to actually support launches is a very potentially lucrative endeavor for any country to be taking parted. to have a space sought in the u. k. does make a lot of sense because we want to be a part of the streaming space sector. there are other motivations. breakfast britain wants to beat the hugh and become the 1st european country to launch a space rocket from its own soil on the continent. although the coming commercial space era will be much less geopolitical than the 1st space rates last century, international rivalries do still feature. reach helen's out is era comal. ah, this is out there. these are the top stories. us forces have launched a drone strike in afghanistan. capital kabul targeting would be suicide bombers. they say plan to attack the cities port. according to some media reports, 9 members of one family, including 6 children,

are among the dead. gabriel alexander has moved from washington dc the sent come spokesperson saying that they are investigating that they are aware of the media reports. and that they are saying that they cannot yet confirm that. but in the statement, they are saying that there were powerful subsequent explosions after the drone strike insinuating that the drone strike hit the vehicle. and then there were that caused one explosion, killing those inside. but then there were perhaps, according to the sent com, subsequent explosions as well emanating from the vehicle. here as president joe biden has taken part in his ceremony to receive the bodies of service personnel killed in campbell or among the 175 people who died in a suicide bombing at the airport. on thursday. i can either has made land for along the u. s. gulf coast as a powerful category for storm. hundreds of thousands of people have been taking

shelter authorities, a warning of an extremely dangerous storm surge and catastrophic winds. meanwhile, hurricane nora has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it moves its way up mexico specific coast to angel reins and heavy winds. have damaged roads and power lines. several palestinians have been injured during protests, along the border separating the strip from israel, israeli, all me find it demonstrated with setting fire firing rocks and explosive devices. the protest took place after strikes on a ledge, thomas target. and who's the rebels of attack? t amans largest base in the south. 30 soldiers were killed as he headline news continues here out there out and i story news news,

news. news . bagdad has 1st to the gathering of the region main players, but can they reach common grounds? and why is the united states this is inside story, ah, the hello there and welcome to the program. i'm the star. now iraq has been holding a regional son. it aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation in the middle east. now its hopes that these talks will encourage its neighbors to talk to each other, instead of settling scores on its territory. this meeting comes months after regional rivals, iran and saudi arabia resumed contact,

but failed to reach breakthrough. since 2003, iraq has been a battle ground for the united states and especially for iran, after the toppling of former president saddam hussein. it's hopes that what wasn't achieved through war could now be achieved through negotiation. yet the united states was no, should be absent. well, speak to our guest in just a moment, but 1st muffled up why he has this report for us from baghdad. iraq stability is key to this debility of the whole region. this is how regional leaders participating in the data conference for corporation and partnership concluded it on saturday. the summer twitch discussed economic integration and investment projects between the participants also addressed political and security challenges facing iraq, including the possible resurgence of self. iraqi official say it's an opportunity to use tension in the middle east. s o d and rain. you know,

officials hill talks on the sidelines of the summit. the fact that we managed to bring private countries together on the same table and initiate dialogue between them is not only important to them in us, but the whole region. the meeting, which was cor denied by france, also addressed the water crisis. what she did the war in yemen, and the devastating comic and political situation in lebanon. when milan, when i was, i think it's promising because it's laid the foundation to involving iraq in more bilateral meetings with the participant countries in the future. the presence of france and the international organizations gives credit to this summit. international and regional comments have been held to discuss in a stability in iraq for the cage. now it's hosting this one to show it's ready to regain a rule in the region and says it will be neutral in ongoing conflicts. back

in june, iraq has a trilateral summit to establish trade integration and development projects with egypt and jordan. saturday summit is another step in sending a message of solidity with a rock of 30 years of isolation. brewer had al jazeera but that the author more on this, i am joined by our guests in baghdad. we have ali ambry, he's a political analyst, and a civil activist in kuwait city about our safe and assistant professor wait university and also a non resident fellow at the carnegie middle east center and into iran side miss stuff, a full session. and iran affairs analyst and a public diplomacy strategist. thank you for joining us gentlemen. on a warm welcome to you all. now i do think it's rather striking that a country that has itself been

