Syria claims intercepting Israeli missile attack

Syria claimed on Sunday its air defences intercepted what it called an Israeli missile strike across central parts of the country and downed most of the missiles.

An army statement said missiles that flew over parts of Lebanon's capital Beirut hit locations in the vicinity of the city of Homs, resulting only in material damage.

An Israeli military spokesman said Israeli warplanes targeted a Syrian air defence battery from which an anti-aircraft missile was launched towards Israel.

The warplanes also attacked other targets in the area, while no casualties were reported from the Syrian missile that exploded in mid-air, said the spokesman, Avichay Adraee.

Israel has in recent months intensified strikes on Syrian airports and air bases to disrupt Iran's increasing use of aerial supply lines to deliver arms to allies in Syria and Lebanon, including Lebanon's Hezbolla.

The Israeli strikes are part of an escalation of what has been a low-intensity conflict continuing for years with a goal of slowing Iran's growing entrenchment in Syria, Israeli military experts say.

Tehran's influence has grown in Syria since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011.

Fighters allied to Iran, including Hezbollah, now hold sway in areas in eastern, southern and northwestern Syria and in several suburbs around the capital.

 

 

 

 

Muslim leaders acknowledge Saudi role in Hajj

According to Saudi Gazette, leaders of the Muslim Ummah and heads of Islamic organizations have praised Saudi Arabia and its leadership on the successful completion of Hajj this year (2023).

The Muslim World League (MWL) congratulated the Kingdom, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the successful completion of Hajj.

In a statement issued by the league’s General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa said the great success of the Hajj is one more accomplishment in the long list of Kingdom’s achievements in serving the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims, as well as the entire Muslim world.

He added that this success is the result of great efforts and coordination of operations based on a system that operated in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency, responsibility and professionalism, under the care and direct follow-up of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and of the Crown Prince.

The secretary-general praised the care and services provided by Saudi Arabia to the pilgrims, underlining the relentless endeavors to raise the level of services and harness all capabilities to facilitate the Hajj journey.

In Cairo, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb congratulated the Kingdom's leadership and the Saudi people on the success of the Hajj 1444 Hijri.

Sheikh Al Tayeb commended the great role played by Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, to provide all services for the pilgrims who come from all over the world to perform this pillar of Islam.

The Grand Imam of Al Azhar prayed to Allah Almighty to protect the Kingdom and all other Muslim countries, and to bless them with security, safety, safety, prosperity and stability.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah have congratulated King Salman on the success of the Hajj season.

In cables sent to the King, the Kuwaiti leadership expressed its sincere congratulations on the outstanding success that was achieved thanks to the care given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his government, represented by all ministries and sectors, which mobilized and devoted all its capabilities and efforts around the clock with all sincerity and dedication to achieve a successful Hajj.

The Kuwaiti Leadership praised the ongoing expansion works at the Grand Mosque throughout the year and the application of modern smart services and technologies across all ports and sites, which are consistent with the Kingdom's vision of developing services during the Hajj to meet the needs of the pilgrims and facilitate the performance of the Hajj. These efforts will always be admired and appreciated by everyone, they said.

President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent a cable of congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the occasion of the success of the Hajj.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his sincere congratulations on the success of the Hajj this year, which was achieved by the grace of Allah Almighty, and thanks to the generous care of King Salman and his wise government and its institutions to ensure that pilgrims can perform the rituals in tranquility and safety.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, also sent two similar cables to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on the occasion of the success of the Hajj season of 1444 Hijri.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Ruler of Sharjah, sent a cable of congratulations to King Salman on the occasion.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, as well as Deputy Rulers Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi and Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi sent similar cables to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, sent a cable of congratulations to King Salman on the occasion of the successful completion of the Hajj 1444 Hijri.

Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, sent a similar cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, sent similar cables of congratulations to King Salman on the occasion.

In Jeddah, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its congratulations on the success of Hajj 1444 Hijri, praising the services provided by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to visitors to the Grand Mosque from the OIC member states and countries with Muslim minorities.

OIC Secretary General Hussein Ibrahim Taha appreciated the generous care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to serve the holiest places in the hearts of Muslims, the Two Holy Mosques.

In addition, Taha commended the good hospitality given to the pilgrims and visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque and the great efforts the Kingdom exerted every year to organize a successful Hajj.

