DAILY SCOPE: Chinese Fighters in Syria, Qalamoun Changed the Region
Local Editor
NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:
AS-SAFIR
Iranian-Saudi Exit in Yemen, Hizbullah Holds Grip of Eastern Mountains
Vlayati to As-Safir: Steadfast in Syria, Iraq
AN-NAHAR
Yemen Truce Over, Raids Resume, Coalition Holds Houthis Responsible
AL-AKHBAR
Chinese Jihadis in Syria
AL-BINAA
Qalamoun Changes Region: Saudi Wages on Dividing Yemen before Geneva Next Month
AL-JOMHOURIYA
Details on Qalamoun Operation, Collapse
Iran's Velayati: Resistance in Lebanon Defeated Terrorist Takfiris --- AS-SAFIR
The adviser of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati told As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday that "the courageous resistance in Lebanon had achieved victory side by side with the Syrian army in Qalamoun, as they repelled and defeated the terrorist armed groups."
Addressing Saudi Arabia, Velayati said "Saudi Arabia cannot host a conference to solve the Yemeni crisis, because it is a side in the conflict."
On Monday, Velayati expressed confidence in the politicians' ability to find the appropriate solution to Lebanon's presidential vacuum and lauded them on their unity to confront extremists.
"We are glad to see that the Lebanese have been able to agree on consolidating national unity and moving forward in confronting Israel and extremist forces," Ali Akbar Velayati said following talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.
Velayati was in Beirut on a one-day official visit for talks with top officials, including Prime Minister Tammam Salam. The visiting official told reporters at Rafik Hariri International Airport upon landing in Beirut that it was up to the Lebanese to solve the country's political problems.
Chinese Uyghurs Major Fighters in Syria Battles --- AL-AKHBAR
‘Jihadi' sources told al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that Chinese Uyghurs have taken part in the latest battles in Syria, noting that many of these have been subject to special and tough training since the beginnings of 2014. The source told the Lebanese daily that "a number of the fighters who proved to be fierce and strong were chosen to undergo special training as to lead the extremist fighters later on."
The source did not disclose details about the training, but given information implies the training might be carried out outside the Syrian territory, in Turkey for example, noting that a ‘Jihad' website was launched in Turkish language to mobilze the Uyghur fighters.
More than 50,000 Chinese Uyghurs have allegedly travelled through Thailand and Malaysia and entered Syria after staying a day in Istanbul. The latest flare up in China-Turkey relations over this issue was in November 2014, when Beijing accused Ankara of promoting "illegal immigration" for Uyghur refugees caught in Thailand.
Mexican-Lebanese Cooperation on Syrian Refugees? --- AN-NAHAR
Mexican Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade stated that he is looking forward for a wider cooperation with Lebanon to help it confront the burden of Syrian refugees.
"Part of our dialogue with Lebanon should take into consideration Lebanon's burden in assisting the refugees," Meade told An Nahar daily in an interview published on Tuesday during his official visit to Beirut.
However, the foreign minister, who is of Lebanese origin, shied away from announcing that his country would walk in Uruguay's footsteps and host refugees.
Asked about efforts exerted by some officials to give the citizenship to Lebanese expats, Meade said that a document he had signed with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil during his visit to Mexico in February focused on the exchange of expertise at the consular level.
Around 4 million people have fled Syria since the start of the conflict in 2011. Most live in neighboring countries, including Lebanon, which hosts around 1.5 million displaced Syrians.
Meade's visit to Beirut comes as Mexico and Lebanon mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.
Saudi Arabia Acting More Cruel than "Israel" --- MIDDLE EAST EYE
In an unprecedented escalation of anti-Saudi rhetoric, officials have accused the kingdom of acting more cruelly against the Yemenis than "Israel" against the Palestinians. Some say it is a "new Nakba," a reference to the expulsion of Palestinians when the Israeli state was founded in 1948, wrote Jonathan Steele.
"Yemen is like a huge Gaza," Mohamed Marandi, a Tehran University professor of political science, told MEE.
"Saudi Arabia has never let Yemen prosper. Saudi Arabia has all its oil money but has never helped Yemen."
He and other Iranian analysts argue that what is happening in Yemen is a national uprising, in which the Houthi forces have joined with the remnants of the Yemeni army as well as popular committees of Sunni tribesmen. They argue that Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, whom Saudi Arabia and the United States are trying to restore to power after fleeing to Riyadh several months ago, has lost his legitimacy.
During the Arab awakening Mansour Hadi was elected transitional President in a poll which only had one candidate. His term was only supposed to last for for two years while a new constitution was hammered out and a national dialogue held. That term expired in February last year.
Source: al-Ahed news
