[Summary]

PressTV has obtained new pictures of an attack on a Basij base on June 15, 2009. These images show protestors, supporters of the defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, burning the Basij station. However, some news channels, like Britain’s Channel 4 news, have been reporting with bias. Channel 4 footage did not include any of these images of the building being attacked; rather, they only showed allegedly unprovoked attacks by the security forces from the rooftops.

Iran’s police chief has called the death of Neda Soltan on June 20th, 2009, a pre-meditated act of murder. Neda was shot with a small caliber pistol, which is not used by Iranian police officials. Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has called the death “suspicious.”

Presenter, Female #1
The Afghan-based Taliban announced a short while ago that they have captured an American soldier, who has been missing for three days. The U.S. military said that one of their soldiers was probably captured by armed Taliban fighters. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marines launched their largest offensive since the Vietnam War. Today, the U.S. military launched Operation Khanjar or “Strike of the Sword” against armed Taliban fighters in the Helmand Valley in southern Afghanistan. The offensive comes as the country is preparing for the upcoming presidential elections. Operation Khanjar is the first wide-scale offensive launched by the U.S. forces since coming to Afghanistan. It’s also the first such operation under the new strategy of Barack Obama. Abed al-Kader Fayez reports.

Reporter, Male #1
The U.S. Marines are on a new mission in Afghanistan, under the reign of the new U.S. President. It seems that the valley of Helmand in southern Afghanistan was picked as a testing ground for the new strategy of Barack Obama in his “War on Terror.” Operation Khanjar, which is considered to be the largest offensive launched by the U.S. Marines since the Vietnam War, aims at cleansing the Afghan territory from a hidden enemy named “The Taliban” - an enemy that may appear in any place and strike at any time.

Guest, Male #2
The objective of the operation is to rapidly deploy airborne Marines behind enemy lines on the other side. We conducted airborne operations in several areas that have no armed fighters.

Reporter, Male #1
It seems that the Americans decided to open dialogue with all of their enemies, but they decided to declare war in this part of the world. More than 4,000 American soldiers, joined by nearly 1,000 Afghan troops and backed by 50 warplanes and fighters, are trying to restore security ahead of the presidential elections, which the Taliban vowed to foil completely.

Guest, Male #3
The Taliban is surrounding the area. They have established defensive positions. However, they are not ready for a ground battle.

Reporter, Male #1
But the Taliban are ready, at least to a certain degree. It seems that the Marines are trying to walk like “ducks on the ground,” after the Taliban booby trapped the area.

Guest, Male #4
It’s a fifty-fifty chance. The next step you take could be your last. However, we need to take this step in order to accomplish the mission we came for.

Reporter, Male #1
The U.S. Marines’ mission in Helmand will not be an easy task to accomplish. However, a failure or retreat could cost Washington a lot, as the new administration is scrambling for a victory, especially amidst the US withdraws from Iraq. This is not to save Washington’s military face but rather to show that a dialogue doesn’t completely rule out the use of force option.

Presenter, Man # 1
Iraqi forces in Mosul held a military parade to celebrate the withdrawal of American forces from the city, although they suffer from lack of good weaponry which negatively affects their capability to carry out military missions.

Presenter, Woman # 2
Our presenter Amer Al Qubisy followed the celebrations in Mosul.

Reporter, Man # 2
Iraqi forces will be on the front lines after the withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi cities. Like other Iraqi provinces, security forces in Mosul are showing off their numbers and military equipment in an official celebration of their sovereignty, sending a message to those who want to undermine the city’s security. The message is that the Iraqi security forces are prepared to deter them.

Guest, Man # 3
We are happy today to see the Iraqi police and security forces playing their roles in Nenawa.

Guest, Man # 4
We will be a strong force against the remaining terrorists and sleeping cells with the help of the honorable residents of Nenawa.

Reporter, Man # 2
The province of Nenawa has a number of military units from the Iraqi army that were brought from Baghdad. Another military unit is stationed along the borders of Mosul under the command of the Bishmarga and has links to the Kurdish region of Iraq. This unit has become a major source of contention between Mosul and the Kurdish region. There are also other forces.

Guest, Man # 4
I came from Baghdad from Hifa Street. I came to Mosel to help my people and save them from acts of terrorism that have been taking place recently.

