Rebel News - Independent News and Analysis

With Israel making apparent efforts to build a case for war on Tehran, the Obama administration reportedly considers denying Tel Aviv the military items needed for an attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak had reportedly required the urgent delivery of a long list of US-made military equipment, including systems needed by the Israeli Air Force, certain types of missiles and advanced electronic war equipment; military sources told DEBKA on conditions of anonymity.

The United Arab Emirates hopes the international community will solve its row with Iran over its nuclear activities "through diplomatic means” before any international sanctions are imposed by the UN Security Council.

“The UAE expects the international community to resolve its dispute with Iran by means of diplomatic channels before taking the decision to slap a new round of sanctions on Tehran,” UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan said at a joint press conference with visiting Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

An adviser to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has rejected accusations that Iran is involved in the secessionist unrest which is escalating in the country's southern provinces.

“Tehran plays no role in the clashes between police forces and separatist rebels in the southern provinces of Dhale and Lahj. To everyone's surprise, a US flag is hoisted on the roof of the building which houses a prominent leader of the Southern Movement, Tariq al-Fadhli,” the IRNA news agency cited Abdel Karim al-Ariani as telling the Kuwaiti daily al-Siyassah on Saturday.

The leader of Lebanon's Druze community has admitted that he has made "inappropriate" remarks about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has called for the consolidation of ties between Lebanon and Syria.

In an interview with the Al-Jazeera satellite television network on Saturday, Walid Jumblatt acknowledged his past blunders and said that Assad should forget the past, since he had made "inappropriate and unreasonable remarks" in anger about him at a time of internal tension and extreme division within Lebanon.

Israeli police have barred men under 50 from attending prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on Sunday due to fear of another round of clashes.

On Friday, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian worshippers after Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring one Palestinian and arresting three others.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says US is concerned about Iran's influential role in Latin America, Central Asia and Africa, adding that the Islamic Republic is currently among the top world powers.

"This is not a rhetoric issue in a political war. This is a fact. The countries on the opposite side can do nothing without Iran," he was quoted by IRNA as saying on Saturday.

Israeli troops have attacked protesting Palestinian women and youth in the occupied West Bank, injuring six of the demonstrators, say reports.

The attack wounded four women and two youths among the crowd of roughly-200-strong Palestinians who had gathered at the Qalandiya crossing in Jerusalem (al-Quds) in protest at Tel Aviv's planned settlement expansion, AFP reported.

The Judiciary said Saturday it has identified and dismantled a US-backed cyber network, which was set up to gather information on the country's nuclear scientists and spread unrest after the presidential election.

In a statement, the Judiciary said the group had been established by anti-Iran groups, including the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO).

Preliminary returns from Iraq's recent general elections award Premier Nouri al-Maliki's parliamentary squad the lead in the capital, Baghdad.

The prime minister's Rule of Law coalition is reportedly trailed by the Iraqi National Alliance and former prime minister Iyad Allawi's Al-Iraqiya Alliance.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Tehran seeks to establish and fortify unity among Palestinians against Israel.

Mehmanparast on Saturday dismissed remarks by acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas who claimed that Iran was impeding reconciliation talks between his Fatah group and the Hamas resistance movement.