Abu Ali Express in English

2022-06-13 22:04:45 Abu Mazen in Cyprus

PA Chairman Abu Mazen went on a three-day visit to Cyprus. Here he is in capital of Nicosia, in a meeting with various Arab ambassadors. Open / Comment

2022-06-13 21:03:12 Iran - Semnan Air Base

Iranian sources report that Iran is preparing for an experimental launch of a missile that could carry a satellite into space.

The missile will be launched in the coming days from the Khomeini air base in Semnan.

A small and interesting detail: Muhammad Abdus, one of the two Iranian officers from earlier today, was found dead last night at a military base near Semnan... A coincidence? Open / Comment

2022-06-13 20:11:23 Lebanon

A Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen photographer took a picture of an IDF soldier taking a picture of a Lebanese photographer taking a picture of the solider. Open / Comment

2022-06-13 18:11:32 Lebanon

Lebanese media: American envoy Amos Hochstein, acting as mediator for the negotiations on the disputed maritime border, has arrived in Beirut. Open / Comment

2022-06-13 18:06:52 Palestinian media: PA security forces located an improvised weapons workshop in Beit Amer, northern Hebron. Open / Comment

2022-06-13 17:53:58 In response to the threats made by Israeli Chief of Staff Kochavi, Shiite Axis supporters are sharing the attached Clip.

The clip focuses on the remarks made by the head of the IDF Home Front Command during the same conference, in which he notes that Israeli civilians will have to face tens of thousands of missiles coming from Lebanon in the war to come. Open / Comment

2022-06-13 16:25:45 The threats made by Israeli Chief of Staff Kochavi, the turmoil it caused in Lebanon, and how all of this is connected to the new Israeli offshore gas rig

The remarks made by Israeli Chief of Staff Kochavi yesterday during the Israeli "Home Front Preparedness Conference", which described the nature of the planned IDF attack in Lebanon in the next conflict, were heard well throughout the Middle East.

This was particularly true for Lebanon. Rumors began circulating there on social media and WhatsApp groups, some talking about a three-hour Israeli ultimatum, others claiming that Israeli forces are making their way to the border.

Feelings of fear and apprehension in Lebanon forced Shiite-axis supporters to try and balance Kochavi's heavy remarks with tweets, posting famous quotes and threats from Nasrallah's past speeches, claiming that the next war will be a war of existence for Israel. They even went as far as to quote other Israeli officers who spoke at the same conference, talking about how heavy the Israel civilian toll will be in the next war in Lebanon.

Another interesting angle concerns the timing of Kochavi's remarks, at least in the eyes of Lebanese officials identified with the Shiite axis.
They believe that these Israeli threats are a part of the pressure that Israel is trying to exert before resuming negotiations with Lebanon on its shared maritime border, an ongoing despite which resurfaced with the arrival of the new Israeli offshore gas rig.

Alongside this, there are reports of a draft deal in the making regarding the maritime border dispute and the contested gas fields. According to which, in exchange for allowing Israel to continue commercial production in the "Karish" gas field, Israel will allow Lebanon to develop and produce gas from the "Kana" gas field (thought to have gas, yet these estimations remain unconfirmed). "Qana" gas field exceeds beyond point 23, which means it's partly in territory which Israel claims full ownership over.

Lastly, Lebanese President Michel Aoun responded today to the remarks made by the Israeli Chief of Staff: "We reject the Israeli enemy's threats that are inconsistent with international law and international decisions."

According to Aoun, Lebanon maintains its position of returning to indirect negotiations with Israel, adding that it rejects Israel's position on point number 1 as well as the American "Hof Line" (see attached map). Open / Comment

2022-06-13 15:16:45 Iran - Two Air Force officers killed under unclear circumstances

Last night, the official Iranian news agency Fars reported on the deaths of two officers serving in the Iranian air force.

Ali Kamani was reportedly killed near Khomeyn in a car accident during a "mission" there (and can therefore be declared a martyr).

The circumstances behind the death of the second officer, Muhammad Abdus, were not disclosed. He was found dead in the Semnan area (east of Tehran).

According to unofficial reports online based on Western and Israeli sources, the two officers had been involved in operating UAVs. Both officers were found dead in areas near Iranian air force bases.

In light of the recent wave of assassinations of military personnel in Iran, quite a few people on social media are wondering whether the Israeli Mossad is behind the death of these two officers. For now, the evidence supporting this claim is circumstantial. Open / Comment

2022-06-13 14:55:37 Biden's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia and the connection to Israel

Al-Jazeera Arabic reporter Wajd Waqfi reports that according to US President Biden, his planned trip to Saudi Arabia won't focus around the issue of energy (oil prices - Abu Ali), and has more to do with a large conference which is set to take place in Saudi Arabia at that time, and with Israel's national security.

According to the report, the Biden administration has been trying for several weeks now to organize a meeting between the members of the Cooperative Council of the Gulf Countries and three other countries (Egypt, Jordan and Iraq).

The reporter wonders what announcement is expected to come out of this big conference... Open / Comment

2022-06-13 08:03:01 The Israeli Chief of Staff's remarks over the next possible war with Hezbollah, and the response in the Arab world

Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi participated yesterday in the "First Israeli Conference for Home Front Preparedness", which as its name implies deals with Israel's readiness in defending its civilian population during the next possible war.

At one point in his remarks, Kochavi addressed the residents of Lebanon: "I suggest you leave before the first shot is fired - the intensity of our attack will be something you have yet to see."

This unique and unusual threat wasn't left unnoticed in the Arab world. Faisal Al-Qassem, a famous Druze-Syrian journalist working for Al-Jazeera (with over 12 million followers on Facebook) wrote:

"Only Allah knows (what will happen - Abu Ali)... Lebanon is facing a really large Dabke dance... Dabke... Dabke." Open / Comment