CrossFireArabia, Author at CrossFireArarbia

Asma Toubi: 1st Female Voice on Radio Jerusalem

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2026

Asma Toubi (1905-1983), a broadcaster, writer, and poet, was born in Nazareth and received her early education there and later in Jerusalem. She then pursued academic studies at the American University of Beirut in 1932. She became the first female broadcaster on Radio Jerusalem in 1936, hosting a weekly program called “A Conversation with Arab Women,” where she addressed women on raising their children, their behavior, and offered guidance in education and work. Several other female broadcasters worked alongside her at the radio station, including Henriette Siksik, Fatima Alami, Rabiha Dajani, and Mary Akawi. She married and moved to Acre, remaining there until the Nakba, after which she was displaced to Beirut.

She authored numerous books and publications. She passed away in 1983 and was buried in Beirut.

Uncategorized

Guterres Condemns Israeli Strikes on Beirut

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2026

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday “strongly” condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese capital when the US and Iran are nearing an agreement to end hostilities.

“I strongly condemn today’s Israeli strikes on Beirut,” Guterres wrote on US social media company X. “The strikes took place despite the ceasefire & at a time when the US & Iran are expected to reach an agreement that will pave the way to a peaceful resolution of this conflict.”

He noted that the conflict has had a “devastating impact on the world’s economy.”

The secretary-general expressed hope for a “successful outcome” to the diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, and urged all parties to show “maximum restraint at this crucial moment.”

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a peace agreement with Iran remains on track for signing within a “few hours,” despite the Israeli strike on Beirut. He said the attack “should not have happened” and urged all sides to “stand down.”

Officials in Iran have disputed the timeline, with Iranian media saying Tehran has not yet taken a final decision.

At least seven people were killed and several others when the Israeli army launched airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and areas in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanese media said.

The Israeli army has continued targeting Lebanon since early March when Hezbollah retaliated to the Iran war, killing 3,800 people and displacing more than 1 million. Anadolu

Uncategorized

Limited Iran Strike: Concept and International Dimensions

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2026

By Dr. Samira Bitam

In the race for global dominance, America, as always, is committed to playing the political game as the world’s policeman. It believes it has the right to manage its diplomatic and economic affairs in a way that secures its leading position, regardless of whether the targeted country has a legitimate defense or the pretext used to launch its strikes. The objective is paramount, and the target, often due to its nuclear advancements, is seen as an obstacle to America’s complete dominance.

The crucial question remains: What are the future implications of a new world order that will differ from its predecessor in both the number of poles and the size of the participating countries in alliances? Everyone is vigilant and eager to secure a piece of the global pie, aiming to maintain international standing, security, and open, free competition, all in pursuit of economic strength and astute policy.

In reality, Iran has never been an enemy of America, but the USA considers it its strongest competitor due to its possession of nuclear weapons—the same weapons possessed by Pakistan, Russia, North Korea, and others. Iran is currently under American scrutiny, and there has been, and continues to be, talk of a limited strike. In the language of politics, every word has a hidden meaning that cannot be understood superficially. “Limited” could refer to a small strike, perhaps targeting a sensitive location, or it could be a verbal threat indicating America’s seriousness about launching an attack on Iran at any moment. Caution is necessary because such attacks have international repercussions and provoke international reactions. We don’t believe America will repeat the same strike against Iran as it did against Iraq if it hasn’t carefully considered its options.

Iran possesses a silent political language that conceals the reality of its possession of weapons of mass destruction. What some newspapers publish may only represent a fraction of what remains undisclosed. For example, the “Whale” torpedo, specifically designed to destroy American warships, represents perhaps the most crucial element of a comprehensive defense system. According to Israeli estimates, the “Whale” torpedo weighs approximately 500 kilograms and operates underwater at extremely high speeds. To alleviate the burden on American aircraft carriers, Israel assesses that a single torpedo cannot destroy an aircraft carrier unless Iran employs precision operations. Israel’s concerns were evident in Netanyahu’s statement that Israel is facing difficult circumstances. This is understandable, given its gamble on redrawing the map of the Middle East, a gamble that risks failure. The international community will not remain passive, and repeated American aggression against peaceful nations will not go unpunished as before. Governments have reached a level of awareness sufficient to rise up in defense of their borders and territories. Iran will not be the only one affected, as the objective is an existential conflict that will allow Trump to secure his place in history.

