海角直播

Jordanian FM says 海角直播 plays key role in bringing comprehensive peace to Middle East

Jordanian FM says 海角直播 plays key role in bringing comprehensive peace to Middle East
Al-Safadi credited US President Donald Trump and his administration with ensuring the ceasefire in Gaza would happen. (Screengrab)
Short Url
Updated 22 January 2025

Jordanian FM says 海角直播 plays key role in bringing comprehensive peace to Middle East

Jordanian FM says 海角直播 plays key role in bringing comprehensive peace to Middle East

DAVOS: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi said 海角直播 is playing a key role in bringing peace to the Middle East region and called for a two-state solution at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.

Al-Safadi said the only way to maintain security in the region is to have strong leadership.

鈥淭here is a moment of opportunity in the region with everything happening in Lebanon and Syria; we should not leave leadership up to radicals,鈥 he said.

A lasting ceasefire is Jordan鈥檚 main priority at the moment, explained Al-Safadi.

鈥淕etting the ceasefire to hold is our priority, then flooding Gaza with immediate aid is necessary, then we can focus on other things like education and rebuilding the city,鈥 he added.

Al-Safadi credited US President Donald Trump and his administration with ensuring the ceasefire in Gaza would happen.

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that included an exchange of hostages from both sides took effect on Sunday.

The plan was originally outlined by former President Joe Biden in May and was pushed through after unusual joint diplomacy by Biden and Trump envoys.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel must withdraw its troops from central Gaza and permit the return of Palestinians to the north during an initial six-week phase, in which some hostages will be released.

Starting from the 16th day of the ceasefire, the two sides are set to negotiate a second phase, which is expected to include a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.

Reconstruction, expected to cost billions of dollars and last for years, would only begin in a third and final phase.

Fifteen months of war have left Gaza a wasteland of rubble, bombed-out buildings and makeshift encampments, with hundreds of thousands of desperate people sheltering from the winter cold and living on whatever aid can reach them. More than 46,000 people have been killed, according to Palestinian health authorities.


Yemen鈥檚 Houthis hold funeral for chief of staff killed in Israeli strike

Yemen鈥檚 Houthis hold funeral for chief of staff killed in Israeli strike
Updated 20 October 2025

Yemen鈥檚 Houthis hold funeral for chief of staff killed in Israeli strike

Yemen鈥檚 Houthis hold funeral for chief of staff killed in Israeli strike
  • Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdul Karim Al-Ghamari was killed in an Israeli airstrike
  • UN had sanctioned Al-Ghamari for his 鈥榣eading role in orchestrating the Houthis鈥 military efforts鈥

ADEN, Yemen: Yemen鈥檚 Houthis held a funeral Monday for their military chief of staff who was killed in a recent Israeli strike, with more than 1,000 people gathered for the ceremony in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa.
The Iranian-backed group acknowledged last week that one of their senior officers, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdul Karim Al-Ghamari, was killed in an Israeli airstrike along with other top leaders. The Houthis did not say when the strike took place but this death further escalating tensions between the rebels and Israel.
The funeral comes as a fragile US-proposed ceasefire aimed at ending two years of war is holding in the Gaza Strip and nearly two months after Israeli airstrikes killed senior Houthi government officials in Sanaa, including their prime minister, Ahmed Al-Rahawi, and several other rebel ministers.
The Houthis said Al-Ghamari was killed along with his 13-year-old son Hussain and 鈥渟everal of his companions,鈥 according to the rebel-controlled SABA news agency, which didn鈥檛 provide further details.
Hundreds attended funeral prayers at a mosque in Sabeen Square in Sanaa, with many more gathered outside as the caskets were brought out. A poster of Al-Ghamari was was held by the crowd in tribute and several mourners wore sashes bearing his image and the Yemeni and Palestinian flags.
Acting Prime Minister Mohamed Muftah praised Al-Ghamari, saying Monday he had inspired his troops with the highest level of dedication.
Many in the crowd vented their anger at Israel.
One of the mourners, Ayham Hassan, said 鈥淚srael is the biggest enemy for Arabs and Muslims.鈥 He spoke to The Associated Press over the phone from Sanaa.
The United Nations had sanctioned Al-Ghamari for his 鈥渓eading role in orchestrating the Houthis鈥 military efforts that are directly threatening the peace, security and stability of Yemen, as well as cross-border attacks against 海角直播.鈥
The US Treasury also sanctioned him in 2021 for his responsibility in 鈥渙rchestrating attacks by Houthi forces impacting Yemeni civilians鈥 and said he had been trained by Lebanon鈥檚 militant Hezbollah group and Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
The United States and Israel launched an air and naval campaign against the Houthis in response to the rebels鈥 missile and drone attacks on Israel and on ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis said they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians over the war in Gaza in targeting ships. Their attacks over the past two years have upended shipping in the Red Sea, through which about $1 trillion of goods pass each year.


