July, 2021

• 11 July

  Resurgent Tigray and Horn of Africa Politics

  The war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region just took an unexpected turn. Seemingly isolated in mountainous reaches of central Tigray only weeks ago, Tigrayan rebels last week overran regional capital Mekelle and other cities and towns they had left last November when federal troops moved in. They were met by dancing …

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• 11 July

  Conflict Trends Update

  AFGHANISTAN Government troops retook Qala-e-Naw, capital of the western Badghis province, on Thursday after Taliban fighters had seized the city the day before. It was the first major provincial capital that the insurgents had captured in the course of their offensive as U.S. and NATO forces complete their withdrawal from …

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• 11 July

  Russia, Iran, Turkey wrap Syria talks as border vote looms

  The three countries gathered in Kazakhstan’s capital, Nur-Sultan, for the 16th round of the Astana talks aimed at resolving the decadelong war. Turkey, Iran and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and pledged to cooperate on defeating terrorism in the war-torn country, the trio said in a joint statement …

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• 9 July

  Iran has declared war on the US in Iraq through its proxies – analysis

  

  Iran has done this before, using pro-Iranian groups in Iraq to wage an insurgency against America after the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. Daily rocket and drone attacks on the US in Iraq are no longer just the harassment that began in May 2019. The targeted attacks are increasing, and …

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• 9 July

  Lebanese media react to an unprecedented crisis – analysis

  

  Sources not affiliated with Hezbollah highlighted different components of the crisis, while some observers criticize focusing solely on the economic dimensions in the country. As Lebanon nears the brink of collapse both politically and economically, news outlets within the country vary widely in coverage of the issue. According to Prime …

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• 9 July

  Israel needs to help Lebanon – editorial

  

  Hezbollah is the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world, and has a stranglehold on part of Lebanon. However, every country has extremists and local problems. Israel’s neighbor is in trouble, and when a neighbor needs help – even if it’s an enemy state – it is incumbent to provide …

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• 9 July

  Disaster in Afghanistan Was Foreseeable

  

  America should never again enter a war without the commitment to win. Afghanistan is another in a long series of U.S. wars without victory, including Korea, Vietnam and Iraq (“Disaster Looms in Afghanistan,” Review & Outlook, June 25). In these wars, the U.S. has chosen not to do what is …

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• 9 July

  If the Taliban Wins the War, Can They Still Lose the Peace?

  

  The United States vowed to destroy the Taliban. Today, they are stronger than ever. But will that last? In early October 2001, then-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell sent a cable to his envoy in Pakistan, ordering her to get a message to the head of the Taliban through Pakistani …

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• 9 July

  Beijing Eyes New Military Bases Across the Indo-Pacific

  

  Tanzania, Cambodia, and the UAE are on China’s wish list—and now Kiribati, within striking distance of Hawaii. On a small, sandy atoll smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies a rundown airstrip that served as a critical U.S. staging and supply hub during World War II. Today, …

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• 9 July

  US troops in Iraq have come under attack every day this week

  

  Wednesday’s rocket attack on Al-Asad Air Base marks the third time in as many days that U.S. installations in Iraq have come under fire — and it is still not clear who is responsible for the recent strikes. Two U.S. service members were injured after 14 rockets were fired at …

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