International report № 15

International Report 15 – August 8-14, 2020

LCRS Politica Team Report of the events in Lebanon after the disaster that struck Beirut, as well as regional and international events.

1. Introduction

On Lebanese affairs

On the horizon appears a project to reconfigure the authority in Lebanon, which some external parties are working on and communicating with some internal parties,  which may affect the entire Lebanese entity and its unique form of coexistence on which Lebanon has been built since 1920.

The report team believes that the simulation and procrastination of the Lebanese authority today in the reform process, which is required from the inside before the outside, as in the investigation process in the August 4 explosion, is nothing but a purchase of time in order to stay in “power”. What is required today is not a change in the formation of the structure, but simply the application of the Lebanese constitution and law to the fullest, in order to protect the Lebanese formula first and to hold accountable those responsible, all responsible, for waste and corruption, and for dragging Lebanon to this bottom of irresponsibility and indifference.

With regard to the issue of the investigation into the Beirut port bombing on August 4, it has become clear that this authority is not even able to manage this file. So after the scandal of the disagreement between the Supreme Judicial Council and the Minister of Justice regarding the designation of the judicial judge in the file of the explosion, it became clear that the investigation had become international in the presence of French, Turkish and Russian investigators, and in the near future, Americans, while the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and other political parties rejected an international investigation committee!!

Hypotheses are still being cast, from all sides, about how the explosion took place on the evening of August 4. And the fear would be that the reason for this procrastination is the absence of accountability, and the lifting of responsibility for those who caused this disaster, whether internal or external.

After the families of the martyrs of the Beirut bombing announcement of sending a message to the international community demanding an international investigation into the crime of the port, the report team joins the political and civil authorities demanding a specialized international investigation committee to take over the file and operate in an independent, objective way to clarify the facts and reveal those responsible for this disaster that will remain engraved in the memory of the Lebanese And the world for decades.

1. The report

The report team provides an analytical reading that will put in light the main events around the world.

1. On Lebanese issues

Participants in the hypothetical international conference to aid Lebanon, which was held on Sunday in Paris, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and in association with the United Nations and with the participation of 36 officials including presidents, kings, heads of government, foreign ministers and directors of international financial institutions, decided to work firmly and in solidarity to help Beirut and the Lebanese people overcome the results the tragedy of the fourth of August. They agreed to mobilize important resources in the coming days and weeks in order to fully meet the immediate needs. In the closing statement of the conference, the attendees agreed that their aid would be prompt, adequate and proportionate to the needs of the Lebanese people, well coordinated under the leadership of the United Nations, and that it would be delivered directly to the Lebanese people, with the highest degree of effectiveness and transparency. They also expressed "willingness to support the economic and financial advancement of Lebanon, which requires, as part of a strategy to achieve stability, the full commitment of the Lebanese authorities to swiftly implement the measures and reforms that the Lebanese people expect." Macron’s office announced at the end of the hypothetical meeting that an emergency donors ’conference was held today, Sunday, to support Lebanon after the Beirut bombing, with pledges of 253 million euros (298 million dollars) for immediate relief aid.

While Beirut is still collecting its wounds and searching for its missing among the debris, and under the rubble and in the sea, while the number of victims reached 177, and the number of wounded exceeded 6000. And while Beirut is still receiving aid from all countries of the world that came to help, but directly and not through the Lebanese government, while the cries of Beirut residents are raised because of the complete absence of the government and its apparatus for support and assistance. The World Health Organization declared that fifty percent of Beirut's hospitals were out of service due to the explosion. The people uprising is still continuing despite violent confrontations with the security forces and despite the arrests. Also, Beirut is still receiving foreign ministers and state representatives. US Under Secretary of State David Hale arrived in Beirut Thursday to meet with Lebanese officials, and according to a statement from the US State Department, "The Assistant Secretary will confirm in Beirut our support for a government that represents the Lebanese." It added, "Hale's visit to Lebanon aims to emphasize the need to end corruption and the state's control of institutions." Upon his arrival, Hale toured the Gemmayze region, where he listened to the explanations of volunteers from civil society organizations, accompanied by the American ambassador to Lebanon, and where he thanked the volunteers for their efforts. In his first statement from the stricken area of Gemmayzeh, Hale said that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would join the team of international investigators in the Beirut port explosion, at the request of Lebanon.

