Egypt arrests 15 militants linked to deadly attack in Sinai [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Presenter, Male #1
An Egyptian military source said that armed forces are continuing to cleanse Sinai from gunmen for a third consecutive day in an operation known as Eagle 2. The source added that the operation has led to the killing of 42 gunmen as of this morning, and the arrest of another 15 who are currently being interrogated. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi discussed with Defense Minister Marshall Hussein Tantawi the deployment of armed forces to Sinai to establish security. In addition, Egyptian armed forces have reinforced their military presence in northern Sinai.

Reporter, Male #2
A fleet of tanks and armored vehicles is heading toward northern Sinai to participate in the military operation against gunmen, extremists, and outlaws. This comes after the Egyptian military lost 16 of its soldiers near the border with the Gaza Strip and Israel. Until the attack on the border patrol guards, Sinai had not witnessed a deployment of this magnitude since the Camp David Accords were signed.

Guest, Male #3 (Ahmed Aarag, Security Expert)
The resources of the police are limited, but the army must have a strong presence today, and the Camp David agreement must be amended, because it is restricting the deployment of police and security forces in Sinai. The terrorist cells must be completely eliminated.

Reporter, Male #2
Military reinforcements were also sent to assist security forces responding to sporadic attacks by unknown gunmen on security posts and installations, where the police are no longer able to confront these assailants who are armed with modern gear.

Guest, Male #4
They must have with them a very strong army; they must have forces from the intelligence services to know what is going on.

Guest, Male #5
We do not need a security solution for all of Egypt's problems. Unemployment, of course, is a problem our youth are enduring. Ignorance is one reason; it caused some of the problems we're facing.

Reporter, Male #2
In a related development, bulldozers were sent to the area of the tunnels that lead to the Gaza Strip to close them. Some residents willingly closed the tunnel openings on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing, while others did so unwillingly following the Egyptian army's movements near the border. The campaign of the Egyptian armed forces against gunmen in northern Sinai witnessed a qualitative development after receiving new heavy weapons for the first time. But the fear is that these gunmen may have more powerful counter-weapons. Abdel al-Basih Hassan, Al Jazeera, from the city of Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai.

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Egypt shuts down over 1,000 Gaza Strip smuggling tunnels in Sinai crackdown [IBA, Israel]

Egypt temporarily reopened the Rafah Crossing into the Gaza Strip, which was sealed following the deadly attack on Sunday that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers. At the same time, Egypt closed down over 1,000 smuggling tunnels into the Gaza Strip, and continued its crackdown on terrorists in the Sinai, reportedly demanding that Hamas hand over three senior members associated with the Salafi Army of Islam militant group believed to be connected to the attacks.

Reacting to the aftermath of the Sinai terror attack, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz warned that Israel must be prepared for any scenario, including a conflict on multiple fronts. Speaking at a special tribute ceremony for reservists last night, Gantz referenced Sunday's attack along Israel's southern border as an additional concern to the already-troubling civil war in Syria and the Iranian nuclear threat.

Matthew Kalman from the London Daily Mail speaks with IBA about the smuggling tunnels that run from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, and the successful efforts of Egypt and Hamas to close them down, despite the tunnels playing a large part in the Egyptian economy.

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Netanyahu, Barak gearing up for military strike against Iran: Israeli press [IBA, Israel]

In Israel, local press carried intensified reports of a potential Israeli military strike against Iran. Multiple Israeli newspapers such as Haaretz and Yedioth Aharonoth published statements that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are gearing up for a strike within the coming months. According to the reports, Netanyahu remains steadfast to his commitment to hit Iran, and that such as attack is to take place ahead of US presidential elections in November.

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Amnesty International calls on Bahrain to free prisoners of conscience after 'travesty of justice' [Al-Alam, Iran]

Presenter, Female #1
Amnesty International has called on the Saudi authorities to release Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, who has been detained for over a month for criticizing the government. The organization said the Saudi authorities must stop violating the human rights of Shiites in the Eastern Province when they are exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Reporter, Male #1
Over one month after the Saudi authorities arrested religious scholar Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr in eastern Saudi Arabia's town of al-Awamiyah, a number of human rights organizations are demanding his release from al-Riyadh's government. Amnesty International called on the Saudi authorities to immediately release al-Nimr, who is detained in the regime's prisons for criticizing the government's actions. The organization said that Sheikh al-Nimr has repeatedly criticized the Saudi regime because of its discrimination against the Shiite sect in the country.