Fire aboard a gas tanker off the coast of Yemen kills two mariners

Fire aboard a gas tanker off the coast of Yemen kills two mariners
Updated 20 October 2025

Fire aboard a gas tanker off the coast of Yemen kills two mariners

Fire aboard a gas tanker off the coast of Yemen kills two mariners
  • The blaze aboard the Cameroonian-flagged Falcon began on Saturday and appeared to be an accident
  • The Falcon previously had been identified as operating allegedly in an Iranian 鈥榞host fleet鈥 of ships

DUBAI: A fire that erupted on a Cameroonian-flagged gas tanker traveling through the Gulf of Aden killed two mariners on board, authorities said Monday, as the ship remained adrift off the coast of Yemen.
The blaze aboard the Falcon began on Saturday and appeared to be an accident, according to the US Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Center. However, there were no other immediate details and the ship had been abandoned at sea, without any time for further investigation.
鈥淭he incident resulted from an explosion deemed as an accident and not caused by external factor/influence,鈥 the center said, citing the crew members. 鈥淥f the 26 crew onboard, 24 crew members were evacuated safely by responding vessels but two of the crew members have unfortunately passed away.鈥
The ship鈥檚 crew was Indian with one Ukrainian abroad. Photos released by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority showed the mariners had arrived in Djibouti.
The British military鈥檚 United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center initially reported the Falcon had been 鈥渉it by an unknown projectile鈥 on Saturday, but later said it could not confirm what caused the blast.
Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed the ship ablaze off Yemen at 0750 GMT Saturday. Photographs released early Monday by the European Union鈥檚 Operation Aspides, which patrols the Red Sea corridor, showed flames burning and extensive damage to the piping on its deck, though the ship was not listing, meaning tilting to the side.
The Falcon 鈥渞emains on fire and adrift,鈥 the EU force warned. It said a private firm would salvage the tanker.
Yemen鈥檚 Houthi rebels have been carrying out attacks targeting ships traveling through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait connecting the waterways. The Iranian-backed Houthis have gained international prominence during the Israel-Hamas war over their attacks on shipping and Israel, which they said were aimed at forcing Israel to stop fighting.
However, since the ceasefire in Gaza began on Oct. 10, no attacks have been claimed by the Yemeni rebels.
The Falcon previously had been identified by United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York-based pressure group, as operating allegedly in an Iranian 鈥済host fleet鈥 of ships moving their oil products in the high seas despite international sanctions. The ship鈥檚 owners and operators, listed as being in India, could not be reached for comment.


Iraq keeping a small contingent of US military advisers due to Daesh threat in Syria

Iraq keeping a small contingent of US military advisers due to Daesh threat in Syria
Updated 20 October 2025

Iraq keeping a small contingent of US military advisers due to Daesh threat in Syria

Iraq keeping a small contingent of US military advisers due to Daesh threat in Syria
  • After the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December, fears arose in Iraq of an Daesh聽resurgence taking advantage of the ensuing security vacuum as well as of weapons abandoned by the former Syrian army

BAGHDAD: Iraq鈥檚 prime minister said Monday that a small contingent of US military advisers will remain in the country for now to coordinate with US forces in Syria combating the Daesh group.
Washington and Baghdad agreed last year to wind down an American-led coalition fighting Daesh in Iraq by this September, with US forces departing some bases where they have been stationed.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani told a small group of journalists in Baghdad that US military advisers and support personnel are now stationed at the Ain Al-Asad air base in Western Iraq, a base adjacent to the Baghdad airport, and the Al-Harir air base in northern Iraq
Al-Sudani noted that the agreement originally stipulated a full pullout of US forces from Ain Al-Asad by September, but that 鈥渄evelopments in Syria鈥 since then 鈥渞equired maintaining a small unit鈥 of between 250 and 350 advisers and security personnel at the base.
He said they would work 鈥渢o support counter-ISIS surveillance and coordination with the Al-Tanf base鈥 in Syria.
He added that 鈥渙ther US sites are witnessing gradual reductions in personnel and operations.鈥
After the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December, fears arose in Iraq of an Daesh resurgence taking advantage of the ensuing security vacuum as well as of weapons abandoned by the former Syrian army.
Al-Sudani maintained that the extremist group, which seized wide swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria a decade ago 鈥渘o longer poses a significant threat inside Iraq.鈥
Iraq has sought to balance Iraq鈥檚 relations with the United States and Tehran and to avoid being pulled into regional conflicts, a policy that the prime minister said he will continue.
鈥淲e put Iraq first, and we do not wish to act as a proxy for anyone,鈥 he said. 鈥淚raq will not be a battlefield for conflicts.鈥
At the same time, Al-Sudani urged the US to return to negotiations with Iran, describing the Trump administration鈥檚 鈥渕aximum pressure鈥 approach to curtail Iranian influence as 鈥渃ounterproductive.鈥
鈥淚ran is an important and influential country that must be treated with respect and through direct dialogue,鈥 he said.
There have been tensions between Baghdad and Washington over the presence of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of militias that formed to fight Daesh, was formally placed under the control of the Iraqi military in 2016 but in practice still operates with significant autonomy.
The Iraqi parliament has been considering legislation that would solidify the relationship between the military and the PMF, drawing objections from Washington.
Al-Sudani did not directly address the proposed legislation but said his government鈥檚 program 鈥渋ncludes disarmament and national dialogue to remove any justification for carrying weapons.鈥
鈥淲e encourage all factions to either integrate into state institutions or engage in political life,鈥 which could include becoming political parties and running for election, he said.
Iraq is preparing for parliamentary elections next month that will determine where Al-Sudani serves a second term.
鈥淎rmed factions that have transformed into political entities have the constitutional right to participate鈥 in those elections, the prime minister said.