a battle ground for so many interest is now proposing that it be an arena for conflict resolution. i understand a rocky prime minister the stuff how to me has been facilitating what 3 rounds now of talks between iran and saudi arabia since march april this year. but let me start with you. how much is this process being driven by how to me himself? let me 1st start by expressing the, the interest and the support and excitement of citizens across the gulf region about this happening. there has been a lot of doubt as to why i number one this is taking place now. and number 2, why is about the dad saying the stroke? and i think neither should be surprised. number one, we've seen the region in 2021. take a more reconciliate tory tradition transition. if you may, starting with an early summit in january and saudi arabia going with it across law,

among the gulf states, the talks and by the dives, for between the iranians and the thousands. even if you know, different levels, those are all encouraging sign. and for about that to be hosting the event and some would say, but that has enough domestic issues. why are they looking at the foreign policy front? but look for iraq, it's interconnected. iraq has been a battle ground for various states in the region. and i think it's presenting itself as the regional stabilizing force is the welcome addition for the arab world and for the region at large. i think the causing me administration has done well to be pushing for this role. and it comes back to a backdrop of as you know, escalations on the tracy fund, whether it's in a lot of done or in other areas. so this hopefully would push us towards more understanding peace and listening to one another. well speaking of security issues,

i see that there was a fee attack on a yeah, many base. how to housing saudi led forces leaving 30 dead literally in the hours just off to the summit, given that this was about fostering dialogue and trying to reach a space where we can have a conversation about peace and the stuff that let me ask you, does this then feel like really nothing has changed. well, you know, the initiative is very much encouraging because it's interesting to see that after decades that some are regional state or, you know, or they interested all their security matters into the hands of the united states. and they were all part and parcel of the u. s. foreign policy and the region. and this is lead only to this area, ration of crises in this part of the world. now the regional states are in back in order to discuss their issues with each other in order to enhance understanding

among each other. and this is just the beginning. there needs to be more and more rounds of talks between, especially the original king, things like iran installed the radio. well unfortunately the so these have been looking at talks direct talks with iran from a tactical view and not from a strategic viewpoint. and they have just focused on yemen and thinking that iran has proxies in there. why this is not the case. the yemenis are iranian allies like is below her mouth and many others like see we are like iraq. we view. ready the gimonis as our allies. so we do not order them though we do have influence in yemen. but what matters now is that the soviet should realize that if one to establish some kind of security and resolve the problems,

they need to all give more care. and look at this issue from the strategic viewpoint to discuss all conflicts and the region with alon in order to practice a real conflict resolution approach with iran. and do not confine issues to yemen where they are, their, you know, attack and they are most the day that they are somehow struck in yemen. and they just want to resolve their problem in yemen. they need to have a more comprehensive viewpoint, but still i do believe with mr already in power with a kind of a can nomic agenda that he's pursuing. there is a furious chance that we see better an improvement of ties if the so these really take the chance before it's becoming too late. we'll see whether it's conversations go now. but you mentioned some domestic issues there. i noticed that

iraq selections themselves really just around the corner. how much is this summit then about helping the region as we've been talking about, or rather potentially helping iraq itself, projects stability and, and maybe encourage some infrastructure investment ali. let me read that one to you to start of course the summit as as a good step forward. but is it enough? unfortunately, we have seen over the case in this region that conflict as a way going forward rather than solving conflicts and living in peace and prosperity. and unfortunately, all countries in this region have lost a lot of them economy and developmental potentials going through a lot of conflicts,

wars and fractions. and still of the situation has not really changed before or after the summer. and iraq suffering from continue on conflict about the region and among the countries that they mainly the iranians and the straight. at alia, and do we have no, we have no say in this conflict to, to be frank. and unfortunately, has always been specially after 2003 the battle zone for this conflict. and everybody's trying to show his friends over the other on the iraqi soil and even they did not or do not think of sovereignty and in future. the most important thing for these countries is to get benefits out of the situation. this has been said. unfortunately,

the domestic situation in iraq is also played a role in this conflict. and the given the transpose the different countries to continue fighting over the soil. so the summit is a good step forward, but out of the intentions of different countries participating in summit is truly towards solving the problems of the region and looking forward to far more prosperity, more development, fighting literacy, fighting get poverty, giving opportunities for people and to live a good life and if it's still time to tell and then, but let me bring you in here. how do you think i have managed to get so many regional heavy weights around the table and does he potentially get some political points at home for it? let me 1st, i mean, let me 1st clarify