Reporter, Male #1
The Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Hasiba Hadj Sahraoui confirmed that Sheikh al-Nimr is being detained without charges, since his arrest in al-Awamiyah on July 8th. She stressed that the exact circumstances surrounding his arrest are unknown. Sahraoui called on the Saudi authorities to release Sheikh al-Nimr, saying the Saudi regime must stop its human rights violations against members of the Shiite community in the Eastern Province exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

Reporter, Male #1
And in the framework of the ongoing popular mobilization demanding change, freedom, and the release of the prisoners, the residents of the Saudi city of al-Ta'if held demonstrations across the city. They protested against the authorities' repressive measures and the ongoing arrests of those who demand freedom and democracy.

Reporter, Male #1
Protestors chanted slogans demanding the Saudi regime release all political prisoners, especially women who have long been imprisoned without a trial. Protestors confirmed they will continue their peaceful marches until their legitimate demands are met. They also raised banners assuring their loyalty to their country, and pictures of the detainees in Saudi prisons.

Presenter, Female #1
Saudi activist Dr. Madawi al-Rasheed said Saudi Arabia's strategies in Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria aim to guarantee that its regime will not be internally threatened by the wave of change in Saudi Arabia. In an article published on al-Awamiyah's website, the writer noted that Saudi Arabia blatantly intervened in the affairs of three countries. It directly cracked down on the movement in Bahrain, contained the situation in Yemen, and supported armed groups in Syria, both financially and morally. Al-Rasheed confirmed that it is impossible for al-Riyadh to stop the wheels of change, noting that the Saudi regime remains a political anomaly in a region boiling with political ambition.

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Turkey hints at military intervention in Syria against Kurdish 'terrorists' [BBC Arabic, UK]

Presenter, Male #1
Recurring reports are indicating Kurdish groups are controlling regions with a Kurdish majority in northern Syria following the Syrian army's withdrawal from a number of these areas. For its part, Turkey strongly condemned what it called "terrorist groups" attempting to take control, and said it will not allow the presence of those it described as terrorists along its border. Rami al-Hayyan reports from the Iraqi-Syrian border.

Reporter, Male #2
The Dijla River along the Iraqi-Syrian border separates two regions that hold a Kurdish majority. There are many stories over what is happening on the Syrian side. Behind these fields lies the Syrian-Kurdish town of Galhe. Here, on the Iraqi side, everyone confirms that the Syrian army withdrew from these areas, and that Kurdish armed groups are the ones that are now controlling them. But who are these groups? This is where the different tales start to emerge.

Guest, Male #3 (Hussein Koshar, Kurdish Democratic Union Party Representative)
Right now, in villages and cities, civilian protection units are the ones guarding the Kurdish people from a security standpoint by filling the security void this area is witnessing. The Kurdish people took advantage of this void, and have organized themselves in all Kurdish villages so far. The Kurdish people are taking turns guarding their villages and cities.

Reporter, Male #2
In border villages, the residents have quietly been exchanging stories of gunmen from the Kurdistan Workers' Party who have seized control. The party is active in such parts in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. Others say the Syrian army handed control of these areas to Kurdish groups, and that the two sides are coordinating with each other. Officials in the Iraqi Kurdistan region depict a more complex picture.

Guest, Male #4 (Khasro Goran, Kurdistan Democratic Party Leader in Iraq)
The Kurds belong to many different political organizations in Syria; there are also political and ideological differences between these parties. The president of the Kurdistan Region and the political powers in the Kurdish region are determined to unify their fronts in Syria.

Reporter, Male #2
Some say there are different circumstances here, and that the Syrian army is purposefully leaving behind a void to be filled by groups that Turkey views as a threat to its national security.

Guest, Male #4
The Syrian regime may be using some tactics to scare Turkey, or to scare other countries.

Reporter, Male #2
The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party responds to these accusations with counter-accusations.

Guest, Male #3
They spread these rumors because we didn't participate with them in arming the revolution, and because we didn't participate in intensifying the crisis in Syria. These rumors were initiated by the Turkish intelligence service because they want to align our movement with the Syrian regime to target our movement.

Reporter, Male #2
Amid this uncertainty, Turkey is hinting at the possibility of a military intervention in Syria to stop those it calls terrorists from taking control of areas close to its border. And this points to the possibility of a new struggle in the area that is set to be fueled by the Turkish regions in Syria. Rami al-Hayyan, BBC, from the Iraqi-Syrian border in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

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Assad ally in Lebanon detained over alleged bomb plot [Future TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Male #1
The arrest of former minister Michel Samaha has preoccupied the Lebanese since the news was reported, in light of the role he's played over the years. Samaha has recently played a leading role in the defense of the Assad regime, and has advised Bashar al-Assad on many Lebanese and foreign issues.

Presenter, Female #1
So how was he arrested? And how did the raid lead to the arrest of his driver who was involved in the transportation of explosives? Rabih Shantaff reports.

