Iran encourages Gaza war protests in US to stoke outrage and distrust, intelligence chief says

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
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Updated 10 July 2024
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Iran encourages Gaza war protests in US to stoke outrage and distrust, intelligence chief says

Iran encourages Gaza war protests in US to stoke outrage and distrust, intelligence chief says
  • In a press briefing, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters: “Americans across the political spectrum, acting in good faith, have sought to express their own independent views on the conflict in Gaza

WASHINGTON: The Iranian government is covertly encouraging American campus protests over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza in a bid to stoke outrage ahead of the fall election, the nation’s top intelligence official said Tuesday.
Using social media platforms popular in the US, groups linked to Tehran have posed as online activists, encouraged campus protests and have provided financial support to some protest groups, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said in a statement.
“Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their foreign influence efforts, seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions,” Haines said.
This effort noted by the top US intelligence official is the latest evidence that America’s adversaries are harnessing the Internet to warp domestic debates and widen political divides ahead of the election.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was important to warn Americans to help them “guard against efforts by foreign powers to take advantage of or coopt their legitimate protest activities.”
She also warned Iran that “meddling in our politics and seeking to stoke division is unacceptable.”
In recent years, Iran, Russia and China have all refined their abilities to use online bots and networks of fake social media accounts to amplify divisive debates within the US over immigration, shootings by police, COVID-19, environmental catastrophes, and even Chinese spy balloons.
In most cases, these influence campaigns exploit existing social conflicts, and Haines noted Tuesday that Americans participating in protests over Israel’s conduct in Gaza have a right to express their views. But she said Americans need to know when foreign actors are trying to meddle in domestic American politics.
“Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government,” Haines said.
Demonstrations over Israel’s offensives in Gaza emerged on campuses across the country in recent months. The protests quickly became a factor in political campaigns and prompted concerns about antisemitism and the role of “outside agitators ” as well as worries about a larger regional conflict between Israel and Iran.
Iran isn’t the only nation seeking to influence American discourse ahead of the 2024 election. During a briefing with reporters Tuesday, intelligence officials said America’s adversaries will look to harness the latest artificial intelligence to dramatically expand the reach and penetration of election misinformation.
The officials — from agencies including the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence — spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the office of the director.
Russia remains the greatest threat, according to the officials, who said the Kremlin is mounting a government-wide effort to spread election disinformation ahead of the 2024 race. Russia has already sought to exploit debates over immigration as part of its strategy to undermine international support for Ukraine.
Russia is also seeking to cover its tracks by laundering its disinformation through supposedly independent news sites and American influencers who may not know they are parroting Russian talking points.
The officials declined to answer directly when asked if Russia preferred a particular presidential candidate but pointedly noted that the country’s preference remained unchanged from prior election cycles, when Russia was assessed by the US intelligence community to have worked to try to get Republican candidate Donald Trump elected.
While China mounted a sprawling disinformation campaign ahead of Taiwan’s recent election, the nation has been more cautious in its use of disinformation targeting Americans this year. Officials said Tuesday that China shows no indication that it will try to influence the presidential race.
China, one official said, doesn’t see a benefit in choosing between candidates both seen as trying to curb its power.
Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said the US may be more vulnerable to foreign disinformation this year than it was before the 2020 election. He thanked the intelligence community for holding Tuesday’s briefing as a way to inform the public about the threat.
“Social media, in particular, continues to be a popular vector for foreign covert influence attempts, and our adversaries remain focused on stoking social, racial, and political tensions among Americans,” said Warner, D-Virginia.
 

 


Lebanon not battleground for ‘wars of others,’ president tells Iran delegation

Lebanon not battleground for ‘wars of others,’ president tells Iran delegation
Updated 3 sec ago
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Lebanon not battleground for ‘wars of others,’ president tells Iran delegation

Lebanon not battleground for ‘wars of others,’ president tells Iran delegation
  • Aoun says Lebanon paid heavy price in defense of Palestinian issue, expresses hope for just solution
  • Massive crowds mourn Hezbollah’s slain leader Nasrallah

BEIRUT: Lebanon “is tired of others’ wars on its soil,” its President Joseph Aoun told an Iranian delegation in Beirut on Sunday.

The delegation was in Lebanon to attend the funeral of slain Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.

They were killed around five months ago in devastating Israeli airstrikes targeting the group.

On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its allies, along with delegations from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and other countries, participated in the delayed funerals of Nasrallah and Safieddine.

The funeral ceremony took place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

It was attended by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with an Iranian delegation that arrived in Beirut in the morning on a private Iranian aircraft.

Before the funeral, the Iranian delegation met with Aoun at the presidential palace.

Aoun said at the meeting: “I agree with you that countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and the best way to confront any loss or aggression is through the unity of the Lebanese.”

According to the presidency’s media office, Aoun referenced the Iranian constitution, which stipulates in Article Nine that a country’s freedom, independence, territorial integrity, and security are inviolable.

