Trump set to meet Syrian leader ahead of Qatar visit

Trump’s First 100 Days in OfficeAsharq al-Awsat, London, May 25For more stories from The Media Line go to themedialine.org In his first 100 days, President Trump signed numerous executive orders and proposed ambitious goals, including tariffs on imports, notably from China, aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing and revenue. This aggressive trade policy triggered global economic uncertainty, contributing to an economic recession in the U.S. and raising questions about Trump's confrontational diplomatic style and intentions to...

SummaryFour Israeli soldiers were killed and five others injured due to an explosion caused by a booby-trapped building in the Bani Suheila neighborhood of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to the Israeli army. The deceased soldiers have been identified as Sgt. Maj. (res.) Chen Gross, 33, and Staff Sgt. Yoav Raver, 19, with the names of the other two soldiers pending release. Among the injured, one Maglan officer was severely wounded, while four additional soldiers...

The French foreign minister, Jean Noel Barrot, refuted claims of France’s complicity in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the country's active measures since Israel's offensive began in October 2023, including hosting a major international aid conference and deploying medical assistance. He noted that if other nations had followed France's lead, the situation might have differed, criticizing Israel's militarized approach to humanitarian aid distribution, which has led to chaos. Barrot highlighted growing internal criticism within...

Hossein Shanbehzadeh, an Iranian arrested for allegedly being an Israeli spy, confessed under duress after threats against his 6-year-old niece during interrogation, which included torture. Despite his calm surrender, he was beaten and coerced to provide his mobile password, leading to a 12-year prison sentence on charges of espionage and propaganda against the regime, which his family disputes as fabricated. His case, dubbed "Prisoner of the Dot" due to social media interactions, has gained attention...

SummaryNearly two million Muslim pilgrims began casting stones at the Jamarat pillars on the first day of Eid al-Adha, marking a key ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia. Following the stoning of Jamarat Al-Aqaba, they will perform animal sacrifices and continue stoning rituals over the three days of Tashreeq. The Saudi General Authority for Statistics reported 1,673,230 Hajj pilgrims this year, with the pilgrimage being a fundamental Islamic practice that commemorates the...

The Lebanese army has threatened to withdraw cooperation with the ceasefire committee monitoring the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire due to Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, which they claim undermine their role. The warning follows Israeli strikes on Hezbollah's drone facilities just before the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, prompting international condemnation, including from France, which called for Israel to withdraw and urged all parties to adhere to the ceasefire. The Lebanese army indicated it would cease cooperation...