Egypt responds to deadly attack with air strikes on 'terrorists' in Sinai [Dubai TV, UAE]

Presenter, Female #1
The Egyptian army only waited a few hours before launching an extensive military campaign in the Sinai that included the use of fighter planes. The campaign comes in response to the attack in Sinai that left 16 border guards dead. In addition, the el-Arish border area witnessed gunfire at its security checkpoints, leading the residents to take to the streets to demand protection and to request that they be armed so they can defend themselves. Tawfiq Ahmad reports from Cairo.

Reporter, Male #1
The Egyptian military did not wait long after the killing of 16 of its soldiers in the bloody Rafah attack before launching a military offensive with fighter jets and tanks with the aim of cleansing Sinai of what it described as terrorists. Security sources said the operation lasted a few hours, and resulted in the killing of at least 20 gunmen.

Guest, Male #2
This operation will probably last longer than a week, according to leaks to the media. But it seems there is a certain and honest Egyptian will to strongly respond to the terrorist scene that exists in the Sinai area, and reduce the sources of terrorism.

Reporter, Male #1
And after military and police centers in the city of el-Arish came under a violent attack at dawn on Wednesday, all security agencies were mobilized in anticipation of the unknown gunmen's attempt to storm police stations. The pursuit of the gunmen by security officers is still in full swing.

Reporter, Male #1
These incidents came only hours after funerals were held for the victims of the bloody Rafah attacks and a solemn civilian and military procession that touched the hearts of Egyptians, most of whom trust the military's capability to respond to the attack.

Guest, Male #3
Of course I have faith in the Egyptian army. Had it not been this way, then it would not have been able to protect the country and its borders during the revolution.

Guest, Male #4
I hope it will regain control of the entire region soon.

Reporter, Male #1
These events placed the Kandil government and President Morsi, who have only been in power for a few weeks, under intense pressure that could threaten their popularity and ability to govern. But others believe the new leaders have yet to prove themselves.

Reporter, Male #1
With a large-scale security operation in Sinai, and extensive meetings by the government and political forces, the hope is to find a solution to the security vacuum in that area. The presidency is facing difficult conditions, as the gap between the average Egyptian citizen and the decision-makers is gradually widening. Tawfiq Ahmad, Dubai TV, Cairo.

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Syria's regime and armed opposition claim control of Aleppo's Salaheddin [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Syria's city of Aleppo is witnessing wide-scale clashes in Salaheddin as the regime's forces are claiming full control of the neighborhood and the Free Syrian Army is denying the claim. The Syrian Revolution's General Commission said at least 58 people were killed in several Syrian areas. Most of them died in Aleppo, Daraa, Damascus, and Bosra al-Hareer. The Coordination Committees reported that the town of Bosra al-Hareer is completely deserted, as air and artillery shelling continues in the town of al-Zabadani. The Local Coordination Committees reported that at least 170 people were killed on Tuesday by regime forces in different parts of Syria, mostly in Aleppo.

Reporter, Male #2
Violent clashes in Aleppo are taking place in the neighborhood of Salaheddin that has been witnessing artillery and air shelling for several days. According to most media outlets, it has also been witnessing clashes since Wednesday morning. Activists say the neighborhood is in ruins due to the large-scale military operations that have expanded to several areas, and were concentrated in the town of Tal Rifaat in the countryside of the city. Preliminary information reported heavy human casualties that are difficult to document, and the BBC was unable to verify their authenticity due to the fierce battles.

Reporter, Male #2
According to the Coordination Committees, the city of Bosra al-Hareer in Daraa Province was completely deserted after being indiscriminately shelled for several days. The Committees said the town was besieged with tanks, and then raided amid artillery shelling and the burning of all homes in the northern neighborhood of the city. Despite assurances by Syrian media that the situation is now under control in the capital Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other organizations noted that helicopters hovered over areas in the al-Ghouta al-Sharqiya in the countryside of Damascus, and shelled the areas of Kfar Batna, Ain Torma, Hazza, and its surroundings.

Reporter, Male #2
The city of al-Zabadani was subjected to violent shelling by regime forces, and clashes were reported in the village of al-Otaiba in the countryside of Damascus. Activists reported mortar shelling over the neighborhood of al-Nazimiyah and the area of al-Basateen in the neighborhood of Kafr Susa. Smoke columns rose from the area, as clashes were renewed between the Free Army and the regime's army in the neighborhood of al-Qadam. Shelling by helicopters was renewed in the neighborhood of Jobar. The Syrian Observatory reported that the neighborhood of al-Shaghour was also raided. In addition, homes were raided and arrests were made in the neighborhood of al-Mazza, in the area of al-Rabou and Harat al-Sakhr, near the university campus, amid heavy security deployment.

