Presenter, Female #1
Israel assassinated Ahmed al-Jaabari, the head of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, in an air strike on the Gaza Strip. The following report looks at the most prominent chapters in the life of the leader of al-Qassam Brigades, Ahmed al-Jaabari.

Reporter, Male #1
Ahmad Said Khalil al-Jaabari is the deputy commander of al-Qassam Brigades and its actual commander on the ground. Those close to him call him Abu Muhammad, and the Israeli occupation nicknamed him the Hamas movement's chief of staff.

Reporter, Male #1
He is one of the most prominent figures wanted by Israel, which accuses him of being responsible for a large number of operations against it. Ahmad al-Jaabari was born in 1960, and received his bachelor's degree from the Islamic University of Gaza. He started his life as a guerrilla in the Fatah movement. He was arrested by the Israeli occupation forces in the early 1980s, accusing him of involvement with military groups that planned commando operations. He spent 13 years in Israeli prisons.

Reporter, Male #1
While in prison, al-Jaabari ended his relationship with the Fatah movement and joined the Hamas movement, working at its political bureau. Following his release, al-Jaabari focused on administering a Hamas organization that works on issues concerning prisoners and former detainees.

Reporter, Male #1
Later, his relationship with the al-Qassam Brigades grew, leading the Palestinian Authority's Preventive Security Force to arrest him and detain him for two years after accusing him of being the connection between the military wing and the Hamas leadership. For six years, al-Jaabari was responsible for guarding Israeli solider Gilad Shalit in Gaza, succeeding in misleading Israel and preventing it from finding the solider.

Reporter, Male #1
Al-Jaabari was subjected to several assassination attempts by Israel. The most notable took place in 2004, when he was lightly injured. During that raid, his son, brother, and three other family members were killed. However, the latest assassination attempt with a missile that targeted his car led to his martyrdom, terminating the life of one of the most prominent figures of the armed resistance in Gaza.

Presenter, Female #1
Joining us from Gaza is Jamil Mizhir, a leader at the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Mr. Mizhir, how is the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine looking at these developments?

Guest, Male #2
To start with, we present our condolences to ourselves and to the Palestinian people for the martyrdom of the commander of the Qassam Brigades, martyr Ahmed al-Jaabari. We say that the blood of the martyrs will increase our people's determination to continue the resistance, and the path of struggle, and the path of martyrdom to achieve our goals, and to liberate Palestine and achieve the Palestinian people's national goals.

Guest, Male #2
It is clear that the Israeli occupation was deceptive. It announced a halt to the operations and agreed to the truce, then committed a serious crime against the Palestinian people. It is continuing to kill innocent people, and Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Guest, Male #2
The Israeli occupation is clearly acting like an arrogant thug while the international community watches. It disregards international treaties and charters, and continues to kill innocent Palestinian civilians. For this reason, we say that this operation and serious crime, and the ongoing aggression, only increase the Palestinian people's determination and will increase their courage, spirit, and resistance to face this aggression.

IBA reports that the head of the Hamas military wing Ahmed al-Jaabari was killed a short time ago, along with a second operative and al-Jaabari's son, after an Israeli aircraft fired a rocket at his car in the Gaza Strip. The IDF stressed that this is an ongoing operation, the IDF chief of staff is overseeing the operation, and al-Jaabari is not the only target. The purpose is to stop the constant barrage of rockets on the south of Israel. Residents living in southern Israel close to the Gaza border are urged to remain vigilant throughout the evening hours. The incident came hours after a rocket barrage on southern Israel. Al-Jaabari oversaw the firing of Qassam rockets into Israel, and also oversaw the imprisonment of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Speaking at a meeting of regional town heads in Beersheba, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the fighting is not over, and promised that the terrorists would have a "heavy price to pay." He met earlier with the Security Cabinet, which decided to halt the army fire into Gaza as long as the rocket fire stops. They also agreed that if the rocket fire is renewed, Israel would increase the severity of its response.

The Iron Dome system was bolstered today in southern Israel to guard against missile attacks from the Gaza Strip. An Iron Dome missile battery was redeployed in the Negev town of Netivot, two days after Grad rockets landed in a neighborhood and factory in the town, causing much damage, and leading to 30 people being treated for shock. Residents said they feel "safer" now that the system is in place, and requested in not be removed even after the hostilities subside.

In light of the Iron Dome's success, its creators, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, invited correspondents to take an up-close look at the short-range rocket defense battery, which has attracted international interest.

Press TV reports that the United States, Israel's closest ally, has defended Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, saying it will stand by Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Egypt has strongly condemned the Israeli assaults, and has called on Tel Aviv to immediately stop the attacks. The Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt's health minister are calling on President Mohamed Morsi to reconsider all treaties and ties with Israel. The acting chief of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has also condemned the attacks, and called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League to discuss the Israeli aggressions.

Damascus has strongly condemned the meeting of Syrian opposition groups in Qatar as a "declaration of war" against the country. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad says that the unity deal signed by the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad rejects any dialogue with Damascus. Meqdad also slammed France for recognizing the opposition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, accusing Paris of reviving its "colonial past." Following the recognition, French President Francois Hollande has said that Paris is considering giving weapons to the opposition.