He stressed that these great services for the Holy Sites are a great honor as well as a responsibility that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia initiates with dedication, sincerity, generosity, and giving.

Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Al-Asoomi expressed his appreciation for the intensive efforts the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has exerted -- under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- in serving pilgrims and ensuring success of the Hajj.

In a statement issued in Cairo, Al-Asoomi said the high-quality Hajj services and all forms of facilitation reflect the Saudi leadership’s keenness on providing pilgrims the highest levels of safety.

He also commended the Kingdom’s constant endeavor to upgrade the services provided to pilgrims, while congratulating Saudi Arabia and the entire Islamic world on the success of this year’s Hajj.

In Riyadh, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, praised the great efforts of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman toward serving the pilgrims of the Holy Kaaba, adding that such efforts contributed to creating an atmosphere full of tranquility, faith, safety, and ease.

The GCC Secretary General pointed out that Saudi Arabia's tireless endeavors fulfilled the pilgrims' needs and provided maximum care to them in accordance with the purposes of Islamic law and the great attention given by the government of the Kingdom to the guests of Allah.

The GCC Secretary-General extended his congratulations to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the success of this year's Hajj. He underlined the high level of services extended to the pilgrims that embodied the smooth partnership and coordination between state agencies involved in the organization process under the direct supervision of the wise Saudi leadership.

He underscored the significance of the new and modern projects introduced by the government of the Kingdom during the Hajj, highlighting their important role in paving the way for the full integration of the management of this year's Hajj, which was admired by the pilgrims and their missions.

Albudaiwi confirmed that serving the Two Holy Mosques is a great honor and a great responsibility that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been shouldering since the era of its founder King Abdulaziz through the era of his sons including King Salman. He prayed to the Almighty to reward them for their good deeds toward Islam and Muslims.

He lauded the great efforts produced by all workers in the various sectors linked to supervising the organization of Hajj this year, so that this blessed season becomes a great example for national values such as humanitarian initiatives, volunteering and others.

Iran oil income reported by EIA at US$54 billion for 2022

According to a report by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Iran’s oil revenues in 2022 were reported at US$54 billion, up $17 billion from the country’s oil income in 2021.

The EIA’s report also put the Islamic Republic’s oil revenue in the first five months of 2023 at US$19 billion.

Back in January, the EIA in a report put Iran’s average oil production in 2022 at 2.54 million barrels per day (bpd), 140,000 bpd more than the previous year.

In late April, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat announced the import of Iranian oil by three European Union (EU) members in 2022, and introduced Bulgaria as the newest customer for Iranian oil in this union.

The information published by Eurostat shows that the European Union imported 4,181 tons of crude oil or oil products from Iran last year.

Although the amount of EU oil imports from Iran is not a significant figure, it indicates the desire of European refineries to ignore the US sanctions against Iran, and the inclusion of these figures in the official European oil import statistics shows the desire of the European authorities to distance themselves from the sanctions, or at least showing their objection to the US sanctions policy against Iran.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the oil and gas sector experienced a growth of nine percent in the past Iranian calendar year 1401.

Oil Minister Javad Oji has also said that a new record high will be reached in the country’s oil export in the current Iranian calendar year.

The country’s oil export in 1401 was 83 million barrels more than that of year 1400 and 190 million barrels more than the export in year 1399, the minister announced.

Underlining that now oil export has reached the highest figure in the last two years, the official said, “Considering that the Oil Ministry is one of the main providers of the country's foreign currency; in the 13th government, despite the tightening of cruel sanctions, fortunately, thanks to the grace of God and the efforts of our colleagues in the country's oil and gas industries, there are good records in the field of exporting crude oil, gas condensate, and petroleum and petrochemical products.”

Despite the negative impacts of the U.S. sanctions, Iran has been ramping up its oil production and exports over the past few months.

In his remarks in November 2022, President Raisi highlighted the failure of the enemy’s policy of maximum pressure, saying the country’s oil export has reached the pre-sanction levels.

 

Mossad abducts terror leader from inside Iran

Mossad announced on Thursday its method for recently thwarting a Cyprus terror attack by kidnapping the mastermind from within Iranian territory, reports The Jerusalem Post.

The stunning revelation, including the identity of the mastermind, Yusef Shahabazi Abbasalilu, was the latest in the saga which itself first broke on last Sunday.

