Middle Orient

Agreement Between Turkey and Russia to Avoid Provocations in Idleb

Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement to prevent provocations that could lead to tensions and violence in the province of Idleb, according to al-Modon. Turkey and Russia have reached an agreement to prevent provocations that would damage the stability resulting from the Idleb ceasefire agreement. Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim …

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Alexander Zorin, Putin’s Man for Difficult Missions in Syria

Alexander Zorin is a Russian officer known as the man to turn to for difficult tasks. He is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy to Syria. While deployed at the Hemeimeem air base in recent years, he managed to forge relations with various warring parties. The Russian and Syrian air forces …

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Turkey and the West: Drifting Further Apart

In theory, Turkey is a NATO ally. In theory, also, Turkey is in negotiations with the European Union for full membership. In reality, both are illusions. In April, the European Council on Foreign Relations surveyed more than 17,000 people in 12 European countries. The survey found that: “Turkey is the …

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How to Pull Lebanon out of its Torturous Fall

Ahead of next year’s legislative elections, international accountability and public engagement will be key to countering endemic corruption. A year after the horrific Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, the legal pursuit of justice and accountability is proving pointless. Little to no progress has been made, due to how …

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Four Years After ISIS, Iraq’s Tal Afar Remains Riven by Communal Divisions

What can help allay perceptions of marginalization and tension in the district? Iraq is a country beset by a host of political, security, economic and social challenges, including addressing the human legacy of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) rampage through the country just a few years ago. Almost four years after …

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Lebanese Druze confront, detain Hezbollah rocket crew after it fires at Israel

Angry villagers in Chouya accuse terror group of endangering lives by firing from near civilian areas; Lebanon army arrives, confiscates launcher, arrests 4 suspects Druze residents in a southern Lebanese village halted the Hezbollah crew with its rocket launchers that had fired into Israel on Friday, and detained its members …

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Israel warns of ‘overt and covert’ response if Hezbollah rocket fire continues

IDF carries out artillery strikes in response to 19-rocket barrage by terror group, heaviest since 2006 war; Hezbollah releases video of rocket fire Israel is preparing a wide range of military and covert responses to a barrage of 19 rockets fired at Israel on Friday by the Hezbollah terror group, …

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Hezbollah fires 19 rockets at Israel, in heaviest barrage since 2006 war

Military says 10 projectiles were intercepted by air defenses, 6 struck open areas and 3 landed in Lebanon; terror group says attack was in response to recent Israeli airstrikes Nineteen rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon on Friday morning, sending residents in a number of towns in the …

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Israel Threatens ‘Military Action’ Against Iran As Regional Tensions Mount

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on August 5 that his country is prepared to “take military action against Iran.” Israel, the United States, and Britain have accused Iran of involvement in a July 29 attack in the Gulf of Oman on the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned tanker managed …

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New Iranian President Raisi Sworn In Before Parliament

Ebrahim Raisi took his oath before parliament on August 5 to complete his inauguration making him Iran’s new president. He comes to office facing an economy battered by U.S. sanctions, a growing health crisis, fast-rising regional tensions, and difficult negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. A …

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