Reporter, Male #2
And in Hama Province, the city of al-Watani, in the countryside of Hama, was subjected to heavy shelling with heavy machine guns by the Syrian regime's forces. According to activists, large demonstrations were held, originating from most of Hama's mosques. It was reported that the regime's army raided the village of Bserine in the southern countryside of Hama, and deployed snipers to the area. Meanwhile, tanks and helicopters shelled the villages of Sahl al-Ghab in Hama's western countryside, and the villages of Jabal Shashbo. The heavy artillery shelling was renewed on the southern countryside of the city of al-Haffa in Latakia Governorate.

Reporter, Male #2
Military operations on the Syrian territory cannot be counted due to the large geographic area, and conflicting information about the operations. However, it is certain that military vehicles are moving in all directions. Haitham Abdallah, BBC.

Presenter, Male #1
In a statement for the BBC, Colonel Malik al-Kurdi, deputy commander in-chief of the Free Syrian Army, denied news that the Free Army withdrew from the neighborhood of Salaheddin.

Guest, Male #3 (Colonel Malik Kurdi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Free Syrian Army)
The Free Syrian Army did not withdraw from Salaheddin. It is engaged in fierce battles with this immoral regime. Bashar's forces were able to enter a few meters into the neighborhood of Salaheddin, so this is not considered an entry to Salaheddin. The Free Syrian Army remains in control of the neighborhoods that it has been controlling for weeks.

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US-Qaeda alliance in Syria to focus on toppling Assad regime [Press TV, Iran]

Press TV reports that an alliance between al-Qaeda, the United States, and Israel has formed in a bid to topple the Syrian government. Historically, the US worked with al-Qaeda to fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, and Press TV says that the US has teamed up with them again in Syria, along with Israel, in an armed campaign against Damascus. Israeli spy chief Dan Meridor says that Tel Aviv is ready to see Assad's ouster, and adds that it is a given fact that Israel and al-Qaeda have never bothered each other.

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Ahmadinejad: Diplomacy is the only way to solve the Syrian crisis [Press TV, Iran]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slams the involvement of certain regional countries in the unrest in Syria, saying that diplomacy is the only way to solve the crisis. He made his remarks during a visit with the Pakistani president's special envoy Sughra Imam.

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Jordanian king discusses remaining options for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad [IBA, Israel]

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling on the international community to work quickly to prepare for the day after the fall of the Assad regime, saying that a transitional plan is urgently required to prevent the outbreak of sectarian warfare. The deteriorating situation in Syria is impacting many countries in the region, including the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan. In an interview with CBS's Charlie Rose, Jordanian King Abdullah II discussed remaining options for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the search for a solution to the crisis.

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Three killed in bomb attack against US-led forces in Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

Two bombs have exploded near a patrol of American soldiers in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar, killing three soldiers; three other Afghan civilians, including an Afghan soldier, have been badly wounded. The explosions took place near the governor's compound, which also had a large number of local Afghans. A few hours after the explosions, a Taliban spokesperson claimed responsibility for the attacks, with the Taliban saying they killed about ten American soldiers.

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Gun violence continues in US with Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting [Press TV, Iran]

Six Sikh worshippers were shot dead in the United States city of Milwaukee in Wisconsin after a neo-Nazi walked into a temple and opened fire. This is the latest in a string of mass shootings in the country, which has lax gun laws due to a large gun lobby with deep pockets.

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Thousands of Saudis demand retribution for slain activist [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Male #1
In Saudi Arabia, protests demanding political reforms and social justice are continuing. Thousands of Saudis held a funeral for martyr Hussain Yousef al-Qallaf, who was killed by the regime's forces on Friday while he was attending a celebration marking the middle of the holy month of Ramadan.

Reporter, Male #2
With chants demanding retribution from the murderers, thousands of citizens in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province took part in a funeral procession for martyr Hussain Yousef al-Qallaf. Al-Qallaf was killed by police on Friday as he attended a celebration marking the middle of the holy month of Ramadan.

Reporter, Male #2
Residents confirmed they will face the authorities' crackdown with courage, and with a united demand and front. They said they won't retreat, and that their determination will not be broken by steel and bullets, adding that they will continue their martyrs' path to demand justice in their country.

