The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) expects that Russia, Turkey and Iran will reach a consensus to remove the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar Al-Assad, and establish a ceasefire in exchange for forming a transitional government that includes the opposition, members of the regime and the Syrian Democratic Forces …
Read More »Yearly Archives: 2020
Turkey’s PKK Conflict: A Visual Explainer
Context: Turkey’s conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – recognised as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU – continues in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq. In northern Syria, Ankara and the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, the People’s Protection Forces (YPG), remain pitted against each other. On …
Read More »The US and Iran are still perilously close to conflict
Even amid the coronavirus crisis, the countries are trading threats. A de-escalation hotline is desperately needed.
Read More »Washington needs to find a new way of dealing with Lebanon
For too long, Washington has been an accomplice of the rampant corruption in Lebanon, choosing to look the other way as it deals with officials known to be implicated in various corrupt schemes. Over the years, Lebanon has continued to run up unsustainable debts, only to be bailed out by …
Read More »Talking about water pipes: The fraught reconstruction of Syria’s Yarmouk camp
Toward the end of last year, officials in Damascus announced they were about to release reconstruction plans for Yarmouk camp and several other bombed-out suburbs of the Syrian capital.
Read More »Russia signals growing dissatisfaction with Syria’s Assad regime
In recent weeks, a flurry of commentary from prominent voices and publications in Russia has seen a wave of criticism directed at Syria’s Assad regime. From RIA FAN to Pravda, Kommersant and the Valdai Club, accusations have been leveled against the regime of corruption, warlordism, and incompetence, as well as …
Read More »It's not about the Patriots
The best way to describe the Trump administration’s decision to remove Patriot missile defense systems from Saudi Arabia is by highlighting its military irrelevance and political significance. Indeed, in no way does this move lessen our ability to respond to Iranian aggression if we choose to. We can do that …
Read More »EU economy will contract 7.5% this year in worst economic shock since Great Depression
The coronavirus pandemic will plunge most of Europe into its worst recession since the 1930s, according to a grim forecast released by the European Commission (EC).
Read More »China Accuses Pompeo of Lying About Origin of Coronavirus
China accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday of “wantonly spewing poison and spreading lies” about the origin of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
Read More »U.S., U.K. Ships Operate in the Barents Sea
From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs BARENTS SEA (NNS) — Four U.S. Navy ships and a Royal Navy ship entered the Barents Sea, working together to conduct maritime security operations in the challenging environmental conditions above the Arctic Circle, May 4, 2020.
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