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Talks resume on US-led coalition withdrawal: Iraq

By
IFP Media Wire
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US Troops

A first round of talks opened on 27 January but was swiftly suspended after a drone attack killed three US military personnel at a base in Jordan the following day. The attack was claimed by the Islamic Resistance, an Iraq-based militia group, and led to US reprisal strikes.

“The supreme Iraqi military commission resumed on Sunday its meetings with international coalition forces in Baghdad,” General Yehia Rasool, military spokesman for Iraq’s prime minister, said in a statement.

“As long as nothing disrupts the serenity of these talks, the meetings will take place on a regular basis in order to achieve the commission’s works as soon as possible,” he added.

Rasool stated the meetings were aimed at setting up a “timeline” for a “progressive pullout” of coalition forces from Iraq, leading to the end of its mission.

The US-led military coalition was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State (IS) group – the year the terror group overran nearly a third of Iraq’s territory and swathes of neighbouring Syria.

US and allied troops have been targeted more than 165 times in the Middle East since mid-October, in attacks linked to Israel’s assault on Gaza.

The majority of the attacks have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-backed groups angered by US support for Israel.

The United States has retaliated with several deadly strikes targeting these groups.

Washington has 2,500 soldiers in Iraq and some 900 troops in Syria as part of the coalition against IS.

Its troops in Iraq are deployed at the invitation of Baghdad, but those in Syria are stationed in areas outside Syrian government control.

Currently, US troops in Iraq provide assistance to government forces to prevent a re-emergence of the IS militants.

In Sunday’s statement, Rasool said discussions were now focusing on evaluating the threat posed by IS, which has been defeated in Iraq and Syria but still has sleeper cells that carry attacks.

The talks were also centring on “the capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces”, he added.

In order to replace the international coalition, Iraqi authorities want to engage in bilateral military cooperation with the member states contributing to the force.

But the process is likely to be long. A statement on Thursday from the coalition said the objective now was “to assess” the progress made in defeating the militants, and to “discuss the future transition” of the coalition’s mission.

Palestinians have plans for post-war era in Gaza and West Bank: Iran FM

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran FM Amirabdollahian Syrian President Assad

Amirabdollahian deemed the Gaza issue as the most crucial at both regional and international levels, adding Tehran and Damascus share a common position and a practical approach in supporting the Palestinian cause. He considered Syria to be in the front lines of the axis of resistance.

Referring to the extensive diplomatic efforts of Iran in the past four months to support the Palestinian nation and halt the war against Gaza, Amirabdollahian emphasized: “We have consistently declared our firm position regarding Palestine and the current crisis in Gaza. In response to messages and positions from the U.S. and in the course of negotiations with the British foreign secretary, we have emphasized that the war in Gaza is not the solution, and the genocide of Palestinians must cease immediately.”

“If the U.S. is sincere in its claims that it does not seek to expand the scope of the war in the region, it should cease supporting the Zionist regime. If America stops supporting the Zionist regime, this regime will not be able to continue the war against Gaza even for a single day.”

He emphasized that the resistance in Palestine is strong and powerful, and added: “Those who initially sought to destroy Hamas have now included Hamas as a reality in their political strategies and as a negotiating party in the ceasefire talks.”

Amirabdollahian considered the Palestinian resistance strong in the field and having constructive initiatives in the political field as well.

“Our assessment is that the Palestinian nation and resistance groups will not succumb to the pressures and excessive demands of the Israeli regime or any other parties. The Palestinians have ideas for the post-war Gaza and West Bank, and are able to determine their own future,” the top diplomat said.

Al-Assad, for his part, thanked Iran for supporting Damascus and its stability and security.

He added: “What the Islamic Republic of Iran has done in the past four months in support of Palestine has once again proved to the world that Iran does not just talk, but does act.”

He further stated: “What happened in Palestine in these few months, strengthened the spirit of resistance in the Arab world.”

The president emphasized that Damascus’s support for the resistance and Palestine is a historical position, and that the resistance has taken root in Syria, and this policy will not change.

Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would destroy hostage talks: Hamas

By
IFP Media Wire
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Gaza War

According to Al-Aqsa TV, a Hamas leadership source said that an aggression against Rafah would mean the “destruction” of negotiations that have been ongoing for weeks.

“Netanyahu is trying to evade the obligations of the exchange deal by committing a genocide and a new humanitarian catastrophe in Rafah,” Al-Aqsa quoted the Hamas source as saying.

In a statement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced it had directed the military to plan for the “evacuation of the population” from Rafah in anticipation of a ground assault on the southern Gaza city.

In an interview with ABC releasing Sunday, Netanyahu called Rafah the “last bastion” of Hamas and said Israel was “working out a detailed plan” to secure “safe passage” for civilians but offered few details.

More than one million people live in Rafah, which is the last major area of Gaza the Israeli military is yet to enter.

On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked Israeli settlements near the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis, injury to 5,500 and the capture of at least 250 hostages.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

Israel estimates the presence of “137 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip”, according to media reports and statements from Israeli officials.

Pakistan releases official results of election

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Pakistan Election

According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, independent candidates won 102 seats. The majority of the independents are affiliated with Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz party (PMLN), headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, came in second with 73 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) won 54 seats.

None of the three major parties of the country will win the necessary 169 seats to have a majority in parliament and, therefore, will be unable to form government on their own, leaving it unclear who will be picked as the country’s next prime minister.

The results were announced more than three days after the polls closed in Thursday’s highly contentious election which was marred by violence and subject to allegations of poll rigging.

The PTI party has called on party workers and supporters to hold protests on Sunday outside polling offices in constituencies where party members say election results were “withheld and delayed”.

The capital Islamabad has imposed Section 144, allowing police to take legal action against any illegal assemblies and activities.

IMF cautions widening of Gaza war would aggravate economic harm

By
IFP Media Wire
-
International Monetary Fund (IMF)

In a speech at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the impact of the war was being felt in reduced tourism in Middle Eastern countries, as well as rising freight costs and declining shipping in the Red Sea.

Speaking about the conflict in Gaza, Georgieva warned of widening consequences.

“This exceptionally uncertain moment compounds the challenges of economies that are still recovering from previous shocks. And further widening of the conflict would aggravate the economic harm,” she stated.

Georgieva added, however, that she was confident about the overall economic outlook despite the uncertainties as the global economy has proved resilient so far.

In its latest regional economic update published last month, the IMF revised its GDP growth forecast for the Middle East and North Africa region downwards to 2.9% this year, due in part to short term oil production cuts.

Earlier, Georgieva had warned about the impact of the Red Sea disruption on the global economy if the situation escalates over Yemen’s attacks.

Current Houthi strikes on shipping are “not significant enough to impact the global economy, the risk is more spillover of violence and prolonging the conflict and then uncertainty is high,” Georgieva told CNN’s Richard Quest at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“How would that impact the world? I worry it could be quite negative.”

Attacks by Yemeni fighters in the Red Sea effectively closed one of the world’s main trade routes to most container ships.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged territory, the Yemeni armed forces have targeted ships in the Red Sea with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied territories.

In response, the US has formed a military coalition against Yemeni forces in the Red Sea and endangered maritime navigation in the strategic waterway.

Israeli forces steal over $54 million from Gaza bank: Report

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israeli Army

Maariv daily, citing Israeli officers, said a military force took the funds allocated for the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority after coming under fire in al-Rimal neighborhood last week.

There was no comment from the Palestinian Authority or Hamas on the report.

“Israeli soldiers were at the Bank of Palestine headquarters in Gaza last week to prevent money from reaching Hamas,” an Israel military spokesman told Maariv, without providing further details.

He added this step “was decided at the political level”.

Despite an International Court of Justice’s provisional ruling last month, Israel continues its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip where at least 28,176 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and 67,784 others injured since Oct. 7, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Iran president urges Israel’s expulsion from UN

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Ebrahim Raisi

Addressing a massive demonstration in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran on Sunday, President Raisi denounced the Zionist regime’s heinous crimes against Gaza.

