Quds News Network – March 27, 025
Libya’s Grand Mufti Calls on Arab Fighter Pilots to Strike Israel
Tripoli (Quds News Network)- Libya’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ghariani, has called on Arab and Muslim fighter pilots to launch airstrikes against the occupation state of Israel. He urged them to act immediately without waiting for permission from their governments and rulers, warning that inaction in the face of oppression leads to destruction.
“You have seen these massacres for months. What are you waiting for?” Al-Ghariani said. “Arab and Muslim armies, pilots flying MiGs and other aircraft—why do you hesitate? Do you wait for orders from the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt, or the leader of Saudi Arabia? Never! If you do not rise for your dignity, for your brothers, and for your faith, you will perish.”
Al-Ghariani condemned Arab leaders and their militaries for failing to intervene. “Even the sense of honor that once pushed people to defend the oppressed is gone,” he said. “If just three or four pilots launched operations on Israel, we would still achieve honor and dignity.”
His comments come as Israel continues its genocide in Gaza, now lasting over a year and a half. The siege and relentless bombings have killed over 164,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Mass starvation has spread, and entire neighborhoods have been wiped out. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Europe provide unlimited support for Israel.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has charged Israeli officials with war crimes. Human rights groups and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have classified Israel’s actions as genocide.
Despite global outrage, Israel continues its attacks with backing from the U.S. and Europe, leaving millions of Palestinians in an unlivable war zone.
https://qudsnen.co/libyas-grand-mufti-calls-on-arab-fighter-pilots-to-strike-israel/?amp
How many children has 'Israel' killed in Gaza?
Gaza’s Ministry of Health released data detailing the total number of children killed by the Israeli occupation between October 7, 2023, and March 23, 2025. The ministry also categorized the martyred children by age group, revealing that 36.8% were between 6 and 12 years old. Tragically, 274 children were born during the war, only to be killed soon after.
https://english.almayadeen.net/infograph/how-many-children-has--israel--killed-in-gaza
Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades spokesman on al-Quds Day: Resistance to stay
The spokesman for the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine thanked all people who rose on Al Quds Day and declared their support for the Palestinian people.
Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades spokesman, Abu Jamal, affirmed that the resistance "will not lay down its weapons, continuing the path of struggle until Palestine is free and independent."
During the commemoration of al-Quds Day on Friday, Abu Jamal stressed that the Palestinian people's resistance is legitimate and will continue as long as the occupation persists, affirming the defense of the people and the land until the last breath.
The spokesman for the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine thanked "all the free peoples who rose on International al-Quds Day and declared their complete support for the Palestinian people."
The spokesman asserted that Palestinian people continue to be subjected to the most heinous forms of terrorism and abuse, emphasizing how world powers " openly participate in the slaughter of the Palestinian people" rather than support them and stand with them in the face of injustice and oppression.
He called on all people robbed of their will to change the balance of power in the world, citing it was time to "support the Palestinians," and adding that history will show no mercy to anyone.
It is noteworthy that Al-Quds Brigades published a pre-recorded speech by the late spokesperson of the PIJ's military wing, Abu Hamza, during the commemoration of Al-Quds Day on Friday.
In the speech, the martyr Abu Hamza affirmed "commitment to the path of resistance and armed struggle until liberation," pointing out that the military and war course in "Al-Aqsa Flood will inevitably lay the foundation for the demise" of the Israeli occupation entity.
He goes on to say, "We are witnessing a remarkable achievement and an unparalleled display of resilience in the 'Al-Aqsa Flood' battle, which has dealt a severe blow to the Zionist agenda," adding that "an axis was formed to face the Western-Zionist project, that is the axis of resistance from Palestine to Lebanon to Yemen to Iran and Iraq."
He also called for an end to normalization with the Israeli occupation and the complete severance of ties with it. Emphasizing the need for Islamic unity, he urged support for the Palestinian people and their resistance while strengthening their resilience.
He explained that the establishment of the Zionist entity in Palestine was a clear extension of oppressive colonialism aimed at preventing any unity in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
Abu Hamza's speech emphasized that Yemen's presence marked a difference in Operation al-Aqsa Flood while noting that the popular marches in al-Sabe'en Square "served as a strong motivation for the Yemeni Armed Forces to continue and persist with determination and resolve."
The Al-Quds Brigades spokesperson saluted the leader of Ansar Allah, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, adding that the Palestinian Resistance was listening carefully to his speeches regarding the battle in Gaza.
