As war clouds loom over the Gulf, the question is: Will the US or its allies risk a pre-emptive strike on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/france-warns-iran-against-further-breaches-of-nuclear-deal-232313">Iran</a> and trigger a conflict? So far, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-playing-with-fire-on-nuclear-deal-trump-232172">United States</a> has sent positive signals, with its special envoy Brian Hook saying President Donald Trump's Iran policy is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table.

"No one should be uncertain about our desire for peace or our readiness to normalise relations should we reach a comprehensive deal," Hook said last month, briefing American lawmakers at a Congress panel. "We have put the possibility of a much brighter future on the table for the Iranian people," he told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Successive US governments have resorted to pre-emptive strikes and regime change to further its interests. And the fear is, history could repeat itself again if the United States and Iran remain on a collision course.

Some in Congress have voiced concerns that US troop build-ups, sanctions pressure and heated rhetoric could accidentally pull the US into a military confrontation with Iran.

The Pentagon approved an additional 1,000 troops to the region after a recent attack on commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman that the US blames on Iran.

Although many parties claim that a negotiated outcome remains very much on the table, there is the talk of a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities - especially in Israel - Iran's arch enemy.

Watch: US-Iran Tensions—War clouds loom over the gulf

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-iran-tensions-war-clouds-loom-over-the-gulf-232539/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities could have consequences - some unforeseen - for the region at large. It could snowball into a prolonged conflict in which other regional actors - both state and non-state - could become involved.

The pro-strike lobby worries that Iran could further provoke by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067">enriching uranium</a> to a weapons-grade, enough to possess a nuclear bomb and a pre-emptive strike could prevent it. For the moment though, Washington is weighing its options.

Already, in the past few weeks, the US has dispatched warships to guard against threats to American interests in Iraq - and to deter Iran and its proxies.

But as a Brookings report suggests, a conflict would begin even if the US targets Iranian interests beyond its borders - for example, Iraq.

A pre-emptive strike on Shiite militias in Iraq or elsewhere in the region could push Iraq into another crisis and provoke Iran.

The Trump administration last year withdrew from the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran under President Barack Obama and began imposing layers of punishing sanctions on Tehran that have strangled its economy.

The US blames Iran for a number of attacks against American or Western interests in West Asia over the past few months, including on tankers near the Persian Gulf and a rocket attack near the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iran denies responsibility for the attacks.

As war clouds loom over the Gulf, the question is: Will the US or its allies risk a pre-emptive strike on Iran and trigger a conflict? So far, the United States has sent positive signals, with its special envoy Brian Hook saying President Donald Trump's Iran policy is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table.

As war clouds loom over the Gulf, the question is: Will the US or its allies risk a pre-emptive strike on Iran and trigger a conflict? So far, the United States has sent positive signals, with its special envoy Brian Hook saying President Donald Trump's Iran policy is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table. "No one should be uncertain about our desire for peace or our readiness to normalise relations should we reach a comprehensive deal," Hook said last month, briefing American lawmakers at a Congress panel. "We have put the possibility of a much brighter future on the table for the Iranian people," he told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Successive US governments have resorted to pre-emptive strikes and regime change to further its interests. And the fear is, history could repeat itself again if the United States and Iran remain on a collision course. Some in Congress have voiced concerns that US troop build-ups, sanctions pressure and heated rhetoric could accidentally pull the US into a military confrontation with Iran. The Pentagon approved an additional 1,000 troops to the region after a recent attack on commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman that the US blames on Iran. Although many parties claim that a negotiated outcome remains very much on the table, there is the talk of a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities - especially in Israel - Iran's arch enemy. Watch: US-Iran Tensions—War clouds loom over the gulf But an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities could have consequences - some unforeseen - for the region at large. It could snowball into a prolonged conflict in which other regional actors - both state and non-state - could become involved. The pro-strike lobby worries that Iran could further provoke by enriching uranium to a weapons-grade, enough to possess a nuclear bomb and a pre-emptive strike could prevent it. For the moment though, Washington is weighing its options. Already, in the past few weeks, the US has dispatched warships to guard against threats to American interests in Iraq - and to deter Iran and its proxies. But as a Brookings report suggests, a conflict would begin even if the US targets Iranian interests beyond its borders - for example, Iraq. A pre-emptive strike on Shiite militias in Iraq or elsewhere in the region could push Iraq into another crisis and provoke Iran. The Trump administration last year withdrew from the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran under President Barack Obama and began imposing layers of punishing sanctions on Tehran that have strangled its economy. The US blames Iran for a number of attacks against American or Western interests in West Asia over the past few months, including on tankers near the Persian Gulf and a rocket attack near the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iran denies responsibility for the attacks.

War clouds loom over the Gulf: Pros and cons of pre-emptive strike on Iran

Iran stockpiles of Uranium exceeded 300 KG limit. Iran exceeds Uranium limit in 2015 deal. Know more from Daniele Pagani, Bureau Chief , West Asia.

Wion Dispatch: Iran confirms breach of Uranium Limit

A few hundred protesters marched through the streets of Sudan's Omdurman on Thursday (June 27) demanding civilian rule, just days ahead of a mass demonstration planned for June 30.

Sudan crisis: Military to blame civilians for clashes

West Asia Seems To Be On The Brink Of A Prolonged Conflict

Gravitas: Is a U.S.-Iran conflict imminent?

Tensions Between The U.S. & Iran Intensify As Peace & Stability In West Asia Comes Under Threat Tensions intensify in West Asia. Iran says that it will breach the limit on its stockpile of nuclear fuel. Iran will enrich more uranium than the allowed limit under the nuclear deal. U.S. blames Iran for the attacks on two oil tankers and vows to send 1000 more soldiers to West Asia. Is West Asia on the brink of a conflict again? Palki explains.

Gravitas: A major crisis in West Asia: Iran threatens to breach nuke deal

Tensions between U.S.-Iran has risen, watch our report.

West Asia on the brink of a conflict?

West Asia Is On The Edge. US-Iran Tensions Soar After The Explosion Of 2 Oil Tankers In The Gulf Of Oman. Explosion In 2 More Oil Tankers In The Gulf Of Oman. US Blames Iran As Tensions Soar. Iran Hits Back At The US, Says Iran Is Being Blamed Without A Shred Of Factual Evidence.

Gravitas: US Blames Iran For Thursday's Attacks

The successful and controversial Israeli TV series Fauda launches its third series.. what do Palestinians think about the Israeli elite force portrayed in the show..?

The West Asia Post: Third season of Fauda launches amid critics

A massive cross-border fully-equipped underground tunnel between Lebanon and Israel is to be destroyed soon.. but what was it for..?

The West Asia Post: Israel destroys massive underground tunnel

The Israeli military said its aircraft struck Syrian army targets on Sunday (June 2) after rockets were fired at the Golan Heights, and Syria's state media said three soldiers were killed in the second such flare-up in a week.

Israel strikes Syria after rockets fired at Golan

Iraq’s president told an emergency Arab summit in Saudi Arabia on Thursday that regional and international tensions with Iran could spark a war if not managed well and voiced hope that Iran’s security would not be targeted.

Iraq warns of war if regional tensions not managed well

Living in Gaza is not easy for human beings, let alone animals. It's high time they move to safer habitats. Watch this and many more stories like this from the West-Asian part of the world, on The West Asia Post, every Friday at 8:30 pm, only on WION, WORLD IS ONE.

The West Asia Post: Animals evacuated from Gaza's last zoo

The West Asia Post: Lebanon fashion label goes green !

US President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-options-on-iran-nuclear-deal-135293">Donald Trump</a> is set to decide the fate of the landmark <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-&-economy/ahead-of-us-decision-on-iran-deal-a-look-at-gulf-oil-diplomacy-135492">Iran nuclear deal</a> on Tuesday, announcing his verdict on US sanctions relief underpinning the international accord, which he has repeatedly and harshly criticised.

Officials and diplomats expect the pugnacious US leader to ignore last-ditch European pleas and move to withdraw the United States from a 2015 agreement, which he insists was "very badly negotiated".

Trump has unsuccessfully demanded changes to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-nuclear-deal--135480">Obama-era deal</a>, which saw Iran mothball a suspected nuclear weapons program in return for massive sanctions relief.

Months of intensive talks between the United States and European allies now appear deadlocked, with Berlin, London and Paris refusing to rewrite the agreement. The prospect of Trump pulling out of the deal has left many West Asian countries concerned.

"I can't say if the US will walk away from the Iran nuclear deal but we have to all work together and strive for Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons," Jordan's foreign minister Ayman al-Safadi said.

"If we do not look at the political picture and ... find a way to ensure that the whole region is free of (these weapons), we'll be looking at a lot of dangerous repercussions that will affect the region in terms of an arms race," he said.

In March, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS news that his kingdom would "without a doubt" develop nuclear weapons if Iran, Riyadh's arch foe, did so.

Trump has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/a-timeline-of-trumps-statements-on-the-iran-nuclear-deal-135463">consistently threatened to pull out</a> of the 2015 agreement because it does not address Iran's ballistic missile program or its role in wars in Syria and Yemen, and does not permanently prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.

One European diplomat echoed the mood around foreign embassies in Washington, saying "there is plainly a difference of opinion," acknowledging that Trump seems poised to walk away from the accord.

WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SAYING

Germany and France on Monday vowed to stand by the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers even if the United States pulls out.

"This agreement is not the best one in the world," France's Defence Minister Florence Parly told RTL radio. "But without being perfect, it still has its virtues... and they (the Iranians) are respecting it," she said.

Volker Kauder, head of Merkel's conservatives in parliament, said continued dialogue was needed to avoid isolating Iran.

"That would only further exacerbate the situation in the Middle East," Kauder told reporters in Murnau, where Merkel and other leaders of the coalition government are gathered for a retreat.

Andrea Nahles, head of the Social Democrats, junior partner in the coalition, also warned against a US decision to withdraw from the accord. "The situation is more difficult than ever. Things are falling apart at every corner," she said.

'READY FOR ANY SCENARIO'

Iran has, meanwhile, said that it will not re-negotiate and will resist any American attempt to counter its presence in West Asia. <a href="www.wionews.com/world/what-could-iran-do-if-trump-pulls-out-of-nuclear-deal-135382">Iran also said</a> that it is ready for any scenario.

"We are ready for any possible scenario... If the United States violates the deal, it would be naive to negotiate with this country again," Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted as saying by news agency Tasnim.

Iranian officials say all this amounts to a flagrant violation of article 29 of the nuclear deal, which committed the US to ensure "the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran".

The US counters that it never promised to lift non-nuclear sanctions related to issues such as human rights and Iran's missile programme, which were already complicating trade before Trump came to power.

Trump has consistently threatened to pull out of the 2015 agreement because it does not address Iran's ballistic missile program or its role in wars in Syria and Yemen.

US President Donald Trump is set to decide the fate of the landmark Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday, announcing his verdict on US sanctions relief underpinning the international accord, which he has repeatedly and harshly criticised. Officials and diplomats expect the pugnacious US leader to ignore last-ditch European pleas and move to withdraw the United States from a 2015 agreement, which he insists was "very badly negotiated". Trump has unsuccessfully demanded changes to the Obama-era deal, which saw Iran mothball a suspected nuclear weapons program in return for massive sanctions relief. Months of intensive talks between the United States and European allies now appear deadlocked, with Berlin, London and Paris refusing to rewrite the agreement. The prospect of Trump pulling out of the deal has left many West Asian countries concerned. "I can't say if the US will walk away from the Iran nuclear deal but we have to all work together and strive for Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons," Jordan's foreign minister Ayman al-Safadi said. "If we do not look at the political picture and ... find a way to ensure that the whole region is free of (these weapons), we'll be looking at a lot of dangerous repercussions that will affect the region in terms of an arms race," he said. In March, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS news that his kingdom would "without a doubt" develop nuclear weapons if Iran, Riyadh's arch foe, did so. Trump has consistently threatened to pull out of the 2015 agreement because it does not address Iran's ballistic missile program or its role in wars in Syria and Yemen, and does not permanently prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. One European diplomat echoed the mood around foreign embassies in Washington, saying "there is plainly a difference of opinion," acknowledging that Trump seems poised to walk away from the accord. WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE SAYING Germany and France on Monday vowed to stand by the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers even if the United States pulls out. "This agreement is not the best one in the world," France's Defence Minister Florence Parly told RTL radio. "But without being perfect, it still has its virtues... and they (the Iranians) are respecting it," she said. Volker Kauder, head of Merkel's conservatives in parliament, said continued dialogue was needed to avoid isolating Iran. "That would only further exacerbate the situation in the Middle East," Kauder told reporters in Murnau, where Merkel and other leaders of the coalition government are gathered for a retreat. Andrea Nahles, head of the Social Democrats, junior partner in the coalition, also warned against a US decision to withdraw from the accord. "The situation is more difficult than ever. Things are falling apart at every corner," she said. 'READY FOR ANY SCENARIO' Iran has, meanwhile, said that it will not re-negotiate and will resist any American attempt to counter its presence in West Asia. Iran also said that it is ready for any scenario. "We are ready for any possible scenario... If the United States violates the deal, it would be naive to negotiate with this country again," Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted as saying by news agency Tasnim. Iranian officials say all this amounts to a flagrant violation of article 29 of the nuclear deal, which committed the US to ensure "the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran". The US counters that it never promised to lift non-nuclear sanctions related to issues such as human rights and Iran's missile programme, which were already complicating trade before Trump came to power.

What will happen to West Asia if Trump pulls out of Iran nuclear deal?

US President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-warns-of-catastrophe-if-us-recognises-jerusalem-as-israel-capital-25859">Donald Trump called Palestinian leader Mahmud</a> Abbas on Tuesday as speculation grew the president was planning to move the US 
embassy to Jerusalem, a move which would alter decades-old policy on Jerusalem.

White House said President Trump is set to call Israel PM&nbsp;Netanyahu&nbsp;and Jordan&nbsp;King&nbsp;Abdullah shortly as he mulls a radical change in US policy over the status of Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, &nbsp;Tayseer Jaradat, Palestinian deputy foreign minister said any move to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital would be a breach of international law 
and&nbsp; &quot;infringement to feelings&quot; of the Palestinian people.

Turkey said it would cut ties with Israel if Trump changed US policy on Jerusalem.

French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed concern over US move to &quot;unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel&quot; during a phone call with Trump on Monday.

European Union diplomat Federica Mogherini, said: &quot;Any action that would undermine peace efforts to create two separate states for the Israelis and the Palestinians must absolutely be avoided.&quot;

Report said the US president may not move the embassy but could recognise Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital which would radically shift US policy and enrage several Arab nations, including several US allies in Europe 
and West Asia.

The Arab League it was a &quot;clear aggression&quot; against Arabs.&nbsp;

Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said &quot;given the danger of this matter if it were to happen,&nbsp;it would have possible negative consequences not only for the situation in Palestine&nbsp;but also for the Arab and Islamic region.&quot;

White House said President Trump is set to call Israel PM, Jordanian king shortly as he mulls a radical change in US policy over the status of ?Jerusalem.

US President Donald Trump called Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday as speculation grew the president was planning to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, a move which would alter decades-old policy on Jerusalem. White House said President Trump is set to call Israel PM Netanyahu and Jordan King Abdullah shortly as he mulls a radical change in US policy over the status of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Tayseer Jaradat, Palestinian deputy foreign minister said any move to recognise Jerusalem as the Israeli capital would be a breach of international law and "infringement to feelings" of the Palestinian people. Turkey said it would cut ties with Israel if Trump changed US policy on Jerusalem. French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed concern over US move to "unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel" during a phone call with Trump on Monday. European Union diplomat Federica Mogherini, said: "Any action that would undermine peace efforts to create two separate states for the Israelis and the Palestinians must absolutely be avoided." Report said the US president may not move the embassy but could recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital which would radically shift US policy and enrage several Arab nations, including several US allies in Europe and West Asia. The Arab League it was a "clear aggression" against Arabs. Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said "given the danger of this matter if it were to happen, it would have possible negative consequences not only for the situation in Palestine but also for the Arab and Islamic region."

EU, Arab league warn Trump not to change US policy on Jerusalem's status

Israel could advance plans this week for thousands more settlement homes in annexed east Jerusalem in defiance of a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity.

It would mark the first such approvals since Friday&#39;s UN Security Council vote demanding a halt to Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territory.

The resolution, which was passed after the United States took the rare move of abstaining, infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who lashed out at President Barack Obama and vowed not to abide by it.

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city, according to the Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building.

Jerusalem deputy mayor Meir Turjeman, who also heads the committee, has reportedly also spoken of seeking to advance plans for some 5,600 other units at earlier stages in the process.

On Tuesday he told AFP there were no plans to call off discussions in response to the UN vote. The hundreds of building permits were on the agenda before the resolution was passed.

&quot;We&#39;ll discuss everything that&#39;s on the table in a serious manner,&quot; he said.

And on his Facebook page Turjeman wrote: &quot;I&#39;m not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem.

&quot;I hope the government and new US administration will give us the momentum to continue and make up for the shortage created over the eight years of the Obama administration,&quot; he said of settlement construction.

&nbsp;

Diplomatic reprisals&nbsp;

Israel has already taken diplomatic steps in response to what it calls the &quot;shameful&quot; resolution, which passed with support from all the remaining members of the 15-strong Security Council.

On Tuesday, the foreign ministry said it was &quot;temporarily reducing&quot; visits and work with embassies of nations that voted for it.

On Christmas Day it summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution while Netanyahu met US ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Sunday.

Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are the key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive.

Washington is Israel&#39;s most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.&nbsp;

By declining to use its veto, the US enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

Obama&#39;s administration has been frustrated with settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967.

Israel later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and seen as illegal under international law.

Some 430,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and 200,000 Israelis live in east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

&nbsp;

New &#39;Dreyfus trial&#39;?&nbsp;

The UN resolution demands &quot;Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem&quot;.

It says settlements have &quot;no legal validity&quot; and are &quot;dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution&quot; to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations.

The resolution contains no sanctions but Israeli officials are concerned it could widen the possibility of prosecution at the International Criminal Court.

They are also worried it could encourage some countries to impose sanctions against Israeli settlers and goods produced in the settlements.

Plans by France to hold an international Middle East peace conference on January 15 -- opposed by Israel which has called for direct talks with the Palestinians -- is another point of concern.

Officials fear the conference could be lead to further action against Israel that would then be taken to the Security Council for approval before Donald Trump takes over as US president on January 20.

Palestinian leaders support the conference, saying years of negotiations with the Israelis have not ended the occupation.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Monday said the UN resolution &quot;paves the way for the success&quot; of the conference. He said he hopes it &quot;comes out with an international mechanism and a timeline to end Israeli occupation of our country&quot;.

Israeli hardline Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman dubbed the conference a new &quot;Dreyfus trial&quot; and urged French Jews to move to Israel.

(AFP)

The UN resolution demands Israel cease all settlement activities 'in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem'

Israel could advance plans this week for thousands more settlement homes in annexed east Jerusalem in defiance of a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity. It would mark the first such approvals since Friday's UN Security Council vote demanding a halt to Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territory. The resolution, which was passed after the United States took the rare move of abstaining, infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who lashed out at President Barack Obama and vowed not to abide by it. On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city, according to the Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building. Jerusalem deputy mayor Meir Turjeman, who also heads the committee, has reportedly also spoken of seeking to advance plans for some 5,600 other units at earlier stages in the process. On Tuesday he told AFP there were no plans to call off discussions in response to the UN vote. The hundreds of building permits were on the agenda before the resolution was passed. "We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," he said. And on his Facebook page Turjeman wrote: "I'm not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem. "I hope the government and new US administration will give us the momentum to continue and make up for the shortage created over the eight years of the Obama administration," he said of settlement construction. Diplomatic reprisals Israel has already taken diplomatic steps in response to what it calls the "shameful" resolution, which passed with support from all the remaining members of the 15-strong Security Council. On Tuesday, the foreign ministry said it was "temporarily reducing" visits and work with embassies of nations that voted for it. On Christmas Day it summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution while Netanyahu met US ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Sunday. Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are the key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive. Washington is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid. By declining to use its veto, the US enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy. Obama's administration has been frustrated with settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967. Israel later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community. Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and seen as illegal under international law. Some 430,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and 200,000 Israelis live in east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state. New 'Dreyfus trial'? The UN resolution demands "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem". It says settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations. The resolution contains no sanctions but Israeli officials are concerned it could widen the possibility of prosecution at the International Criminal Court. They are also worried it could encourage some countries to impose sanctions against Israeli settlers and goods produced in the settlements. Plans by France to hold an international Middle East peace conference on January 15 -- opposed by Israel which has called for direct talks with the Palestinians -- is another point of concern. Officials fear the conference could be lead to further action against Israel that would then be taken to the Security Council for approval before Donald Trump takes over as US president on January 20. Palestinian leaders support the conference, saying years of negotiations with the Israelis have not ended the occupation. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Monday said the UN resolution "paves the way for the success" of the conference. He said he hopes it "comes out with an international mechanism and a timeline to end Israeli occupation of our country". Israeli hardline Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman dubbed the conference a new "Dreyfus trial" and urged French Jews to move to Israel. (AFP)

Israel may push for more East Jerusalem settlement homes despite UN resolution

Moscow announced that Russian and Syrian air forces have stopped bombing Aleppo ahead of a brief truce, a move the Kremlin said showed &quot;goodwill&quot; as it faces mounting criticism for backing a brutal regime offensive.

&nbsp;

It came yesterday after Russia said there would be an eight-hour &quot;humanitarian pause&quot; in the battered city on Thursday, a move welcomed by the United Nations and the European Union which nevertheless said the ceasefire needed to be longer to allow the delivery of aid.

&nbsp;

The US State Department voiced scepticism regarding Moscow&#39;s latest initiative while welcoming a halt in the bombing.

&nbsp;

French and Russian presidents Francois Hollande and Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a &quot;working meeting&quot; on the Syrian crisis Wednesday in Berlin, the French leader&#39;s office said.

&nbsp;

The meeting will be aimed at &quot;giving the same message to Vladimir Putin on Syria: a durable ceasefire in Aleppo and humanitarian access so that the devastation of this city can end,&quot; an aide to Hollande said.

&nbsp;

The West has expressed increasing alarm at the situation in Aleppo, saying the ferocious Russian-backed onslaught on the rebel-held east could amount to a war crime.

&nbsp;

&quot;Strikes in the Aleppo region by the Russian and Syrian air forces are stopping today from 10:00 am,&quot; Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised briefing.

&quot;This guarantees the security of civilians&#39; exit through six corridors and prepares the evacuation of the sick and injured from eastern Aleppo,&quot; he said, adding that it would also guarantee safe passage for rebels to leave the area.

&nbsp;

The UN said it was waiting for safety assurances from all sides before going in with &quot;critical humanitarian assistance&quot; for Aleppo&#39;s desperate population.

&nbsp;

(AFP)

The US State Department voiced scepticism regarding Moscow's latest initiative while welcoming a halt in the bombing

Moscow announced that Russian and Syrian air forces have stopped bombing Aleppo ahead of a brief truce, a move the Kremlin said showed "goodwill" as it faces mounting criticism for backing a brutal regime offensive. It came yesterday after Russia said there would be an eight-hour "humanitarian pause" in the battered city on Thursday, a move welcomed by the United Nations and the European Union which nevertheless said the ceasefire needed to be longer to allow the delivery of aid. The US State Department voiced scepticism regarding Moscow's latest initiative while welcoming a halt in the bombing. French and Russian presidents Francois Hollande and Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold a "working meeting" on the Syrian crisis Wednesday in Berlin, the French leader's office said. The meeting will be aimed at "giving the same message to Vladimir Putin on Syria: a durable ceasefire in Aleppo and humanitarian access so that the devastation of this city can end," an aide to Hollande said. The West has expressed increasing alarm at the situation in Aleppo, saying the ferocious Russian-backed onslaught on the rebel-held east could amount to a war crime. "Strikes in the Aleppo region by the Russian and Syrian air forces are stopping today from 10:00 am," Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a televised briefing. "This guarantees the security of civilians' exit through six corridors and prepares the evacuation of the sick and injured from eastern Aleppo," he said, adding that it would also guarantee safe passage for rebels to leave the area. The UN said it was waiting for safety assurances from all sides before going in with "critical humanitarian assistance" for Aleppo's desperate population. (AFP)

Russia halts Aleppo strikes in 'goodwill gesture'

While travelling to Qayyarah, a two-hour-drive from Mosul, WION had the chance to interview Iraqi Army Major General Najim al-Jabouri soon after he met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad. He is the commander of the Nineveh Operations, an offensive that aims to liberate south of Mosul. He is in-charge of the Mosul offensive and currently leads approximately 25,000 men.

WION: How are you preparing for the Mosul operation? 

General al-Jabouri: Our troops are ready to attack Islamic State in Mosul and retake the city. The coalition forces gave us good training, equipped us with modern equipment. We are just waiting for the prime minister&nbsp;to give us the order to attack. We are confident about the battle since we have liberated many cities, important cities in Nineveh (governorate), including Qayyara a few weeks ago. Right now, we are now coordinating with the Peshmerga (Kurdish military forces). Some brigades have already moved to the station areas near Mosul.

WION: How long will the battle last? And do you expect a large presence of IS&nbsp;fighters?

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;I think&nbsp;IS&nbsp;is not as strong as it was two months ago or six months ago. They have lost many good fighters. Many of them were killed, many of them got injured and many of them escaped.

IS is different from Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda believed in a cause but the majority of IS jihadists are like the mafia &mdash;&nbsp;they look for money, they look for women, they look for power.

A few months ago when we began the battle in Qayyarah, we faced strong fighters. The foreigners were especially strong. But the group has weakened. Now, we hardly lose our men even during intense gunfights. The last battle in Qayyarah, four or five days ago, we killed 66 people of theirs and lost not even a single one of ours. Also, we hardly face any foreign fighters anymore.

The local fighters are not that good because they are only interested in earning money. Such attitude is destroying the moral of IS.

The loss in Qayyarah was also financially damaging for IS. They are losing $1 million every day since they lost out in Qayyarah. When they were here, they stole oil and sold about a hundred trucks of it every day.

WION: How important will local support be&nbsp;in your battle for Mosul? 

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;Their (residents of Mosul) support&nbsp;is very vital. Even the strongest security force&nbsp;will be unable to defeat IS if they don&#39;t get support from the locals.

If the locals did not give IS a safe haven, it would have been impossible for them to grow in strength.

In my view, people were unhappy with the security forces in Iraq. This was one of the main reasons for IS to thrive in the area. We worked very hard to change this relationship, we built many bridges between us and the people. You are free to go&nbsp;to Qayyarah and to other villages and ask the people about us. Now, locals support us whenever we fight the IS. This will build the future of this area and Iraq.

WION: Will Shia militia organisation Hal Al-Hashd Al-Sha&#39;abi have any role during the Mosul Operation?

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;Maybe we will need their support. Only the commander-in-chief (the Iraqi prime minister) can decide on such matters. But they will not enter the city if we need them. They will have to go to the desert to cut off IS&#39; supplies. But the battle will be mainly fought by the Iraqi army, the Iraqi counter-terrorism forces and the police. The Peshmerga will help us as well.

WION: What do you make of Turkey&#39;s role? 

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;About the Turkish &hellip; I am a military commander, these are issues concerning the central (Iraqi) government and Turkey, but as an Iraqi &hellip; we don&rsquo;t need boots on the ground here. We don&#39;t even need the coalition forces. We depend on them for training, for advice&nbsp;and for launch air strikes on IS&nbsp;positions. If Turkey is part of the coalition forces, it works for me. If they do what the coalition forces&nbsp;say, I don&#39;t think there would be a problem. But we do not need anybody to act independently.

WION: Are you afraid that after Mosul, IS&nbsp;will launch suicide attacks across Iraq?

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;They do not have the capability to do such things.

WION: Do you plan to liberate Hawija before Mosul?

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;Hawija is not under my command, but I think the government is thinking about it. Mosul is the head of a snake, the last castle for the IS. But I think if we had retaken Mosul earlier, even before Ramani and before every other area, we would have wiped out Daesh (Islamic State) much earlier.&nbsp;

WION: So you think the strategy was wrong?

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;No, this is my view. I think the head of the snake is Mosul because it is a big city, it has good foundation, many factories and&nbsp;many resources. IS in Iraq and even in Syria rely on resources coming from Mosul.

WION: If IS&nbsp;fighters manage to escape Iraq and enter Syria, will the Iraqi army follow them and help Syrian forces fight them?&nbsp;

al-Jabouri:&nbsp;If my commander-in-chief gives me an order, I will follow them in Syria, in Nigeria, everywhere.&nbsp;

(WION)

Possibly the most important military person in West Asia, who is leading 25,000 men, spoke to WION about the fight against Islamic State

