Middle East & North Africa

19 August 2019; AFP: The Turkish government removed three mayors from office on Monday over alleged links to Kurdish militants as Ankara deepened its crackdown on the opposition.

The mayors of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van provinces in eastern Turkey -- all members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) elected in March -- were suspended over alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

19 August 2019; DW: Sudan's deposed president arrived amid heavy security at the courthouse in Khartoum where he is facing charges of financial malpractice. Amnesty International say that he still has to face heavier charges in The Hague.

Omar al-Bashir, the former Sudanese president, arrived in court on Monday as his trial on charges of corruption began.

ANKARA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of five members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in an airstrike conducted by Turkish air forces in northern Iraq, Turkey's Ministry of Defense said on Monday.

The airstrike was carried out in Qandil region of Iraq, where the PKK's headquarters are based, in coordination with the ongoing Operation Claw, the ministry said on its Twitter account.

TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Libya's east-based army on Sunday launched 13 airstrikes around the Misurata air base belonging to the UN-backed government.

A total of "13 airstrikes by our air force destroyed an ongoing project of a Turkish base around the Misurata air college," the east-based army's information office said in a statement.

The statement, however, did not reveal details about possible human casualties.

Social media showed footage of rockets falling near Misurata air base.

BAGHDAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi President Barham Salih on Sunday met separately with U.S. and Iranian ambassadors, highlighting the need to ease tensions in the region through dialogue.

According to a statement by the presidency office, Salih and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller "discussed means to enhance bilateral relations to develop prospects of cooperation in all fields to serve the common interests."

TEHRAN/LONDON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Monday warned the United States against new attempts to seize its tanker after it left Gibraltar for international waters.

Iran has given necessary warnings to American officials through its official channels, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted by local media as saying.

Making such a mistake would "have grave consequences," Mousavi cautioned.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Airstrikes halted a Turkish military convoy carrying ammunition after it crossed into northern Syria on Monday, bound for a rebel-held stronghold, opposition activists said.

The strikes hit near the highway where the convoy was moving, the activists added.

It was not immediately clear whether it was Syrian government or Russian warplanes that struck near the convoy but the development marked a sharp escalation in tensions in the northwestern province of Idlib where Syrian troops have been on the offensive for weeks.

JERUSALEM (AP) — In the eyes of critics, Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to bar two Democratic congresswomen at the request of President Donald Trump is the latest reckless gamble by a prime minister willing to sacrifice Israel’s national interests for short-term gain.

The move infuriated Democrats and risked turning Israel into even more of a partisan issue at a time when Americans are fiercely divided and Trump faces a tough fight for re-election.

19 Aug 2019; AA: Turkish Armed Forces destroyed PKK terror targets in northwestern Syria, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said on Monday.

The offensive came in response to the attacks and harassment fire of the PKK/YPG on Turkish army elements on the area of the Operation Euphrates Shield, the ministry said on Twitter.

19 Aug 2019; MEMO: Palestinian Authority (PA) yesterday warned of Israel attempts to impose spatial divisions at Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the electoral campaigns of right-wing parties led by current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Assabeel newspaper reported.