However,  even four days after the resignation of the government, , as of Friday, the President of the Republic did not set a date for the start of the binding parliamentary consultations to name the next prime minister, despite internal and external calls to accelerate the formation of a new government. What is striking about this issue was the statement of the Russian ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zaspkin, who said in an interview with the "MTV" channel that "we prefer that a national unity government be formed under the leadership of Hariri and according to the criteria." (Nice) In this context, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubisch, stressed the importance of avoiding a long period of government vacuum in Lebanon, and urged to accelerate the formation of a government that meets the aspirations of the people and enjoys their support. He added that the new government must be able to put an end to corruption and address the many urgent challenges facing the country. He also stressed the importance of addressing urgent humanitarian needs and undertaking the necessary reforms to restore the confidence of the people and the international community in their support for Lebanon.

Regarding the issue of confrontations between citizens revolting against corruption and irresponsibility by the authority, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed his rejection of any violence against the Lebanese demonstrators, and said that it is unacceptable. Dujarric added that the international organization calls for the security forces to show restraint and allow people to demonstrate peacefully in all countries. "The people of Lebanon want to be heard, and that is why it is important that people be allowed to express themselves freely and peacefully," Dujarric quoted the UN Secretary-General as saying.

The resignations of MPs are still continuing, the last of which was the resignation of Representative Michel Moawad, bringing the number of deputies resigning to eight. This is at a time when the political forces are communicating with each other to take the decision on the mass resignations, which so far seems to have not been taken yet.

All this while there is still disagreement within the corridors of the UN Security Council regarding the modus operandi of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon on the ground, as the United States supports the demands of major changes. US Ambassador Kelly Craft stressed in a closed council meeting, Tuesday, about the mission known as UNIFIL, whose mandate is scheduled to be renewed at the end of the month, the mission's need for a new mandate. But Kraft faces strong opposition within the Council, as the majority of members support the continuation of the current UNIFIL mandate, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote to the Security Council calling for the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate for a period of 12 months, stressing the importance of maintaining a large military force. Germany's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Gunter Suter, told the council in statements published by his country's mission to the United Nations that the recent tensions and the risk of escalation confirm the importance of UNIFIL's presence on the ground, noting that the new political reality since the devastating explosion that occurred last week in Beirut port made it more important than ever.

Political and economic events:

• Donor conference in support of Lebanon: - Donor countries stress the necessity of delivering aid to the Lebanese "directly" and "within the framework of transparency" - Demand for a credible and independent investigation into the Beirut port explosion - Demanding the Lebanese authorities to quickly start reforms.
• Statement of “Lady of the Mountain meeting”: To sign a parliamentary petition demanding the establishment of an international investigation committee and early elections.
• Diab announced the resignation of the government: May God protect Lebanon. There are those who falsify the facts, live on strife, and trade in people's blood during the hours of abandonment.
• The strong Lebanese bloc (the Aounist Movement) praised the international and Arab support and the Paris Conference: We will spare no effort to facilitate the birth of the government, and we will be at the forefront of cooperating.
• Loyalty to the resistance (Hezbollah): For a national investigation just and fair and to accelerate the formation of a capable and effective government.
• Samir Geagea after the meeting of the Lebanese Forces party bloc: We will work to form a neutral, independent government and we reject the proposal of a national unity government completely, and we will boycott the parliament session tomorrow.
• Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced, after reciting the resignations of a number of deputies at the beginning of the plenary session on Thursday at the UNESCO Palace, that "the homeland is dying before us and we no longer have anything but surgery through Taif, which is in the civil state, an electoral law without a sectarian hindrance, unification of Taxes in the form of progressive, social security, and the acceleration of the formation of a government in which the ministerial statement will include reforms and the fight against corruption. "
• In a joint letter to Hale, the National Initiative movement and the Lady of the Mountain meeting: We affirm our full adherence to an international commission of investigation and respect for Lebanon's sovereignty without regional and international interference.

2. On Syrian Issues

Since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, and the start of the European Union and the United States' sanctions against the symbols of the Syrian regime, the Assad regime has clearly sought to circumvent the sanctions by establishing fake companies in a number of Arab and European countries. The policy of circumventing sanctions was not a product of the revolution, and al-Assad the son was not the first to invent it, as asserted by Syrian opponents, but rather it is a policy that al-Assad the father adopted since 1979 to circumvent European and American sanctions imposed on his regime, according to them. The main figures of the Assad regime rely on establishing companies in countries and places that do not impose restrictions on establishing companies, such as the British Virgin Islands, Lebanon, and Russia, and these countries often do not ask about the source of the money in order to attract more funds and investments. The Syrian regime established companies outside Syria, and those close to it registered bank accounts with names of interfaces and agents to evade the international law on money laundering, for example, in 2006 it was revealed that Rami Makhlouf's individual HSBC bank file was linked to at least 18 bank accounts linked to 14 client accounts. Six of them were numbered accounts (without names), the beneficial owner was three: Polter Investments Inc; Lorie Limited, founded in 1999, closed in 2004, and Drex Technologies S.A, which was registered in Luxembourg and sanctioned in 2012 by several countries including the United States, Canada and the European Union. In this regard, economic researcher Yunus Karim affirmed that "the system, in order to avoid paying taxes in European countries, has resorted to companies in the Virgin Islands, Maldives islands, Bangkok, Thailand, and Lebanon, and the fact that several countries offer privileges not to track the activity of companies and the personality of their owners, so it encourages the opening of this." The pattern of companies is that the source of the money is not asked about, and then these companies are used as a front for money laundering and transferring it as money coming from real companies, and thus it turns into white money, that is, legitimate money away from suspicions of corruption.

The Makhlouf family is considered one of the biggest families that established Offshore Company style outside Syria to avoid tax evasion and circumvent the penalties imposed on them. Offshore Company or "off the shore" companies are established and registered in a financial center outside the borders of the country, for the purposes of financial, legal and tax benefits, and for illegal purposes such as money laundering and tax evasion. Perhaps the sons of “Muhammad Makhlouf” (Bashar al-Assad’s uncle) are the most founders of these companies to avoid European and American sanctions imposed on the four brothers (Rami, Iyad, Ihab, Hafez), due to their security role in suppressing the uprising of the Syrian people (Hafez, Iyad), and supporting The system financially (Rami, Ihab), and their companies were distributed in some Arab countries, especially Lebanon, as well as Russia. In February 2015, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released information on some bank accounts in Switzerland under the heading Swiss Leaks: Murky Cash Sheltered by Bank Secrecy, some at HSBC and its Swiss subsidiary HSBC Private Bank. Documents covering the period between 1997 and 2007 revealed financial transactions of the partners and front companies belonging to Makhlouf in foreign tax havens worth 43 million dollars. In a 2012 Sunday Times, a report claimed that the two banks continued to deal with the family and manage their accounts despite European and US sanctions. Leaked documents from a private HSBC bank revealed that Mohamed Makhlouf presented himself to the bank as the "exclusive agent" in Syria for Philip Morris, the American tobacco giant, Coca-Cola and Mitsubishi.

In 2006, the British New Statements magazine said, "No foreign company can do business in Syria without Makhlouf's consent and participation." A secret 2008 cable from the American embassy in Damascus, published by WikiLeaks, described him as "the poster boy for corruption in Syria." In the same year, the US Treasury Department banned US companies from doing business with him, saying that he had "consolidated his business empire by exploiting his relationships with Syrian regime figures and using Syrian intelligence officials to intimidate his commercial rivals." While the Financial Times considered in October 2019 that “before the outbreak of the war in 2011, Makhlouf was believed to control more than half of the Syrian economy despite the fact that it has been subject to international sanctions since 2008.”

As for Rami Makhlouf's file, there are five days remaining separating Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of the president of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, from knowing the name of his successor, whom the regime's president will choose as an alternative to investing in free markets that the Assad government had previously terminated his contracts in this economic sector. The General Organization for Free Zones, affiliated to the Ministry of Economy of the Syrian Regime, announced the date of the start of the "public bidding", at full speed, for the occupation, equipping and investment of all free markets, including the land, sea and air outlets, on the seventeenth of this month. Free markets were a monopoly of Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of Bashar al-Assad, who had provided him with all the support of his regime to seize most of the country's economic facilities, without any competition, from businessmen. It should be noted here that since the announcement of the dispute between Al-Assad and Makhlouf when the latter began to appear on camera since the end of last April, Al-Assad has taken various measures to seize his money, by authorizing his wife, Asma Al-Akhras, giving her full hand on the economic file in the country, through which she was able to "finishing Makhlouf and besieging him financially and judicially. Decisions were issued for precautionary seizure of his movable and immovable money, then he was prevented from leaving the country, and many other decisions, in the context of Assad’s efforts to seize the “family” money that was already stolen from the Syrian power, and Rami Makhlouf managed it to succeed his father, Muhammad, Bashar al-Assad's maternal uncle.