Describing the issue of Palestine as the “humanity’s top priority”, the Iranian president said the governments should cut off all economic relations and interaction with the Zionist regime in order to deter it from committing crimes.

“Our proposal is the expulsion of the Zionist regime from the United Nations,” he added, pointing to the Israeli regime’s breach of 400 statements, resolutions and measures adopted by the international organizations.

The Iranian president argued that the Israeli regime, with such dark record of violation of agreements, would not honor the UN’s resolutions and covenants.

He further highlighted the Islamic Revolution’s growing progress and inspiration for regional awakening, adding, “The enemy has waged military, economic, media, and psychological wars, and recently a hybrid war, in order to halt the Iranian nation, but our nation emerged victor and disappointed the enemy.”

Describing Iran as the flagbearer of defense of human rights and the fight against terrorism, the president said, “Those who want to know the West, the US and the Zionist regime should observe the crimes against humanity and the dire war crimes and infanticide being committed against the people of Palestine.”

At least 28,176 people have been killed and 67,784 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

Iranian people also condemned the Israeli crimes during the Sunday’s demonstrations marking the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Nationwide rallies were held on the national holiday of “Bahman 22nd” on Sunday. People in over 1,400 cities and 35,000 villages across Iran took part in the celebration, which was covered by more than 7,300 journalists and reporters.

Millions mark 45th anniv. of Islamic Revolution victory in Iran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Millions mark 45th anniv. of Islamic Revolution victory in Iran

Ceremonies were held in the capital Tehran and other cities with ordinary people and ranking officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi, in attendance.

President Raisi, in his address to the crowd at Tehran’s Azadi Square, noted that that people in Iran “chose independence over reliance on foreign powers” and “honor over humiliation” through the Revolution.

Many families along with their children waved the Iranian flags and speakers blared out songs reminiscent of the Revolution days over four decades ago.

The participants renewed allegiance to the Revolution and its Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as the founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini.

A statement was issued at the end of the ceremony, saying the Islamic Revolution stemmed from divine traditions under the auspices and guidelines of the prophets and the leadership of Imam Khomeini.

On February 1, 1979, Imam Khomeini, the leader of the Revolution, returned to his home country after fifteen years of exile.
The Revolution led to the ouster of the former monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and achieved victory ten day later on February 11.

Israeli protesters demand resignation of Netanyahu government, return of captives from Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israel Hostages

Channel 12 reported that thousands protested in Habima Square in central Tel Aviv against the government and demanded early elections.

The official Israeli broadcasting authority noted “a massive demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding the government to reach a deal for the return of all the hostages, and other two protests in front of Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem”.

The Yedioth Ahronoth daily newspaper said that “about 3,000 Israelis demonstrated at the Horev junction in the city of Haifa, demanding an immediate change of government, with protesters holding banners that read: Elections now.”

It is expected that the pace of protests against the government will increase later Saturday across the country, especially in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

On Oct. 7, Hamas attacked Israeli settlements near the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 1,200 Israelis, injury to 5,500 and the capture of at least 250 hostages.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

Israel estimates the presence of “137 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip”, according to media reports and statements from Israeli officials.

99-year-old Iranian diver crowned at World Aquatics games

By
IFP Media Wire
-
99-year-old Iranian diver crowned at World Aquatics games

Photos and videos showed him hiding his tears after he received a medal from authorities and was applauded by the audience in the pool.

Asgari won a silver and bronze medal at the inaugural Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951. He then said goodbye to diving in 1966 after winning a national gold medal.

“For me, I have had a love of diving since I was a teenager. I have always loved diving. Nothing has changed between 1951 and now, except my performance!” he told the World Aquatics website.

Asgari was born and raised in the slopes of Alborz Mountain in Shemiran, located to the north of the Iranian capital, Tehran, where he still lives.

The old diver gave his recommendations to current and future competitors in aquatic games.

“The only thing I want to tell you is about loving this sport and to keep yourself healthy,” added Asgari.

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