July, 2021

• 3 July

  Pro-Turkish Factions Confiscate Property of Displaced Persons

  

  The pro-Turkish al-Hamza Division summoned the mayors of the villages and towns which they control – Ma’arat, Kazeh, Kfardali Fawqani, and Kfardali. The Division demanded the mayors to count the property of the forcibly displaced people from the aforementioned areas, to take full control over them. According to the Syrian …

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• 3 July

  U.S. Marines, Royal Air Force join IAF for desert drill

  

  Tri-Lightning one-day counter-air exercise involves friendly and adversary aircraft in active and passive defense operations; IAF commander says drill enables Israel Air Force to strengthen capabilities and enhance operational readiness British and American troops joined the Israel Air Force on Tuesday for a one-day exercise in the Negev Desert. The …

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• 3 July

  Orban’s Anti-LGBTQ Law Crosses a Red Line for Europe

  

  Violations of democratic norms by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are nothing new, but the explosion of anger in Europe against the anti-LGBTQ law just approved by the Hungarian parliament, dominated by Orban’s Fidesz Party, suggests Orban has crossed a critical red line. At last week’s European Union summit, no …

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• 3 July

  Russia rules out opening second Syria border crossing for aid

  

  Russia’s UN ambassador said his government is still considering whether or not to veto the UN’s mandate for Syria’s last remaining aid crossing. Russia’s UN ambassador on Wednesday said a proposal to open of additional border crossings for humanitarian aid into opposition-held areas of Syria, calling the idea a “nonstarter.” …

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• 3 July

  Kurdish-led forces intensify crackdown on Islamic State cells in northeast Syria

  

  Islamic State activities seem to have diminished during the month of June in the Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria amid a crackdown led by the Syrian Democratic Forces. After the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) cracked down on cells affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), the latter’s activity seems to have …

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• 3 July

  Explosion at Baghdad’s Sadr City injures at least 15

  

  At least 15 people were injured in an explosion at a crowded market in Baghdad’s Sadr City. An explosion in a crowded Baghdad market on Wednesday injured at least 15 people, Iraqi officials said. The military confirmed the blast went off in Sadr City, a mostly Shiite section of the …

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• 3 July

  Iraq seeks to rehabilitate Islamic State families

  

  Baghdad’s program to allow families of Islamic State adherents to return from a Syrian camp and to reintegrate them back into Iraqi society stirs controversy. The Iraqi government decided June 6 to accept the return of 100 Islamic State (IS) families. The returnees are transferred to Al-Jada camp in Mosul …

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• 3 July

  Israel, Morocco take baby steps on diplomatic, social, economic ties

  

  Diplomatic relations are not advancing as rapidly as those with the Emirates and Bahrain, but Israel sees positive trends in ties with Morocco. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was in the United States this week, for a farewell visit ahead of the end of his term July 9. As part of …

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• 3 July

  Turkey’s mixed record against Islamic State

  

  Structural problems continue to keep Turkey from putting in place a comprehensive strategy to combat Islamic State elements in the country, despite numerous operations against networks linked to the radical Islamist group. Turkish security operations against networks linked to the Islamic State (IS) appear on the rise, but how efficient …

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• 3 July

  Turkey stalls on withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya

  

  Turkey might have managed to stave off pressure in the Berlin conference on Libya, but as the December elections near, the Turkish military presence in the country will remain a source of tension. Turkey might have managed to stave off pressure to withdraw its military presence in Libya by agreeing …

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