Presenter, Male #1
This is the home of former minister Michel Samaha in the northern Metn town of Jwar al-Khanchara. The Lebanese Internal Security Forces branch of information, and military forces raided this house to arrest Samaha under the orders of acting-state Prosecutor General Samir Hammoud.

Presenter, Male #1
Samaha's driver, Fares Barakat, was also detained. Following Samaha's arrest, his homes in al-Khanchara and al-Achrafiyeh were searched, and two cars, computers, DVDs, CDs, and a cell phone were confiscated. According to security information, fully-equipped explosive devices and remote bombs were found but the location of the explosives was not specified since the investigation is still ongoing. The investigation revolves around Samaha's possible involvement in past explosions in a number of areas, and others currently planned, specifically in the region of Akkar.

Guest, Female #2 (Gladys Samaha, Wife of Former Minister Michel Samaha)
They want it to be lawful, let it be lawful. They have to tell us why he was arrested. He has many lawyers, but we have to know what this is about so we can assign a lawyer. We don't know what this is about! We don't. Of course this is political, and not just because of al-Assad. Michel Samaha represents a red line in the country.

Reporter, Male #2
Judge Hammoud indicated that he looked into ongoing investigations with the detained Michel Samaha after the latter was transferred to the branch of information, saying that Samaha is in good health after receiving confirmation from a medical examiner and an Internal Security Forces doctor. He added that Samaha is testifying freely, and that the investigation is ongoing, while no final decision was taken over the arrest of those who were summoned. Legally, Samaha can be held for 96 hours. Then, he must be charged or released.

Reporter, Male #2
Security sources informed Future News that the manner in which Samaha was detained indicates that he committed a grave offense, and that there is strong suspicious of his involvement in this case. From in front of the home of former minister Michel Samaha, Rabih Shantaff, Future News.

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Insurgents suffer heavy losses in Aleppo, as UK pledges USD 7.8 million to Syrian rebels [Press TV, Iran]

Syrian government forces continue to battle insurgents across the country. Fierce clashes are taking place in several neighborhoods of Aleppo, leaving a large number of rebels dead, and many more have been arrested. There are reports that some tribes have joined forces with the army to clear the city of militants, and that the army has already taken control of the Salaheddin neighborhood. Troops also repelled an attack on Aleppo International Airport. Additionally, several clashes in the Manin suburb of Damascus have left many wounded.

Britain is giving USD 7.8 million in extra funding to Syrian armed groups to defeat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the assistance includes radio and satellite equipment, body armor, and field and medical equipment. The UK has already given USD 1.4 million to the rebels, and another USD 43 million has also been provided to armed groups in the name of humanitarian support.

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Another US-led soldier killed in southern Afghanistan [Press TV, Iran]

At least four US-led soldiers have been killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan. NATO has confirmed that one soldier was killed in a militant attack in the south; the nationality of the soldier and the exact location are yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, Afghan policemen have shot US soldiers in another "green-on-blue" attack. At least three American troops have been killed in a shooting in Helmand Province. Afghan officials said that the three were all Special Forces members attending a meeting on Thursday.

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Tunisian wins gold medal in 10-kilometer open water swim in London [New TV, Lebanon]

Presenter, Female #1
Tunisian swimmer Oussama Mellouli snatched the second Olympic gold medal for the Arabs in London's waters, crowning his long history and highlighting the Arabs' faint presence in the foggy country.

Reporter, Male #1
The Tunisian Oussama Mellouli took the first gold medal for Tunisia in the London Olympics. It is his second medal after winning a bronze in the 1500-meter freestyle race. It is also the second gold he's won in his journey after winning one in the Beijing Olympics in the same race.

Reporter, Male #1
Mellouli, who came to London with an injury, succeeded at clocking 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 55 seconds, outperforming the German Thomas Lurz, and the Canadian Richard Weinberger. Twenty-eight-year-old Mellouli, nicknamed "Carthage's Shark," trains for four hours a day at the Trojan Swim Club in Los Angeles under the guidance of the famous trainer David Salo. He received a degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science from the University of Southern California.

Reporter, Male #1
The three-time best athlete in Tunisia and one-time best athlete in Africa won 4 gold medals, 4 silvers, and 3 bronze medals in world competitions, and 9 gold medals in the Mediterranean games, and a record 15 gold medals in the Arab games in Qatar. Mellouli, who reads the Quran before all his races, remains the best Olympian athlete in Tunisia's history, topping Mohamed Gammoudi, whose journey in the 1960s and 1970s led him to one gold, two silvers, and one bronze medal. Mellouli's medal is the 10th in Tunisia's history, and is the second gold for the Arabs in London. The first was won by Algerian runner Taoufik Makhloufi in the 1500-meter dash. It marks the 11th medal on the Arabs' dim scoreboard in London.