Qatar: Godfather to prisoners exchange deals in Syria
An opposition fighter looking at busses moving Kafriya and al-Fu’ah fighters - 19 July 2018 (Getty Images)
Enab Baladi – Ali Darwish
Over recent years, the State of Qatar has emerged as a regional power in the Middle East in terms of foreign policy, economy, and charity works. Its influence was very clear in Syria, particularly after the beginning of the Syrian revolution in 2011.
One side of the Qatari influence in Syria was manifested by its mediation efforts, which played a significant role in solving many prisoners exchange deals in Syria, including the release deals of Lebanese hostages in exchange for Turkish civilian pilots, elements, and officers of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), American journalist Peter Theo Curtis, the Maaloula nuns, several Lebanese soldiers, besides its pivotal role in the Four Towns Agreement.
Syrian war criminals reaching Europe through opposition areas and Turkey
(Edited by Enab Baladi)
Enab Baladi – Khaled Jeratly
Despite their knowledge of illegal border crossings attempts by individuals suspected of war crimes seeking to flee to Turkey and then to Europe through their control in northern Syria, the opposition factions, failed in detering such smuggling operations because they are often organized in coordination or facilitation from human smugglers who have links with prominent opposition figures or people close to them.
The smuggling trip of war crimes suspects fleeing Syrian regime areas to opposition-held territories is a hazardous one. These people are often subject to retaliation acts or prosecuted in field courts when captured by opposition factions.
US Coast Guard Cutter Fires at Iranian Boats in the Gulf
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The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Maui fired 30 warning shots at several Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast in-shore attack craft (FIAC) on Monday. The Iranian boats were harassing six U.S. vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
This was the second time in two weeks that a U.S. ship fired warning shots against Iranian vessels that were operating in an unsafe, aggressive manner.
The Iranian Vessels Had Their Guns Uncovered and Manned
Monday’s incident unfolded as 13 Iranian fast-attack boats maneuvered at high speed toward six Navy ships that were escorting the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia, which was traveling on the surface through the Strait.
US Coast Guard cutter Maui fires 30 warning shots at Iranian fast-attack boats harassing Navy, USCG ships 6 days ago Two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fast in-shore attack craft conducted unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers while operating in close proximity to U.S. naval vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on May 10, 2021. U.S. forces exercised lawful defensive measures after the IRGCN vessels ignored repeated verbal and acoustic warning and closed toward Maui at a high speed and close distance with weapons uncovered and manned. (Navy) U.S. Coast Guard cutter Maui issued a total of 30 warning shots at Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy fast in-shore attack craft on Monday harassing six U.S. vessels marking the second time in just two weeks that U.S. vessels have done so.
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Iran escalated its harassment of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard on Monday with a violation of international norms, steering 13 fast-attack boats at a U.S. Navy and Coast Guard formation at high speeds until warning shots ended the encounter.
A Navy video of the encounter shows the guided-missile submarine
USS Georgia traveling on the surface and escorted by six Navy and Coast Guard vessels as Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy ships flank both sides, their machine guns uncovered and manned. American helicopters hover overhead as the American ships transit international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.