Reporter, Male #2
While attending the funeral of martyr al-Qallaf, the residents of al-Qatif and other Saudi cities insisted on establishing freedom and security in their country, despite the crackdown and the killings they are facing.

Reporter, Male #2
Participants in the martyr's funeral procession reiterated their support for religious scholars, notably imprisoned religious scholar Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, and demanded that Saudi authorities release him immediately. The participants also demanded the Saudi authorities to release all prisoners the regime has been holding for years without a trial, or without any legal basis.

Reporter, Male #2
Observers say that Saudi Arabia will be an important stop on the path of the popular mobilization that was ignited in a number of Arab countries, and will lead to changes that will cause a deep impact on the entire region.

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UNICEF urges South Sudan to improve health care as child mortality rates soar [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Female #1
In South Sudan, UNICEF has called for improving medical services and raising the awareness of mothers in a bid to lower the mortality rate among children. Out of every 1,000 newborns, nearly 50 die as infants. The health sector in the south is suffering from a lack of medical staff and centers.

Reporter, Male #1
Adan has welcomed her newborn in a state of joy, while expressing sadness over the loss of his older brother, who died only days after he was born. His death was blamed on the lack of medical care, which Adan says nearly claimed the life of her second newborn child.

Guest, Female #2
We had two children. The first child died after a seizure at the hospital. The hospital is clean but didn't have medical services. For example, I gave birth naturally at home.

Reporter, Male #1
Child mortality rates in South Sudan have reached high levels, as confirmed by medical reports. Hospital administrators are attributing the high mortality rates to the fact that medical facilities in the south are continuing to lack the necessary means to administer health care.

Guest, Male #2 (Hassan Shalum, Head of Juba Hospital Pediatric Department)
With regard to child mortality rates, out of every 1,000 newborns, 52 die as infants, despite the fact that Juba Hospital and its Intensive Care Unit are considered to be the number one medical center in South Sudan.

Reporter, Male #1
In observance of World Breastfeeding Week, international organizations for early childhood education have warned and urged mothers to adopt methods that will help protect their children's health.

Guest, Male #3 (Gudin Mindra, UNICEF Official)
There are many factors that affect children's health, notably poor medical care, which is getting worse due to a lack of sufficient health experts. We are now working on providing vaccinations to the children to boost their immunity against diseases.

Reporter, Male #1
The children of the south are not being isolated from the many challenges facing this country. The deteriorating health situation will likely reflect negatively, not only on the children, but also on the southern people as a whole. Haitham Ewaid, Al Jazeera, Juba, South Sudan.

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Israel seizes Islamic endowment land for settlements [Palestine TV, Ramallah]

Presenter, Male #1
The Israeli occupation forces have seized large areas of the Islamic endowments' land since the occupation began in 1967, with the aim of building settlements. The so-called Israeli Civil Administration revealed that thousands of Islamic endowments' donums were seized over the years for the settlement project and the apartheid wall.

Reporter, Male #2
According to maps revealed by the so-called Israeli Civil Administration, thousands of donums belonging to the Islamic endowments and Palestinian citizens have been seized for the rampant construction of settlements since the occupation started in 1967.

Guest, Male #3
These lands were stolen, and all related documents were forged so they can build and expand the settlement. These settlements are illegitimate and illegal, making the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with its capital Jerusalem very improbable. So we must activate certain mechanisms with the international community, and especially the Security Council, to implement resolutions previously issued by the Security Council and the General Assembly.

Reporter, Male #2
Between 1967 and 2008, most of the land was seized from the areas of Ariha and al-Aghwar. Nearly 37,000 donums of land have been confiscated so far, establishing hundreds of houses for settlers. Since 1967, the Israeli occupation has announced that it considers the near 900,000 donums of Palestinian land as state land, allocating this land for settlement construction.

Guest, Male #4
The entire course adopted by the Israeli governments, including this one, goes against reaching the two-state solution. In this sense, the Netanyahu government is completely shutting down the path to a return to negotiations with the Palestinian Authority that would lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders.

Reporter, Male#2
For decades, Israel has adopted a policy of looting and confiscating Palestinian land. The Israel government's policy and the mentality of the settlers are one and the same. And while time passes, and the types of crackdowns change, seizing Palestinian land remains the common goal of all Israeli governments. Ali Dar Ali, Palestine TV, from in front of a settlement outpost in Ramallah.