He said: “The constitution asserts that the government and all citizens bear the responsibility to preserve them, and no individual, group, or official has the right to inflict any harm on the political, cultural, economic, or military independence of the country nor to undermine the territorial unity of the nation under the pretext of exercising freedom.”

Aoun called attention to the outcomes of the recent Riyadh summit in which Iran participated, especially the “affirmation of the two-state solution regarding the Palestinian issue, and that the Palestinian Authority is the legitimate representative of the Palestinians.”

He said that “Lebanon paid a heavy price in defense of the Palestinian issue,” expressing his hope for “a just solution to it.”

Ghalibaf affirmed the “unity of Lebanese territory, its integrity, and the sovereignty of the state over it,” expressing his country’s “readiness to collaborate with Arab and Islamic nations in the reconstruction of what has been destroyed by Israeli aggression against Lebanon.”

He emphasized his nation’s “desire to see Lebanon as a stable, secure, and prosperous country,” noting that Iran “supports any decision made by Lebanon away from any external interference in its affairs.”

The funeral ceremony took place at the Sports City, near the southern entrance of Beirut.

Nasrallah was buried in a shrine constructed for him on a vast plot of land purchased by Hezbollah on the old airport road, parallel to Beirut’s southern suburb.

The land had previously belonged to the American Life Insurance Co. before Lebanon’s civil war in the 1970s. Safieddine will be buried Monday in his hometown in southern Lebanon.

After his death on Sept. 27, Nasrallah was temporarily buried next to his son Hadi in a cemetery in Beirut’s southern suburb.

Hadi was also killed during a confrontation with the Israeli army in 1997.

Violations of Lebanese sovereignty accompanied the event on Sunday as Israeli warplanes conducted multiple airstrikes in the south and Bekaa and flew twice at a very low altitude over the mourners within the premises of the Sports City.

In the morning and during Nasrallah’s funeral, Israeli planes carried out a series of airstrikes on the outskirts of Hermel and Bouday in northern Bekaa and on southern villages in the Tyre district, injuring a Syrian girl.

They also targeted Jabal Al-Rayhan in Jezzine, with reconnaissance planes flying over Beirut and its southern suburb throughout the day.

The Israeli army claimed that it targeted “military sites that contained rockets and weaponry in Baalbek and southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah activities were detected.”

It noted that Hezbollah’s operations “are a violation of the ceasefire agreement and pose a threat to Israel and its citizens. We will continue working to eliminate any threats.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that these warplanes’ flyovers “send a clear message: Whoever threatens and attacks Israel will seal their fate.”

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who appeared onscreen and did not attend the funeral in person, said: “Today we are facing an occupation and aggression. Be assured that the resistance is present and strong in numbers, resources, and popular support.

“We will not allow America to dominate our country. We have reorganized ourselves, and our heroic fighters have stood firm along the borders.”

Qassem added: “We agreed to the ceasefire (with Israel) in light of a lack of political field prospects.

“Today, we enter a new phase with different tools, methods and approaches.

“We will participate in building a strong and just state under the framework of the Taif Agreement, under three pillars: swiftly implementing the rescue plan, ensuring the state assumes responsibility for liberating the land, and following up on the state’s moves to expel the occupation through diplomatic means, then building on the results accordingly.

“We are discussing the defense strategy, as we believe in the army’s crucial role in defending Lebanon.”

Qassem emphasized the state’s role in securing “the release of prisoners and rebuilding what has been destroyed.”

He stated: “For us, Lebanon is a final homeland for all its children, and we are its children.

“Inside Lebanon, there is no winner or loser. Let us compete for the benefit of our people.”

From the early hours of dawn, mourners flocked to the sports stadium amid freezing temperatures that dropped to less than 7 degrees Celsius. They had already filled the stands by 6 a.m., even though the funeral was scheduled for 1 p.m.

Despite the stadium’s 60,000-seat capacity, the crowd overflowed the sports stadium as men, women, and children filled the surrounding squares, where an additional 50,000 chairs were set up.

The masses extended to the highways connecting Beirut’s southern suburb to the city’s airport.

At the event, Hezbollah reassured its supporters regarding the strength of the party and its refusal to accept the occupation and addressed national partners about the need to rebuild the state.

 

 


Japan provides $8.7 million grant for SCADA water supply system in Ma’an, Jordan

Japan provides $8.7 million grant for SCADA water supply system in Ma’an, Jordan
Updated 23 February 2025
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Japan provides $8.7 million grant for SCADA water supply system in Ma’an, Jordan

Japan provides $8.7 million grant for SCADA water supply system in Ma’an, Jordan
  • A SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system monitors and controls water systems using sensors and devices

AMMAN: The Jordanian and Japanese governments on Sunday signed agreements for a grant worth 1.334 billion Japanese yen (about $8.7 million) to support the establishment of a SCADA water supply system in the kingdom’s Ma’an governorate.

