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Media Summary

Syrian and Turkish forces clash near Ras al-Ain

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BBC News, the GuardianTimesIndependentFTITV News and Reuters report that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has resigned amid protests that have gripped the country for almost two weeks. Hariri said Lebanon had reached a deadlock and needed a shock to break the crisis. The announcement was met with cheers from protesters in Beirut. The protests over political corruption and economic turmoil began after now-scrapped plans to tax WhatsApp calls were introduced in mid-October.

BBC News, the GuardianTimesIndependent and Channel 4 News report that there has been an upsurge of violence in Iraq as anti-government protests enter a fifth day, amid reports of bloodshed in the holy city of Karbala. Reports say up to 18 people were killed by security forces, though officials denied anyone was killed. In Baghdad, thousands of protesters have defied a curfew to demand jobs, better public services and an end to corruption. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi is under growing pressure to resign.

Reuters reports that Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s two main backers have agreed to work to remove him from office.

In BBC News, Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen asks: “Is a new Arab Spring unfolding in the Middle East?”.

In the FT, Chloe Cornish argues that Saad Hariri’s resignation “pitches Lebanon into further uncertainty”.

The Guardian argues that mass unrest has seized Chile and Lebanon, but the long-term foundations “will not be resolved quickly or easily”.

Reuters reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to shift funds designated for civilian purposes to military spending to meet any threats from Iran.Netanyahu, in a speech on Monday, did not specify the amount of the funds but said they needed to be moved “now”.

The Telegraph and Times report that the US is has carried out fresh raids on suspected senior IS members in Syria, as officials assessed a “treasure trove of intelligence” gathered from leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Helicopters reported to be from the US-led coalition flew on Monday night into al-Shuyukh village south of Jarablus.

The Telegraph reports that at least six Syrian regime fighters were killed as heavy clashes broke out Tuesday between the army and Turkish forces for the first time since Ankara attacked north-east Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said artillery and machine-gun fire was exchanged near Assadiya, south of the border town of Ras al-Ain.

Reuters reports that Iran and Russia on Tuesday condemned President Trump’s decision to maintain a military presence near oil fields in north-east Syria, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying any exploitation of resources would be illegal.

The FT and Reuters report that the US House of Representatives has passed a bill threatening fresh sanctions on Turkey to punish it for its offensive into north-east Syria, signalling continuing unhappiness with Ankara on Capitol Hill.

Reuters reports that Turkish authorities have detained 43 people suspected of belonging to IS and of plotting attacks targeting celebrations of Turkey’s national day on Tuesday.

In the Guardian’s Today in Focus, Martin Chulov describes how US Special Forces tracked down Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

In the Times, Roger Boyes argues that killing “al-Baghdadi doesn’t put an end to IS”.

In Reuters, Raya Jalabi interviews Yazidis about the death of al-Baghdadi.

In the Telegraph, Con Coughlin argues that President Trump has not abandoned the Middle East, “but he does expect his Gulf allies to pull their weight”.

In the FT, David Gardner argues that “a third, more terrible, incarnation of Isis could yet appear”.

In the Independent, Negar Mortazavi argues that “Trump wants US companies to tap Syria’s oil, despite experts warning that could be a war crime”.

The Independent and FT report that German prosecutors have charged two members of Syria’s general intelligence service with crimes against humanity, alleging that one of the men was responsible for at least 58 murders and thousands of cases of torture during the country’s eight-year civil war.

The Daily Mail reports that an AFP team has been given rare access to one of the crowded detention facilities in north-east Syria where Kurdish forces are holding IS suspects: “5,000 IS militants with AIDS, hepatitis and ‘organs spilling out of open wounds’ plead to be sent to their home countries – including Britain – as they rot in Syrian prison hellhole”.

The Guardian reports that leaders have arrived in Riyadh for “Davos in the desert”, a year after boycotting the kingdom’s investment summit following the murder of the Jamal Khashoggi.

Reuters reports that US  sanctions on Iran threaten access by some Iranians to medicines that treat diseases such as cancer and epilepsy, despite exemptions in the measures for imports of humanitarian goods.

The Telegraph reports that Saudi Arabia will launch the float of Saudi Aramco next month after dramatically scaling back plans for a listing.

BBC NewsDaily Mail and Reuters report that WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit against Israel’s NSO Group, alleging the firm was behind cyber-attacks that infected devices with malicious software. WhatsApp accuses the company of sending malware to roughly 1,400 mobile phones for surveillance purposes.

Attempted stabbing in Hebron 

All the Israeli media report that earlier this morning a Palestinian woman tried to stab an Israeli Border Policeman at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The assailant was shot and critically wounded, no one else was injured. On Monday a Palestinian tried to stab a Border Policeman at Herod’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.  He was shot and moderately wounded.  No one else was injured.

Jordanian Ambassador recalled for consultations – The Israeli media reports that Jordan has recalled its Ambassador to Israel for consultations in protest over the arrest of two Jordanian citizens. The pair have been held for the last two months, and the Shin Bet security service said they are accused of “serious security violations.”  Haaretz reports that according to their lawyer they are accused of having met with representatives of Hezbollah when they visited Lebanon over the last couple of years. In a separate but related incident, last night Jordan arrested an Israeli citizen who crossed the border into Jordan illegally.

Jared Kushner interviewed on Israeli TV

Israel’s Channel 13 News broadcast an exclusive interview with Jared Kushner who met earlier this week with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. Kushner told Barak Ravid: “The message that I was bringing was one that right now in the region there really are tremendous opportunities that we’ve accomplished over the past couple years, but even more that we can be seizing together, so it would be great for Israel to figure out how to form a government so we can start working on all the big priorities and opportunities that exist.”

Government to tackle crime in Arab communities

The Israeli media report that Prime Minister Netanyahu has established a committee to eradicate violence and crime in Arab society. The team will include the director generals of relevant ministries and the National Security Council, and will hold a dialogue with Arab local authority chairmen. The Prime Minister also said funds would be made available to open additional police stations in Arab communities.

Drone shot down over Gaza Strip The IDF announced yesterday that a drone flying at 12,000 feet above the Gaza strip was intercepted by an Air Force jet and shot down as a precaution. This morning Kan News reported that according to security officials the drone was not armed.