Narratives of power in the discursive construction of the enemy: Al- Hurra's news frames in the coverage of Soleimani's assassination
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Abstract
This article analyzes the narrative construction through framing employed by Al-Hurra channel in the coverage of the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, which took place in January 2020. The main objective is to identify the dominant approaches, the visual and discursive resources used, and to examine the channel's role as a public diplomacy tool of the U.S. government vis-à-vis the Arab audience. To this end, a descriptive methodology is applied through content analysis to all broadcasts of the Al-Hurra Tonight program during the month following the attack. The results reveal a predominant use of satellite interviews and interpretive reporting, a strong presence of analysts aligned with the official narrative, and a consistent portrayal of Soleimani as a threat to U.S. interests. The news frames held Iran and its allied militias responsible, positioning Iraq as an indirect theater of the conflict. This narrative justified military action and presented the diplomatic path as a legitimate alternative. The conclusions indicate that Al-Hurra did not limit itself to reporting but operated as a strategic actor in the construction of a pro-U.S. narrative, consolidating perspectives aimed at shaping public perception in the Arab region.
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