Middle East & North Africa

ADEN, Jul 18 (NNN-YPA) – Nine Yemeni soldiers were killed by the Houthis, during the past 48 hours, a military official said, accusing the militia of breaching the ceasefire.

“The Houthi militia breached the ceasefire, brokered by the United Nations, and launched a number of attacks against the government-controlled sites in Yemen,” the local military source said, on condition of anonymity.

The attacks involved scores of attacks using explosive-laden drones and artillery shells in various regions, he added.

ANKARA, July 18 (Reuters) - Turkey will freeze Finland and Sweden's NATO membership bids if the Nordic countries do not keep promises on counter-terrorism made last month, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, adding he believed Sweden was "not showing a good image" for now.

Finland and Sweden applied for membership of the defence alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but were met with opposition from Turkey, which accused the Nordic countries of supporting groups it deems terrorists.

ALGIERS, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Algeria on Monday for a one-day visit, during which he is expected to finalize deals to increase Algeria's natural gas supply to Italy to ease Italy's dependence on Russian gas supply.

After his arrival, Draghi held talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune over several issues of common interest, official APS news agency reported on Monday.

TEHRAN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has welcomed Iraq's efforts in promoting regional dialogue aimed at enhancing security and stability, according to a report by the Iranian Foreign Ministry website on Monday.

Iraq's "constructive" role in facilitating regional dialogue is appreciated, Amir-Abdollahian said in a phone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on Sunday night, the report noted.

Both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and some regional issues, including the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The leader of Tunisia’s main opposition party is due to be questioned by the country’s anti-terrorism unit on Tuesday on suspicion of money laundering and terrorist financing through an association charity.

The accused, Rached Ghannouchi, was among a dozen top Ennahdha party officials whose bank accounts the north African country’s central bank froze earlier this month. Ennahdha vehemently disputes the accusations of money laundering and terrorism financing.

ANKARA, July 17. /TASS/. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to attend an Astana-format meeting during his visit to Iran on July 18-19 and to have talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the Turkish presidential office said on Sunday.

RIYADH, Jul 17 (NNN-SPA) – A statement was announced yesterday, following the “Jeddah Summit for Security and Development,” emphasising the importance of taking the required measures, to protect the security and stability of the Middle East.

Hosted by Saudi Arabia, the summit was attended by leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and the United States.

The summit reviewed global challenges and regional affairs, while the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to guarantee the region’s security and stability.

JERUSALEM, Jul 17 (NNN-PNA) – Israel decided yesterday, to cancel a just recently increased quota of work permits for Palestinian labourers from Gaza, in response to rocket attacks earlier in the day.

The decision was announced by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israel’s military liaison to the Palestinians.

“Hamas takes responsibility for everything that happens in the Gaza Strip,” read the statement from COGAT.

DAMASCUS, Jul 17 (NNN-SANA) – The U.S. forces smuggled 40 truckloads of stolen Syrian oil from north-eastern Syria into Iraq, yesterday.

The oil was taken from the Rmailan area in the north-eastern Syrian province of Hasaka, said the report.

The U.S. convoy, escorted by armoured vehicles, also transported truckloads of weaponry from Hasakah into Iraq, through an illegal crossing.

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 16 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden told Arab leaders on Saturday that the United States would remain an active partner in the Middle East, but he failed to secure commitments to a regional security axis that would include Israel or an immediate oil output rise.

"The United States is invested in building a positive future of the region, in partnership with all of you—and the United States is not going anywhere," he said, according to a transcript of his speech.