As Russian President Vladimir Putin hosts leaders for the 16th annual BRICS summit, he’s looking to signal to the West that Moscow is not isolated on the world stage. Putin will drive that message home in Kazan from October 22-24 as he positions the BRICS grouping of countries as a …

Lebanon could well turn into a quagmire for Israel, and its belief that it can achieve “total victory” is premature. However, there can be no doubt that Iran and Hezbollah are on the back foot. “We are winning.” That’s the unwavering refrain from senior Israeli officials when asked about where …

The ideology of resistance is a distinct feature of powerful armed groups in the Middle East. It is time to introduce a new concept and, probably, a new term. So-called Shia militias account for a major part of the Syrian regime’s firepower in the ongoing conflict, and are the subject …

It is curious to note that the ‘jihadist’ tag is almost exclusively given to violent Sunni extremists.1 In fact, Western experts usually use the term ‘militias’ when referring to Shia violent non-state actors and just a few journalists like Danny Postel ever employ the term ‘Shia jihad’.2 In fact, the …

By the time Burkina Faso’s health ministry declared an epidemic of dengue fever on October 18, 2023, there already were thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was the West African country’s deadliest bout with the disease in years. Another dangerous outbreak quickly …

Syrian dictator Bashar Assad has been unusually quiet about Israel’s conflict with multiple nations in the Middle East. But the weekend’s Israeli attacks on Iran could force him to open a new front in the conflict. Last weekend, more than 100 Israeli fighter jets bombed targets in Iran. But the …

In Mezzeh, a neighbourhood reshaped by geopolitical stakes, the lives of ordinary people are caught in a struggle that has fundamentally altered their community, 963 Media writes. Once one of Damascus’ most prestigious neighbourhoods, Mezzeh has shifted from a symbol of sophistication to a flashpoint in Syria’s complex regional conflict. …

Abdel Halim Suleiman, an independent journalist in northern Syria, criticized the official media for not addressing the serious damage to national infrastructure in the region, 963 Media reports. Syrian media aligned with the government reported on Tuesday that Turkey is likely to conduct a limited ground operation in northeastern Syria, …

Despite ongoing airstrikes in Damascus, Homs, and Deir-ez-Zor, Syrian regime forces have not provided official statements regarding these incidents, Shaam Network writes. Israeli warplanes reportedly launched an airstrike targeting Tal al-Jabiya, northwest of Nawa in Daraa governorate, with no official comment from the Israeli or Syrian authorities. According to sources …

UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson, known for his anti-immigration stance, has been sentenced to 18 months for contempt of court following false allegations against Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi, defying a 2021 injunction prohibiting further defamatory statements. Meanwhile, in Qamishli, Syria, large rallies led by the Democratic Union Party protested Turkish …