a situation with iran and sense of the gulf. the gulf cooperation council has very many times has expressed interest and then out the picture with iran and discussing different styles concerning the regional meddling. that takes place. not only in iraq and yemen and other non syria, this has been on the table and as well and other adult space. and you know, there hasn't been much change in that behavior. and i will not speak about how the saudis have changed from a position of combat, think to now reconciliation and maybe the amen ward has a role to play for sure. but there has been a constant theme of trying to lay out all the cards on the table and to try to come up with a framework that speaks to countries as equivalent partners and not to try to impose from one side to the other. i think that's been the impression that the gcs has been trying to push forward and the stuff that i didn't want to bring you. i'll

come back to you in a 2nd, but because i can see mr. shaking his head this. so let me ask you to respond to that. well, that's not the case. as a matter of fact, we do all know that the soul of these, you know, iran is in good terms with some of these person go call person council members like our iran is in good terms with oman. iran doesn't have that to baptize with coal. wait, they are in good turns one way or another. it's the follow these as well as somehow pushed by the u a. e. and of course somehow rain, but mainly the you either push into solving this all of these. it's not been shorter taking any kind of hostile option in the last one or 2 decades against iran, though they're been often dallas all throughout the past one or 2 century. still in the past the case, according to the confessions made by top us former and person officials like joe by

then when he was a wife president hilary clinton. when he was, she was a secretary of state marston dancy, who was the chairman of the joint chief of staff on the obama in 2014. they have all made a lots of confessions that they're wor, militancy was created by mainly follow the array, be supported by the radio, in order to wear off iranian allies. and in order to demolish uranian allies in the region in syria and in iraq 1st. second, we do know that the m b. s. in front of the cameras. mom, mom declared war on iran, taking war to the union street. a couple of weeks later, there were bombings at the uranium parliament. the shrine of them are homer, me as well as in laws on the march in southeast, in iran. and they have not been short of any kind of hostile action against the one that you've used up all their options available. and when they were in alliance

with both trump and neck, ya whole as a regional plan in order to contain iran and the cell. these are still thinking to remain or to give it off. still, even after that, yahoo and trump and both on are gone. they are thinking of that. and that's one of the reasons why they are giving a tactical importance to these talks with iraq. okay. been general dental and i do see it as the tool. okay, go ahead. let me just just last and as they were doing this, iran was offering them several plans for a for, for you know, it's backless mint of security in the region. the hormone piece initiative collective security plans were offered, but you want at the un secured account at the un general assembly by mr. honey couple of years ago. and iran has always been asking them to step forward away from

the united states, away from trans regional power. clearly implement the hope. there are very long differences of opinion here about what is incentivizing these discussions. but we do see there were a number of heads of state that actually showed up in baghdad, but re add and tear on both only sent their foreign ministers. i'm going to throw this one to ali and i'll come back to the other 2 of you gentlemen. in a 2nd, how significant do you think that is correct and i'm going to show in, in a moment, but i know you wanted to come in here as well. would you expect higher level engagement going for an interest you unfortunately, the discussion here shows the situation and who do not listen. you can see that my colleague didn't even have

a chance to mr. better to continue with idea. and when you try to stop them, he didn't to accept your interference because he wants everybody to listen to him. and this is the problem. that's why i'm not listening to each other and we are stuck with the blaming gauge either. we don't look to the future. we don't think of our people politicians in this region do not really think of the most important to values for the people most important interest of the people they think of how they maintain their power, how they expand, been power and this region. and unfortunately, iraqis has always been the victims of this policies and the region, but i'm going to let you come in here, but i do also want to focus on the absence of the u. s. at this meeting. obviously, french president macro was that he correspond to the meeting and i am curious about how we will see the role of the us going forward, especially with the vast transition from the trump administration to the button

administration. so, but i'll let you respond to what the other 2 gentlemen have said, but i would also like you to address book, look, we cannot have sustainable peace without inclusive talk among all partners in the region and concerned international partners in which we speak. i i as equal as equal we cannot go in with one country trying to dictate the agenda. on the other hand, this has been a seat that's been ongoing. and you are asking me if the u. s. was not, was present or not. the iranian statement made us very present. i mean, if you listen to all the speech of, they were all conciliatory. they were all opening their hands and the any one although had traces of that was also attacking. i mean, there was a lot of criticism on certain roles in the, in the country and, and to meet. and not only this, i mean, i'm not sure if this is because it's the new administration in iraq and they're