Reporter, Man # 2
A closer look at most of the weapons held by the police and army reveals that they are left overs from the former Iraqi army. Perhaps these weapons have not been used for years. Without a doubt, the Iraqi forces are facing a major challenge especially when considering their lack of weaponry. In addition the residents of Mosul have not been able to form military units from among themselves, because the central government in Baghdad rejected Mosul’s demand to form such a military unit for what the government called economic reasons. However most of the residents in Mosul believe that the reasons are political. This car which belongs to the Iraqi security forces is being decorated in a sign of celebration of the withdrawal of American forces from the city. However, these decorations will not be much of a help to the Iraqi security forces when the American forces leave the city. By then, this car will be in the front lines. Amer Al Qubaisi, Al Jazeera, Al Mosel.

Guest, Man # 5
The Hamas group in Iraq declared responsibility for what it called the destruction of an American Humvee in northern Baghdad. The declaration was recorded on video. The group that carried out the explosion planted an explosive device on the roadside. The attack targeted an American patrol unit. Al Jazeera couldn’t verify the credibility of the recording, or that it came from an independent source.

Presenter, Man # 1
The recent explosions highlight the possible risks that may result from the withdrawal of the American forces, and tests the readiness of the Iraqi forces. Political analysts believe the latest explosions are related to a power struggle inside the government and the necessary arrangements that usually precede elections such as forming political alliances. These explosions are seen as a local phenomenon that stems from an internal struggle between government institutions and security forces.

Reporter, Man # 2
Trusted security sources in Iraq have provided initial explanations for the bloody explosions that shocked Iraqi cities such as Baghdad, Bat-ha, and Taza. According to these sources, special groups under different names have received direct commands from Iranian intelligence to undermine the security situation in Iraq. The explosions are aimed at taking people’s attention away from what is going on inside Iran, making the American withdrawal from Iraqi cities difficult, and paving the way for more dangerous security breaches before and after June 30th, 2009, as the American troops withdraw from Iraqi cities. These security sources have revealed extremely sensitive information about some political officials, including parliament members, who have participated in recent explosions in addition to information that the militias have recently become more active. It seems that all political and religious forces, as well as the militias of the ruling parties, are preparing for a new battle in Iraq. These forces are expected to double their activities in the next two weeks. All the accusations are focused on the command center of Baghdad Military Operations which is not linked to the defense and interior ministries. Also, a number of its leaders are being accused of having their own agenda and the possibility that they may provide accommodations for those who want to carry out explosions such as those that took place in different areas of Baghdad and its suburbs. There is no independent entity that can carry out an investigation and hold the officers who might have provided accommodations to those who carried out the recent explosions, accountable.

Presenter, Female #1
Amnesty International published its report about the latest Israeli attack in Gaza. The report accuses Israel of violating international humanitarian laws by failing to protect civilians.

Reporter, Male #1
Titled “Operation Cast Lead”, Amnesty International released its latest report which accused Israel of killing 1,400 Palestinians and injuring 5,000 others. This is in addition to the damage of large areas of the Gaza Strip during a 22-day war that lasted from December of last year to the beginning of this year. The report indicated that Israel does not distinguish between civilian targets and military targets and uses civilians, among them infants, as human shields. In addition, the report denied that the Islamic movement, Hamas or any other armed Palestinian groups, used Gazan residents as human shields, contrary to Israel’s claims.

Guest, Female #2
The essential finding is that the majority of war crimes were committed by the Israeli army and also by armed Palestinian groups. In both situations, these attacks, whether direct or indirect, were indiscriminate and targeted civilians.

Reporter, Male #1
Amnesty International accused the Israeli army of killing hundreds of civilians by firing white phosphorous shells on highly populated residential areas, which cause dangerous and sometimes deadly burns. Last February, Israel criticized Amnesty International for providing, what Israel called, a distorted narrative of events. Israel said that this narrative does not have objective and professional standards and insisted that all weapons used in Gaza complied with international law.

Guest, Male #2
There is absolutely no tactical reason, whatsoever, to use white phosphorous in this war. This type of white phosphorous creates an intense smokescreen and there is no justification to create intense smoke in a highly populated city like Gaza.

Reporter, Male #1
Amnesty International rejected these justifications, pointing out that Israel has refused to conduct, until today, a neutral and independent investigation about its soldier’s behavior in Gaza. In its 117 page report, which constitutes the first in depth study of this war, Amnesty International reiterated its call for a complete and immediate ban of the weapons used by Israel and Hamas. Tony Mazarani. Al Arabiya.