On the other hand, the number of assassinations increased significantly in the areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, especially those that targeted the Arab tribes, which may negatively affect the relationship between them and the leaders of those forces supported by the US-led international coalition against ISIS. An official in the international coalition led by Washington expressed his "deep concern" about the recent assassinations in which Arab tribal sheikhs and security officials were killed by unknown gunfire in the countryside of the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. Meanwhile, the "Syrian Democratic Council", known by its acronym "SDC", which represents the political umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces, accused the Syrian regime, Turkey and ISIS of standing behind the killing. Despite accusing fingers of several parties behind the assassinations in Deir Ezzor countryside, the coalition spokesman did not rule out that ISIS cells were behind them. In this regard, he said, "The Syrian Democratic Forces have succeeded in pursuing sleep-cells of the organization, and some of its members have been killed, others arrested, and their danger removed from the population centers. Groups of Arab tribes in the region participated in those operations with the help of the coalition that supports all its components." He also added that "the strength of ISIS fighters is much less than before and their ability to move and rebel is at their lowest levels, and despite that, unfortunately, some of its cells still have the ability to carry out some assassinations, bombings, kidnappings and blackmail businessmen in order to obtain money." The areas of Deir Ezzor, Hasaka, and other towns in northeastern Syria that are under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces are of great importance, because most of the Syrian oil fields are located there. It also represents Syria's food reservoir, as it is also agricultural.

3. On Libyan issues

Leaked documents revealed the details of a new agreement between the Government of National Accord and Turkey, allowing Ankara to monitor and control all Libya's imports and the customs administration, through a company owned by a businessman close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the contract signed between Al-Wefaq Finance Minister Faraj Bumtari and Turkish businessman Mehmet Kocabasha, the details of which were published by Libyan media, the Government of National Accord decided to hand over the customs administration to a foreign party, the Turkish "SCK" company, which, according to the agreement, became the first responsible for monitoring all goods. It was imported to the capital, Tripoli, by sea and supervised by it, and it was given an unprecedented mandate to control the country's imports.

According to the contents of the contract, this agreement is valid for a period of 8 years, and neither party may terminate it unilaterally, and if one of the parties does not notify the other of his unwillingness to renew, before the end of the contract within 6 months from the date of expiry, the contract is considered to have been automatically renewed for a period of another 8 years. In addition, the Turkish company will reap great financial benefits, as the Government of National Accord allows the company to deduct 70% of the total revenues in the first 5 years, provided that it deducts 60% of the total revenues for the remaining 3 years, and also allows it to establish a headquarters in Libya to practice its activity. . In this context, the Chamber of Maritime Navigation, in a correspondence addressed to the presidents of the Supreme Council of Accord and the Presidential Council, expressed its surprise at the decision to contract with a Turkish company to manage the Customs Authority, and considered that "the insistence on this contract raises suspicion and raises fear of corruption associated with this process." Accordingly, the Chamber called for the necessity of stopping the decision to contract with this company until a state is held and a workshop organized under the supervision of the state without intermediaries, brokers and shell companies from abroad, in order to avoid suspicions of corruption and prevent the leakage of information on the state's strategic stocks to external parties. The contract also stands as an obstacle to the will of any national Libyan government to terminate the Turkish company contract in the future in the event of its failure. It will cost Libya huge sums if it decides to terminate the contract.

4. On Israeli issue

The Israeli Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, said that the cell that tried last Sunday to plant an explosive device near an Israeli military site in the occupied Golan Heights, is receiving its orders from Iran. During his meeting with the members of the special "Magellan" unit who killed the four members of the cell, Kochavi noted: "You have eliminated a cell that was carrying out orders from Iran and it was part of the plan to position the Iranian axis in Syria." The army will continue to work against all other sectors and attempts to manufacture precision missiles. We will continue the process of hurting and harming our enemies. "

The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" said that Qatar is playing a very dangerous role in the Gaza Strip through financial support to Hamas, indicating that Doha may be a reason for fueling another conflict between the movement and Israel, in the future. The source stated that Qatar has been providing funds to Hamas, but this support, which played the role of sedatives, does not address the situation, but rather makes it vulnerable to major unrest. And "Haaretz" reported, what appears at the present time is that Qatar has stopped providing generous support to Hamas, and proceeded to "tighten the belt" when the need for these funds became urgent. The newspaper revealed that the director of Israeli intelligence "Mossad" made a secret visit to Qatar last February, in order to convince the Qataris to continue supporting Hamas, because stopping the supply of cash could lead to an escalation on the borders with Israel. On Sunday, the Israeli army bombed a Hamas watchtower near the border fence, and the military move came after incendiary balloons were thrown from the Palestinian side towards Israel.

