Theorizing the future of the Arab Gulf states and the broader Middle East requires a proper assessment of the state of power distribution in the region. Is there a new balance of power emerging in the Middle East, or is the distribution of power heading in a more dangerous direction?
Read More »Origins of the Libyan Conflict and Options for Its Resolution
In the 42 years preceding the 2011 uprising, Muammar Gaddafi controlled all power in Libya. Since the uprising, Libyans, fragmented by geography, tribe, ideology, and history, have resisted having anyone, foreigner or Libyan, telling them what to do. In the process, they have frustrated efforts of outsiders to help them …
Read More »Idlib- Reportage From The Last Front In Syria
For a while, all the guns have fallen silent. I am near Idlib, the last stronghold of the terrorists in Syria. The area where the deadliest anti-government fighters, most of them injected into Syria from Turkey, with Saudi, Qatari and Western ‘help’, are literally holed up, ready for the final …
Read More »Pakistan PM’s political party welcomes Harakat-ul-Mujahideen emir into ranks
Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil and his supporters voice their support for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political party in July 2018, and not today as originally reported. Paragephs 1 and 3 have been updated to reflect the change.
Read More »US adds Iranian-backed Shia militia and its leader to list of global terrorists
The US Department of State added Harakat al Nujaba (HAN), or Movement of the Noble, an Iranian-supported Shiite militia which operates in both Iraq and Syria, and its leader, Akram ‘Abbas al Kaabi (or Kabi) to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists today. In the recent past, Kaabi has …
Read More »Russian special forces train Palestinian militia in Syria
In a video released yesterday by the Russian propaganda news channel RT, Russian special forces were shown training members of Liwa al Quds, a pro-regime Palestinian militia group in Syria.
Read More »Jihadist leader in Mali denies reports of his death
One of the co-founders and senior leaders of al Qaeda’s Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Amadou Kouffa, denied reports of his death in a video published by the group. The French and Malian governments claimed Kouffa was killed last November, however, JNIM has consistently denied these reports.
Read More »Pakistan seizes religious schools in intensified crackdown on militants
Pakistan intensified its crackdown against Islamist militants on Thursday, with the government announcing it had taken control of 182 religious schools and detained more than 100 people as part of its push against banned groups.
Read More »Militants kill seven Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitaries in northern Iraq
Militants ambushed a convoy of pro-government, Shi’ite Muslim paramilitary fighters in northern Iraq on Wednesday night, killing at least seven of them and wounding 30, Iraqi military and police said on Thursday.
Read More »Hundreds of ISIL fighters surrender in Syria's Baghouz: SDF
US-backed Kurdish-led forces in northeastern Syria captured 400 ISIL fighters who were trying to escape the armed group’s last enclave in eastern Syria.
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