Middle East & North Africa

Iran says could contribute to solve Europe’s energy crisis

Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the country has preserved its share of energy market despite sanctions, but it could contribute to solving Europe’s energy crisis if a deal is reached.

Speaking in his weekly press conference, Nasser Kanaani said that full removal of sanctions on the Iranian nation and government was among Iran’s fundamental goals.

Turkish warship docks in Israel as bilateral ties warm

HAIFA, Israel, Sept 4 (Reuters) - A Turkish warship has docked in Israel for the first such visit in more than a decade as relations between the U.S. allies improve following fierce feuding over the Palestinian cause.

The frigate Kemalreis docked in Haifa on Saturday as part of NATO manoeuvres in the Mediterranean sea, a Turkish official said. An Israeli official said Ankara had submitted a preliminary request for the crew to disembark on shore leave.

Iraq's parliament speaker calls for early elections

BAGHDAD, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi on Sunday called on the parliamentary blocs to hold new rounds of dialogue to agree on various issues, including early elections.

"The agenda of the upcoming national dialogue rounds must include several issues that must be agreed upon, including setting a date for early parliamentary and provincial council elections no later than the end of 2023," al-Halbousi said in a statement.

Egypt's president meets Saudi FM on bilateral ties, regional issues

CAIRO, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday met with visiting Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Cairo, where they discussed bilateral ties and regional and international issues of mutual interests, said the Egyptian presidency.

Iran seeks to buy Su-35 fighters from Russia: Iranian commander

TEHRAN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The purchase of Su-35 fighter jets from Russia is on the agenda of the Iranian Air Force, Commander of the Iranian Air Force Hamid Vahedi said on Sunday.

The final decision on the purchase of Su-35 fighters rests with the Iranian Army Command and the Armed Forces General Staff Command, Vahedi told Iran's BORNA news agency in an interview.

Last month, Western media reported that Iran was seeking to exchange its unmanned aerial vehicles with Russian Su-35 multipurpose fighters in a barter deal. 

171 killed by explosive war remnants in Syria so far in 2022: monitor

DAMASCUS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A total of 171 civilians have so far been killed in 2022 by explosions of landmines and other ordnance left uncovered in previous war zones across Syria, a war monitor reported on Sunday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 171 civilians, including 86 children, have been killed and 251 people, including 141 children, have been wounded by the explosives so far this year.

Palestine: Hamas executes 5 Gazans charged with murder, aiding Israel

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s Hamas authorities Sunday executed five Palestinian men convicted in separate cases of murder and alleged collaboration with Israel.

The Interior Ministry said the executions meant “to achieve public deterrence and security,” but rights groups in the past have questioned fair-trial standards in the military and civilian courts of the Islamic militant group.

Two of the men, both members of the Palestinian security forces, were killed by firing squad, and the other three were hanged at dawn at a security site in Gaza City.

Israel: Attack on bus in West Bank wounds 6 troops, civilian

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said that Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a bus in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, wounding six soldiers, one of them seriously, and a civilian.

The Magen David Adom paramedic service said two people who suffered gunshot wounds were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Haifa.

The Israeli military said it apprehended two Palestinians suspected of carrying out the midday attack on a main West Bank highway.

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