The state of the Arabs today is no less lamentable than it was yesterday, when Iraq found itself mired in a sectarian war fueled by external forces, aimed at destroying its prestige and preventing any progress. America achieved its goals and plans, even though Bush, then president, implicitly admitted his mistake towards the Iraqis. The target was not a nuclear weapon, but a regime that had become a threat, leading to increased pressure on Middle Eastern countries. This occurred amidst a deliberate and even explicit fragmentation of the region, normalization of relations with certain countries, and their sponsorship of attacks like those of September 11, 2001, which targeted the World Trade Center in the United States.

America’s expenditure of dollars on the newly named Department of War will only add to its burdens. The country is already suffering from internal economic problems and social ills, issues that Trump has neglected, giving them the same attention he has devoted to his war agenda. Meanwhile, the international community is increasingly turning away from such dark policies. The Iranian episode in the global arena is being orchestrated through statements, pronouncements, and verbal sparring, all aimed at disseminating information as mere rhetoric, unreliable for uncovering the whole truth. Some weapons that Iran has not disclosed remain a mysterious enigma, threatening the stability of neighboring countries and those hosting American bases. Should America strike Iran, the entire scene would escalate into a third world war, leading to further political attrition and economic collapse. Statistics show a significant decline in maritime trade, and militias would become active on the borders of countries that have not taken a clear stance on global events. Being a friend of America does not exempt a country from being drawn into conflict, even under the flimsiest of pretexts. International law has been shaped to serve the Zionist-American vision of global hegemony, and membership in the United Nations will not alter this reality. The language of engagement today is the language of force, not negotiation and restraint. The weapons used in wars may not be limited to conventional arms; they may include biological weapons, ideological weapons, and other types that remain undisclosed until the last moment. This is because the cards of the international game are never fully revealed, and the element of surprise is always present. Every country has its own foreign policy and international stances. However, the blame lies with the Arab states that have succumbed to the aggression that devastated Gaza and destroyed its infrastructure. Every action has a reaction, and those who participated in the barbarity of the aggression against the Gaza Strip and merely condemned it will not escape the consequences of a third war, should one erupt.

Systems are not preserved through silence; rather, they collapse through their own inaction, cowardice, and humiliation. The next war, should it erupt, will bring with it many new realities that will lead to the emergence of a new world order, one that shows no mercy to the weak. The weak are those whose economies are fragile, whose people’s awareness is low, and whose workforce is neither serious nor aware of the magnitude of the stakes that await them. The world will inevitably witness a transformation that will alter perceptions, shift power dynamics, and tip the scales in favor of those who deserve it, without sentimentality or favoritism. Instead, there will be justice for just causes, because global change begins with an act of aggression and ends with a balance of power.

Opportunities.

The details of a limited strike, should it occur, will determine the new roadmap. Focusing on the initial strike will clarify the initial ambiguity before any attack.

Regardless of Trump’s aggressive reactions, whether towards the media or his opponents, his racism in some situations has been blatant. While Trump’s approach to managing affairs is troubling, it has also presented an opportunity for those working closely with him. By observing his habits and reactions, his adversaries can deduce information that allows them to manipulate or control him. Despite their success in this regard, no one can underestimate the difficulty of steering him in the same direction the following day, as Michael Wolff testifies in his book, “Fire and Fury: The Trump White House.”

Can Iran discern Trump’s seriousness from his jest if the matter concerns the outbreak of a third war, the duration and scope of which are unknown unless Trump decides to end it? Time will tell.

Dr. Samira Bitam is an Algerian writer. This is a translated version of an article she write for the Al Rai Al Youm website

Opinion

Arabism From The Skies?

