2021-02-15: News Headlines

MEE staff (2021-02-15). Feud between Congressman and UAE ambassador to US escalates online. middleeasteye.net Feud between Congressman and UAE ambassador to US escalates online | Congressman Ro Khanna calls for release of Yemeni journalist Adel al-Hasani after war of words with Yousef al-Otaiba | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 19: 25 | Congressman Ro Khanna first introduced a resolution to end US support for Saudi-led war in Yemen in September 2017 (AFP/File photo) | US Congressman Ro Khanna has called on the UAE to help secure th…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-15). Israeli missile strikes 'kill six non-Syrian militia fighters' near Damascus. middleeasteye.net Israeli missile strikes 'kill six non-Syrian militia fighters' near Damascus | Syria's army said it intercepted a 'sizeable' number of the missile strikes over Damascus | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 07: 14 | Israeli officials said their forces struck 500 military targets in Syria in 2020, many of them Iranian-backed (AFP) | Israeli missile strikes against several targets in Syria killed at least six…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-15). Syrian army 'intercepted' Israeli missile strike over Damascus. middleeasteye.net Syrian army 'intercepted' Israeli missile strike over Damascus | Damascus did not specify the number of casualties or targets struck by Israel | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 07: 14 | Israeli officials said it had struck 500 Iranian targets inside Syria in 2020 (AFP) | Syria on Monday said it had intercepted Israeli missiles flying over Damascus as Israel continues to target Iranian military outposts…

MEE staff (2021-02-15). Trump wanted to 'take out' Syria's President Assad, former adviser claims. middleeasteye.net Trump wanted to 'take out' Syria's President Assad, former adviser claims | KT McFarland, who served as deputy national security adviser, said the former president was enraged after seeing pictures of suspected sarin gas attack | Mon, 02/15/2021 – 16: 16 | The Trump administration responded to the 2017 gas attack by firing dozens of cruise missiles at a Syrian air base where the gas was allegedly housed (AFP)…

Online News Editor (2021-02-15). Jordan starts Covid-19 vaccinations for refugees at Zaatari camp. laprensalatina.com Amman, Feb 15 (efe-epa).- Jordan on Monday started vaccinating Syrian refugees living in the Zaatari camp, becoming one of the first countries in the world to include refugees in its coronavirus vaccine rollout, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Monday. Lilly Carlisle, the spokesperson of the UNHCR in Jordan, told Efe that the Jordanian …

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-15). Iran, Russia, Turkey to hold another round of Astana talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — Iran, Russian, and Turkey will reportedly hold another round of Astana Peace talks in Sochi to evaluate the Syrian Constitutional Committee.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-15). Iran informs IAEA of suspending its JCPOA voluntary actions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — Iran's permanent ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna said that Tehran has informed the IAEA of suspending its voluntary actions under the Nuclear Deal.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-15). US building new military base at Iraq-Syria-Turkey triangle. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — The US-led Coalition is building another base military base at the Iraq-Syria-Turkey triangle in the Ain Dewar area in Al-Hasakah countryside.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-15). Ankara summons US ambassador to Turkey. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (MNA) — Media sources reported that the Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned the US ambassador to Ankara for commenting on the killing of Turkish citizens in Iraq.

yenisafak (2021-02-15). Zimbabwe receives 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine. yenisafak.com Zimbabwe received the first shipment of a coronavirus vaccine on Monday, the country's health minister said.The shipment, containing a donation of 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China, arrived at the country's Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in the capital Harare. Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga and China's ambassador, Guo Shaochun, were present at the airport.Last Friday, the Zimbabwean government indicated that the country's coronavirus immunization program would begin this week.Zimbabwe is also expected receive another batch of 600,000 doses of the vaccine from China soon.According to…

yenisafak (2021-02-15). Turkey says 3 N.Zealand nationals held near border with Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces caught three New Zealand nationals, including a wanted Daesh terrorist, near the border with Syria when they were trying to enter the country illegally, the National Defense Ministry said on Monday."Three New Zealand nationals trying to enter our country illegally from Syria were caught by our border guards in Hatay's Reyhanli district," the ministry said on Twitter.Among those captured was a Daesh terrorist, a 26-year-old woman only identified by the initials S.A. She was wanted by Interpol with blue notice, which is issued to collect additional information about a person's identity, loca…

yenisafak (2021-02-15). Russia establishing military unit in northeastern Syria. yenisafak.com Russia started to establish a military unit consisting of local elements in Syria's northeastern al-Hasakah province, according to local sources.Russia has been strengthening its military presence in al-Hasakah, a move that caused tension between the Bashar al-Assad regime forces and the YPG/PKK terror group that started on Dec. 28, 2020, and turned into a mutual blockade in January.While the YPG/PKK continues to occupy parts of al-Hasakah province, areas including the Kawkab Mountains, Security Square, and the 156th Brigade facility remain under regime control.The Russian army, which has deployed around 1,000 so…

