Yearly Archives: 2023

US congress votes against ending occupation of Syria

Around 900 US troops remain illegally stationed in Syria, controlling large swathes of the country’s oil-rich regions A War Powers Resolution that would have ended the US army’s illegal occupation of Syria was struck down late on 8 March by the House of Representatives in a 103-321 vote. The bill, …

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Will Pakistan defy US sanctions to complete ‘Peace Pipeline’ with Iran?

Pakistan risks major financial setbacks if it fails to construct its part of a gas pipeline with Iran. Islamabad must follow India’s lead in resisting US sanctions to secure vital national energy supply. Islamabad has formed a diplomatic channel to convince Washington to ease sanctions on Iran, which would finally …

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Battles Flare Around Bakhmut, But Western Think Tank Says Russia’s Drive May Be Stalling

Russian fighters said they are continuing their assault on Bakhmut, but Ukrainian military commanders claim they are inflicting heavy losses on the invading forces and at least one influential think tank says advances by Kremlin-linked mercenaries appear to have stalled around the Donetsk region city. The Ukrainian military asserted on …

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Silent in Ukraine: Weapons Perpetuate, Do Not End Wars

As is the case of long wars, the warring parties and their affiliated media in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have painted each other using uncompromising language, making it nearly impossible to offer an unbiased view of the ongoing tragedy that has killed, wounded and expelled millions. While it is understandable that …

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Iran-Saudi Rapprochement: Signs of Waning Influence of USA in the Region

The Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement has wide reactions. An NBC report — What does the Iran-Saudi Arabia truce mean for Washington’s standing on the global stage? (March 11, 2023, NBCNews.com) — said: As some world leaders hailed the restoration of ties between long-standing enemies Iran and Saudi Arabia, there were growing …

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Is a Breakthrough in Yemen Imminent?

U.S. and international officials have expressed cautious optimism for a breakthrough in the long-running civil conflict in Yemen between the Iran-backed Houthi movement and the forces of the UN-recognized Republic of Yemen government.The restoration of a truce, which has mostly held since its formal end in October, appears increasingly likely, …

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Experts react: Iran and Saudi Arabia just agreed to restore relations, with help from China. Here’s what that means for the Middle East and the world.

Can the bitter gulf across the Gulf finally be bridged? On Friday, long-standing regional adversaries Iran and Saudi Arabia made a big announcement: They will reestablish diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China. Below, Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the breaking news and its significance for one …

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Ukrainians will never surrender. How long can they count on the West?

No Ukrainian will ever forget the morning of February 24, 2022, when life as we knew it was shattered by the enormity of Russia’s full-scale invasion. I was awoken in Lviv that morning by a constant stream of phone calls from people asking for help. This was nothing new, as …

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Putin Truly Fears Russia’s Potential Rupture – Analysis

In February 2023, when President Vladimir Putin referred to the possibility that not only the Russian Federation but also the Russian nation itself could disintegrate, commentators in both Moscow and the West agreed almost unanimously that he was engaged in a propaganda exercise rather than expressing his own views. These …

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US and Saudi policies diverge over Yemen

Riyadh wants to exit its Yemen quagmire and is willing to end the siege on Ansarallah-controlled areas. Washington will have none of that, and is sabotaging a Saudi-Yemeni peace deal. The United States has played a crucial role in supporting the Saudi-led war on Yemen since its inception in 2015. …

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