The Swiss National Bank puts the current value of Russian assets in Switzerland at around CHF10 billion ($11 billion). But the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper believes that the true figure, including the assets of five oligarchs targeted by the sanctions (who have not been named), could amount to as much …
Read More »Turkey And Israel: A Relationship Unlikely To Be Fully Rekindled – Analysis
In recent months, the phone lines between Ankara and Tel Aviv have been unusually busy. In November, following the release of an Israeli couple that had been detained while vacationing in Istanbul, Israeli President Isaac Herzog rang his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, thanking the leader for his role in …
Read More »Russia and Iran Militias Clash in Qamishli
On Thursday, the city of Qamishli, north of Hassakeh, witnessed an intense security alert of the Russia-backed National Defense Forces militia and pro-Iran militias affiliated with the IRGC. This came after armed clashes took place between the two sides. “The Revolutionary Guards shot at civil defense personnel as they tried …
Read More »Elite Syrian Rebel Fighter ‘Abu Tow’ Offers to Help Ukraine Destroy Russian Tanks
A legendary Syrian rebel fighter has offered his expertise to the Ukrainian army in helping them roll back a Russian invasion. Suhail al-Hamood – nicknamed Abu Tow after the anti-tank missile – is said to have destroyed more than 100 Russian-made tanks in Syria during the Free Syrian Army’s battles …
Read More »Iran Supplies Allied Militias with Quality Weapons in Syria Desert
Zaman al-Wasl learned that Iran supplied allied militias in Syria, particularly the Syrian desert with quality weapons, including anti-armor machine guns amid mounting attacks by the Islamic State on Wednesday.A well-informed source told Zaman al-Wasl that the IRG delivered advanced weapons to its points and to the Afghan Fatemiyoun militia …
Read More »Recap: With Russia Busy in Ukraine, Iran Moves in Syria
The War in Ukraine is occupying all the headlines. Seen as the downfall of the European state system, its repercussions are believed to be mostly focused inside the old continent. However, the repercussions of the Russian war extend to Syria as well through many channels. Among these, it provides a …
Read More »The Ukraine War: A Global Crisis?
Ukraine and War Powers: A Legal Explainer The United States’ evolving response to Russia’s war against Ukraine – including the deployment of additional U.S. troops to eastern Europe and potentially additional arms transfers – has raised questions about the legal framework for the United States’ involvement in NATO, the obligations …
Read More »Europe’s Open Door for Ukrainians Reinforces a Double Standard on Refugees
As the uncertainties surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue to multiply, one thing seems clear: Europe is poised to experience a level of population upheaval not seen on the continent since the 1940s. Exactly a week has passed since the war began, and already more than 1 million Ukrainians have …
Read More »For the West, Now Comes the Hard Part
Just over a week since it began, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resembles a tale of two wars. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the past week can hardly have been reassuring. Between the poor performance of the Russian military on the ground and the existential shock of Western sanctions on the …
Read More »In Ukraine, Georgia Sees Powerful and Worrying Parallels
Georgia, a former Soviet republic that suffered its own Russian invasion in 2008 and Moscow’s destabilising support for its breakaway regions, is treading carefully on the war in Ukraine, fearing that if it upsets the Kremlin, it may be left to face the consequences alone. Since the Russian attack on …
Read More »