Presenter, Female #1
More than 60 people were killed today by the gunfire of al-Assad's brigades. Most were killed in Damascus and its countryside during the ongoing military escalation and the use of different kinds of heavy weaponry in most cities and towns. At the same time, fierce clashes on multiple fronts took place between al-Assad's army and the Free Army.

Reporter, Male #1
Clashes made headlines in the past few hours, as they occurred on multiple fronts. Fierce battles took place between the two armies, the Syrian and the Free, in the south of the capital, Damascus, and in the al-Tadamon and al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhoods. The battles were accompanied by the shelling of the southern neighborhoods of Damascus.

Reporter, Male #1
In the countryside of Damascus, especially in the city of Harasta, violent shelling of residential houses continued. The shelling reached areas in the eastern Ghouta. In Aleppo, that has been witnessing daily battles for nearly four months, the Free Army was able to take control of the Kindi Hospital and of a regime checkpoint after attacking it.

Reporter, Male #1
In al-Hasaka Province, war planes carried out several air raids, specifically on the city of Ras al-Ain, which the Free Army seized days ago. In Idlib, violent clashes between the two armies, the Syrian and the Free, took place particularly at the southern entrance of the city of Maarat al-Numaan.

Reporter, Male #1
Clashes also took place near Wadi al-Daif camp, which has been under siege for a month. In al-Quneitra Province, sporadic clashes took place between regime forces and the free army on the outskirts of Ruwayhina Village that is located outside the demilitarized zone. In addition, a-Assad's army indiscriminately shelled al-Rastan City in Homs. It also rained down a large number of shells on the provinces of Deir az-Zour and Hama. Latakia, Daraa, and al-Hasaka were targets for al-Assad's army, as tanks and warplanes shelled civilian residences, causing deaths and injuries.

Presenter, Male #1
The Jordanian government decided to increase fuel prices between 16 and 32 percent under the pretext of countering the growing budget deficit. The government also adopted a mechanism to alleviate the impact of the price hikes on low and medium-income Jordanians. Salwa al-Sawalka reports from Amman.

Reporter, Female #1
Jordanians woke up this morning to the news of rising fuel prices. The government decided to lift fuel subsidies at fluctuating rates in an attempt to close the budget deficit. Jordanian citizens described the price increases as "huge and unjustifiable," especially considering that salaries remain unchanged.

Guest, Male #2
Even before these price hikes, the people were suffering. The unemployment rate is very high. The decision to raise prices is inappropriate.

Guest, Male #3
It's very expensive. Some fuel prices were doubled. It's unacceptable.

Reporter, Female #1
The price of cooking gas jumped to nearly USD 14 per cylinder. The price of low-grade gasoline rose to nearly USD 22 a cylinder. In addition, the prices of diesel and kerosene increased to nearly USD 20 per cylinder. Observers believe that the government resorted to increasing the prices because the budget could no longer carry the burden of subsidizing basic goods. They are calling for the implementation of a fair mechanism to compensate low and medium-income families.

Guest, Male #4
First, the amount of financial support doesn't exceed 20 piastres a day, which doesn't meet the cost of the cheapest gas cylinder. Second, the economic implications of the decision to increase the prices of basic economic goods, such as energy and others, will lead to a wave of inflation.

Reporter, Female #1
According to the government's compensatory mechanism, the amount of financial aid provided to each member of a family of six or less is USD 100 per year, provided that the total amount of money received by a single family doesn't exceed USD 600 a year. This mechanism applies to families with an annual income that is inferior to USD 1,400.

Reporter, Female #1
Subsidies to some of the most important consumer products were lifted, triggering price hikes. However, according to economists, the dinar did not plummet because of the Jordanians that may have been exempt from this subsidy mechanism that was approved by the government. Salwa al-Sawalka, Dubai TV, Amman.

Presenter, Female #1
In Jordan, protests were held in different parts of the country to condemn the increase in the price of oil products, and clashes erupted between protestors and security forces in different areas.

Reporter, Female #2
On Tuesday night, thousands of Jordanians protested in different parts of the kingdom to condemn the government's disproportionate hike in the price of some oil products, which varied between 10 and 53 percent.

Reporter, Female #2
After announcing the price hike, the capital Amman and Irbid, al-Ramtha, al-Mafraq, al-Karak, and Ma'an, witnessed demonstrations in which thousands participated to protest the decision. Some of them closed off roads with burning tires and others attacked security centers. Protestors called for the downfall of the government and the resignation of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, as they carried signs that read "Revolution of the hungry," and "In whose interest are the price hikes?"

Guest, Male #1
I really hope that they retreat from this decision, and return things to the way they were. That would be better for us. You see what the situation is like, and we are worried about what's coming.

Guest, Male #2
I suggest that I close my shop for six months because of these rent prices. I do not even make money to cover my rent. What's next? It means the state does not care about us, and the government does not care. The people are hungry, and no one cares. Am I right, or what?