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2026

By Capt. Osama Shaqman

Ten years ago, I ended my official flight, but I didn’t sever my connection with the skies above. When a pilot retires he doesn’t bid farewell to the sky; rather, he carries it in his memory, in his silence, in his gaze upon the earth, and in his understanding of life, people, borders, and destiny.

For over 40 years, I roared above cities, seas, deserts, and mountains. I saw the earth from a height unseen by eyes bound by the earth, and I saw the Arab world stretching from the ocean to the gulf, separated not so much by mountains or seas, but by politics, disputes, fear, and mistrust. From the skies, borders appeared as silent, lifeless lines, but on the ground, they were transformed into high walls separating brother from brother, and Arab from Arab.

From the cockpit

From the cockpit, I learned that an airplane doesn’t reach its destination through loud voices, nor through mere desire, nor through emotional impulse. It arrives when there is a clear destination, a precise plan, a harmonious crew, vigilant monitoring, mutual trust, and discipline that knows no improvisation. Likewise, nations don’t rise with slogans, nor do they weather storms with speeches, neither do they enter the future with divided decisions, conflicting visions, and a fear of their own disunity that outweighs their own weakness.

The higher I ascended in the skies, the more I felt that the Arab world is vaster than our disagreements, that Arab history is deeper than our crises, and that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. A single language resonates in our hearts, a long history of glory and suffering, a shared religion, civilization, culture, and destiny, and peoples who share similar joys and sorrows, dignity and hope. Yet, an Arab still sometimes needs a long journey to reach his brother, the borders between us remain harsher than the distances, and visas and barriers continue to turn our one nation into scattered islands in a single sea.

Today, as I look back on the years from the vantage point of life and experience, I ask myself: When will we break free from this predicament? When will we realize that division is no longer our destiny, but a costly choice? When will we understand that the world does not wait for the weak, and that nations that fail to unite around their own interests will find themselves vulnerable to the interests of others?

We have seen many Western nations unite after long wars, after bloodshed, conflict, and devastation. They learned from their pain, opening borders, unifying markets, bringing universities closer together, and facilitating the movement of people, ideas, and goods. Yet we, possessing bonds what others lack, still hesitate before taking a step that should be natural: which is that for every Arab to feel at home in any Arab land.

I am not advocating for the abolition of homelands; for every homeland is a memory, a dignity, a flag, and a legacy of martyrs. But I call for a broader Arab horizon, for unity of interests, economic integration, educational continuity, research cooperation, open borders, and respect for the sovereignty of each nation, without this sovereignty becoming isolation or estrangement.

Two wings of a single plane

Algeria remains Algeria, Egypt remains Egypt, Jordan remains Jordan, Morocco remains Morocco, Iraq remains Iraq, the Levant remains the Levant, and the Gulf remains the Gulf; but the entire Arab nation can be the two wings of a single plane, not scattered parts of a structure that has lost its ability to take off.

From the skies, I learned that the greatest danger is not the storm, but the loss of direction. A plane may face fierce winds, may fly through dark clouds, may be rocked in the heart of the sky, but it survives if the compass remains working and if the pilot knows where he wants to land. A nation that loses its compass, however, may possess wealth, population, and history, but it remains adrift in a turbulent sky without a clear destination.

Our compass today must be clear: Knowledge before noise, action before slogans, dignity before fear, unity before division, and humanity before narrow calculations. No nation can rise without investing in the minds of its children, and no people can progress while limiting their horizons to the dreams of their youth.

O Arab nation, we have waited too long in the hall of history. It is time for us to leave our seats of waiting and allow the plane of renaissance to take off. We lack neither fuel, for our resources are abundant; nor a runway, for our land is vast; nor history, for our past is glorious. What we lack is resolve, courage, and the confidence that we can be together without one of us negating the other.

Open the borders between minds first, and the borders between nations will follow. Open universities to Arab students, markets to Arab labor, hospitals to Arab people, libraries to Arab researchers, airports to Arab travelers, and hearts to Arab trust. A nation that fears its own children will not be respected by others, and a nation that closes its doors to itself will not enter the future through its widest gates.