Explainer: What does Iran's newly-unveiled largest subterranean 'missile city' reveal?
By Ivan Kesic
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday unveiled its largest underground missile city at an undisclosed location, sending a powerful message to enemies about Iran's growing military prowess and complete readiness for any eventuality.
The subterranean facility was revealed in the presence of Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and IRGC Aerospace Commander, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
Its unveiling comes amid escalating threats and blatant warmongering from the Donald Trump administration and the Israeli regime, prompting Iran to showcase its military preparedness to defend the homeland.
Just three days prior, the IRGC had unveiled new missile systems on three strategic islands in the Persian Gulf, capable of striking enemy bases, vessels, and assets across the region.
In recent years, the IRGC has released images of various underground bases, but this latest facility stands out as the largest yet, both in scale and firepower.
What ballistic missiles are stored in this underground base?
During the latest unveiling, it was revealed that a wide array of ballistic missiles—including Kheibar Shekan, Haj Qasem, Emad, Sajjil, and Ghadr-H, as well as Paveh cruise missiles—are stored in this missile city.
In a single frame, at least 78 Kheibar Shekan or Haj Qasem missiles were visible, with additional footage showing tunnels filled with dozens more, suggesting that the base houses at least hundreds, if not thousands, of missiles.
Some of these missiles, such as Kheibar Shekan, Ghadr, and Emad, were used in the True Promise I and II retaliatory operations against the Zionist entity last year that sent shockwaves across the world.
These operations demonstrated Iran’s capability to strike Israeli military and intelligence targets with high precision, penetrating the much-hyped and advanced Israeli and American air defense systems.
During his visit to the facility, Major General Bagheri emphasized that "Iran’s iron fist is far stronger today than before," stating that the current missile capacity is ten times greater than during past operations.
He further asserted that "the enemy will definitely fall behind in this balance of power," signaling Iran’s continued advancement in missile development and underground military infrastructure.
What is the purpose of underground bases?
Iran’s underground missile bases are fortified military facilities constructed beneath the Earth's surface to store, maintain, and launch ballistic missiles of short (SRBM), medium (MRBM), and intermediate range (IRBM).
Often referred to as "missile cities" by Iranian officials, these bases form a key component of Iran's defense strategy, designed to shield its vast and burgeoning missile arsenal from detection and destruction during conflicts.
In addition to offering natural protection against aerial threats, these underground bases allow military operations to be carried out in complete secrecy, avoiding exposure to aerial reconnaissance.
The exact number of these facilities remains a closely guarded secret, but estimates suggest there are dozens of them, mostly located in the western mountainous regions.
Brigadier General Hajizadeh in a TV interview recently commented on the vast number of missile bases in the country, stating, "If we unveil a missile city every week for the next two years, it will still not be finished."
The IRGC has frequently released footage from these underground bases, and analysis of tunnel shapes and weaponry confirms that they are distinct facilities.
In 2018, the IRGC announced the relocation of missile factories to underground bases, marking the first time images from a subterranean ballistic missile production plant were publicly released.
Beyond missile bases, Iran has also constructed underground air bases for jet fighters, underground naval bases for speedboats and missiles, and underground drone facilities.
How protected are these underground bases?
With modern satellite, reconnaissance, and intelligence technology, fully concealing the locations of such underground bases is impossible, particularly due to excavation debris and construction logistics.
However, this does not make them vulnerable, as they are typically carved into mountains, with depths reported to reach up to 500 meters, providing protection against airstrikes and nearly all bunker-busting munitions.
All critical facilities are located hundreds of meters inside the mountains and are practically indestructible, with multiple entrances and exits being their only potential weak points.
To mitigate this, each base has up to several dozen entrances. The destruction of one or even a few does not cause significant damage, as they are typically hundreds or thousands of meters apart, separated by multiple tunnel gates.
Iran has refined camouflage techniques and the creation of false entrances to ensure operational continuity, even under complete enemy air dominance.
Based on published images and videos, these bases feature arched tunnel designs, optimal for load distribution, arranged in either linear or grid formations.
Tunnels range from 6 to 12 meters in width, sometimes reinforced with concrete ceilings, and serve as corridors, missile storage areas, and parking spaces for transporter-erector launchers (TELs).
In some cases, high halls are visible, suggesting the utilization of natural caves to reduce excavation costs and complicate hostile intelligence assessments based on excavation debris.
How are ballistic missiles stored in these bases launched?