While travelling to Qayyarah, a two-hour-drive from Mosul, WION had the chance to interview Iraqi Army Major General Najim al-Jabouri soon after he met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad. He is the commander of the Nineveh Operations, an offensive that aims to liberate south of Mosul. He is in-charge of the Mosul offensive and currently leads approximately 25,000 men. WION: How are you preparing for the Mosul operation? General al-Jabouri: Our troops are ready to attack Islamic State in Mosul and retake the city. The coalition forces gave us good training, equipped us with modern equipment. We are just waiting for the prime minister to give us the order to attack. We are confident about the battle since we have liberated many cities, important cities in Nineveh (governorate), including Qayyara a few weeks ago. Right now, we are now coordinating with the Peshmerga (Kurdish military forces). Some brigades have already moved to the station areas near Mosul. WION: How long will the battle last? And do you expect a large presence of IS fighters? al-Jabouri: I think IS is not as strong as it was two months ago or six months ago. They have lost many good fighters. Many of them were killed, many of them got injured and many of them escaped. IS is different from Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda believed in a cause but the majority of IS jihadists are like the mafia — they look for money, they look for women, they look for power. A few months ago when we began the battle in Qayyarah, we faced strong fighters. The foreigners were especially strong. But the group has weakened. Now, we hardly lose our men even during intense gunfights. The last battle in Qayyarah, four or five days ago, we killed 66 people of theirs and lost not even a single one of ours. Also, we hardly face any foreign fighters anymore. The local fighters are not that good because they are only interested in earning money. Such attitude is destroying the moral of IS. The loss in Qayyarah was also financially damaging for IS. They are losing $1 million every day since they lost out in Qayyarah. When they were here, they stole oil and sold about a hundred trucks of it every day. WION: How important will local support be in your battle for Mosul? al-Jabouri: Their (residents of Mosul) support is very vital. Even the strongest security force will be unable to defeat IS if they don't get support from the locals. If the locals did not give IS a safe haven, it would have been impossible for them to grow in strength. In my view, people were unhappy with the security forces in Iraq. This was one of the main reasons for IS to thrive in the area. We worked very hard to change this relationship, we built many bridges between us and the people. You are free to go to Qayyarah and to other villages and ask the people about us. Now, locals support us whenever we fight the IS. This will build the future of this area and Iraq. WION: Will Shia militia organisation Hal Al-Hashd Al-Sha'abi have any role during the Mosul Operation? al-Jabouri: Maybe we will need their support. Only the commander-in-chief (the Iraqi prime minister) can decide on such matters. But they will not enter the city if we need them. They will have to go to the desert to cut off IS' supplies. But the battle will be mainly fought by the Iraqi army, the Iraqi counter-terrorism forces and the police. The Peshmerga will help us as well. WION: What do you make of Turkey's role? al-Jabouri: About the Turkish … I am a military commander, these are issues concerning the central (Iraqi) government and Turkey, but as an Iraqi … we don’t need boots on the ground here. We don't even need the coalition forces. We depend on them for training, for advice and for launch air strikes on IS positions. If Turkey is part of the coalition forces, it works for me. If they do what the coalition forces say, I don't think there would be a problem. But we do not need anybody to act independently. WION: Are you afraid that after Mosul, IS will launch suicide attacks across Iraq? al-Jabouri: They do not have the capability to do such things. WION: Do you plan to liberate Hawija before Mosul? al-Jabouri: Hawija is not under my command, but I think the government is thinking about it. Mosul is the head of a snake, the last castle for the IS. But I think if we had retaken Mosul earlier, even before Ramani and before every other area, we would have wiped out Daesh (Islamic State) much earlier. WION: So you think the strategy was wrong? al-Jabouri: No, this is my view. I think the head of the snake is Mosul because it is a big city, it has good foundation, many factories and many resources. IS in Iraq and even in Syria rely on resources coming from Mosul. WION: If IS fighters manage to escape Iraq and enter Syria, will the Iraqi army follow them and help Syrian forces fight them? al-Jabouri: If my commander-in-chief gives me an order, I will follow them in Syria, in Nigeria, everywhere. (WION)

Iraqi army poised to retake 'Islamic State's last castle of Mosul', Major General Najim al-Jabouri tells WION

Turkish authorities have detained more than 15,000 people, including more than 10,000 soldiers, following the July 15-16 failed coup attempt, broadcaster CNN Turk today cited interior minister Efkana Ala as saying. 
 
A total of 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial, the broadcaster cited Ala as saying. A faction of Turkey&#39;s armed forces attempted to overthrow the government this month, but their effort failed when thousands of supporters of President Tayyip Erdogan took to the streets to defy the putsch. 
 
(Reuters)

Interior minister Efkana Ala said 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial

Turkish authorities have detained more than 15,000 people, including more than 10,000 soldiers, following the July 15-16 failed coup attempt, broadcaster CNN Turk today cited interior minister Efkana Ala as saying. A total of 8,113 people have been formally arrested pending trial, the broadcaster cited Ala as saying. A faction of Turkey's armed forces attempted to overthrow the government this month, but their effort failed when thousands of supporters of President Tayyip Erdogan took to the streets to defy the putsch. (Reuters)

More than 15,000 detained over coup bid, says Turkey's interior minister

Turkish Airlines said today it had fired 211 employees over suspected links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and behaviour &quot;conflicting with the interest of our country&quot; in the wake of last week&#39;s coup. 
 
The flag carrier said their contracts were terminated due to &quot;the non-fulfillment of performance criteria and in line with the necessary actions we are taking against the FETO structure, attitudes and behaviour conflicting with the interest of our country and company&quot;. 
 
The authorities accuse 75-year-old Gulen of running a group it labels the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) that was behind the coup, and Ankara has demanded that Washington extradite him. 
 
The preacher, who lives in a secluded compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. 
 
In a statement signed by the airline&#39;s media relations unit, Turkish Airlines stressed that it stands &quot;united with all of the heroic and honourable Turkish people&quot; against the coup plotters&#39; &quot;malevolent illegal attempt&quot;. 
 
&quot;Under any circumstances, we have and will continue to fulfil our responsibility to contribute to democracy.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The state-run airlines suspects fired employees had links with US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen

Turkish Airlines said today it had fired 211 employees over suspected links to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and behaviour "conflicting with the interest of our country" in the wake of last week's coup. The flag carrier said their contracts were terminated due to "the non-fulfillment of performance criteria and in line with the necessary actions we are taking against the FETO structure, attitudes and behaviour conflicting with the interest of our country and company". The authorities accuse 75-year-old Gulen of running a group it labels the Fethullah Terror Organisation (FETO) that was behind the coup, and Ankara has demanded that Washington extradite him. The preacher, who lives in a secluded compound in rural Pennsylvania and whose foundation runs a global network of schools, charities and media interests, has strongly denied the accusations against him. In a statement signed by the airline's media relations unit, Turkish Airlines stressed that it stands "united with all of the heroic and honourable Turkish people" against the coup plotters' "malevolent illegal attempt". "Under any circumstances, we have and will continue to fulfil our responsibility to contribute to democracy." (AFP)

Turkish Airlines sacks 211 employees for 'involvement' in coup bid

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today that the risk of another coup had not disappeared, but said the government and other institutions were in control of the situation. 
 
One week after a faction of the Turkish military staged a brief but abortive coup, in which an estimated 246 people were killed, Yildirim also urged Turks to stay calm and said life had returned to normal, adding there was no room for complacency. 
 
&quot;The danger has not ended but our citizens should not be anxious,&quot; Yildirim told reporters, adding that Turkey&#39;s institutions were guided by the rule of law, not by any desire for revenge, in dealing with the aftermath of the failed coup. 
 
(Reuters)

Yildirim urged Turks to stay calm and said life had returned to normal, adding there was no room for complacency

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today that the risk of another coup had not disappeared, but said the government and other institutions were in control of the situation. One week after a faction of the Turkish military staged a brief but abortive coup, in which an estimated 246 people were killed, Yildirim also urged Turks to stay calm and said life had returned to normal, adding there was no room for complacency. "The danger has not ended but our citizens should not be anxious," Yildirim told reporters, adding that Turkey's institutions were guided by the rule of law, not by any desire for revenge, in dealing with the aftermath of the failed coup. (Reuters)

Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim says risk of second coup attempt not over

A sad-eyed Pikachu Pokemon Go character sits amidst the rubble on a Syrian street, while a Charizard dragon from the smash hit game is perched alongside gun-toting jihadists. The striking montages are the work of Syrian Khaled Akil, who is one of several activists and artists using the international frenzy over Pokemon Go to draw new attention to the plight of their battle-scarred country. 
 
In the images posted on Akil&#39;s website, characters from the wildly popular smartphone app are placed into news photographs of scenes from the conflict in Syria, which is now in its sixth year and has killed more than 280,000 people. One image appears to show the aftermath of bombardment, with the facades sheared from buildings and smoke rising from the blackened carcass of a car. 
 