The Qatari financial aid to the Gaza Strip was delayed this month, knowing that this support, which began in 2018, will end in September, amid the absence of indications regarding its renewal for another six months. Qatar has provided Hamas with more than a billion dollars since 2012, but this support is no longer in sight, during the wager. In the event that the Qatari support is absent, Hamas will resort to the option of escalation again with the Israeli side, which reveals that Doha’s money was a pacifier for a political movement and did not provide a solution to the dilemma. And if Qatar is providing these funds, then it is not doing so out of a humanitarian standpoint in order to help the residents of Gaza, but with the aim of helping Hamas and its leaders affiliated with the Brotherhood, as well as creating a regional foothold for Doha.

5. About the COVID-19 virus in the world and in Lebanon

At a time when the number of people infected with the new Corona virus is approaching the threshold of 21 million infections, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in America, said that he seriously doubts that Russia has proven that its vaccine is safe and effective, after Moscow said it had agreed to use a vaccine for the Corona virus, on Tuesday. The Director of the Immunology and Virus Department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Ashraf Al-Dada, also commented on the Russian announcement, saying that the Russian vaccine production for "Corona" depends on the classic method... And testing it on only 76 people and for a short period is not sufficient. These comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced, on Tuesday, the registration of the first vaccine against the Corona virus in the world, and said that one of his daughters had obtained it. The Russian Ministry of Health has confirmed that it will start producing the Russian Corona vaccine, "Sputnik", next September, while indicating that 20 countries have submitted applications for the vaccine against the virus that causes "Covid-19". The World Health Organization commented cautiously on Russia's announcement of a vaccine against the Covid-19 epidemic, reminding that the "stage before licensing" and licensing of the vaccine are subject to "strict" mechanisms. "We are in close contact with the Russian authorities, and talks are continuing. The stage that precedes the licensing of any vaccine passes through strict mechanisms," WHO spokesman Tariq Yasarevich said during a video conference, in response to a question about the Russian president’s announcement that his country had reached the first vaccine "against the emerging corona virus." "The pre-licensing stage includes a review and evaluation of all the required safety and efficacy data collected during the clinical trial phase," the spokesman explained. He pointed out that in addition to the approval granted by the competent authorities in each country, "the World Health Organization has established a mechanism for prior authorization of vaccines but also of drugs. Manufacturers require prior authorization of the World Health Organization because it is a guarantee of quality." It is noteworthy that Russia has not yet published a detailed study on the results of the experiments that allowed it to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Iran, a close ally of Russia, has joined the list of international bodies that strongly criticize the Russian anti-Covid-19 vaccine, describing it as "dangerous". A spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Health, Kyanosh Jahanpour, said in a tweet after the announcement of the Russian vaccine: "The license for human consumption of the (Russian) Corona vaccine is like a Pandora's box, and it is likely to be dangerous before the clinical trials are properly completed."

All this is happening when the escalating number of infected people in Lebanon has raised about 300 daily cases. On another hand the Director of the UNRWA Health Department, Dr. Abdul Hakim Shana'a, pointed out in a statement that “things have become at a very sensitive stage after recording several Corona cases inside the Ain al-Hilweh camp (17 cases), and therefore this imposes on our people in the camp to self-quarantine themselves and not leave the house unless absolutely necessary. He demanded that all cafes and gathering places in the camp be closed, children should not go out of homes, social distancing and a commitment to wearing a mask, in order to limit, as much as possible, the spread of the Coronavirus and not be tolerated at this dangerous stage.

6. On the internal and external American affairs

According to the American Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, the United States is preparing a set of sanctions that will be imposed on Hezbollah's allies in Lebanon. The sanctions will include a number of Lebanese politicians and businessmen, in a move to contain the militia supported by Tehran in Lebanon. The administration of US President Donald Trump has pursued a policy of sanctions in order to pressure Tehran and limit its activities in the Middle East, which threaten security and peace in the region, and it will tighten the screws on it by targeting groups loyal to it in the region. The American newspaper quoted unnamed officials as saying that Washington wants to move quickly in order to change the course in Lebanon, especially as it is on the verge of rebuilding Beirut, after the disaster of the port explosion that caused the Lebanese capital to be a disaster city. It stated that the sanctions will freeze any assets of the targeted persons or entities, which may exist under the jurisdiction of the United States, and prevent their entry to it, and it will also consider their financing as part of corruption and terrorist financing. Washington is still studying to determine the people who will be targeted, and who have a role in human rights violations or corruption. The newspaper pointed out that one of the main allies that US officials are calling for to be subjected to sanctions is Gebran Bassil, son-in-law of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, former foreign minister and head of the Free Patriotic Movement, one of Hezbollah's most important allies, along with the Amal Movement, which is led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. For his part, Jeffrey Feltman, the former US ambassador to Lebanon, said that Basil should have been subject to sanctions a long time ago, especially since his political empowerment of Hezbollah has not been done by anyone before, let alone providing Christian cover for the Iranian-funded militia.