teleSUR (2021-02-14). Economic Crisis, COVID-19 Take Toll on Lebanese Couples. telesurenglish.net Jihad Tarhini, a young man in his 20s, stood in the middle of a perfumes store in the main street of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, looking for an affordable perfume for his fiancee. | Tarhini gives his fiancee gifts every year on Valentines' Day but now he was surprised to see the dramatic increase in prices. | RELATED: | Lebanon has plunged into its worst economic crisis in decades, which prompts the Lebanese pound to plummet…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Lebanon starts COVID-19 vaccine rollout. yenisafak.com Lebanon's national vaccination campaign against the coronavirus pandemic began Sunday.Mahmoud Hasson, the head of the intensive care unit at the Rafik Hariri Hospital in Beirut, and actor Salah Tizani, 93, received the first shots.Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Health Minister Hamad Hassan were present during the inoculation."I will not be receiving the vaccine today," Diab told reporters. "Priority will be given to the medical staff, who have made great sacrifices and they must be given full protection in order to do their message."The medical staff and people over 75 will be the first to be vaccinated…

RT (2021-02-14). Israel will 'regret' its actions if it crosses 'red lines' in Syria, senior Iranian official warns. rt.com Continued Israeli "aggression" in Syria will be met with the "toughest" response, a senior Iranian diplomat told Sputnik news agency. Damascus had earlier accused the Israel Defense Forces of conducting airstrikes on Syrian soil. | Ali Asghar Khaji, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's senior aide for special political affairs, blasted Israel for its "aggressive and hostile" policies in Syria, in an interview published by Sputnik on Sunday. | "While the Syrian government is fighting terrorists, Israel supports them," he said. | Our presence in Syria is aimed at combating ISIS [Islamic State] and other terro…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-14). Syria Kurds hand Iraq 100 alleged Islamic State fighters: Reports. middleeasteye.net Syria Kurds hand Iraq 100 alleged Islamic State fighters: Reports | Around 1,600 Iraqis were still detained in northeast Syria at the end of last year over allegedly fighting for IS | Sun, 02/14/2021 – 15: 14 | A member of the Syrian Kurdish internal security services stands guard during the release of people suspected of being related to Islamic State group fighters from the Kurdish-run a…

Ralph Nader, Bruce Fein (2021-02-14). Democrats' Shameful Cave. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-12923215461.jpg

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Israelis to face tough response if cross red lines in Syria. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Iranian foreign minister's senior assistant on special political affairs, Ali-Asghar Khaji, warned the Israeli regime against crossing red lines in Syria, in a reference to the Zionists' alleged air raids on Syrian soil.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-14). Iran urges IAEA to ensure confidentiality of information. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Iran's permanent ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna said that Tehran has urged the IAEA to ensure the confidentiality of information regarding its nuclear program.

_____ (2021-02-14). Government Secrecy Causes Conspiracy Theories. popularresistance.org The DC Circuit has ruled that the CIA is under no obligation to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests pertaining to its involvement with insurgent militias in Syria, overturning a lower court's previous ruling in favor of a Buzzfeed News reporter seeking such documents. | As Sputnik's Morgan Artyukhina clearly outlines, this ruling comes despite the fact that mainstream news outlets have been reporting on the Central Intelligence Agency's activities in Syria for years, and despite a US president having openly tweeted about those activities. | "In other words, the CIA will not be required to admit to act…

yenisafak (2021-02-14). Terror attack kills one, injures 4 in Syria's Afrin. yenisafak.com The terrorists attacked the Jinderes town of Afrin which was cleared of terrorists in Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in March 2018.The wounded people were transferred to hospitals in the region, the sources said, asking not to be named due to fear of reprisal.Security officials at the blast site said the attack may have been carried out by the YPG/PKK terror group.

Online News Editor (2021-02-14). Druze mark 1982 strike against Israel's annexation laws in Golan Heights. laprensalatina.com Jerusalem, Feb 14 (efe-epa).- Members of the Druze community in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Sunday staged a protest to commemorate the 1982 strike against the annexation of the territory from Syria. Several hundred took part in marches and some of the protesters in the Druze town of Majdal Shams held aloft portraits of Syrian …

sputniknews (2021-02-14). Syrian Air Defences Repel 'Israeli Aggression' in the Vicinity of Damascus – SANA. sputniknews.com According to Syrian state-run media, the country suffers from regular aerial bombing conducted by Israel. Tel Aviv does not comment on these airstrikes, while high-ranking Israeli officials have claimed that they carry out many military operations in Syria aimed at paramilitary groups that are, as Israel claims, backed by Iran.

