Iraq has blown past all the constitutional deadlines to form a government in the aftermath of its October 2021 parliamentary elections, the results of which initially threatened to upend Iraq’s system of sectarian kleptocracy. Instead, seven months after the election, Iraq’s government formation talks appear to have reached a stalemate, …
Read More »Algeria Makes for a Risky Partner to Help Solve Europe’s Energy Crisis
The war in Ukraine has exacerbated Europe’s energy crisis, leaving the European Union desperately seeking alternative sources of supply to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Among the states in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia the EU has turned to in efforts to diversify its energy …
Read More »SDF arrests suspected ISIS facilitator in Deir al-Zor: coalition
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured a suspected ISIS facilitator in an operation near the Euphrates River Valley in Syria’s eastern Deir al-Zor province, the US-led Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant (SOJTF LEVANT) announced on Tuesday morning.
Read More »Imagining a Postwar Ukraine
A Country With More Military and Tech Power—but Fewer Ukrainians Ten weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is hard to see how and when the war will end. At the end of March, the Russian army withdrew from around Kyiv, but it is still pounding Kharkiv and Mariupol and …
Read More »America Must Embrace the Goal of Ukrainian Victory
It’s Time to Move Past Washington’s Cautious Approach For years before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the Ukrainians had been growing frustrated with U.S. leadership. A former high-level Ukrainian official described U.S. policy to the country in this way: “You won’t let us drown, but you won’t let us swim.” …
Read More »US, Western Europe fret over uncertain Ukraine war endgame
An interminable and unwinnable war in Europe? That’s what NATO leaders fear and are bracing for as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds into its third month with little sign of a decisive military victory for either side and no resolution in sight. The possibility of a stalemate is fueling concerns …
Read More »The National Interest Whitewashes Saudi Aggression in Yemen
The National Interest has published a shameless apology for Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war in Yemen, “The Saudi War of Necessity in Yemen” by Ahmed al-Maimouni. With his second sentence, Al-Maimouni, a retired Saudi major general, forfeits his right to be taken seriously: “It is imperative for Saudi Arabia to preserve …
Read More »Russian ambassador to Iraq: ‘No objections’ to Kurdistan Region exporting gas to Europe
Elbrus Kutrashev spoke to the Kurdish news outlet Rudaw about plans to export natural gas from the autonomous part of northern Iraq to Europe in response to the war in Ukraine. Russia’s ambassador to Iraq addressed plans to export natural gas from the Kurdistan Region to Europe in an interview …
Read More »HTS leader tours Idlib on Eid al-Fitr
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, continues to appear in public as he promotes his image as a leader who cares about the inhabitants of northwest Syria. The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has made another public appearance. He took part in the …
Read More »US targets Islamic State financiers in Turkey, Syria, Indonesia
The Biden administration imposed economic sanctions on five Islamic State financiers in Turkey, Syria and Indonesia on Monday night. Members of the network played key roles in helping IS recruits join the group, and moved funds to help IS fighters obtain weapons and for children to be smuggled out of …
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