Middle Orient

A recent string of attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region peshmerga forces have raised concern over how effective long-discussed coordination with the central government is in the country’s flashpoint disputed territories. Peshmerga forces operating in territory disputed between the central government and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) have in recent …

Moscow is likely to welcome a Turkish mediation effort if it serves to restrain Ukraine from a military adventure. Turkey has offered to mediate in the Ukraine crisis as tensions between NATO and Russia escalate, with fears that Russia might be gearing up to invade eastern Ukraine. The proposal from …

At least four people were killed and some 20 injured in an explosion near a major city hospital in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The attack on Tuesday, which seriously damaged a minibus, was carried out with an explosives-laden motorcycle, according to the Iraqi military. While there has not …

Syrian state media accused Israel of launching a missile attack on its port of Latakia. The missile attack early on Tuesday morning caused a fire in a container storage area that later was put out, causing extensive damage. Five explosions were heard in the port, according to reports, that caused …

The United States has signalled in advance of next week’s Summit for Democracy that it is unlikely to translate lip service to adherence to human rights and democratic values in the Middle East into a policy that demonstrates seriousness and commitment. In a statement, the State Department said the December …

Turkey is reportedly seeking to increase the foreign currency reserves possessed by its central bank, in a currency swap agreement with the United Arab Emirates that could amount to at least $5 billion. According to the London-based news outlet Middle East Eye, which cited an anonymous senior Turkish official, Ankara …

Iranian drones targeting Saudi Arabia fly over Bahraini airspace, the Israeli envoy to Manama said yesterday. Itay Tagner told the US’ Axios that Iran had opened a “front against us in Syria and Lebanon, but now when they look across the Gulf, they see us there with our allies very …

Satellite images appear to show the UAE has opened an air bridge to provide the Ethiopian government military support in its fight against oppositionists in Tigray, Al Jazeera reported yesterday. More than 90 flights were found to have travelled between the Emirates and Ethiopia between September and November this year, …

While they fear what might come next, leaders across the Gulf are begrudgingly backing the resumption of talks on reviving the JCPOA. Talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal are set to resume in Vienna this week after a six-month hiatus. Negotiating teams from Iran and the five permanent members …

The parties to the world’s nuclear deal with Iran, including Iran itself, have started a new round of discussions – the seventh since April 2021, when newly elected US president Joe Biden initiated meetings aimed at America re-entering an updated agreement. The talks – if you can call a meeting …