Ballistic missiles stored in these bases are launched in two ways: either by deploying the transporter-erector launcher into the open or using vertical silos.
Each base contains numerous silos—often several dozen—as they, along with entrances, are potential vulnerabilities.
Once a silo is used, the hot exhaust trail from rocket engines irreversibly reveals its position, making it a prime target for aerial bombs or cruise missiles.
To counter this, Iran has developed unique underground launch methods to enhance both effectiveness and stealth.
In 2020, Iran released footage of an underground missile system capable of launching multiple ballistic missiles from a single silo in rapid succession.
In other countries with underground missile bases—where such facilities are typically used for bulky intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) within nuclear deterrence strategies—each silo usually holds only one missile.
By contrast, Iran’s system functions more like a "semi-automatic" magazine-fed launcher, rather than a "single-shot" silo.
Footage shows five Emad missiles positioned for vertical launch on a single rail car, which then moves down a high tunnel toward the launch site.
The tunnel’s length and rail system suggest it can rapidly launch dozens of missiles before a potential counterstrike, with multiple silo openings likely enabling continuous barrages.
That same year, during the Payambar-e-A'azam (The Great Prophet) 14 drills, Iran demonstrated a unique camouflaged underground ballistic missile launch, bypassing conventional platforms and equipment.
Brigadier General Hajizadeh stated that Iran was the first country in the world to achieve such a launch capability, posing significant challenges to enemy intelligence agencies.
The released video shows two missiles launching from different locations on what appears to be an untouched surface, suggesting that the vertical launch tubes were constructed from below rather than being dug from above and later camouflaged.
This demonstration signaled that Iran’s underground missile bases, often covering dozens of square kilometers, may house countless concealed silos.
Turkey’s political unrest to significantly weaken Erdoğan’s grip on power: Analyst
By Farzaneh Ashoorioun
Protests in Turkey against the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu persist despite police crackdowns and the arrest of demonstrators. The ban on public gatherings in Turkey's three largest cities—Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara—has been extended until April 1.
Press TV website spoke with Mehdi Seif Tabrizi, a strategic affairs analyst who has worked extensively on Turkish politics, on the implications of the simmering unrest for Turkey and the political future of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Q. Turkey has been embroiled in widespread protests in recent weeks over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. What are the charges against him?
A. The charges against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and currently the only official electoral rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey’s early elections, are diverse and extensive. These include accepting bribes, collaborating with “terrorist organizations,” establishing shell companies to bypass municipal regulations and unlawfully secure projects, and cooperating with Kurdish groups in municipal elections. There are also allegations of forging academic credentials, with his master’s degree revoked by the university nearly 20 years later.
It is evident that many of these charges are politically motivated. The annulment of his academic degree effectively disqualifies İmamoğlu from running in the elections. Reports indicate that during two interrogation sessions, he was cleared of allegations regarding ties to terrorist organizations. However, financial corruption accusations remain, which, given his successful tenure as Istanbul’s mayor, also appear to have political motivations.
Q. How does İmamoğlu’s arrest impact Turkish politics, given that he is seen as Erdoğan’s strongest political rival at the moment?
A. The impact of İmamoğlu’s arrest can be analyzed in two broad categories:
- Effects on political parties’ operations
- The prevailing political atmosphere in Turkish society
- The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is expected to employ the same strategy against opposition parties as it did following the 2016 coup attempt. The first phase will likely involve mass arrests, followed by further detentions under the pretext of national security threats. This could lead to the imprisonment of other key figures, such as Özgür Özel, the current leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), along with other senior members.
There are already rumors of the potential arrest of Mansur Yavaş, the popular mayor of Ankara and another major rival to Erdoğan. However, the current political climate poses a challenge for Erdoğan, as opposition parties that previously had no ideological alignment with the CHP have now expressed solidarity with them in recent protests.
The broader societal impact of Erdoğan’s actions could be even more severe, potentially deepening political divisions in Turkey. His miscalculated move has reinforced the perception that democracy in the country is eroding. The protests are not limited to secular groups—segments of Turkey’s religious population, including former Erdoğan supporters, have also joined the demonstrations.
Q. Is this part of a strategy to sideline or remove rivals before the next election?
A. These actions can be fully interpreted within this context. Even in the previous Turkish presidential election, İmamoğlu was Erdoğan’s main rival. However, in the months leading up to the election, the Turkish judiciary brought charges against him.
