Middle Orient

Iraqi military still dependent on US, coalition military in ISIS fight: watchdog

Iraqi forces remain incapable of operating without U.S. support while Iranian-backed militias who have targeted coalition forces are in a strategic pause, according to a report released by Lead Inspector General for Operation Inherent Resolve. Meanwhile, ISIS remains “entrenched as a low-level insurgency” as the U.S. military ends its combat …

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Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi Escapes an Assassination Attempt

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi escaped unharmed from an assassination attempt by three armed drones in Baghdad on Sunday, officials said. The assassination attempt came weeks after a general election was disputed by Iran-backed militia groups. The attempt dramatically raises tension in the country that has already seen threats of …

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Assassination attempt against Iraqi PM sparks fear of ‘return to chaos’

A drone attack on the residence of the Iraqi prime minister has raised the specter of continuing violence by nonstate actors in the country after elections in which Iran-linked armed groups lost dozens of parliamentary seats. An attack on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s residence in the early morning hours …

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Iraqi PM Unharmed After Drone Attack Amid Escalating Tensions With Iran-Backed Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an attack by an armed drone on his residence on November 7 amid escalating tensions over the refusal of Iran-backed militias to accept last month’s parliamentary election results. The Baghdad residence inside the city’s fortified Green Zone was hit by a rocket attack early …

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IS Shows Signs of Strengthening in Syria, Iraq

As much of the Western world focuses on the growing threat from the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, new intelligence suggests that there is reason again to worry about the terror group’s core in Syria and Iraq. Down to an estimated 10,000 fighters, a small fraction of what it …

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Tension rises in Iraq after failed bid to assassinate PM

The failed assassination attempt against Iraq’s prime minister at his residence on Sunday has ratcheted up tensions following last month’s parliamentary elections, in which the Iran-backed militias were the biggest losers. Helicopters circled in the Baghdad skies throughout the day, while troops and patrols deployed around Baghdad and near the …

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Turkish-backed factions arrest agents working for regime forces

SOHR sources have reported that Turkish-backed factions arrested a cell working for regime forces, as the cell’s agents worked on providing the Syrian regime with coordinates and positions on the factions of the “National Army”. It is worth noting that regime and ISIS cells are prevalent in areas under the …

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Tension rises in Iraq after failed bid to assassinate PM

The failed assassination attempt against Iraq’s prime minister at his residence on Sunday has ratcheted up tensions following last month’s parliamentary elections, in which the Iran-backed militias were the biggest losers. Helicopters circled in the Baghdad skies throughout the day, while troops and patrols deployed around Baghdad and near the …

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Victory in Syria Requires Learning from Afghanistan

At the end of the day, these seemingly intractable conflicts can’t be won with just military might, or even by diplomacy in Geneva, but only by building governance that has the legitimacy of the people. The world was stunned in mid-August when Afghan Armed Forces laid down their weapons in …

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Cautious Optimism as Syrian Army Returns to SDF Positions

As a Turkish operation in Northern Syria against the SDF looms, the Syrian Army is getting closer to the Kurdish-led group, according to al-Watan. Informed sources within the city of Ayn Issa revealed to al-Watan that the Syrian army has strengthened its presence near Ayn Issa and the outskirts of …

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