MEE and agencies (2021-02-13). Lebanon receives first Covid-19 vaccine shipment. middleeasteye.net Lebanon receives first Covid-19 vaccine shipment | The vaccines have been sponsored by the World Bank, as Lebanon struggles with a financial crisis and a devastated healthcare system | Sat, 02/13/2021 – 15: 47 | Hospitals in Lebanon, including St George Hospital devastated by the 4 August Beirut blast, have been struggling to care for the influx of Covid-19 patients (MEE/Elizabeth Fitt)…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Turkish charity helps Syrian refugees in Lebanon. yenisafak.com Emre Kaya, the Middle East Desk coordinator for IHH, said the Lebanese city of Arsal was home to nearly 60,000 Syrian refugees who are struggling to survive in make-shift tents in harsh winter conditions.The IHH helped out more than 2,000 families with their humanitarian aid supplies.Noting that temperatures could drop to minus 15C (5F), Kaya said the charity gave 20 liters of fuel for heating to 1,100 families and blankets to as many.The official figures suggest that about 1.5 million Syrians fled their country and took refuge in Lebanon since 2011, when civil war broke in the country.According to the UN-affilia…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). Iran, Georgia stress expansion of scientific cooperation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) — Iran's ambassador to Tbilisi and the Georgian Minister of Education conferred on the expansion of bilateral scientific and academic cooperation on Saturday.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-13). English poster of "Landless" feature film unveiled. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (MNA) — English poster of the movie "Landless", the third feature film directed by Touraj Aslani, which is a joint production of Iraq and Syria, was unveiled to attend the 71st Berlin International Film Festival.

yenisafak (2021-02-13). Six of rescued Turkish sailors brought to Abuja embassy. yenisafak.com Six out of 15 rescued Turkish sailors were brought Saturday to the Nigerian capital Abuja under local security forces' guard and reached the Turkish embassy in the city.Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Melih Ulueren, Turkey's National Intelligence Organization members, and embassy officials welcomed the crew members, who were kidnapped after the cargo vessel had fallen victim to a pirate attack off Nigeria and rescued on Friday.Upon their arrival at the embassy, the sailors talked to their families over the phone.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ulueren said the worry was over now. "We are very happy to see our citizens…

yenisafak (2021-02-13). PKK terrorist surrenders to security forces in Turkey. yenisafak.com As a result of persuasion efforts, another PKK terrorist surrendered to security forces in Turkey, according to the Interior Ministry on Saturday.The ministry said in a statement that the terrorist, who escaped from the organization through persuasion efforts of the gendarmerie command and security directorate teams, had joined the terror group in 2014 and was active in Syria.With the latest addition, the number of terrorists who have laid down their arms through persuasion efforts this year has reached 23.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Tu…

Staff (2021-02-12). Where Are the Witnesses? Ralph Nader Says Democrats' Impeachment Case Is "Prescription for Defeat" democracynow.org As the historic Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump continues, we speak with longtime consumer advocate, corporate critic and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who says Democrats have set themselves up for defeat by rushing proceedings and failing to call witnesses — including Trump himself. "The narrow approach of the articles of impeachment keep the Democrats from having a full hand," says Nader. "They have like 10 arrows in their quiver and they're using one or two."

Staff (2021-02-12). Ralph Nader on Corporate Crime, Holding Boeing Accountable for 737 MAX Deaths & Biden's First Weeks. democracynow.org Legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader says the U.S. is experiencing a "corporate crime wave," and that the Trump administration's $2.5 billion settlement with Boeing over the manufacturer's faulty 737 MAX jets amounts to a "slap on the wrist." Boeing's faulty planes were involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, including Nader's 24-year-old grandniece Samya Stumo. Nader says the Biden Justice Department should reopen the previous administration's settlement and hold Boeing fully accountable. "This is just another example of giant companies getting away with their corporate criminal…

Staff (2021-02-12). Ralph Nader: Biden Must Hold Boeing Accountable for Deaths Due to Faulty Planes. truthout.org Legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader says the U.S. is experiencing a "corporate crime wave," and that the Trump administration's $2.5 billion settlement with Boeing over the manufacturer's faulty 737 MAX jets amounts to a "slap on the wrist." Boeing's faulty planes were involved in two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in 2018 and 2019, including Nader's 24-year-old grandniece Samya Stumo. Nader says the Biden Justice Department should reopen the previous administration's settlement and…