According to Turkey’s electoral laws, a candidate cannot run if they have an open legal case. As a result, İmamoğlu was barred from the final stage of the presidential race, despite having a strong chance of winning.
Now, based on recent polls, Erdoğan’s party has concluded that if the current trend continues, his chances of winning any early election will drop significantly. Therefore, by resorting to the same strategy, they have once again moved to eliminate political rivals.
Q. What are the key demands of protesters? Is it just about İmamoğlu’s release?
A. Initially, protesters—especially students in Turkish universities—demanded the release of Istanbul’s popular mayor, İmamoğlu.
However, due to the police response and politicians’ handling of the situation, their demands have evolved. Now, the primary demand of Turkish youth and protesters is Erdoğan’s resignation and his departure from office.
Q. Is the scope of ongoing protests broader than just the opposition party?
A. With several days having passed since the protests began, many political parties and people from various political and religious backgrounds have expressed solidarity and support for the core group of demonstrators.
Q. Will the opposition unite or remain divided?
A. Currently, a relatively fragile alliance has formed among opposition forces. However, the government’s approach toward political parties and the security forces’ handling of protesters will play a crucial role in determining whether the opposition strengthens or remains fragmented.
Q. How independent is the Turkish judiciary in light of this case?
A. Following the failed 2016 coup, Erdoğan carried out a deep purge within the military and judiciary. At present, it is evident that all key decision-making bodies within Turkey’s judiciary are controlled by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). As a result, we can say, the judiciary lacks independence in political matters.
Q. How has the international community responded to the protests in Turkey? How might this situation affect Turkey’s foreign relations?
A. One key reason why these protests are unlikely to lead to structural political change is the absence of foreign support.
European powers are reluctant to alienate Turkey or distance themselves from Erdoğan, as they view Turkey as a crucial ally in countering Trump’s influence in the current geopolitical landscape. The situation in Syria also discourages the US from confronting Turkey, as Istanbul effectively controls the Jolani-led administration in Damascus.
Similarly, Arab countries, due to their strategic interests in Syria, prefer to increase their influence within Syria’s ruling structure rather than clashing with an Ikhwani-led government in Damascus and Istanbul.
Although Russia’s dependence on Turkey—heightened due to the war in Ukraine—has somewhat decreased, Moscow still favors Erdoğan’s continued rule. Consequently, Western nations and institutions are expected to limit their response to verbal statements rather than taking substantive action.
Q. Has the media been able to cover the protests in an unbiased manner?
A. With nearly 80 percent of Turkish media under state control, open and unbiased coverage of the protests is unlikely. Additionally, several journalists have reportedly been arrested in recent days.
Q. Could the protests escalate into a deeper crisis?
A. Turkey’s state institutions are extremely robust, particularly since Erdoğan has heavily focused on consolidating them since the 2016 coup attempt. While these protests are unlikely to lead to a structural shift in government or Erdoğan’s removal, they will undoubtedly influence Turkey’s upcoming elections.
Regardless of whether İmamoğlu, Mansur Yavaş, or another candidate runs against Erdoğan, Turkish society will likely vote primarily to oppose Erdoğan’s 30-year rule.
Q. How will this unrest affect Turkey’s economy?
A. Following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, the Turkish lira plummeted to its lowest level in decades, and the stock market reacted sharply negatively. With inflation exceeding 90 percent in recent years, these developments will likely deepen public dissatisfaction. This economic instability could become Erdoğan’s Achilles' heel in the upcoming elections.
Q. How does this crisis compare to previous ones in Turkey?
A. The current crisis appears to have broader and more profound implications, as it has united various political parties and, most importantly, diverse segments of Turkish society under a common cause. This significantly weakens Erdoğan’s ability to consolidate support ahead of the elections.
Palestinian Information Center – March 29, 2025
65 American raids on Yemen in 24 hours
SANA’A, (PIC)
American warplanes launched 65 raids on various Yemeni targets over the past 24 hours, according to local media sources on Saturday
.
They said that fresh raids were reported today while a series of raids were launched on Friday evening that killed at least one citizen and wounded several others.
The sources said that 11 raids were launched on the capital Sana’a that included strikes on its international airport. 17 other raids were launched on Sa’da in northern Yemen, the Ansar Allah’s stronghold, while 37 others were reported on Amran, Jauf, Hodeida, and Ma’rib governorates.
Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, the leader of the Ansar Allah group said in a televised speech on Friday night that the American raids hit civilian targets contrary to US claims of targeting military sites and installations.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/03/29/336413/
