Arab newspapers: ISIS escalates attacks in Syrian Badia; Erdogan's rivals believe conditions are ripe to end his rule

Today, the Arab newspapers discussed the attacks of ISIS mercenaries in the Syrian Badia, in addition to the Iranian situation, as well as the internal Turkish issue.

“New ISIS attacks in the Syrian desert”

To begin with the Syrian issue, Al-Bayan newspaper said: “The terrorist attacks of ISIS increased in the Syrian desert, in conjunction with assassinations and booby traps that struck areas in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, while it is the first time that the organization’s sleeper cells have been active since the fall of its last strongholds in the town of Al-Baghouz in May 2018: during the past week, ISIS attacks caused dozens of deaths of the Syrian army and the forces loyal to it, and captured members of the Syrian army, amid fears of an increase in attacks on Syrian areas.

The spokesman for the International Coalition to Fight ISIS, Colonel Wayne Marotto tweeted that the priority during the new year is to eliminate ISIS.

“Iran requires sanctions to be canceled to return to the nuclear deal”

On the Iranian issue, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper said: “The Secretary General of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Shamkhani, pledged Washington’s return to the nuclear agreement on a“ comprehensive and final abolition ”of the sanctions, and considered them the“ only option ”for the administration of the US President-elect Joe Biden to "Undo Trump's defeated strategy," referring to the strategy of maximum pressure to modify Tehran's regional behavior, and to adjust the program for developing and deploying ballistic missiles.

On the other hand, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser in the Biden Administration, said in a statement to CNN that Iran's ballistic program must be negotiated in order to return to the nuclear deal.

In addition, new Iranian draft legislation for any new negotiations on Washington's return to the nuclear deal requires financial compensation from European countries and the United States to Iran, and a formal apology for President Donald Trump's departure from the agreement, in addition to condemning the killing of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani.

The draft legislation, which Iranian official agencies circulated yesterday, entitled "The Similar Response" to the killing of Qassem Soleimani, reveals the features of a new Iranian strategy to confront the United States in the region in all areas. The new law requires strengthening the budget of the "Quds Force" of Iran's exports to Iraq and taxes on US goods.

“Rise of political faces worries Erdogan's control in Turkey”

On the Turkish affair, Al-Arab newspaper said: “After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power, he set his eyes on the project to transform into a presidential system that establishes an empire he had always dreamed of, thus closing the door to any interference of forces outside the political establishment not to protect it from militarism but to manipulate the political scene."

He added, "however today, it looks completely different to many observers as political figures have emerged splitting from the Justice and Development Party, and others have emerged from the opposition movement wanting to restore balance to the entire political scene, and seek to reduce Erdogan's fortunes before the next elections in 2023.”

Erdogan's rivals, including Ali Babacan, who left the AKP, and the mayor of Ankara, the opposition politician Mansur Yavas and the opposition mayor of Istanbul, and Akram Imamoglu find themselves facing favorable conditions to put an end to the long term of their opponent, with the decline of the Turks' confidence in the president and his party, the opportunity appears to be ripe to adjust the compass.

J.O