“In a unique daring mission within Iranian territory, the Mossad was able to seize the mastermind of the terror cell, who then admitted to the terror plot in detail during his interrogation, which led to exposing and the taking apart of the Cyprus terror cell,” said a Mossad statement.

A senior Mossad official said, “We will get to every official who advances terror against Jews and Israelis anywhere in the world, including within Iranian territory.”

Abbasalilu had received detailed instructions from senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and told his interrogators exactly how the plot was to be carried out and where to find all the related supplies and cell members, said the Mossad.

Next, the spy agency passed on the information to Cyprus’ authorities who arrested most of the cell’s other members.

On Sunday, The Jerusalem Post and Phile News reported that the Mossad and Cyprus thwarted a planned Iranian terrorist attack on Jews on the island state.

That initial report said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps planned the attack, which was stopped in cooperation between Cyprus and Western partners, which named the US and Israel as among the likely partners.

Jerusalem and Nicosia have worked together to foil Iranian plots to attack Israelis in the past. In 2021, they arrested a Russian-Azerbaijani hitman hired by the IRGC to kill Israeli businessmen in Cyprus. Billionaire Teddy Sagi, among others, was evacuated to Israel at the time.

Channel 12 added on Sunday that the terror cell targeted a Jewish real estate businessman, a Chabad site and hotels where Israelis tend to visit. Seven members of the cell were arrested, with one having escaped.

In March, Greek police disrupted what they called a foreign terrorist network operating within the country and arrested two foreign nationals.

According to both the Mossad and AFP, the terrorists were plotting to attack Israelis in Greece. “This is another example of Iran trying to use terror against Israeli and Jewish targets overseas,” said the Mossad at the time.

The Mossad had also helped identify the connection between the local terror cell in Greece and Iran’s broader global terror operations.

According to the intelligence agency, along with our intelligence partners, we will act in our role without rest to thwart Iran’s intentions to cause harm throughout the world.

In the Greece instance, the terrorists planned to strike a target of high symbolic value, a Jewish synagogue, which also functions as a restaurant, located in the center of Athens, Greek media reported.

In 2022, Greek media noted that Pakistani nationals were involved in an attempted attack on an Israeli in Istanbul, Turkey.

It was unclear if Greek media were referring to the September 2022 joint Turkey-Mossad operation which saved the lives of a large number of Israeli tourists.

In mid-2022, the Mossad kidnapped another senior IRGC official who revealed a variety of Iranian plots in the midst of a series of operations in which a number of other IRCG operatives and nuclear scientists were assassinated, with Iran accusing Israel.

 

US didn't anticipate Afghanistan exit chaos

Key failures by both the Trump and Biden administrations contributed to a chaotic and deadly end to the two-decade US presence in Afghanistan, according to a State Department review that was published Friday. 

Among these included that senior officials did not prepare for worst case scenarios and appreciate how quickly the situation could devolve, key leadership roles were not empowered with authority and firmly held policy positions failed to take into account dissenting opinions.

The review focused on the State Department’s responsibilities during the period where the US was ending its military presence in Afghanistan, offering recommendations on how the agency could better prepare for and respond to extraordinary crises in unstable security environments.

The report, called the After Action Review, was commissioned by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the aftermath of the US pullout of Afghanistan, which formally ended on August 31, 2021.

It was released with little notice and fanfare in the afternoon of a holiday weekend, when Congress is out of session and the administration is unlikely to face public questioning from journalists at press briefings. 

It also comes nearly two years after US officials first committed to critically reviewing the pullout from Afghanistan, which marked one of the lowest moments for President Biden’s term and has contributed to criticism, and raised concern over how the US government prepares for evacuating Americans in times of crisis.

While the US managed to evacuate more than 120,000 people from Afghanistan over the course of two weeks, including more than 85,000 Afghans, the disorganized effort led to a swell of people rushing to the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport over several days, and a subsequent suicide bomb blast killing 13 US service members and more than 150 Afghans.

The administration drew intense criticism for the chaos and the State Department in particular is the target of Republican criticisms that the agency failed to prepare for a worst-case scenario and that resulted in more than 100,000 Afghan allies left behind.

