Latest news with #Al-SharqAl-Awsat
Iraqi News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Hawizeh Marshes burn, activists allege over 90% destruction
Baghdad ( – The Hawizeh Marshes, a vital wetland ecosystem spanning the Iraq-Iran border, have been burning for days, with preliminary estimates indicating that over 90% of the marshlands have been consumed by fire. The resulting dense smoke and emissions are having a direct and severe impact on local residents, while the environmental devastation is described as an unparalleled catastrophe, with more than 3,000 square kilometers reportedly incinerated. Local sources are decrying the events as a 'real genocide.' Concerns are mounting over the cause of these widespread blazes. Local resident Mustafa Hashim, speaking on the situation, noted that while traditional, limited burning of dry reeds by locals for buffalo feed did occur in the past, such fires were inconsequential and easily contained by the water-logged environment. He asserted that the current scale of destruction in Hawizeh is fundamentally different and is being caused by crews involved in constructing a border barrier with Iran. These crews are allegedly burning reed forests to facilitate the movement of machinery and to clear areas for excavation and backfilling operations. The smoke plumes have reportedly covered Maysan Governorate almost entirely. Amidst the unfolding disaster, there is growing criticism over the response, with Hashim lamenting the absence of firefighting aircraft that would typically operate around the clock in other countries facing similar events, alongside a perceived lack of accountability for those responsible. Adding to the outcry, activist Aya Mansour posted on Instagram, 'At this very moment, a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Hawizeh Marshes. Continuous fires are burning everything in their path, without any spotlight. There is ethnic cleansing, genocide, and forced displacement of residents for continued oil expansion. The water in the marsh has dried up, animals have died, and now what remains of the land is burning, and no one is speaking out or showing solidarity with the residents who are being subjected to suppression and displacement from their land.' She concluded with a plea for support for the Marsh Arabs of Hawizeh, emphasizing that 'our silence will one day be held accountable.' These escalating incidents occur against a backdrop of ongoing environmental concerns in the region. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper had previously published an article in May titled 'Hawizeh Marshes on the Iranian-Iraqi border threatened by oil exploration,' which highlighted the dangers of expanding oil exploration operations to the marsh's ecosystem and its inhabitants.
Memri
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Saudi Writers: Confronting The Houthi Threat To Global Trade, Security And Stability Requires A Coordinated International Effort
On July 16, 2025, the U.S. military reported that forces of the internationally-recognized Yemeni government had seized 750 tons of Iranian-supplied missiles and weaponry bound for Houthi rebels.[1] This report came several days after the Houthis renewed their attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea: on July 6, 2025 they fired missiles and drones at the Greek-operated and Liberia-flagged ship Magic Seas, and on the following day they attacked another Liberia-flagged vessel, the Eternity C, killing several of its crew.[2] Against this backdrop, several articles in the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat stressed that the Houthis have become a threat to the security and stability of the region and the entire world that requires international action. Noting that confronting this threat is a pressing need that must not be ignored, the writers urged the international community to unite and form a coalition to protect the shipping lanes and sever the Houthis' weapon supply routes. They also called to support the legitimate Yemeni government and help it reestablish its sovereignty throughout Yemen's territory. The vessel Magic Seas under Houthi attack in the Red Sea (Image: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, July 10, 2025) The following are translated excerpts from these articles: Al-Arabiya Deputy Director-General: The Houthi Missiles And Rockets Are A Global Threat That Requires Coordinated International Action In a July 10, 2025 column titled "Weapons that Threaten International Security," Zaid Bin Kami, deputy director-general of the Saudi Al-Arabiya network and formerly the deputy editor-in-chief of the Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, warned that the Houthi efforts to manufacture missiles and drones in the territories under their control are turning Yemen into a global threat, which requires a coordinated international response. He wrote: "Last week, the information minister in [the internationally-recognized] government of Yemen, Mo'ammar Al-Eryani, warned that the Houthis are embarking on plans to manufacture ballistic missiles and drones in the territories under their control, particularly in the cities of Saada and Hajjah and in the suburbs of Sanaa. He stressed that the situation has gone beyond the smuggling phase, to a phase [characterized by] the organized transfer of advanced military