Hamas meets with Gaza truce mediators in Cairo

Hamas meets with Gaza truce mediators in Cairo
Updated 20 October 2025

Hamas meets with Gaza truce mediators in Cairo

Hamas meets with Gaza truce mediators in Cairo
  • Hamas delegation would discuss 鈥榯he dozens of airstrikes that killed dozens in the Gaza Strip鈥 on Sunday
  • Egypt and Qatar have long played a mediating role in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas

CAIRO: A Hamas delegation was to meet Qatari and Egyptian officials in Cairo on Monday to discuss the continuation of a fragile Gaza ceasefire, a source close to negotiations said.
The Israeli military struck dozens of Hamas positions across Gaza on Sunday after the militants killed two of its soldiers and Israel accused the group of 鈥渁 blatant violation鈥 of the truce.
Hamas denied any knowledge of an attack and in turn asserted Israel had broken the ceasefire deal in place since 10 October.
The source said that the delegation, headed by Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya, would discuss 鈥渢he dozens of airstrikes that killed dozens in the Gaza Strip鈥 on Sunday.
Egypt and Qatar have long played a mediating role in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, aiming to bring about an end to the war sparked by Hamas鈥 unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hamas鈥 delegation will also meet Egyptian officials to discuss an upcoming intra-Palestinian dialogue hosted by Egypt and aiming 鈥渢o unify the Palestinian factions,鈥 the source said.
Egypt has hosted several such meetings between Palestinian factions, notably including the two main rival political movements, Islamist movement Hamas and Fatah, whose leader Mahmud Abbas is also president of the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas and Fatah have been opposed for decades, all the more so since the former鈥檚 violent ousting of the latter from the Gaza Strip in 2007.
鈥淭he dialogue aims to unify the Palestinian factions and discuss key issues, including the future of the Gaza Strip and the formation of the independent committee of experts that will assume management of the Strip,鈥 the source said.
Under the US-brokered ceasefire deal an independent transitional authority, run by technocrats, has been proposed to administer Gaza.
Hamas said it did not wish to govern Gaza after two years of war, but its forces have moved back into areas from which Israel has withdrawn since the ceasefire.
Several Palestinian political officials recently raised the possibility of a group of unaffiliated Palestinian managers to run the Palestinian territory.
Another informed source said that 鈥渕ediators鈥 contacts and efforts succeeded last night in restoring calm and implementing the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.鈥


Iran sees the 鈥榥ecessary will鈥 to resolve prisoner issue with France

Iran sees the 鈥榥ecessary will鈥 to resolve prisoner issue with France
Updated 20 October 2025

Iran sees the 鈥榥ecessary will鈥 to resolve prisoner issue with France

Iran sees the 鈥榥ecessary will鈥 to resolve prisoner issue with France
  • Iran has accused France of arbitrarily detaining Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student in Lyon arrested earlier this year over anti-Israel posts on social media

DUBAI: Both Tehran and Paris have the necessary will to resolve the 鈥渋ssue鈥 of prisoners, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, a week after an Iranian court gave heavy prison sentences to two French citizens.
鈥淲e are following the issue seriously. We believe both sides have the necessary will to resolve this issue,鈥 Baghaei said when asked at a weekly press conference about the possibility of a prisoner swap.
Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris are the only two French citizens being held in Iran and have been detained since 2022.

Iran has accused France of arbitrarily detaining Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon who was arrested this year over anti-Israel social media posts.