I retired from flying 10 years ago, but I did not retire from dreaming. I still believe that this nation is capable of rising if it is true to itself, rises above its petty differences, and understands that the heavens do not recognize the borders created by fear.

From the memory of 40 years in the skies, I say with the sincerity of age and experience: The Arab nation is not poor in potential, but rather poor in resolve. It is not weak in its essence, but rather weakened by fragmentation. It is not incapable of taking off, but it needs someone to unify its direction, awaken its confidence, and open the runway to the future.

So when will we leave the land of division?

When will we break the chains of fear?

When will we open our borders as the heavens have opened their gates to us?

A nation created to have two wings cannot remain with one wing broken. The land I saw from the skies is one, and hearts deserve to see it as well: One in dignity, one in destiny, one in the dream.

This article was first published in the Jo24 Arabic website and reprinted in crossfirearabia.com.

News

Crisis in Yemen: I in 3 Women Die in Childbirth

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2026

Yemen remains gripped by one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with 22 million – out of a population of 35 million – requiring assistance. Women and girls account for half of those in need, and two-thirds of them are of childbearing age, placing reproductive health at the heart of the emergency.

The UN agency supporting women and girls in the field (UNFPA) is working across the country to meet urgent reproductive needs. It warns that a combination of malnutrition, limited healthcare and rising protection risks is putting lives in jeopardy.

‘Malnutrition is on the rise’

One of the most immediate concerns is food insecurity. “Unfortunately, malnutrition is on the rise,” says Francesco Galtieri, the agency’s senior official in Yemen.

The consequences are particularly severe for pregnant women – when they lack adequate nutrition during pregnancy, the risks to their babies’ development and health increase significantly.

Healthcare access, especially in rural and remote areas, is another critical challenge.

The country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Arab region, and three women die every day due to pregnancy complications or during childbirth. Around two-thirds of these deaths could be prevented if they had access to a midwife or doctor.

Beyond health, protection from violence is a pressing concern. Conflict and economic hardship have heightened risks for women and girls, who often bear the brunt.

Funding cuts result in death

Safe spaces supported by UNFPA offer women refuge and a path to recovery, providing psychosocial support, vocational training and economic empowerment initiatives designed to help survivors rebuild their lives.

The agency also provides legal assistance to those seeking justice through Yemen’s legal system.

Despite these achievements, funding cuts are putting the programmes under severe strain. Mr. Galtieri told UN News that around 40 per cent of UNFPA’s humanitarian funding was cut last year, forcing the agency to suspend or halt support for roughly one third of its services.

In a country with high maternal mortality, reduced services mean that a woman experiencing complications may be unable to access lifesaving care, often resulting in the death of both mother and child.

Protection services have also been affected. This year, UNFPA-supported shelters have been unable to accept new survivors of gender-based violence, and the cuts can lead to lasting effects on children affected by malnutrition and trauma.

A truck loaded with WHO-branded boxes unloads supplies at the Al-Thawra Hospital in Yemen, with a crowd of people gathered nearby. — Photo: WHO/ Abdullah Al-Halabi The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided the Al-Thawra Hospital in Hudaydah, Yemen, with 30 medical beds, 5 infant radiant warmers and 1 trauma kit.

Healthy debate?

Mr Galtieri is currently in New York attending meetings of UNFPA’s Executive Board, where representatives from conflict-affected areas are engaging with Member States.

Discussions have highlighted renewed debate around sexual and reproductive health and rights, an issue he says has not been under such scrutiny in decades.

“I always wonder why, when a society enters into a phase of tension and confrontation, women and girls become the focus of that political confrontation,” he says.

Appealing directly to decision-makers, Mr. Galtieri urges greater investment in essential services such as midwifery, arguing that prioritising lifesaving care over other expenditures should not be controversial.

Funding decisions often favour other priorities, despite the clear human cost. In Yemen, he warns, that cost is measured in the lives of women and girls who might otherwise have survived. UN News