capabilities to an area that is outside any legitimate oversight and [whose rulers] do not recognize the concept of the nation state. "The transition from using weapons to manufacturing them in areas that are beyond the control [of the internationally-recognized Yemeni government] not only threatens Yemen but pushes regional and global security to the brink of danger. Yemen's geographical location, on the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Arabian Sea [part of the northern Indian Ocean], make it a vital corridor for global trade. [Thus,] any tension or escalation in this area is likely to destabilize international shipping and the global supply chain… "The duty of the legitimate Yemeni government is not only to express concern but to strengthen its political presence and deal with this danger, even if it must request international support in order to take control of the situation. Moreover, a way must be found to bring the Houthis back to the negotiation table, so as to find a solution to the entire crisis. Leaving these kinds of weapons in an area that is not under the control of the [internationally-recognized] government will transform Yemen from an arena of internal conflict into a source of global danger. "Dealing with the drones and ballistic missiles that are outside the control of states has become a pressing need that requires coordinated international action. When weapons are manufactured in secret, tested at sea and launched beyond borders, talk of local security becomes meaningless, because the threat becomes global…"[3] Saudi Journalist: There Is Need To Form An International Coalition Against The Houthis, Help The Yemeni Government Restore Its Sovereignty In his July 14 column in the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat daily, Saudi journalist Ibrahim Al-Uthaymin called to confront the Houthi threat by forming an international coalition that will protect the shipping lanes and sever the Houthi's weapons supply, and also by restoring the full sovereignty of the internationally-recognized Yemeni government. He wrote: 'U.S. Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, regarded as one of the most prominent thinkers of the theory of sea power in the 19th century, is quoted as saying: 'There can be no security at sea while the land is burning.' This is true for the current reality in the Red Sea, now that the escalation has begun again. The relative calm there did not last long, [and ended] last week when the Houthis claimed two separate attacks on merchant vessels: [the attack] on the Magic Seas cargo ship and two days later [sic] the attack on the ship Eternity C, which caused it to sink off the Yemeni coast. The [Houthi] organization thus renewed its attacks on the security of the region and on the stability of international shipping. 'These attacks reignited the debate about the danger of leaving the Yemeni crises unresolved and [without] a comprehensive political settlement, and [the danger of] leaving the Houthis in control of parts of the [Yemeni] coast, which poses an ongoing threat to shipping security and to international trade… The ongoing unrest in the region affects not only the regional countries but the economy of the entire world. 'To deal with this growing threat, we need a two-pronged approach, or two simultaneous moves. The first is urgent [and involves]… forming an international coalition under the UN, tasked with protecting the shipping lanes and severing the Houthis' weapons supply routes. The second move involves addressing the roots of the Yemeni crisis itself, for the security of international shipping, as well as regional and global stability, cannot be achieved on a permanent basis unless the Yemeni state regains full sovereignty over the coast and over the rest of its territory and unless the illegal situation imposed by the Houthis comes to an end… This requires extending tangible support to the Yemeni government, so as to enable it to extend its sovereignty over all of Yemen's territory – in accordance with UN Resolution 2216 – and strengthen its capabilities and effectiveness. This will begin with the Houthis withdrawing from the territories they overtook, first and foremost the capital Sanaa, and surrendering their heavy weapons, and with the [Yemeni] state institutions resuming their sovereign functions…'[4] Saudi Journalist: The Houthis Threat To The Global Trade Routes Is A Wound That Must Be Treated In his July 11 column in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Saudi journalist Mishari Al-Dhaidi wrote about the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and their implications for the economy of Egypt and the world, and called to treat the wound instead of just "numbing' it. He wrote: "In the past 24 hours, the Yemeni Houthi militias have attacked two ships in the Red Sea with missiles and gunfire: the Magic Seas and the Eternity C. As a result of these attacks, four crew from the two merchant vessels were killed and others were wounded. The U.S. embassy in Yemen [also] accused the Houthis of kidnapping crewmembers from the Greek vessel Eternity C, which sank in the Red Sea after it was attacked… In May [2025] a ceasefire agreement [between the Houthis and] the U.S. was reached, with Omani mediation, in order to ensure the [free] movement of vessels in the Red Sea. Today we see that this agreement