Yearly Archives: 2021

Will Russia Succeed in Taking Aleppo Airport Out of the Grip of Iran?

The recent signature of a memorandum of understanding in the Aleppo International Airport might accentuate the rivalry between Iran and Russia, according to Syria Television. In late July, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the regime’s General Civil Aviation Corporation in Syria and a transport and logistics company …

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Report: Iran Most Dangerous Actor in Syria, but its Success is Limited

A report by Center for Contemporary Studies identified Iran as the “most dangerous” player in Syria, but claims that Tehran’s success in the country remains limited, according to al-Modon. According to a study prepared by the Center for Contemporary Studies, Iran is the most prominent and dangerous actor in Syria, …

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Russian Airstrikes on Opposition Factions in Idleb

On Thursday, Russian warplanes launched airstrikes on Turkish-backed armed factions’ sites south of Idleb, northwest Syria, according to North Press. On Thursday, Russian warplanes launched airstrikes on Turkish-backed armed opposition factions’ sites south of Idleb, northwest Syria. Russian warplanes targeted armed factions’ sites in the vicinity of the town of …

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Agreement Between Turkey and Russia to Avoid Provocations in Idleb

Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement to prevent provocations that could lead to tensions and violence in the province of Idleb, according to al-Modon. Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement to prevent provocations that would damage the stability resulting from the Idleb ceasefire agreement. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim …

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Alexander Zorin, Putin’s Man for Difficult Missions in Syria

Alexander Zorin is a Russian officer known as the man to turn to for difficult tasks. He is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy to Syria. While deployed at the Hemeimeem air base in recent years, he managed to forge relations with various warring parties. The Russian and Syrian air forces …

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Turkey and the West: Drifting Further Apart

In theory, Turkey is a NATO ally. In theory, also, Turkey is in negotiations with the European Union for full membership. In reality, both are illusions. In April, the European Council on Foreign Relations surveyed more than 17,000 people in 12 European countries. The survey found that: “Turkey is the …

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Digital Authoritarianism and Nonviolent Action: Challenging the Digital Counterrevolution

Nonviolent action campaigns are one of the most common ways citizens seek to peacefully change nonresponsive political systems. Yet recently developed and emergent technologies are transforming the nature of interactions between activists and authoritarian governments. This report examines the increasingly sophisticated set of tools—such as facial recognition and surveillance of …

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How to Pull Lebanon out of its Torturous Fall

Ahead of next year’s legislative elections, international accountability and public engagement will be key to countering endemic corruption. A year after the horrific Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, the legal pursuit of justice and accountability is proving pointless. Little to no progress has been made, due to how …

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Four Years After ISIS, Iraq’s Tal Afar Remains Riven by Communal Divisions

What can help allay perceptions of marginalization and tension in the district? Iraq is a country beset by a host of political, security, economic and social challenges, including addressing the human legacy of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) rampage through the country just a few years ago. Almost four years after …

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As China Poses Challenges, Europe Makes its Presence Known in the Indo-Pacific

Germany, the U.K. and France deploy warships as Europe increasingly recognizes the security challenges posed by China’s rise. A German frigate that left the country yesterday for the Indo-Pacific region will be Berlin’s first warship to cross the South China Sea in almost 20 years. This follows the United Kingdom’s …

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