Presenter, Female #1
The deposed Prime Minister of the Palestinian government, Ismail Haniya, described Amnesty International’s report as unjust to Palestinians, demanding that Israel be tried in International courts.

Guest, Male #3
The report is a type of injustice and prejudice against the rights of Palestinians. This was a one sided, vehement war in which all means of killing and destruction were used. The impact of the aggression and the images of the crime continue to be seen in the Gaza strip. We believe that the Israeli leadership must be tried in international courts.

[Summary]

Amnesty International accuses Israel of war crimes by firing missiles at civilians. A Hamas leader said that the Amnesty International report was biased. Amnesty International also said that there was no tactical reason for Israel to use white phosphorous. However, Israel has also accused Amnesty International of being biased, and rejected the report because they failed to mention the use of human shield by Hamas, as well as years of attacks by Hamas in Southern Israel.

Ambassador Cunningham stressed that the U.S. is committed to Israel’s security. Prime Minister Netanyahu added that the U.S. and Israel share a friendship of common ideals, as well as an enduring bond of freedom.

Presenter, Male #1
Students from the American University of Beirut (AUB) were kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint in the remote area of Jubail. The incident ended with the safe return of the hostages. Meanwhile, the Lebanese security forces launched efforts to apprehend the attackers. More details are in the following report by Sharb al-Aboud.

Reporter, Male #2
They were sent by the AUB to the remote area of Jubail to conduct a geological study. However, what was supposed to be a fun field trip turned into an adventure from a movie. This isolated road leading to the remote area of Jubail, often witnesses incidents similar to this last attack on the AUB students. The area, as you can see, is isolated and uninhabited. On this road, near the towns of Amaz and al-Akura, 6 students from the AUB, who were travelling in a Kia and Mercedes, were robbed at gunpoint by 5 armed assailants. The gunmen, who were in a black Range Rover similar to that driven by members of the Information Division of the Lebanese Intelligence Service, intercepted the students and demanded to see their identification cards. The gunmen seized the keys of the Mercedes, let two students go and led the other four from the Kia, to an undesignated area. This is what one the students has to say about their ordeal:

Guest, Male #3
We were stopped by gunmen in a black or a dark color Range Rover. They posted as security officers from the Information Division. They demanded to see our identification cards. As we attempt to ask questions, they yelled at us and demanded to see our IDs and school papers. At that very moment, we realized that they were trying to rob us. We were taken to the Range Rover, and asked to empty our pockets. They took everything in our possession. They took a watch from one of the students. They started to yell. Then, they opened fire. They were equipped with fire arms and silencers. Before taking off, they told us that if we reported the incident, they would hunt us down and punish us. They gave us our friend’s keys and fled.

Reporter, Male #2
They left you on top of the hill?

Guest, Male #3
Yes.

Guest, Male #4
We don’t know whether the police found the Kia, or not.

Reporter, Male #2
The incident was strongly condemned by the local residents, who often come under attack by armed groups.

Guest, Male #5
We are pleading to his Excellency, President of the Republic, General Michel Suleiman, that the Lebanese army and security forces stage military checkpoints in order to prevent future incidents in the area.

Guest, Male #5
The residents are suffering from organized armed activities, especially along the roads leading to al-Akura and Afka-Lasa.

Guest, Male #6
There appears to be occasional armed robberies in the area. The people are terrified. We are calling on the Command Center of the Lebanese army and the security forces to stage military checkpoints along this isolated road leading to the remote area of Jubail. This will bring a sense of relief to the local residents. The area is seeing a surge in armed and home invasion robberies and car thefts.

Reporter, Male #2
The Lebanese Internal Security Forces said in statement that the assailants’ car was later intercepted by three military units belonging to the Information Division and the Baalbek Command Center. After a brief exchange of fire, the assailants abandoned their vehicle and fled to an undesignated area. The Office for Combating International Thefts, in cooperation with the Baalbek Command Center, was able to locate the suspects’ Range Rover, which was stripped off its license plate. The security forces are still pursuing the fugitives in the remote area of Jubail. This incident, witnessed in the remote area of Jubail, is not the first of its kind. Meanwhile, the local residents are pleading to the security agencies to expand their control over these remote territories in order to prevent future incidents. From the town Amaz in the remote area of Jubail, Sharb al-Aboud, Future TV.

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