Reporter, Female #2
Jordanian sources clarified that major security reinforcements were taken in the area of Gamal Abdel-Nasser Square, or what is known as al-Dakhliya Square, where the sit-in is taking place. Jordanian Darak forces, or riot police, prevented protestors from reaching the prime minister's house and confronted them with tear gas. The Jordanian Public Security Directorate announced that four members of the police were injured by the protestors' gunfire in the governorate of Irbid. A court and a gas station were burned, and clashes also took place in al-Karak Governorate between civilians and Jordanian police. The scope of the demonstrations extended to other governorates. A local source at al-Karak Governorate said protestors burned the court building in the city, and others tried to storm the consumers' institution inside the building.

Presenter, Male #1
In Iraq, a series of bombings rocked the capital Baghdad and three other cities. The attacks mainly targeted the oil rich city of Kirkuk, as four car bombings exploded consecutively, mainly killing civilians. These attacks coincide with others in the city of al-Hillah, the capital of Babel Governorate, and Baquba, the capital of Diyala Province. More details in the following report.

Reporter, Male #2
These are the screams of a mother who lost her son in a new series of attacks that rocked the Iraqi capital Baghdad and three other cities. There are over 10 victims, and today's attack is not different than previous ones. Booby-trapped cars and explosive devices were planted on the streets of Iraq. Four car bombings exploded simultaneously in the city of Kirkuk, 250 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad, in an attack that claimed the most casualties.

Reporter, Male #2
The attacks began with the explosion of a booby-trapped car near the Kurdistan Democratic Party office, which is headed by Massoud Barzani, the president of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Minutes later, another explosion took place after security personnel and bystanders had gathered. The insurgents had adopted these tactics during their previous attacks.

Reporter, Male #2
Another booby-trapped car targeted a military patrol in the city of Hawija, in western Kirkuk, causing casualties. Kirkuk that is home to a mix of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, is witnessing a struggle over the control of the governorate. Another attack took place in Diyala, where a booby-trapped car was left on the main road of Baldroz District in Eastern Baquba, capital of Diyala Governorate.

Reporter, Male #2
In addition, an explosive device was detonated in the neighborhood of Tahrir in central Baquba. This attack left several people injured. In the city of Hillah, the capital of Babel Governorate, police and medical sources said civilians were killed in a car bombing. A local official in Hillah added that the car exploded near a high school for girls and a crowded market, leading to the killing of a number of schoolgirls.

Reporter, Male #2
As for the capital Baghdad, it woke up to the explosion of another car bomb that targeted an official at the Interior Ministry, which led to the death and injury of a number of civilians and policemen.

Reporter, Male #2
These latest attacks come on the eve of the Islamic New Year and the month of Muharram on the lunar calendar that is significant for Shiite Muslims. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, al-Qaeda has previously targeted Iraqis on these religious occasions to reignite the sectarian conflict that reached its peak between 2006 and 2007.

Presenter, Male #1
The Ansar al-Din group, which rules the northern part of Mali with other groups, said it no longer aims to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, across Mali. However, it still wants to impose it in Kida, one of its strongholds in the area.

Reporter, Male #2
These are scenes of people's lives in the northern part of Mali. Poor children are unable to find a field to play ball in except for the mosque's courtyard, from which the cry, "God is great" emanates. This is another scene during which this cry is also heard since Islamist extremists seized power.

Reporter, Male #2
In the backdrop of this shrine's demolition, this person says they vow not to leave a single idol intact in the whole word.

Reporter, Male #2
This is a third scene, a hospital where urgent cases are transferred. Among its guests is this patient, whose hand and foot were cut off in a dispute. It was an execution of the gunmen's view of Islamic law.

Reporter, Male #2
Amid all these scenes, life is proceeding in a normal manner, as normal as Ansar al-Din, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and the Movement of Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, who seized power in the area, allow it.

Reporter, Male #2
On Tuesday, the African Union approved a plan for military intervention in Mali to assist its government to regain control of the entire country. The economic bloc of West African states, known as ECOWAS, approved sending an international military force to Mali. It will consist of 3,300 soldiers, most of whom are from Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso. All that remains is for the African Union to present the plan to the United Nations Security Council for its approval.

Reporter, Male #2
The international envoy to al-Sahel and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is hoping to take advantage of that time to create suitable conditions for negotiations. He said the target is to protect the cohesiveness of the country and the government.

Guest, Male #3
The first step, clearly, is to work on unifying the government in Mali. The second goal is a shared goal to protect and guarantee the unity of the country that is currently divided.

Reporter, Male #2
Suitable conditions need time, and Europe, according to French President Francois Hollande, will only provide training and logistical support. The results of the negotiations, or talks about a military intervention, are unresolved. In the meantime, citizens may become accustomed to this scene of people getting pelted with stones.

A high-ranking Russian delegation is in Tehran for talks with senior Iranian officials. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov is meeting with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Dr. Saeed Jalili. The aim of the meeting is to discuss future talks with Iran on the P5+1 group, and the ongoing crisis in Syria.

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