still picking up. and they're still learning because a, we had wrong information concerning the cross trade between iraq and iran, which broke off correct. good. second. and i will say this could be part of the amateurish nature of the resume. i mean, the protocol with truck, we had a foreign minister standing on the front row, whereas all the other for ministers room and 2nd grow. the 3rd piece and the saudi one. so that, you know, even if it's not intended, it gives you a symbol indication of where things are high. but there has been senior, standing from various countries in the region. i think what the saudis, uranium than the 1st agree are by keeping it up and the foreign minister level is they're, they're checking each other out. and this new see, there is some kind of interest and further the dialogue. but as my friend from that has mentioned, there needs to be much more concerted effort. and we need,

as i said, to get to lay our cards very clearly on the table. and, and it's not about only further in one interest and isolation of the interests of other countries. well, there was a progress on the time maybe. yeah, no, i'm sorry. i want to bring in good the stuff i, i know that you're not agreeing again. i do want to also address the nuclear deal within this context because obviously that's a big issue that was not necessarily the forefront of these discussions, but very much present. so let me ask you to address what butter has said that, but also to discuss where we're at with those negotiations and, and how that might be affecting the way that, that countries in the region are actually having conversations with each other. oh, i was saying when they were you know, trying to exercise their hot bite access to the old or we can the ring in

establishment these. ready lum republican here, iran was offering us all of these, the u. e and others are 2 joint talks to resolve conflict, all inclusive talks. and then they were shrugging off and they knew steel. but the, so these and their allies know pretty well that after iran is after the peak of hardship on the sanctions, the maximum pressure fail to, you know, push towards regional miss talks with the united states. though iran has always a stress that is ready to go for talk with the regional states, not with the united states. iran never agrees to discuss these issues with a country dest thousands of miles away. but it's always open for talks all inclusive talks with the regional states, especially those on the southern rims of the persian gulf. and now that iran is

after the peak of hardship they know pretty well in re os. damn. if the nuclear deal is a revived on their president, right, you see, and by then, then the soul of these will be marginalized. some of these and their allies will be marginalized in regional equations. they know we've pretty well, and they are worried about that. so i believe the follow these should take the chance because they have used up all their options and the nuclear, the could be revised on the new president and they would lose their power a more and more and their staff will be weekend as iran is just gaining energy and strength after all, those hardship. and by the way, i know you're sure this time, well, what's it about mr. at the ly young? that's just maybe a height. if you got time, i'll explain what happened in that photo op. okay. i want to put that on pause

there because i do want to turn to what we've seen in afghanistan over the last few days. obviously they're all major security concerns for the region. and i don't want to leave that aside. in this discussion, ali, let me ask you, then about the i saw thread, we've obviously seen that it remains. obviously, iraq does have a history with iso that was presumably also very high on the agenda at this meeting . do you think that there was any headway made here and i'm going to ask you to be brief. well, of the buckets and you're still. and that also in syria and the benny probably lies the bible on regional power or international power to create a mess in iraq and in the region. so. ready our tool, which has been used and can be used and will be used unfortunately,

and the reason one other. so it's any of the regional or international followed and do the keys and pay as usual. so i would love very much to see these regional powers the gulf country is turkey, egypt, jordan, iranian, of course, to sit together and goodwill and good intentions to stop blaming each other on for the current situation or for the past. and did try to look for the future, what is best for these countries, for your countries, for all of us, how we can live in peace and, and, and reconciliation and how we can resolve all the conflicts. clearly i say conflict, hence, contradiction. i may say, well, at least we're having a dialogue or all 4 of us here are having a dialogue and hopefully the country is that we're talking about will also continue to have a dialogue. surely that is a step in the right direction. well, thank you to all about ali ambry,

about our safe and say it myself as your session and thank you to for watching. you can see this program again anytime by visiting our website that's out there a dot com. and for further discussion do goes my facebook page that facebook dot com forward slash a inside story. well, you can also always join the conversation on twitter. handle is at a inside story for me and you pay the whole team here and the wife and the news news news news, news

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but mil country is alike and its my job to shed light on how and why. oh, i money inside and with yourself. stories on al jazeera, us forces have launched a drones strike it off cobblestones. capital kabul targeting would be suicide bombers. they say, plan to attack the airport. according to some media reports, non members of one family, including 6 children, are among the dead. the us central command has responded to those media reports. gabriel alexander has more on this the sent com spokesperson saying that they are investigating that they are aware of the media reports and that they are saying that they can not yet confirmed.