A child walks across the rubble strewn throughout the street, atop which sits the yellow Pikachu character, his tall ears flopping down. In another image, a boy wheels his bicycle down a devastated street, with the turquoise-green Vaporeon character by his side. 
 
Since its global launch, Pokemon Go has sparked a worldwide frenzy among users who have taken to the streets with their smartphones. The free app uses satellite locations, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon monsters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures for battles. 
 
But some Syrians see it as a chance to redirect attention to the conflict that began in March 2011, which has often fallen out of the headlines despite a spiralling death toll and the displacement of more than half the Syrian population. Syrian graphic designer Saif Aldeen Tahhan posted images on his Facebook page showing users holding smartphones and seeking not Pokemons but medical care, school books or undamaged homes.&nbsp; 
 
One image depicts a smartphone in front of a rubber dinghy of refugees at sea, with the user trying to capture a life ring. &quot;I hope that the message behind these images reaches the whole world and that Syrians will be safe everywhere and always,&quot; Tahhan wrote on his Facebook page. 
 
Syrian opposition activists have also sought to harness the frenzy over the game, posting a series of images online this week showing children holding posters of individual characters. &quot;I am in Kafr Nabal in Idlib province, come and save me,&quot; reads the text underneath a Pikachu on a poster held by a young boy. 
 
Kafr Nabal is a rebel-held town in northwestern Idlib province, which is mostly held by an opposition alliance that includes Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Towns across the province are regularly bombarded by the Syrian government and its Russian ally, with more than 20 civilians reported dead in raids in Idlib on Thursday alone. 
 
Other images in the series created by the Syrian Revolutionary Forces activist group show children in the rebel-held towns of Kafr Zita and Kafr Nabuda in central Hama province. An additional montage depicts a giant Pikachu in tears, seated next to a child in the ruins of a devastated building. &quot;I am from Syria, come to save me!,&quot; the picture is captioned, with the hashtag #PrayForSyria. 
 
(AFP)

Artists are inserting Pokemon Go characters into news pictures of bombed-out Syria to create a startling juxtaposition

A sad-eyed Pikachu Pokemon Go character sits amidst the rubble on a Syrian street, while a Charizard dragon from the smash hit game is perched alongside gun-toting jihadists. The striking montages are the work of Syrian Khaled Akil, who is one of several activists and artists using the international frenzy over Pokemon Go to draw new attention to the plight of their battle-scarred country. In the images posted on Akil's website, characters from the wildly popular smartphone app are placed into news photographs of scenes from the conflict in Syria, which is now in its sixth year and has killed more than 280,000 people. One image appears to show the aftermath of bombardment, with the facades sheared from buildings and smoke rising from the blackened carcass of a car. A child walks across the rubble strewn throughout the street, atop which sits the yellow Pikachu character, his tall ears flopping down. In another image, a boy wheels his bicycle down a devastated street, with the turquoise-green Vaporeon character by his side. Since its global launch, Pokemon Go has sparked a worldwide frenzy among users who have taken to the streets with their smartphones. The free app uses satellite locations, graphics and camera capabilities to overlay cartoon monsters on real-world settings, challenging players to capture and train the creatures for battles. But some Syrians see it as a chance to redirect attention to the conflict that began in March 2011, which has often fallen out of the headlines despite a spiralling death toll and the displacement of more than half the Syrian population. Syrian graphic designer Saif Aldeen Tahhan posted images on his Facebook page showing users holding smartphones and seeking not Pokemons but medical care, school books or undamaged homes. One image depicts a smartphone in front of a rubber dinghy of refugees at sea, with the user trying to capture a life ring. "I hope that the message behind these images reaches the whole world and that Syrians will be safe everywhere and always," Tahhan wrote on his Facebook page. Syrian opposition activists have also sought to harness the frenzy over the game, posting a series of images online this week showing children holding posters of individual characters. "I am in Kafr Nabal in Idlib province, come and save me," reads the text underneath a Pikachu on a poster held by a young boy. Kafr Nabal is a rebel-held town in northwestern Idlib province, which is mostly held by an opposition alliance that includes Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Towns across the province are regularly bombarded by the Syrian government and its Russian ally, with more than 20 civilians reported dead in raids in Idlib on Thursday alone. Other images in the series created by the Syrian Revolutionary Forces activist group show children in the rebel-held towns of Kafr Zita and Kafr Nabuda in central Hama province. An additional montage depicts a giant Pikachu in tears, seated next to a child in the ruins of a devastated building. "I am from Syria, come to save me!," the picture is captioned, with the hashtag #PrayForSyria. (AFP)

Syrians harness Pokemon frenzy to depict their plight

Traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market face a &quot;career-ruining&quot; glut that has led to millions of dollars in losses as Chinese buyers, far from coming to the rescue, are in a stand-off with oil companies to cancel deals. 
 
LPG, a historically niche and dislocated market, has ballooned with the advent of US exports due to the shale boom. The United States went from an importer to the largest single exporter of propane in just a few years, rivalling the West Asia Gulf producers. 
 
&quot;I can&#39;t remember it being this bad. There was massive new production out of the US and people hoped the Chinese market might absorb it,&quot; one LPG trader said. 
 
&quot;There was strong buying in the first four months of the year with low oil prices but that stopped and the market is now a few million tonnes long.&quot; 
 
Traders scrambling to mitigate losses&nbsp; 
 
A glut was expected, but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas, which is increasingly oversupplied. 
 
LPG is the collective term for propane and butane. The United States exports mostly propane used for heating and in the petrochemical industry to make propylene, a base for plastics manufacturing. 
 
Traders have been left scrambling to mitigate losses as China has failed to be the driver of demand. 
 
At least five companies- Vitol, Gunvor, Shell, BP and EDF Trading cancelled July-loading cargoes out of the two major Texas LPG terminals, preferring to pay penalties of up to $1 million per cargo. 
 
Many LPG traders signed up for multi-year contracts but premiums to the US benchmark on a spot basis sunk by about $40 a tonne this year, undercutting the term lifters. 
 
The contracts were also signed when the US benchmark was around a $150 to $200-per-tonne discount to the European benchmark and Saudi Arabia&#39;s official selling price. But spreads shrunk dramatically in 2016, making US exports suddenly unappealing to Asia. 
 
Chinese end-users are now cancelling or renegotiating their term contracts, taking advantage of product overhangs in the Middle East and a cheaper alternative feedstock, naphtha. 
 
Asian demand slowed earlier this year on weak propylene margins, which led to run cuts and delayed new plant start-ups. After hitting a trough, the market is expected to rebalance by the year-end though supply will continue to outpace demand. 
 
&quot;Non-associated gas output means there will be a steady rise in natural gas liquids output despite the oil price doldrums. This trend will continue in the medium term,&quot; Al Troner, head of Asia Pacific Energy Consulting in Houston, said. 
 
Showdown in Court 
 
The disputes have, in some cases, devolved into open altercations and tanker stand-offs. 
 
At an LPG conference earlier this year in China, one trader said he saw &quot;serious arguments between the Chinese and the US suppliers outside the hall at the caf? ... Everyone pretended not to be eavesdropping but stopped chatting and just stood still&quot;. 
 
Targa Resources, operator of an export terminal in Texas, has been stung by contracts with Chinese buyers and is seeking &quot;damages in excess of $1,000,000&quot; from China Soft Packaging Group, documents filed by Targa at a Texas county court showed. 
 
China Soft Packaging declined to comment and Targa did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
&quot;The US suppliers already made fat margins earlier (in 2015) and they should be ready for price negotiations,&quot; a senior source with one of the east China-based LPG buyers said. 
 