On the other hand, several members of the US Congress have stopped many US arms sales to Turkey, at a time when President Trump's administration has not imposed mandatory sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, according to several congressional aides. Sources told CNN that one of the members of Congress involved in efforts to block sales to Turkey is the first Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Michael McCall. “Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 system is unacceptable, and undermines NATO’s mission to deter Russian aggression,” McCall said in a statement to CNN, and for stability, and to renew US confidence in our defense relationship”. “The aim of this effort is to ensure that the administration imposes the penalties required by law under the North American Counterterrorism Act, in response to Turkey's acquisition of the S-400, which began in July 2019. Relations between the United States and Turkey have deteriorated," the Congress aide noted. On several fronts, according to a recent Pentagon report, the State Department is concerned about Turkish-backed groups in Syria that are committing "human rights violations and violating the law of armed conflict in northeastern Syria."

On the other hand, the US Department of Justice said, on Thursday, that it had stopped "campaigns" to finance the military wing of "Hamas", "Al Qaeda" and "ISIS", through digital currencies, through plans that include selling fake safety equipment to prevent Covid-19 for American hospitals. "These measures represent the largest process of seizing digital currencies by the government in the context of terrorist financing," the ministry said in a statement. These campaigns used sophisticated electronic tools, including requesting crypto currency donations from around the world, and creating social media pages to attract attention to their campaigns. In implementation of judicial orders, the US authorities confiscated millions of dollars, more than 300 crypto currency accounts, four websites, and four Facebook pages related to the activities of these organizations. And the Ministry of Justice considered that terrorist groups have become "adapting" their activities related to terrorist financing to the electronic age. Justice Secretary William Barr said it was "not surprising" that "enemies" of the United States "used modern technology, social media platforms and digital currencies to spread their sinister and violent agendas." Participant in the investigations that halted fundraising schemes were, the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security.

7. On Iraqi issues

The Iraqi government canceled the visit of the Turkish defense minister, which was scheduled for next Thursday, and summoned the ambassador of Ankara in Baghdad, due to the recent Turkish strike in the Kurdistan region, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday evening. The Iraqi government summoned the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad, to hand him a "strong protest note and inform him of Iraq's confirmed rejection of his country's attacks and violations," according to the statement. In the context of reactions to the Turkish violations, the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq had said that "the repeated Turkish military violations of Iraqi lands are a serious violation of the sovereignty of Iraq." The Kurdistan Regional Government stated that "the Workers' Party and Turkey should transfer their battles outside the territories of Kurdistan and Iraq."

The Iraqi Security Media Cell had announced, on Tuesday, the killing of the commander of the second brigade in the First District Border Guard, and the commander of the third regiment, in the Turkish bombing by a drone.

8. On Yemeni affairs

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, warned, on Monday, of the danger of the state of the Safer vessel, which is a floating tank near the Yemeni coast and carries a million barrels of oil. Aboul Gheit said, "The disaster in Lebanon, and the horrific destruction caused, reminds us of the danger of placing this floating oil tank off the Yemeni coast, which has not been maintained since the outbreak of the war in 2015." The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States called on the UN Security Council to intervene "immediately" to enable the United Nations team to enter the tank and carry out the required maintenance. An official at the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States indicated that "although a temporary repair process has been carried out to it, the United Nations has confirmed that the matter could end in disaster, especially with regard to the devastating impact of the sinking of the tanker Safer, or its exposure to explosion, on marine life in the Red Sea." The source quoted Aboul Gheit as saying that "the Houthis' indifference to this potential disaster reflects their indifference to all the tragedies that the Yemeni people have suffered since the outbreak of the war, and rather their willingness to exacerbate this suffering in order to preserve their influence and authority."

To make matters worse for the Yemenis, the city of Sana'a was severely damaged as a result of an air depression that hit a number of cities in the country a few days ago. The torrential rains demolished hundreds of homes, including more than a hundred and eleven archaeological homes in the old city of Sana'a.

