FROM BAD TO WORSE IN THE WEST BANK
Just two months after its unexpected seizure of power in the Gaza Strip, Hamas is expanding its foothold in the West Bank as well. According to officials with the embattled government of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas' armed faction, the Izzadine Kassam Brigades, has become "very active" in parts of the West Bank, and has succeeded in establishing a number of armed cells there. "We are very worried about what's happening in the West Bank, especially in Nablus, where Izzadin Kassam appears to have resumed its activities after a long lull," one PA official has confirmed. "In recent weeks the group has been launching almost daily attacks on Israeli military patrols... particularly in the northern West Bank." (Jerusalem Post, August 19, 2007)
A HELPING HAND FROM HEZBOLLAH...
Iran's main terrorist proxy has assumed a key role in expanding the lethality of Iraq's main Shi'a militia. Militants affiliated with the al-Mahdi Army headed by firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have confirmed that their organization has established an operational relationship with Lebanon's Hezbollah militia, which is providing the group with assistance in guerrilla tactics and warfighting strategy. "I was one of the experienced fighters from the Mehdi army to go for training [in southern Lebanon]," one senior fighter has told reporters. "We learned how to take advantage of an armoured vehicle's weakness, and how to wait and kill the soldiers who try to escape." (London Independent, August 20, 2007)
... AND A NEW CENTER OF GRAVITY ON THE IRAQI STREET
Observers have long suspected that Iraq’s police forces have been infiltrated and compromised by sectarian militias. But a new analysis suggests that the problem may be broader than originally thought. Sources say that Iraq’s national army, which Washington has touted as being far more capable and effective than its police counterpart, also has fallen under the sway of one of the country’s most powerful political players: the Mahdi Army. "There is a Mahdi Army member in every family and in every home across Iraq and the military is not exempt," boasts one commander in the powerful Shi’ite militia. "The army wouldn't go after the Mahdi Army because many elements in the army are [themselves] Mahdi Army.” (Los Angeles Times, August 16, 2007)
A SAUDI-SYRIAN SPAT
Relations between Riyadh and Damascus have turned downright frosty in recent weeks amid escalating recriminations over the Kingdom’s foreign policy direction. The diplomatic row erupted in mid-August, when Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa used a public speech to journalists and reporters in Damascus to lash out at countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt that have begun normalizing relations with Israel, thereby creating a “rift” in the Arab world. In his remarks, al-Sharaa also suggested that Riyadh was losing its historic leadership role in inter-Arab politics and “is now almost completely paralyzed.”
In response, the Saudi government has lashed out at Sharaa’s “distasteful statements.” "The Kingdom has never and will never reject any meeting that aims at unifying ranks and strengthening Arab solidarity," a statement from the country’s foreign ministry has declared. "The Kingdom's positions has [sic] never presented a problem; the real problems are the positions which denounced the unity of Arab ranks and worked for spreading chaos and disturbances in the region." (syria-life.com, August 15, 2007; United Press International, August 17, 2007)