The funding will be provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, t according to a report by Petra, the Jordan News Agency.

A SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system monitors and controls water systems using sensors and devices.

The agreements were signed by Jordan’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, and the Japanese ambassador to Amman, Asari Hideki.

A separate grant agreement was signed by JICA Jordan’s chief representative, Morihata Shingo, in the presence of Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud.

According to a statement from Jordan’s Ministry of Water, the project will improve the operational and management efficiency of water supply facilities in Ma’an, while enhancing water supply services in the southern governorate and addressing water loss reduction.

Toukan expressed appreciation for Japan’s ongoing support, highlighting its alignment with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision. She highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Jordan and Japan and their shared commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors, Petra reported.

Hideki reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Jordan through financial and technical programs, noting that these initiatives will help strengthen the kingdom’s water sector. He also praised Jordan as a regional model for economic and political reforms, Petra added.

Shingo underscored the significance of the project, particularly given Jordan’s status as one of the most water-scarce countries in the world.

He also noted that JICA is currently implementing a technical cooperation project to enhance water-loss management in the southern governorates, focusing on capacity building for engineers and technicians.


Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25

Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25
Updated 23 February 2025
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Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25

Syrian national dialogue to begin on February 25

DAMASCUS: Syria’s new authorities will hold a national dialogue conference starting on February 25 to discuss a new path for the nation after the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December, two members of its preparatory committee said on Sunday.
Foreign capitals will be closely watching the conference as part of a political process in Syria that they say needs to be inclusive of its ethnically diverse and multi-religious population as they consider suspending sanctions on the country.
Holding the conference has been a key pledge of former Al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) which took control of Damascus on December 8 in a stunning offensive that prompted then-president Assad to flee to Russia, ending more than 50 years of his family’s autocratic rule.
The preparatory committee’s seven members consulted with some 4,000 people across Syria over the last week to gather views that would help shape a constitutional declaration, a new economic framework and a plan for institutional reform, the committee told reporters on Sunday.
HTS-appointed President Ahmed Sharaa has said the conference was part of an inclusive political process to draft a constitution, which he said could take up to three years, and then hold elections, which he said could take four years.
The conference is scheduled for two days but could be extended if necessary, committee member Hassan Dugheim said, and a new government expected to be formed next month would also benefit from the conference’s recommendations.


Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources

Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources
Updated 23 February 2025
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Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources

Russia’s top diplomat to visit Turkiye Monday: sources
  • Sergei Lavrov will hold talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan
  • Turkiye wants to play a leading role in bringing an end to Russia-Ukraine hostilities

ISTANBUL: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Turkiye on Monday, which marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Turkish diplomatic sources said Sunday.
Lavrov will hold talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the source said, adding that the men will discuss the war in Ukraine, among other things.
Turkiye, a member of NATO, wants to play a leading role in bringing an end to hostilities, as it tried to do in March 2022 by twice hosting direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
Receiving his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted that his country would be an “ideal host” for talks on Ukraine involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington.
Moscow and Washington have already begun a direct dialogue in recent weeks, against a backdrop of rapprochement between US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to begin rebuilding their relations, a meeting denounced by Zelensky, who fears an agreement on Ukraine reached without him at the table.
Lavrov, who last visited Turkiye in October, is also expected to visit Russian ally Iran.


Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations

Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations
Updated 23 February 2025
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Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations

Hamas says Israel’s claim on hostages’ handover ceremony is pretext to evade Gaza truce obligations
  • Israeli says waiting to deliver Palestinian prisoners "until release of next hostages has been assured"
  • Hamas has made hostages appear on stage, sometimes speak before handing them over to Israel 

DUBAI: Hamas on Sunday condemned Israel’s decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages’ handover ceremonies are “humiliating” was false and a pretext to evade Israel’s obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Netanyahu’s decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation’s lack of reliability in implementing its obligations,” Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.

Israel said earlier it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until Hamas met its conditions, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Netanyahu’s office released a statement in the early hours of Sunday saying that Israel was waiting to deliver the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”

Hamas’ El Rashq said the ceremonies do not include any insult to the hostages, “but rather reflect the humane and dignified treatment of them,” adding that the “real insult” is what the Palestinian prisoners are subjected to during the release process.

The Palestinian militant group official cited the hands’ tying of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees and their blindfolding and threatening them not to hold any celebrations for their release as examples of their humiliation at the hands of Israeli authorities.

Hamas has made hostages appear on stage in front of crowds and sometimes speak before they were handed over. Coffins with hostage remains have also been carried through crowds.

Israel’s announcement, which also accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the month-old ceasefire, came after the Palestinian militant group on Saturday handed over six hostages from Gaza as part of an exchange arranged under the truce.

The six hostages freed on Saturday were the last living Israeli captives due to be handed over during the first phase of the ceasefire. The bodies of four dead Israeli hostages were to be released next week.