Middle Orient

Lavrov: ‘Russia Does Not Consider Itself To Be At War With NATO, But NATO Does’

Moscow does not consider itself to be at war with NATO, but NATO does, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told Al-Arabiya in an exclusive interview. He brushed aside UN chief Antonio Guterres’ proposals for humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians, saying: “There is no need for anybody to provide …

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Iraqi Oil Didn’t Pay For Rebuilding Iraq; Russian Yachts Won’t Pay For US War On Russia – OpEd

In March of 2003, as the United States military prepared for its imminent invasion of Iraq, Paul Wolfowitz suggested to US Congress members that the US would not foot the bill for rebuilding Iraq after the devastation the US invasion would bring to the country. Wolfowitz, who was then then …

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Iran and the Ukraine Crisis: Complexities and Considerations

Iran’s close relations with the Russian Federation, along with Tehran’s efforts to maintain relations with Ukraine, have complicated Iran’s approach to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. Although Iran has not recognized the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, it simultaneously has not criticized the attack and abstained …

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Russia’s war in Ukraine is making Saudi Arabia and the UAE rethink how they deal with US pressure over China

The response of the Gulf Arab states to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been somewhat revealing of the depth of fissures between the United States and its Gulf allies. The “stress test” United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, hinted at on March 3, was on full …

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The EU Will Pay Dearly for Its Neglect of North Africa

In the fall of 2012, as Syria plunged into civil war and the Eurozone crisis generated panic across global markets, a parliamentary election in Ukraine signaled trouble ahead to those who were paying attention. The results that trickled out on Oct. 28, 2012, indicated that then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of …

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Iraq helps broker Iran-Saudi negotiations

The latest Iran-Saudi talks in Iraq have been the most productive, according to reports. Iraq hosted the fifth round of Iran-Saudi talks in Baghdad last Thursday. After about a year of dialogue, this meeting showed significant progress as the two countries agreed on a general roadmap for normalizing relations. The …

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Hamas gains popularity in Jerusalem amid ongoing violence

Hamas’ popularity has increased during the recent escalation of violence in Jerusalem, in addition to its role as a political player in the region. As soon as Friday’s prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where some 150,000 Palestinians took part, was over on April 22, the crowds marched in the courtyards of …

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Regional diplomacy could break deadlock on Iran’s IRGC

While the United States and Iran seem to have hit a dead end over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one answer could lie in Iran’s regional policies, including its dialogue with Saudi Arabia. The call to prayer echoes through the labyrinthine alleys of Tehran’s smaller market that lies to the …

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Badia: ISIS Retaliates After Leader Killed

Several members of the SDF were killed in two separate attacks by ISIS fighters in northwestern Raqqa governorate, according to al-Modon. On Tuesday, several members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in two separate attacks by ISIS fighters in northwestern Raqqa governorate, in eastern Syria. Local sources told …

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Al-Nusra Leads Education: “Chechen Discourse” Taught in Idleb Schools!

Jabhat al-Nusra is trying to raise a fully ideological generation through its school programs, according to al-Watan. Widespread controversy has been sparked by images of a lesson plan, adopted by the so-called Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) Dar al-Waheed al-Sharif schools, where the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra is influential. Accusations have mounted …

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