Hong Kong-based Oriental Energy International Trading has also had disputes with Targa and Greek LPG trader Naftomar. Targa let Oriental&#39;s Kikyo tanker languish for weeks offshore Texas in June. Naftomar&#39;s Constellation ship is now stuck outside China&#39;s Ningbo port, a senior trader at Naftomar said. 
 
Singapore-based SK Chemical Trading recently cancelled contracts with Naftomar, Petredec and Shell after its end-user Zhejiang Shaoxing Sanyuan Petrochemical Co reneged on its orders. The companies did not respond to requests for comment. 
 
One trader said the price rout was ruining careers and had &quot;gunfight at the O.K. Corral-type implications&quot;, referring to one of the most famous shootouts from the days of the American Wild West. 
 
(Reuters)

A glut was expected but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas

Traders in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market face a "career-ruining" glut that has led to millions of dollars in losses as Chinese buyers, far from coming to the rescue, are in a stand-off with oil companies to cancel deals. LPG, a historically niche and dislocated market, has ballooned with the advent of US exports due to the shale boom. The United States went from an importer to the largest single exporter of propane in just a few years, rivalling the West Asia Gulf producers. "I can't remember it being this bad. There was massive new production out of the US and people hoped the Chinese market might absorb it," one LPG trader said. "There was strong buying in the first four months of the year with low oil prices but that stopped and the market is now a few million tonnes long." Traders scrambling to mitigate losses A glut was expected, but its severity caught most by surprise and will likely serve as a warning to those trading liquefied natural gas, which is increasingly oversupplied. LPG is the collective term for propane and butane. The United States exports mostly propane used for heating and in the petrochemical industry to make propylene, a base for plastics manufacturing. Traders have been left scrambling to mitigate losses as China has failed to be the driver of demand. At least five companies- Vitol, Gunvor, Shell, BP and EDF Trading cancelled July-loading cargoes out of the two major Texas LPG terminals, preferring to pay penalties of up to $1 million per cargo. Many LPG traders signed up for multi-year contracts but premiums to the US benchmark on a spot basis sunk by about $40 a tonne this year, undercutting the term lifters. The contracts were also signed when the US benchmark was around a $150 to $200-per-tonne discount to the European benchmark and Saudi Arabia's official selling price. But spreads shrunk dramatically in 2016, making US exports suddenly unappealing to Asia. Chinese end-users are now cancelling or renegotiating their term contracts, taking advantage of product overhangs in the Middle East and a cheaper alternative feedstock, naphtha. Asian demand slowed earlier this year on weak propylene margins, which led to run cuts and delayed new plant start-ups. After hitting a trough, the market is expected to rebalance by the year-end though supply will continue to outpace demand. "Non-associated gas output means there will be a steady rise in natural gas liquids output despite the oil price doldrums. This trend will continue in the medium term," Al Troner, head of Asia Pacific Energy Consulting in Houston, said. Showdown in Court The disputes have, in some cases, devolved into open altercations and tanker stand-offs. At an LPG conference earlier this year in China, one trader said he saw "serious arguments between the Chinese and the US suppliers outside the hall at the caf? ... Everyone pretended not to be eavesdropping but stopped chatting and just stood still". Targa Resources, operator of an export terminal in Texas, has been stung by contracts with Chinese buyers and is seeking "damages in excess of $1,000,000" from China Soft Packaging Group, documents filed by Targa at a Texas county court showed. China Soft Packaging declined to comment and Targa did not respond to requests for comment. "The US suppliers already made fat margins earlier (in 2015) and they should be ready for price negotiations," a senior source with one of the east China-based LPG buyers said. Hong Kong-based Oriental Energy International Trading has also had disputes with Targa and Greek LPG trader Naftomar. Targa let Oriental's Kikyo tanker languish for weeks offshore Texas in June. Naftomar's Constellation ship is now stuck outside China's Ningbo port, a senior trader at Naftomar said. Singapore-based SK Chemical Trading recently cancelled contracts with Naftomar, Petredec and Shell after its end-user Zhejiang Shaoxing Sanyuan Petrochemical Co reneged on its orders. The companies did not respond to requests for comment. One trader said the price rout was ruining careers and had "gunfight at the O.K. Corral-type implications", referring to one of the most famous shootouts from the days of the American Wild West. (Reuters)

Oil traders lose millions as LPG glut shocks market

Turkey will draw a line under disparaging comments by Britain&#39;s new foreign secretary Boris Johnson about President Tayyip Erdogan and his nation, a senior official said today, but warned relations would be damaged if he repeated such insults. 
 
Johnson, the former London mayor who was appointed foreign secretary late on Wednesday by new Prime Minister Theresa May, won a &quot;President Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition&quot; run by Britain&#39;s Spectator magazine earlier this year. 
 
He was the most prominent figure in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, which played on voters&#39; fears about immigration. This included a warning of dire consequences if Turkey, a largely Muslim nation of 79 million, joined the EU. The campaign culminated in a vote for &#39;Brexit&#39; on June 23. 
 
&quot;His negative comments on Erdogan and Turkey are unacceptable ... However we&#39;re sure of one thing, that British-Turkish relations are more important than that and can&#39;t be hostage to these statements,&quot; the Turkish official said. 
 
&quot;With his new responsibilities, we are expecting a more positive attitude from Mr. Johnson,&quot; said the official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. 
 
Turkish media talks about Johnson&#39;s &#39;Turkish roots&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Turkey&#39;s leaders have repeatedly warned about rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant views in Europe. They complained that the British referendum campaign was marred by anti-Turkish sentiment fuelled by mainstream politicians. 
 
The pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper described Johnson as known for &quot;his anti-Turkey and eurosceptic stance as the mayor of London&quot; and said his appointment &quot;raises questions about the future of Britain&#39;s international relations&quot;. 
 
Other mainstream newspapers talked about Johnson&#39;s Turkish roots but made no mention of his poem about Erdogan. Johnson&#39;s great-grandfather was an opposition figure in the late Ottoman period, who was lynched during Turkey&#39;s War of Independence in the early 1920s. 
 
Speaking ahead of Johnson&#39;s appointment, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also signalled his government would be ready to work with the former London mayor. 
 
&quot;What would I say to him? Well, may God help him and reform him and I hope that he won&#39;t make any more mistakes and try to make it up with the Turks,&quot; Yildirim said in an interview with the BBC recorded at the weekend and broadcast today.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;But the campaign is over, the referendum was held and there&#39;s no reason to discuss this anymore,&quot; he said. &nbsp; 
 
Turkey began its EU accession talks in 2005 after decades of knocking on the door but progress has been slow due to disagreements over Ankara&#39;s human rights record, Cyprus and other issues. It is not seen joining the bloc for many years. 
 
Despite the referendum campaign rhetoric, Britain was for a long time one of the main champions of Turkey&#39;s EU bid. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

"With his new responsibilities, we are expecting a more positive attitude from Mr Johnson," said the official.