The report notes that diplomats serving in Kabul that were forced to shutter their operations at the embassy and establish an ad-hoc evacuation plan at the airport confronted a task of unprecedented scale and complexity.

IMF standby arrangement for Pakistan: Too little too late

Pakistan has finally entered into a new US$3 billion short term Standby Arrangement (SBA) spread over 9 months. The country has entered into such SBA in the past in 2000 and 2008.

The deal — subject to approval by the IMF Board in July — comes after an eight-month delay and offers some respite to Pakistan, which is battling an acute balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves.

The positive point is that the US$3 billion funding, spread over nine months, is higher than expected for Pakistan. The country was awaiting the release of the remaining US$2.5 billion from a US$6.5 billion bailout package agreed in 2019, which expires on June 30, 2023.

The new stand-by arrangement is built on the 2019 program, IMF official Nathan Porter said in a statement on Thursday, adding that Pakistan’s economy had faced several challenges in recent times, including devastating floods last year and commodity price hikes following the war in Ukraine.

“As a result of these shocks as well as some policy missteps — including shortages from constraints on the functioning of the FX market — economic growth has stalled. Inflation, including for essential items, is very high,” he added.

“Despite the authorities’ efforts to reduce imports and the trade deficit, reserves have declined to very low levels. Liquidity conditions in the power sector also remain acute,” Porter said in a statement.

“Given these challenges, the new arrangement would provide a policy anchor and a framework for financial support from multilateral and bilateral partners in the period ahead,” he said.

The IMF’s press release states, “The IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on policies to be supported by a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).”

It added that the new SBA will “support the authorities’ immediate efforts to stabilize the economy from recent external shocks, preserve macroeconomic stability and provide a framework for financing from multilateral and bilateral partners”.

“The new SBA will also create space for social and development spending through improved domestic revenue mobilization and careful spending execution to help address the needs of the Pakistani people,” the IMF said.

It further said, “Steadfast policy implementation is key for Pakistan to overcome its current challenges, including through greater fiscal discipline, a market-determined exchange rate to absorb external pressures, and further progress on reforms, particularly in the energy sector, to promote climate resilience, and to help improve the business climate.”

It added that the budget advances a primary surplus of around 0.4% of GDP by taking some steps to broaden the tax base and increase tax collection from under taxed sectors, as well as improving progressivity, while ensuring space to strengthen support for the vulnerable through the BISP (Benazir Income Support Program)”.

“It will be important that the budget is executed as planned, and the authorities resist pressures for unbudgeted spending or tax exemptions in the period ahead,” the lender emphasized.

It went on to note that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has “withdrawn the guidance on import prioritization and is committed to ensuring the full market determination of the exchange rate”.

“Going forward, the SBP should remain proactive to reduce inflation, which particularly affects the most vulnerable, and maintain a foreign exchange framework free of restrictions on payments and transfers for current international transactions and multiple currency practices,” the IMF highlighted.

 

Biden Iran envoy under investigation

Rob Malley, a US special envoy for Iran, has been placed on leave due to a security clearance suspension earlier this year which resulted in an investigation.

A US official told CNN Thursday that his clearance was suspended after the State Department conducted an investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents. While Malley remained at his post amid the investigation, he was barred from accessing classified information, the official added.

State Department spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed that Malley was benched, adding that Abram Paley will serve as the acting special envoy to Iran for the US, according to CNN. 

“Rob Malley is on leave and Abram Paley is serving as acting Special Envoy for Iran and leading the Department’s work in this area,” Miller told the news outlet. 

Malley, who was appointed to his position two years ago, confirmed that his security clearance is under review, noting in a statement that he expects the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon.

“I have been informed that my security clearance is under review. I have not been provided any further information, but I expect the investigation to be resolved favorably and soon. In the meantime, I am on leave,” Malley told CNN.

The move comes as Malley, who was a prominent player in working to secure the release of detained Americans in Iran, has remained excluded from the ongoing Iran nuclear deal talks. 

The Hill has reached out to the State Department for additional comment. Department officials last year said that reviving the nuclear deal with Iran, which was nixed under former President Trump in 2018, was not their main focus.

This came as protests between Iranian authorities and residents intensified following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s Morality Police, CNN reported. 

Republican lawmakers recently warned the Biden administration about pursuing an agreement with Iran that would provide sanctions relief without approval from Congress.