Middle East & North Africa

10 May 2023; MEMO: A major state-run Israeli defence company has purchased a Greek defence company, expanding Israel's arms sector reach further into Europe.

According to Greece's AMNA news agency, the Greek company, Intracom Defence (IDE) signed a deal with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) yesterday for 90.91 per cent of its shares for around €60 million ($65.75 million).

10 May 2023; MEMO: Palestinian factions fired barrages of rockets into Israel on Wednesday, amid tension following Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, Anadolu News Agency reports.

In a statement, the factions said that the rocket fire was in response to the "assassination crime" of three Islamic Jihad leaders.

"The Resistance is ready to all options," the Palestinian factions added.

10 May 2023; MEMO: Egypt began mediating an end to two days of cross-border fighting in Gaza on Wednesday that saw Israel's air force hit Islamic Jihad targets and Palestinian factions in the enclave launch salvoes of rockets across the border as far as Tel Aviv, Reuters reports.

The second round of cross-border fire in a week came after Israel launched strikes, on Tuesday, against three Islamic Jihad commanders it said had planned attacks against Israelis, following months of escalating violence.

Abu Dhabi oil giant, ADNOC, intends to offer 15 per cent of its shares in unit ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange, the company said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

According to the report, ADNOC will offer about 1.1 million shares in its maritime logistics services unit, which is expected to list on 1 June, subject to market conditions, the statement said.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed a fourth militant commander on Thursday, raising the death toll from the latest burst of fighting to 25. Israel braced for more rocket fire amid reports of faltering Egyptian attempts to broker a cease-fire.

It has been the worst bout of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza in months, and among the dead were also women and children. The conflagration comes at a time of soaring tensions and spiking violence over the past year in the occupied West Bank.

11 May 2023; MEMO: The Arab League yesterday condemned Israel's "aggressive and barbaric" bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip "which targeted civilians, children and women in residential neighbourhoods." The umbrella organisation's statement was issued following an emergency session on the situation in Gaza, which has been under indiscriminate Israeli bombing for three days.

The league expressed its solidarity with the Palestinian people and highlighted its support for their right to self-defence.

11 May 2023; MEMO: Four more Palestinians were killed and seven others were wounded as Israel's air strikes against the besieged Gaza Strip continued for the third consecutive night, Palestinian medical sources confirmed on Thursday morning.

The latest attack was on a six-storey residential building in the city of Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip.

ANKARA, May 10. /TASS/: Negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations on extending the Black Sea grain deal, and fulfilling the Russian part of the agreement pertaining to grain and fertilizer deliveries, will kick off in Istanbul on Wednesday and are expected to last two days, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

BAGHDAD, May 10 (NNN-NINA) – Iraq recovered, yesterday, 6,000 antiquities that Britain borrowed 100 years ago “for scholarly purposes.”

In a press conference held at Baghdad airport, Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, told reporters that, these antiquities have been in Britain since 1923, and their return resulted from cooperation with the British Museum.

DAMASCUS, May 10 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced yesterday, the resumption of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia, following a reciprocal move from the kingdom.

The decision to reopen the diplomatic mission emanates from the deep ties between both countries, their people’s aspirations, and the importance of enhancing bilateral relations among Arab countries, to serve the joint Arab work, the Syrian ministry said in a statement.