Middle East & North Africa

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s president said Wednesday that Britain will face “repercussions” over the seizure of an Iranian supertanker last week that authorities in Gibraltar suspect was breaching European sanctions on oil shipments to Syria.

Hassan Rouhani was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as calling the seizure “mean and wrong” during a Cabinet meeting. “You are an initiator of insecurity and you will understand its repercussions,” he warned the British government, calling for the “full security” of international shipping lanes.

ANKARA, July 10. /TASS/: Turkey plans to use the Russian-made S-400 missile systems if the country comes under attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on his way back from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Some ask why are we buying [the S-400 systems] and making such an investment. If the need arises, we will have the right to use them. If someone attacks us, we will employ these air defense systems. This is why we are making such an investment," Erdogan said, as cited by the Hurriyet newspaper.

10 July 2019; AFP: A diplomatic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron held talks in Tehran Wednesday aimed at saving the 2015 nuclear deal and easing tensions between Iran and the United States.

Emmanuel Bonne met Rear-Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and was set to meet with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later on Wednesday.

9 July 2019; MEMO: Hundreds of Tunisians and Palestinian ex-patriots demonstrated, Monday, in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Mohamed Ali Square in Tunis. The demonstrations were in response to an invitation by the Tunisian General Labour Union to declare the rejection of the Deal of the Century and to stress on Tunisia’s support of the Palestinians and their cause.

9 July 2019; MEMO: The UAE declared on Monday its intention to “start reducing the number of its troops in several areas in Yemen,” according to an Emirati official, AFP reports.

9 July 2019; MEMO: At least 55 human traffickers were arrested Monday in operations based in Turkey’s Aegean Izmir province, according to security officials, reports Anadolu Agency.

The 55 were among 80 suspected human traffickers targeted in today’s operations, Huseyin Askin, Izmir’s police chief, told a press conference.

9 July 2019; AFP: Dozens of influential Afghans concluded two days of talks with the Taliban on Monday in Doha, laying the foundations for renewed negotiations between the United States and the militants.

The encounter ended with a joint statement pledging a "roadmap for peace" based on the opening of a monitored peace process, return of internally displaced people, and non-interference by regional powers in Afghanistan.

9 July 2019; DW: The "Alan Kurdi" vessel operated by Sea-Eye rescued 44 migrants on Monday in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya.

Sea-Eye wrote on Twitter that the Maltese navy had aided the rescue attempt: "The Alan Kurdi has rescued 44 persons from a wooden boat in cooperation with Maltese authorities."

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia says it has intercepted a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting “civilian infrastructure” in the kingdom.

The announcement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency early Tuesday did not identify what the drone targeted.

The Houthi’s Al-Masirah satellite television station said the Houthis sought to again target Abha regional airport, which they’ve hit several times in recent weeks, as well as a power station in Abha.

Attacks on Abha’s airport have wounded dozens and killed at least one person.

RIYADH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabian budget carrier Flyadeal has withdrawn a preliminary agreement for an order of up to 50 Boeing's grounded 737 MAX jets, U.S. top aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company said on Sunday.

The Saudi carrier said in a statement on Sunday that it would operate only Airbus planes in the future, the German news agency dpa reported.

"We understand that Flyadeal will not finalize its commitment to the 737 MAX at this time given the airline's schedule requirements," a Boeing spokesman was quoted by the AFP as saying.