August, 2021

• 9 August

  Israel Warns ‘Ready To Attack Iran’ After Fatal Strike On Ship

  Israel’s defense minister warned on Thursday that his country is prepared to strike Iran, issuing the threat after a fatal drone strike on an oil tanker at sea that his nation blamed on Tehran. The comments by Benny Gantz come as Israel lobbies countries for action at the UN over …

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• 9 August

  Lahore Car Bomb Blast: Terrorist Act Or False-Flag Operation? – OpEd

  When a massive blast shook Allah Hu boulevard, an upscale residential area of Jauhar Town in Lahore on June 23 killing three persons and injuring 21 others, no one knew for sure who was behind this attack. Neither was it clear who the intended target was. However, Punjab’s Inspector General …

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• 9 August

  Lebanon: Evidence Implicates Officials In Beirut Blast

  Evidence implicates senior Lebanese officials in the August 4, 2020, explosion in Beirut that killed 218 people, but systemic problems in Lebanon’s legal and political system are allowing them to avoid accountability, Human Rights Watch said in a report. The UN Human Rights Council should mandate an investigation, and countries …

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• 8 August

  Will Russia Succeed in Taking Aleppo Airport Out of the Grip of Iran?

  

  The recent signature of a memorandum of understanding in the Aleppo International Airport might accentuate the rivalry between Iran and Russia, according to Syria Television. In late July, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the regime’s General Civil Aviation Corporation in Syria and a transport and logistics company …

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• 8 August

  Report: Iran Most Dangerous Actor in Syria, but its Success is Limited

  

  A report by Center for Contemporary Studies identified Iran as the “most dangerous” player in Syria, but claims that Tehran’s success in the country remains limited, according to al-Modon. According to a study prepared by the Center for Contemporary Studies, Iran is the most prominent and dangerous actor in Syria, …

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• 8 August

  Russian Airstrikes on Opposition Factions in Idleb

  

  On Thursday, Russian warplanes launched airstrikes on Turkish-backed armed factions’ sites south of Idleb, northwest Syria, according to North Press. On Thursday, Russian warplanes launched airstrikes on Turkish-backed armed opposition factions’ sites south of Idleb, northwest Syria. Russian warplanes targeted armed factions’ sites in the vicinity of the town of …

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• 8 August

  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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• 8 August

  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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• 8 August

  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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• 8 August

  Digital Authoritarianism and Nonviolent Action: Challenging the Digital Counterrevolution

  

  Nonviolent action campaigns are one of the most common ways citizens seek to peacefully change nonresponsive political systems. Yet recently developed and emergent technologies are transforming the nature of interactions between activists and authoritarian governments. This report examines the increasingly sophisticated set of tools—such as facial recognition and surveillance of …

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