was just a temporary 'lull'… "In any case, the ongoing Houthi piracy in the Red Sea constitutes a threat to the entire world, especially to the countries the shores of this sea, and more precisely to Egypt and the Suez Canal. A while ago, it was stated that, according to reports by the Egyptian government, the loss of Suez Canal [revenue] as a result of the Houthi piracy came to seven billion dollars last year [2024]. In mid-May [2025], the Suez Canal Authority decided to grant incentives and a 15% discount on transit fees for (empty or full) container ships with a net capacity of 130,000 tons or more, for 90 days, in order to encourage traffic and in an attempt to deal with some of the damage caused by the Houthis... This is [just] numbing the wound, rather than treating it, and if this situation continues we will face a decisive moment on the regional and international levels that the entire world will have to deal with. "There is no practical alternative to the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal. In the long term, even taking the route through the Cape of Good Hope… will not help the trade traffic to Europe, due to the high cargo fees and the length of the journey. "Are the Houthis preparing 'an impending explosion,' as Yemeni Information Minister Mo'ammar Al-Eryani claimed in an interview with All the facts suggest that they are. However, sabotaging commercial traffic in the Red Sea is not only a local-regional issue, but is a blow to the global trade routes, which are the life-blood [of this trade]."[6]
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Hamas ‘generally positive' about Witkoff's hostage-ceasefire deal proposal
Hamas has sharply escalated its demands in response to the latest U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan, seeking a phased hostage release and firm guarantees for a permanent end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. While the group's initial reaction to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's proposal was 'generally positive,' Hamas officials told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat and BBC that the current deal does not meet their fundamental requirements. Watch for more
India.com
25-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Hamas is
Hamas is "running out" of money, claims inside sources Tel Aviv: Amid the ongoing war with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), extremist group Hamas is facing financial an unprecedented economic crisis, London-based newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported citing the group's sources. It is to be noted that the economic collapse is the worst in the Hamas's history. This crisis has led several of its operatives unpaid, raising questions about its ability to maintain internal cohesion. According to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, the extremist group is facing difficulties in paying salaries to its operatives. The report citing Hamas sources stated that the militant group is able to pay only 900 shekels, nearly USD 240 USD, over the past four months. This has caused widespread anger among the employees and operatives. The report further mentioned that amid Israel's ongoing elimination of the group's leadership, a vacuum has been created within its so-called government.
India Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Hamas faces financial crisis amid ongoing conflict with Israel: Report
The London-based newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat has reported that Hamas is facing a severe and unprecedented financial crisis as the ongoing war with Israel continues to erode both its leadership and operational capabilities. Citing unnamed sources within the organization, the report revealed that the group is struggling to pay salaries to its members and has only been able to distribute 900 shekels, nearly USD 240 USD, over the past four months which sparked anger and dissatisfaction among its ranks, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported citing economic collapse is said to be the worst in the group's history, leaving many operatives unpaid and raising questions about its ability to maintain internal cohesion. The report also highlights the impact of the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) ongoing targeted operations against Hamas leadership. The systematic elimination of key figures has reportedly created a leadership vacuum within the group's so-called governing structure, further weakening its control and coordination in the Gaza Strip, tensions remain high as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. On Saturday, Gaza's civil defence agency reported that an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis killed nine children from the same family. The victims were the children of two married doctors. The Israeli military responded that it had targeted "several suspects" near its troops and is reviewing the has intensified its military operations in Gaza in recent days, prompting renewed international criticism and calls for increased humanitarian aid. While Israel partially eased its total blockade on March 2, aid groups have warned that the flow of essential supplies remains insufficient for the population's both the humanitarian and political crises deepen, the future of stability in Gaza remains Watch
