Middle Orient

Vice President Mike Pence met with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Thursday “to reaffirm the enduring strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey,” the Office of the Vice President announced. The two “expressed hope that their meeting would help to usher in a new chapter in US-Turkey relations, …

Syria’s army declared victory over Daesh on Thursday, saying its capture of the militants’ last town in the country marked the collapse of their project in the region. The army and its allies are still fighting Daesh in desert areas near Albu Kamal, the last town the militant group had …

The North Atlantic Alliance Organization (NATO) supports constructive and peaceful dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve their differences, said Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “We would like very much to see constructive negotiations between the Peshmerga forces and the government of Baghdad,” Stoltenberg said on Tuesday, urging the sides not to …

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has plenty of pressing issues as he begins talks with NATO allies on Wednesday. NATO defence ministers are meeting over two days at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters. The talks will also look at efforts to revamp NATO’s command structure to help it better combat the …

Iraqi forces threatened on Wednesday to resume operations to capture northern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-held territory after accusing authorities there of delaying handing over control of Iraq’s borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday declared a pause in an offensive that began on Oct. …

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday announced the full liberation of the city of al-Qaim near the border with Syria from the Islamic State (IS) militants. A statement by the premier’s office said Abadi, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Iraqi forces, “congratulated the people of Iraq for the …

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani had a phone conversation Friday in which they stressed the need for political negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad.

Syria’s army announced it had taken Deir al-Zour early on Friday. IS had held most of Deir al-Zour since 2014, important because of its proximity to the border with Iraq. While the Syrian army said it had been re-captured, other reports said government forces and their allies were clearing the …

Iraqi government forces on Friday raided Al-Qaem city west of Anbar province in pursuit of fighters of the so-called Islamic State (IS) and eliminate their strongholds. Regular military troops, anti-terrorism squads, popular and tribal forces began the raid starting from Saada, Al-Karablah, and Hasiba areas, part of Al-Qaem surrounding towns, …

he French Republic’s President on Monday paid tribute to President Barzani’s historic role and his contribution to the fight against the Islamic State (IS), which Kurdish Peshmerga forces determinedly helped defeat. President Barzani on Sunday announced in a national address that he would not seek an additional term of presidency.