Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.

gatestoneinstitute.org – The Biden administration, some Arab writers have said, “has adopted a policy of “antagonizing allies while appeasing enemies.” [Syrian journalist Abduljalil] Alsaeid said he believed that former Obama administration officials, who are now part of the Biden administration, are intentionally trying to damage US-Saudi relations. “The Obama wing inside the ruling Democratic Party accepts the Iranian regime and …

Al-Monitor – The Biden administration opened talks with Houthi rebel leaders late last month in a bid to end Yemen’s civil war, Reuters reported Wednesday. Timothy Lenderking, the lead US envoy on the Yemen crisis, met with Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam in Oman’s capital, Muscat, on Feb. 26. The meeting was the first time US officials under the new administration …

Al-Monitor – The more radical sectors of Iran’s embattled Reform movement say past experience has taught them not to “hire a candidate” from outside their tribe for the June presidential election. The concept of “the hired candidate” made its way into Iran’s political discourse with the pro-Reform movement’s endorsement of Hassan Rouhani in 2013 and later for his reelection in 2017. …

RFL/RE – The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq says at least 10 rockets have been fired at a military base that hosts American and other coalition troops.The missiles struck the Ain Al-Asad Air Base in the western province of Anbar at 7:20 a.m. local time on March 3, spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto said.The Iraqi military said the attack did not cause …

Iranwire – News of the attempted suicide of Siamak Moghimi, a political prisoner being held in Greater Tehran Penitentiary (Fashafuyeh), has come to light in the past 48 hours. The 25-year-old had tried to end his own life at least six times before being incarcerated following the November 2019 protests. But despite his severe and worsening mental ill-health, the young man remains behind bars. The …