Middle Orient

Local activists in Daraa said that the recent settlement reached by the central committees in the Daraa governorate with the regime’s security committee serves the interests of Daraa’s people and prevents the demographic change that Iran wants to impose. The Ahrar Horan Group quoted the Syrian journalist Mohammed al-Aweed as …

Afghanistan In rapid takeover, Taliban regained control over country, prompting fall of govt and ending 20-year U.S. occupation; uncertainty over new political order fuelled domestic and international security concerns. In dramatic shift, govt 15 Aug collapsed and Taliban gained control of most territory, including all border crossings and major urban …

Iran has fought Kurdish-Iranian groups recently. Iranian forces dismantled an unidentified terrorist group in the western Kurdistan province, state media outlets reported on Wednesday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly encountered the “anti-Islamic Revolution terrorist group” last Thursday when it entered Iranian territory from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. …

The decision by Algeria to sever diplomatic ties with Morocco could actually signal future confrontation between Israel and Iran over influence in Africa. On Aug. 24, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced his country was severing diplomatic relations with Morocco. At first look, the Algerian decision seemed to be independent …

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said there is “no clear indication” of when flights will resume at Hamid Karzai International Airport. Qatar is working with the Taliban and Turkey to restore operations at the Kabul airport “as soon as possible,” Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman …

The Chief of Staff of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army has submitted his resignation, the second one witnessed by the Interim Government this year, according to Athr Press. The Syrian opposition’s interim government witnessed its second resignation this year. The Chief of Staff of the National Army affiliated with turkey, …

Three former ISIS fighters share their stories about how they joined the organization and their stay in Syria to Asharq al-Awsat. The security authorities of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria granted Asharq Al-Awsat permission to interview three former ISIS members, at the anti-terror headquarters of the Syrian …

Seven people in the town of Azaz were wounded after a car bomb attack, which the YPG is accused of, according to Zaman al-Wasl. A car bomb wounded at least seven people in the Turkish-held northern town of Azaz on Monday, the rescue Civil Defence group said. The YPG-suspected attack …

On Sunday at dawn, pro-Iranian factions targeted the besieged neighborhoods of the city of Daraa, southern Syria, with artillery and missile shells, causing massive damage to people’s houses, while Russia bombards Idleb in the North. The factions targeted the neighborhoods of Daraa al-Balad, Tariq al-Sad, and the nearby IDP camps …

Iran’s hard-line foreign minister said Tehran will only pursue talks that bear tangible outcomes. Iran’s newly appointed foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said his country will not accept protraction in talks with the United States over the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of …