9. On Egyptian affairs

On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The spokesman for the Egyptian presidency, Bassam Rady, stated that the call dealt with an exchange of congratulations on the occasion of the signing of the agreement delineating the maritime borders between Egypt and Greece in Cairo on August 6, which reflected the distinction of bilateral relations between the two countries and the availability of strong political will to advance them at various levels. The spokesman said that it was agreed during the call that the signing of the maritime border agreement between the two countries is a historical development for bilateral relations, and represents a model for consolidating the correct foundations and rules for the appointment process and contributes to achieving security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean region, as well as providing Egypt and Greece with the opportunity to exploit their natural resources. To achieve the interests of the two friendly peoples.

10. On Iranian affairs

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran has always been supportive of the Gulf states, and that if it had given the green light to Saddam Hussein during the war, he would have occupied Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Qatar, and swallowed all the Gulf states. Rouhani added in press statements on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting, directing his speech to the Gulf states: "Iran stands by you, and we proved that when Saddam Hussein attacked Kuwait We were the first to condemn that attack .. Iran condemned Saddam’s attack on Kuwait before the Gulf Cooperation Council did." We helped the Kuwaiti people ... We stand with the countries of the region and support regional peace. " He added, "We say to some neighboring countries that Iran's armament power is not directed against them ... I say to some neighboring countries in southern Iran that Iran's defense and armament capabilities are for the benefit of the whole region, our weapons to defend ourselves against any foreign aggression." And he added, "Iran's weapons are not directed against you, but those who plunder your money and sell you weapons to bomb your neighbors and eliminate the Yemeni people, are the ones who harm you, not Iran." Rouhani made clear that lifting the arms embargo would enable Iran to buy and sell weapons. He pointed out that any decision to extend the arms embargo on Iran would be a flagrant violation of the nuclear agreement, and the countries that would support the decision should bear its repercussions. "We hope that America will fail to pass the decision to extend the arms embargo on Iran," he concluded.

In another context, a US military official said, on Thursday, that the Iranian Navy seized an oil tanker flying the Liberian flag, and held it for 5 hours before releasing it near the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions between Tehran and the United States. US military officials did not provide any explanation for Iran's seizure of the ship. The official media and Iranian officials did not immediately acknowledge the attack or provide a reason for it. The registered owner of the vessel, Wella, is a Liberian company called Pandit Shipping, which is run by Greek company INSSA, according to UN records. There was no official comment from Tehran until the moment on the operation.

The US Justice Department said on Friday that the United States had seized 4 Iranian fuel shipments en route to Venezuela, describing it as the largest US seizure of Iranian fuel ever. The ministry said it had implemented an order issued by a US court in the District of Columbia to confiscate the shipments. It added that, with the help of foreign partners, the confiscated shipments were now under US control. It stated that the total shipments amounted to about 1.116 million barrels of petroleum products.

11. On European affairs.

The Greek Prime Minister held a meeting of the National Security Council on Monday after Turkey announced the resumption of exploration in the eastern Mediterranean in an area between Cyprus and Greece.

On the other hand, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Wednesday of "any external interference in Lebanon" during a call with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani. Macron said, "It is imperative that all concerned forces avoid any escalation of tension as well as any external interference, and support the formation of a government whose task is to manage the emergency crisis," according to a statement by the French presidency. He also referred to "the urgent need to move within the framework established by the United Nations during the International Conference to Support and Aid Beirut and the Lebanese People." During the call, the two men agreed to "strengthen cooperation in facing the Covid-19 epidemic in the coming weeks." Regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement that was signed in July 2015 and the United States withdrew from it three years ago, Macron mentioned his "desire to preserve the framework of the agreement and work in favor of calm in the region," calling on Iran to "take the necessary initiatives to avoid escalating tensions." Macron also raised the Lebanese file in contact with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, where he pointed out "the importance of the permanent members of the UN Security Council working together to calm in the interest of stability in Lebanon and the entire region and to support a government to manage the emergency crisis." He also requested "Russia's participation in the mechanism set up during the international conference in support of Beirut and the Lebanese people," which was held by video link under the auspices of the United Nations and France. Moscow did not participate in this international conference during which it was pledged to provide emergency aid to Lebanon.

