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Israel's Military Leaders Warn Syria of Escalation

Two senior Israeli military leaders separately warned that tensions with Syria could continue to escalate and lead to wider conflict, reported local Israeli media sources this week. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel said the Jewish state must be ready to engage in swift military action, countering threats from weapons proliferation and surface to air missiles.

Increased tensions come after Syrian forces shot at an Israeli vehicle in the Golan Heights on Tuesday. No IDF soldiers were harmed, but the army did returned fire over the border, launching a Tamuz missile. The IDF released a video showing the fire fight. While there are frequently reports of cross border fire between the Syrian army and rebels, this week's incident seems to mark the first time the Syrian government targeted Israel's military. After the incident Gantz said Syrian President Bashar al-Asad would "bear the consequences" of any further escalations.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 23, 2013 at 5:19 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Jihadis Kidnap Seven Egyptian Security Personnel in Sinai

Militants abducted seven members of the Egyptian security forces at gunpoint last Thursday in the Sinai peninsula. The Egyptian government sent more military personnel to the area which holds a history of attacks targeting security forces.

Local sources say masked gunmen kidnapped the three policemen and four army officers as they drove in a taxi from Arish to Rafah. The kidnappers released a YouTube video of the seven men, four of whom worked at the Rafah border crossing, urging the government to meet the captors' demands. A security official told Reuters the hostage takers want a number of al-Tawhid wal Jihad members to be released. In September, a court sentenced 14 supporters of the Islamist militant group to death, and other four to life imprisonment, after they killed six security officials during a 2011 attack in Sinai.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 22, 2013 at 11:09 am  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Conservative Former PM Wins in Pakistan's Election

Nawaz Sharif, the deposed former prime minister and conservative politician set to take over as Pakistan's next civilian leader, met with army leader General Ashfaq Kayani for three hours on Saturday. Representatives of Sharif's political party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), characterized the meeting as a "good omen for democracy." Pakistan's influential military, which deposed Sharif in a bloodless coup 14 years ago, seems to be more supportive of a democratically elected civilian government after last week's election.

While the government has not announced official election results, state media estimates the PLM-N may have won enough votes to rule the 272 seats in the National Assembly without a coalition. However, Sharif's views could be affected by army influence after he gains power. The political party of former cricket player Imran Khan's Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) is expected to come in second place, with the slain Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party trailing in third.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 21, 2013 at 3:33 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Rafsanjani Challenges Conservatives for Iran's Presidency

Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani registered to compete in Iran's upcoming presidential race on Saturday. The well-known 78-year-old former president is viewed as a relative moderate and could pose a challenge to the religious establishment's favored candidates. Mohammad Khatami, another reformist president, also endorsed Rafsanjani on Friday.

Iran's current President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accompanied his chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei as he also registered his candidacy Saturday. Government officials rebuked Ahmadinejad for escorting Mashaei, saying such conduct could lead to up to six months in prison. Seen as another wild card, Mashaei does not enjoy much popularity among religious conservatives in Qoms but could change the balance of power in the election.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 14, 2013 at 3:31 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Syrian Rebels Release UN Peacekeepers in Golan Heights

A Syrian rebel group, Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, released four U.N. peacekeepers Sunday. The Filipino soldiers were abducted last Tuesday in the Golan Heights.

The freed peacekeepers appeared to be unharmed as they passed through the Israeli checkpoint of Beit Ara. According to a rebel spokesman, the four men were held for their own security after clashes with regime forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Asad.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 13, 2013 at 1:54 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Morsi Reshuffles Cabinet in Egypt

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi appointed nine new ministers in a cabinet reshuffle, increasing the power of Islamists in his government. He promised the new cabinet would make solving the country's economic difficulties a top priority and called on Egyptians to support the new officials.

On April 20th, Morsi announced the second reshuffle since he took office last July, but failed to give additional details to media outlets. But after Tuesday's swearing in ceremony, three new Freedom and Justice members hold cabinet seats, bringing 11 out of 36 seats under Muslim Brotherhood control. The Brotherhood's Islamist allies run other ministries as well.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 9, 2013 at 4:23 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Iranians Jailed for Terror Plot in Kenya

A Kenyan court sentenced two Iranians to life in prison on Monday for planning attacks on Western targets. According to the prosecutor, Ahmad Mohammed and Sayed Mousavi designed "acts intended to cause grievous harm" in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Kenyan authorities arrested Mohammed and Mousavi last year and charged them with carrying 33 pounds of RDX, a high-power military grade explosive. Even though the two men were seen driving past the British Embassy and a Jewish synagogue before their detention, prosecutors declined to reveal their specific targets. The Iranian embassy plans to assist in appealing their conviction and claims Israeli security officers interrogated Mohammed and Mousavi while in detention.

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By Michael Johnson  |  May 8, 2013 at 10:46 am  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment