Resisting US Middle East plan

Lebanon has celebrated the anniversary of liberation from the Israeli occupation. Every year, the Lebanese mark the event which occurred in May, 2000. In a televised speech on the occasion, Hezbollah’s secretary general said after 19 years the Israeli threats still continue. 

Refugees rescued off Malta

The Maltese navy says it has rescued over 200 refugees aboard two dinghies in the Mediterranean Sea. The navy says pregnant women and unaccompanied minors were among those rescued. The refugees were picked up by coastguards after receiving separate distress calls from the two boats. So far this year, more than 500 asylum seekers have reached Malta. The country has become a common destination for refugees from North Africa since Italy began turning them away last summer. Malta has appealed to the European Union for help in dealing with the flow of asylum seekers.

Albania protest

In Albania, protesters have taken to the streets of the capital Tirana during an anti-government rally. The demonstrators called for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and early parliamentary elections. The opposition supporters threw firebombs at police officers who responded with tear gas. The crowd waved Albanian flags and chanted anti-government slogans. It was the sixth protest in three months, calling on the premier to step down to pave the way for early votes. The opposition has accused Rama’s cabinet of being corrupt and linked to organized crime. The government denies the accusations.

Iran-Iraq ties

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has discussed the latest developments in the region in a meeting with Iraqi President Barham Salih in Baghdad. The two politicians highlighted the importance of diplomacy and dialog for resolving regional issues. Salih said strengthening relations between Islamic nations will increase stability in the Middle East. Zarif also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. He arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening for a two-day visit and was greeted by Deputy Foreign Minister Nizar al-Khairallah. The top Iranian diplomat is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation and is due to meet with his Iraqi counterpart and other senior officials.

France protests

Yellow vest protesters have taken to the streets across France for the 28th consecutive week to express their discontent with the government’s policies. In the northern city of Amiens, hometown of President Emmanuel Macron, demonstrators attacked bank branches and clashed with police that led to the arrest of 27 people. Similar rallies were held in other French cities such as Lille, Toulouse and Boudreaux. Protesters also gathered in downtown Paris.

Yemen retaliatory attacks

The Yemeni army, backed by Ansarullah forces, has targeted a Saudi warplanes hangar with drones. The hangar is located at an airport in the kingdom’s Jizan province. According to media reports, the Yemeni forces carried out the operation after intelligence monitoring and that the target was hit with high accuracy. There’s no immediate report of causalities or damage. The attack comes just days after the Yemeni military targeted a Saudi arms depot in Najran province. The Yemeni army launches strikes from time to time in retaliation for the Saudi war on Yemen. The war which began in March 2015 has so far claimed over 15,500 lives, most of them civilians.

US North Korea policy

US President Donald Trump has played down North Korea’s recent test-firing of a short-range missile, saying he does not view it as worrisome. Trump says those small weapons have disturbed some people but not him. Trump says he’s confident that North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un will keep promises he had made about his country’s denuclearization. Trump’s view, however, is at odds with that of his national security adviser and Japanese officials. Both John Bolton and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is hosting Trump, have called missile launches a violation of UN resolutions. Earlier this month, Kim oversaw the test of a relatively small, fast missile.