Saturday, August 15, 2009

08/15/09

* Gaza Islamist leader dies in raid The leader of a radical Islamist group involved in a shootout with Hamas in Gaza is one of at least 24 people killed in the raid.

* Nasrallah: We can hit any Israeli city Recent Israeli warnings were part of a "psychological war" aimed at preventing Hezbollah from joining a new Lebanese unity government, group leader Hassan Nasrallah said.

* Hamas, Fatah trade accusations over Gaza clashes Islamic Hamas movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party on Saturday traded accusations over deadly clashes.

* Mubarak travels to U.S. to meet with Obama Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak departed for Washington on Saturday, his first visit to the U.S. capital in five years.

* Iraqi protest at media censorship About 200 Iraqi journalists, writers and publishers have protested in Baghdad at what they say is growing state interference in their work.

* 20 Syrian civilians killed in failed missile test Twenty Syrian civilians were killed and 60 more were injured after a Scud missile test-fired jointly by Syria, North Korea and Iran in late May strayed off course.

* Profile: Jund Ansar Allah The Palestinian Islamist militant group Jund Ansar Allah, or the Soldiers of the Companions of God, announced its presence in the Gaza Strip in June.

* Top rabbis declare day of fasting over 'evil' swine flu Two leading Israeli rabbis have announced this coming Wednesday will be a day of fasting and prayer because of the swine flu epidemic.

* 'Arab tycoons bought land in Galilee' Wealthy individuals from Arab states that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel have recently procured hundreds of dunams of private agricultural land in the Galilee.

* Turkey marks 25 years of Kurd rebellion Turkey marked 25 years Saturday since the first Kurdish rebel attacks.