Eurasia

Assad’s debt to Iran is substantial, both financially and politically, Omar Kaddour writes in al-Modon. Recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, including a rumoured strike on a villa linked to Hezbollah and Maher al-Assad, signal a heightened warning to the Assad regime. Israel has reportedly conveyed messages through Arab intermediaries, urging …

Syria TV reported the incursion of Israeli tanks and vehicles that have started constructing a military dirt road in the Golan region of Syrian territory. Syria TV reported the incursion of Israeli tanks and vehicles that have started constructing a military dirt road in the Golan region of Syrian territory. …

Increasingly intensifying U.S. economic sanctions targeting Russia’s financial system have deepened concerns in China over its extensive dollar asset holdings and the Chinese financial system’s reliance on dollars. Increasingly intensifying U.S. economic sanctions targeting Russia’s financial system have deepened concerns in China over its extensive dollar asset holdings and the …

Gulf states are lobbying Washington to stop Israel from attacking Iran’s oil sites because they are concerned their own oil facilities could come under fire from Tehran’s proxies if the conflict escalates, three Gulf sources told Reuters. As part of their attempts to avoid being caught in the crossfire, Gulf …

Earlier on in his premiership, Benjamin Netanyahu touted Israel’s diplomatic inroads across the Global South, especially throughout Africa, where countries have traditionally taken pro-Palestinian stances. The Israeli prime minister’s visits to Argentina, Brazil, Chad, China, Colombia, India, Mexico, and Oman were important from this standpoint. So were visits to Jerusalem …

AnalysisMilitary analysts suggest the only bomb capable of piercing Iran’s targets would be the US-made GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator Israel lacks the capabilities to inflict major damage on Iran’s nuclear sites alone, but an escalation of the conflict could lead to US participation in attacks on Iran, analysts believe. Israeli …

As Israel continues to prepare its response to Iran’s missile barrage, one of the target sets could include Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure, including striking weaponization facilities, fuel enrichment plants, and/or research and development laboratories.In the event of a significant strike on Iran, the Supreme Leader may opt to pursue nuclear deterrence …

A system set up to channel dollars from Iraqi oil sales to importers has been exploited by money launderers and militant groups for years. An OCCRP investigation shows how the fraud works in practice. Key Findings Al-Huda, an Iraqi bank whose owner was sanctioned after a drone attack on U.S. …

Israel has created a humanitarian crisis for over 2 million people, but communities have stepped up to help … for now. As the conflict in Lebanon has intensified, a large number of people, mostly from the Shiite community, have been forced out of their villages, towns, or neighborhoods. Some 2.1 …

Recent discussions between Turkey and the United States indicate that the Biden administration is actively pursuing Ankara’s reinstatement in the F-35 program. It is difficult to justify why Washington would want to arm Turkey with these highly advanced fighter jets, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan takes fervent measures to …