Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Saudi-backed Yemeni Armed Forces have withdrawn from the historical Socotra Island Thursday, activists in southern Yemen reported. According to the reports, the Yemeni Armed Forces abruptly withdrew their troops from Socotra, leaving the island to the U.A.E.-backed Southern Transitional Council. The Yemeni Armed Forces previously clashed with the Southern Transitional Council over control of Socotra Island, prompting a showdown between their troops two days ago. The Saudi-led Arab Coalition has not issued a statement regarding the withdrawal; however, recent tensions with the Southern Transitional Council have resulted in the loss of the southern capital city, Aden, to fall to…

For the second time this week, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has sent a large number of reinforcements to the Daraa Governorate, a source from the military told Al-Masdar News. According to the source, the Syrian Arab Army has sent hundreds of soldiers to the Daraa Governorate amid preparation for a major military operation against the militant sleeper cells that have wreaked havoc against their forces. The source said the Syrian special forces already arrived in Daraa shortly after the execution of nine soldiers in the town of Mazrib; they have cordoned off the area and now awaiting the green…

Around 700 militants have defected from the Turkish-backed Sultan Murad Division as result of disagreements related to the group’s involvement in the Libyan war, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on April 6. According to the London-based monitoring group, the defectors left the group in protest to the deployment of Syrians in Libya. “The defection of the commanders and fighters from the faction came in protest against the faction’s policy of sending fighters to Libya to fight alongside the al-Sarraj government [the Government of National Accord (GNA)] … In addition to disputes as a result of the faction’s…

Late on May 6, a joint force of the U.S.-led coalition and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out a sensitive security operation in Deir Ezzor. The operation, which targeted ISIS cells, took place in the town of al-Zawr in Deir Ezzor’s southeastern countryside. The SDF imposed a curfew in the town, ordering civilians to stay in their homes during the operation. According to local sources, at least five helicopters of the coalition supported the operation. The helicopters engaged several targets on the ground, which is highly unusual during such security operations. Special forces stormed several houses in al-Zawr following…

On May 5, supporters of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) claimed that Turkish unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) had destroyed a 2K12 Kub [SA-6] air-defense system of the Libyan National Army (LNA). The system was allegedly destroyed in the course of the GNA’s recent attack on the al-Watiya Air Base, that is located to the southwest of the capita, Tripoli. The attack was repelled by the LNA. GNA supporters shared imaged showing two completely destroyed 2P25 transporter erector launchers (TELs) as well as a damaged SURN 1S91 target accusation radar of the 2K12 system. The photos, which were allegedly taken…

The United States is planning to renew by another four months the exemptions that are normally given to Iraq to continue to import electricity from Iran as officials in Washington claim the waivers are meant to help the country’s political stability. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a mention of the imminent decision during a Thursday phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Pompeo said the waivers are meant to help the newly-installed Kadhimi with his efforts to form a new government in Iraq, a country which has been grappling with months of political unrest. “In support of…

The Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has called upon all Palestinian forces to join hands and confront the Israeli regime’s plan to annex much of the occupied West Bank. “The annexation project in the West Bank is the most dangerous Judaization plan targeting the Palestinian land, and it constitutes the theft of 38 percent of the West Bank,” Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanua said. He added that through such a move, the Tel Aviv regime would give itself “false legitimacy over 70 percent of the settlements.” Qanua then urged the Palestinian Authority to respond appropriately to Israel’s controversial proposal to annex key…

Ashraf Shannon The Palestinian ministry of health has raised the alarm over the coronavirus pandemic in the blockaded Gaza Strip. On Wednesday, the ministry of health announced that three more people have been infected with the deadly coronavirus. The new cases were discovered at a quarantine center. Gaza has the lowest number of infections in Palestine due to strict measures by the authorities in the tiny enclave. The Palestinian NGOs network, which represents over 140 Palestinian civil society organizations, has warned of dire humanitarian situation in the impoverished seaside sliver. Gaza’s hospitals and clinics are already struggling to provide health services due…

Moscow doesn’t buy Washington’s claims it had nothing to do with the incursion into Venezuela, as a video emerged of a detained US mercenary confessing the operation was aimed at delivering President Nicolas Maduro to America. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that it was “alarmed” by the news of foreign mercenaries, including those with links to the US special services, attempting to land in Venezuela. Considering Washington’s “obsession” with deposing Maduro and statements that “all options are on the table” in order to achieve this goal, President Donald Trump’s words that the US had nothing to do with the failed incursion “sound unconvincing,” the ministry pointed out in a…

US President Donald Trump offered to send medical aid to Russia to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, the Kremlin said, after a telephone call between the US leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The two presidents also discussed global oil markets, noting their support for last month’s output deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers, which they said had helped stabilize oil prices, according to the statement. As well as discussing the coronavirus pandemic, the leaders discussed the US’s desire for arms control, the White House said. “President Trump reaffirmed that the US is committed to effective arms control that…