Turkey will draw a line under disparaging comments by Britain's new foreign secretary Boris Johnson about President Tayyip Erdogan and his nation, a senior official said today, but warned relations would be damaged if he repeated such insults. Johnson, the former London mayor who was appointed foreign secretary late on Wednesday by new Prime Minister Theresa May, won a "President Erdogan Offensive Poetry competition" run by Britain's Spectator magazine earlier this year. He was the most prominent figure in the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, which played on voters' fears about immigration. This included a warning of dire consequences if Turkey, a largely Muslim nation of 79 million, joined the EU. The campaign culminated in a vote for 'Brexit' on June 23. "His negative comments on Erdogan and Turkey are unacceptable ... However we're sure of one thing, that British-Turkish relations are more important than that and can't be hostage to these statements," the Turkish official said. "With his new responsibilities, we are expecting a more positive attitude from Mr. Johnson," said the official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Turkish media talks about Johnson's 'Turkish roots' Turkey's leaders have repeatedly warned about rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant views in Europe. They complained that the British referendum campaign was marred by anti-Turkish sentiment fuelled by mainstream politicians. The pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper described Johnson as known for "his anti-Turkey and eurosceptic stance as the mayor of London" and said his appointment "raises questions about the future of Britain's international relations". Other mainstream newspapers talked about Johnson's Turkish roots but made no mention of his poem about Erdogan. Johnson's great-grandfather was an opposition figure in the late Ottoman period, who was lynched during Turkey's War of Independence in the early 1920s. Speaking ahead of Johnson's appointment, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also signalled his government would be ready to work with the former London mayor. "What would I say to him? Well, may God help him and reform him and I hope that he won't make any more mistakes and try to make it up with the Turks," Yildirim said in an interview with the BBC recorded at the weekend and broadcast today. "But the campaign is over, the referendum was held and there's no reason to discuss this anymore," he said. Turkey began its EU accession talks in 2005 after decades of knocking on the door but progress has been slow due to disagreements over Ankara's human rights record, Cyprus and other issues. It is not seen joining the bloc for many years. Despite the referendum campaign rhetoric, Britain was for a long time one of the main champions of Turkey's EU bid. (Reuters)

UK-Turkey ties can't be hostage to Boris Johnson's quips: Turkish official

Aircraft debris believed to have come from an EgyptAir crash in May has washed up on a beach near Tel Aviv, an official in the Israeli premier&#39;s office said Friday. 
 
&quot;Debris have been collected and there is a high probability that these originate from the Egyptian plane,&quot; the official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s office said. 
 
Netanyahu has instructed that the plane parts found on a beach in the coastal town of Netanya on Thursday be handed over to Egypt, he said. 
 
Experts are still investigating the cause of the May 19 crash of the Airbus A320 which went down in the eastern Mediterranean on a flight from Paris to Cairo, killing all 66 people on board. 
 
Investigators have said the plane&#39;s wreckage showed signs of fire, while a data recorder has confirmed that smoke alarms had been activated. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Experts are still investigating the cause of the May 19 crash of the Airbus A320 which went down in the eastern Mediterranean

Aircraft debris believed to have come from an EgyptAir crash in May has washed up on a beach near Tel Aviv, an official in the Israeli premier's office said Friday. "Debris have been collected and there is a high probability that these originate from the Egyptian plane," the official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. Netanyahu has instructed that the plane parts found on a beach in the coastal town of Netanya on Thursday be handed over to Egypt, he said. Experts are still investigating the cause of the May 19 crash of the Airbus A320 which went down in the eastern Mediterranean on a flight from Paris to Cairo, killing all 66 people on board. Investigators have said the plane's wreckage showed signs of fire, while a data recorder has confirmed that smoke alarms had been activated. (AFP)

Probable EgyptAir crash debris recovered on Israeli beach

Italian emergency workers have recovered 217 bodies from the wreck of a boat that sank in the Mediterranean in April 2015, killing some 500 migrants, the Navy said today. 
 
The sinking was one of the worst known disasters involving migrants trying to reach Europe by sea. Thousands of people a year, many of them fleeing war in the West Asia, have crossed the Mediterranean in unseaworthy or overcrowded boats. 
 
In 2015, at least 3,770 are thought to have died on Mediterranean routes, mostly by drowning when their boats capsized. 
 
The vessel was hauled off the seabed and taken to a naval site in southeastern Sicily last week. Its sinking about 135 km (85 miles) north of Libya, from where it departed, jolted the European Union into stepping up Mediterranean rescue efforts. 
 
Originally at least 700 were thought to have died in the disaster, based on survivor testimony. A Navy official said last week he thought some 300 bodies were still in the hold, which added to 169 recovered from the nearby seabed, would bring the death toll closer to 500. 
 
A team of 150 professionals and volunteers from the Navy, fire service, Italian Red Cross and a forensic team of Milan university professors have been working around the clock to remove bodies from the fishing boat and examine them. 
 
Autopsies have been carried out on 52 of the victims, and police scientists coordinated by a local public prosecutor have begun making reports on their findings. 
 
(Reuters)

The sinking, in which 500 people died, had been one of the worst known disasters involving migrants trying to reach Europe by ship

Italian emergency workers have recovered 217 bodies from the wreck of a boat that sank in the Mediterranean in April 2015, killing some 500 migrants, the Navy said today. The sinking was one of the worst known disasters involving migrants trying to reach Europe by sea. Thousands of people a year, many of them fleeing war in the West Asia, have crossed the Mediterranean in unseaworthy or overcrowded boats. In 2015, at least 3,770 are thought to have died on Mediterranean routes, mostly by drowning when their boats capsized. The vessel was hauled off the seabed and taken to a naval site in southeastern Sicily last week. Its sinking about 135 km (85 miles) north of Libya, from where it departed, jolted the European Union into stepping up Mediterranean rescue efforts. Originally at least 700 were thought to have died in the disaster, based on survivor testimony. A Navy official said last week he thought some 300 bodies were still in the hold, which added to 169 recovered from the nearby seabed, would bring the death toll closer to 500. A team of 150 professionals and volunteers from the Navy, fire service, Italian Red Cross and a forensic team of Milan university professors have been working around the clock to remove bodies from the fishing boat and examine them. Autopsies have been carried out on 52 of the victims, and police scientists coordinated by a local public prosecutor have begun making reports on their findings. (Reuters)

Italy recovers 217 bodies from 2015 shipwreck

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for car and suicide bomb blasts that killed at least eight people and injured scores in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus today, the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said. 
 
The Sayeda Zeinab suburb contains Syria&#39;s holiest Shiite shrine and is a base for Shiite militant groups from Lebanon and Iraq who are on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in the country&#39;s five-year-old civil war.

Amaq news agency said that in today&#39;s attack, militants detonated an explosives-laden car in Sayeda Zeinab while two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby. Syrian state media showed footage of wide-scale damage in a busy marketplace.

A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon&#39;s powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad&#39;s government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria.

They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

The Sayeda Zeinab suburb contains Syria's holiest Shiite shrine and is a base for Shiite militant groups from Lebanon and Iraq

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for car and suicide bomb blasts that killed at least eight people and injured scores in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus today, the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said. The Sayeda Zeinab suburb contains Syria's holiest Shiite shrine and is a base for Shiite militant groups from Lebanon and Iraq who are on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in the country's five-year-old civil war. Amaq news agency said that in today's attack, militants detonated an explosives-laden car in Sayeda Zeinab while two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby. Syrian state media showed footage of wide-scale damage in a busy marketplace. A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon's powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad's government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria. They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

Islamic State claims responsibility for bombings near Damascus Shiite shrine

At least eight people were killed and scores wounded in twin suicide and car bomb blasts today in a Damascus suburb that contains Syria&#39;s holiest Shiite Muslim shrine, state television said. 
 
State media, which flashed the news, did not give further details about the bombings in the Sayeda Zeinab area, where at least three bomb attacks claimed by Islamic State militants have killed and injured scores of people this year. 
 
A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street. 
 
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon&#39;s powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 
 
Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad&#39;s government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria. 
 
They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

A Shiite religious cleric was quoted saying that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in main al-Taen street

At least eight people were killed and scores wounded in twin suicide and car bomb blasts today in a Damascus suburb that contains Syria's holiest Shiite Muslim shrine, state television said. State media, which flashed the news, did not give further details about the bombings in the Sayeda Zeinab area, where at least three bomb attacks claimed by Islamic State militants have killed and injured scores of people this year. A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon's powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad's government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria. They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

Suicide, car bomb blasts hit Damascus suburb, at least 8 dead, says Syrian state media

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