France announced, on Thursday, that it is in the process of deploying two fighter planes and a warship in the eastern Mediterranean, indicating that it will work to strengthen its military presence in the region. The French Ministry of Armed Forces said that it would deploy two Rafale fighter jets, in addition to the frigate "Lafayette" in the eastern Mediterranean, as part of a plan to support its military presence in the region, amid indications of tension with Turkey. And earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters in the region, activities that have increased tension between Turkey and Greece. It also indicated that the "Tonner" helicopter carrier, which went to help the Lebanese, would be part of the French military reinforcements in the eastern Mediterranean.

12. On Turkish affairs.

On Thursday, the Turkish lira continued its free fall, heading towards a record low, after the Turkish Finance Minister played down the importance of currency fluctuations and emphasized its competitiveness. Turks have flocked to buy foreign currency in recent weeks, while analysts have called for tougher measures, such as an official tightening of monetary policy to stabilize the market and confront deeper economic problems, according to Reuters.

On the level of the Turkish-European crisis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Thursday, that the only solution in the Mediterranean is dialogue and negotiations, stressing, "We are not chasing after any unnecessary adventures or seeking tension." Commenting on developments in the eastern Mediterranean, Erdogan said that the drilling vessel will continue its operations in the eastern Mediterranean until August 23. Speaking to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party, Erdogan said that Greece is the cause of escalation of tension in the region, and urged Athens to respect Turkey's rights.

The exchange of statements and comments on social media has intensified in the past few days regarding relations between the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. On Wednesday, Yassin Aktay, an advisor to the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, renewed his attack on the UAE and what he described as "the hostile stance it is adopting a policy against Turkey in all levels." It is noteworthy that Aktay's article came two days after a meeting between the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf, with the Turkish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Erdogan Cook, where he expressed his "denunciation of the threats and statements made by some officials in Turkey towards the United Arab Emirates." Stressing that "the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council states is indivisible, based on the principle of joint defense within the framework of the Cooperation Council and adherence to the Cooperation Council to maintain Arab security and reject external interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries." Al-Hajraf affirmed in his meeting, according to what was reported by the official Saudi News Agency at the time, "The Cooperation Council was keen on ensuring the security and stability of the region and developing relations with neighboring countries in a way that achieves common interests on the basis of respecting the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs, and commitment to the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter based on solution disputes by peaceful means and not to use or threaten force. "

Commenting on the signing of the tripartite agreement between the UAE, Israel and the United States, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that this agreement is considered high treason for the Palestinian cause.

13. On Chinese affairs

On Monday, China announced sanctions against 11 Americans, including Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, in response to similar steps taken by Washington against Chinese officials against the backdrop of Beijing's security crackdown in Hong Kong. "China has decided to impose sanctions on some people who have behaved badly on issues related to Hong Kong," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday. Sanctions include Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth and National Endowment for Democracy head Karl Gershman.

14. On the United Arab Emirates affairs

On Monday, Emirates Airlines announced the establishment of an air bridge with Lebanon and the allocation of 50 flights to transport emergency relief aid to hundreds of thousands of citizens affected by the massive explosion that struck Beirut port last week. "The world stands today in solidarity with Lebanon, and states, organizations and individuals are initiating to provide urgent relief and help for those affected by this tragic disaster. We support the ongoing humanitarian efforts of the United Arab Emirates to help Lebanon, Strengthening the global response and supporting organizations that provide care, shelter, food and medical supplies to the Lebanese people”, said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airlines and the Group. According to a statement published by Emirates Airlines on its official website, Sheikh Ahmed added, "People from all over the world have come to support Lebanon and provide assistance to those affected, and we, in turn, will facilitate the transportation of aid and strengthen relief and reconstruction efforts on the ground in these difficult circumstances." The statement stated that Emirates Airlines “provides the opportunity for people around the world to donate cash or Skywards Miles, through a dedicated, secure and easy portal through the Emirates Airlines Foundation. From now on, the Foundation will coordinate the shipment of foodstuffs, urgent medical supplies and other "The materials are urgently needed, with a group of non-governmental organizations, to help those affected on the ground in a fast and transparent manner. Work is underway to identify approved partners in this humanitarian mission."

On the other hand, a joint statement by the United States of America, the Emirates and Israel said, Thursday, that US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed have agreed on a "complete normalization" of relations between the UAE and Israel. Trump described the agreement as a "historic achievement," and said on his Twitter account that it was "a historic peace agreement between our great friends Israel and the UAE." For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed said in a tweet on Twitter, "It was agreed to stop Israel's annexation of the Palestinian lands. The UAE and Israel also agreed to develop a roadmap towards the launch of joint cooperation and access to bilateral relations."