? globalresearch.ca The Turkish reports alleging that the Kurdish-allied Syrian-Armenian militia "Nubar Ozanyan Brigade" is fighting in Azerbaijan on the side of the separatists prompt questions about exactly how Damascus regards this armed group, but if Syria's official statements pertaining to the …

Gordon Duff (2020-10-08). NEO: Will it be Biden and Putin, Making the New World? thealtworld.com The current situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has shown the world the dangers of secret pacts and ancient grudges, as a new "August 1914" moves toward reality. | As early as 2012, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and the Gulf States began arming al Qaeda and ISIS, deploying them against both Syria and Iraq. | Other nations aided as well, not just the US, France and Britain. There was also Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania and, above all, Ukraine. | We will cover the backstory on this but what is clear is this, the Trump era replacement for NATO, where supposed enemies work in concert seamlessly, presents challenges…

Marwa Osman (2020-10-08). Hezbollah Slams France—ME EP.75. thealtworld.com Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah responded to French President Emmanuel Macron's disrespect of the Lebanese people, highlighting that he should respect the Lebanese people's dignity when talking to them. Sayyed Nasrullah accused President Macron of practicing intimidation against the heads of Lebanese parties in order to pass a new government that eliminates the parliamentary blocs. To discuss this issue with us from Beirut is Ali Mourad, political commentator. | A series of rockets were launched at a base hosting US-led coalition forces inside Erbil International Airport in Iraq's semi-autonom…

Aaron Maté (2020-10-07). OPCW Syria whistleblower and ex-OPCW chief attacked by US, UK, France at UN. thegrayzone.com At the UN Security Council, the US, UK and France were confronted with testimony from OPCW whistleblower Ian Henderson and ex-OPCW chief Jose Bustani that challenged the rationale for their bombing of Syria in April 2018. They responded by attacking and silencing the witnesses. Aaron Maté recaps the extraordinary events. Ian Henderson, a veteran OPCW inspector who challenged a cover-up of his organization's investigation of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, recently testified before the United Nations Security Council. …