RT (2021-02-12). 'Disgusted' Nikki Haley throws Trump under the bus, but conservatives & #Resistance are having none of her 'flip-flop'. rt.com Former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has joined the growing parade of Republicans eager to publicly distance themselves from former president Donald Trump amid his second impeachment proceedings. | "We need to acknowledge he let us down," Haley told Politico in an interview published Friday, making an effort to create palpable space between herself — an upwardly-mobile young politician apparently determined to run for president in 2024 — and the former commander-in-chief whose own party couldn't wait to stick the knives in. | "He went down a path he shouldn't have, and we shouldn't have followe…

RT (2021-02-12). Protesters clash with security forces in Lebanon as people demand fair trial for Covid lockdown demonstrators (VIDEOS). rt.com Protesters have clashed with security forces outside Lebanon's military court in Beirut, as demonstrators demanded a fair investigation and trial for people detained during protests in Tripoli two weeks ago. | The situation erupted in the Lebanese capital on Friday as people gathered after 15 protesters were charged and ordered to appear before the military court for their alleged involvement in the disturbances in Tripoli. | They are demanding a…

Harun al-Aswad (2021-02-12). Damascus threatens to seize property from displaced Syrians over conscription fees. middleeasteye.net Damascus threatens to seize property from displaced Syrians over conscription fees | Government has introduced legal amendments to seize assets of Syrian refugees who fail to pay large sums for skipping conscription | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 10: 01 | A Syrian army soldier uses a detector to find and clear landmines in a field at a pistachio orchard in the village of Maan, north of Hama (AFP) | The Syr…

Areeb Ullah (2021-02-12). Syrian militants urged to release US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem. middleeasteye.net Syrian militants urged to release US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem | Idlib-based reporter was arrested six months ago after raising concerns about alleged torture of prisoners by HTS | Fri, 02/12/2021 – 15: 55 | Bilal Abdul Kareem has reported from opposition-held Syria since 2014 (Screengrab) | A leading media freedom monitor has called for the release of US journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem, six months aft…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-12). IDO head visits Fatemiyoun martyrs' families. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 12 (MNA) — Head of IDO (Islamic Development Organization) Hojatoleslam Qomi paied a visit to some families of fighters and martyrs of Fatemiyoun who are Afghans who fought on the side of the Syrian government against terrorism.

yenisafak (2021-02-12). Turkish cemetery in Sofia to be restored. yenisafak.com The Turkish Embassy in Bulgaria and the grand mufti's office in the country will launch a joint initiative to restore a historical Turkish cemetery in the capital Sofia.Turkey's Ambassador in Sofia Aylin Sekizkok and the Grand Mufti of Bulgaria Muslims Mustafa Alis Haci visited the cemetery, also known as "Turkish plot (No. 42)," in the Orlandovtsi district of Sofia.The "Turkish plot (No. 42)" is part of the central cemetery in Sofia, according to the grand mufti's office.Sekizkok and Haci agreed that the cemetery, where Ottoman Sultan Murat V's daughter Fatma Sultan is also buried, need renovation.Speaking to An…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). At least 12 Iran-backed terrorists killed in airstrike in Syria. yenisafak.com At least 12 Iranian-backed terrorists fighting with the Bashar al-Assad regime were killed in an airstrike conducted by US-led anti-Daesh coalition forces in eastern Syria, sources said Thursday.Warplanes targeted a convoy of terrorist groups in Deir ez-Zor province.Pipelines and trade routes from Iraq and Jordan pass through the province.The terrorists are under the command of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.With the help of Russia and Iranian-backed militias, the central and the western areas of Deir ez-Zor fell to the regime after Daesh terrorists retreated from the region.The majority of Iranian-back…

yenisafak (2021-02-12). ANALYSIS: Albania, Greece taking issue of maritime jurisdiction zones to The Hague. yenisafak.com The Greek move to double its waters, which drew criticism and sparked debates in Albania in recent months, raised questions about exclusive economic zones on Albania's continental shelf and determining the maritime jurisdiction zones between the two countries.- History of disputeThe first document establishing borders between Albania and Greece goes back to the 1912-1913 London Conference of Ambassadors. Later, on Jan. 25, 1925, a protocol establishing maritime borders was signed. The final judgment concerning Albanian maritime borders was drafted on July 30, 1926, at the Paris Conference of Ambassadors, signed b…

Vladimir Chizhov (2021-02-12). Strained Russia-EU Relations. globalresearch.ca All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the "Translate Website" drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version). | *** | In a telephone interview on Thursday (11 February) the Ambassador of …