An Islamist group on Tuesday called off violent protests over cartoons of Prophet Mohammad saying the Pakistani government has endorsed boycotting French products, a spokesman for the group said. Thousands of Islamists clashed with police on the main road into Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Monday following protests over the recent …
Read More »Corona lockdown awakening
People all around the globe are currently directly, or indirectly, affected by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The Levant News publishes voices from a wide variety of people with different backgrounds. After stories from the Netherlands, Lebanon and Italy today Mohammed Hussein Aldosari writes from Saudi Arabia. The Covid-19 crisis and …
Read More »Syria war: Russia thwarts drone attack on Hmeimim airbase
Russian forces have foiled a drone attack on an airbase in Syria just days after reports that rebel shelling had damaged several planes, activists say. The attempt to bomb the Hmeimim base near the north-western city of Latakia on Saturday was thwarted when unmanned aircraft were shot down, the Syrian …
Read More »France backs tough anti-terrorism bill after wave of attacks
France’s parliament adopted an anti-terrorism bill on Tuesday that will bolster police surveillance powers and make it easier to close mosques suspected of preaching hatred, but rights groups warned it would lead to civil freedoms being infringed. Before the vote, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb described France as being “still in …
Read More »Islamists lure youngsters in the Philippines with payments, promise of paradise
When he saw his commander holding the severed head of one of his neighbors, teenage Islamist fighter Jalil knew it was time to escape from Marawi City. Churches and homes had been ransacked, people had been shot or taken hostage, and now Philippines government troops, planes and helicopters were pounding …
Read More »Lebanese government willing to release Islamists: Muslim Scholars
Source: The Daily Star- The Lebanese government is ready to accept a swap deal with jihadists, announced the Muslim Scholars Committee, as they made rounds with Lebanese officials in preparation to return to mediation. “We can assure the families [of the captives] that the state is ready to release many …
Read More »Bahrain and Islamist Extremists
By Ala’a Shehabi for Foreign Policy – summarized by Julia Lugovska – After the recent uprisings in Bahrain Bahraini government was working on confronting and crushing pro-democracy activists, but what about the supporters and followers of the Islamic State? IS becomes very active in their online and video campaigns, trying …
Read More »Lebanese Army Arrests Over 20 Suspected Terrorists in Southern Lebanon
THE LEVANT – The Lebanese Army arrested over 20 militants inside the Jezzine District of Lebanon today, after learning of a plot to commit acts of terrorism in the country. Lebanese Military Intelligence received an anonymous tip about a group of militants that crossed the border of Syria – via …
Read More »West poised to join Syria against Islamists
THE LEVANT – By Patrick Cockburn – Islamist forces are fighting their way into western Syria from bases further east, bringing forward the prospect of US military intervention to stop their advance. If Isis, which styles itself Islamic State, threatens to take all or part of Aleppo, establishing complete dominance over …
Read More »Yemen – Abdel-Malek Al Houthi is not giving in to political pressure
THE LEVANT – By Catherine Shakdam – Although state officials announced on Saturday that Abdel-Malek Al Houthi, the very charismatic leader of the Houthis – a formerly dissident group based in the northern province of Sa’ada, which entered mainstream politics back in 2011 – had finally agreed to a truce …
Read More »Wounded Syrian baby saved from mother’s womb
THE LEVANT – Syrian government air raids killed 12 people on Sunday and wounded 23, including a mother and a baby boy removed from her womb, according to a monitoring group and amateur video. The video, broadcast by militants in the city of Raqa in northeastern Syria and whose authenticity could …
Read More »Women stoned to death in Syria for adultery
THE LEVANT – A cleric read the verdict before the truck came and dumped a large pile of stones near the municipal garden. Jihadi fighters then brought in the woman, clad head to toe in black, and put her in a small hole in the ground. When residents gathered, the fighters …
Read More »The Caliphate and Consequences
By Dr. Haytham Mouzahem – For The Islamist Gate – As I had expected in November 2013[http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/11/al-qaeda-zawahri-baghdadi-split.html], The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL) has announced [on June, 30] the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate, and has named its emir, Abu Bakr Ibrahim Al-Baghdadi, as “emir of the believers” and …
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