A New World: The Middle East Tries Cooperation Alongside Competition – Analysis

Just in case there were any doubts, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu demonstrated with his visit to Lebanon this week that improved relations between Middle Eastern rivals would not bury hatchets. On the contrary, improved relations shifts the battlefield away from potential armed conflict, allowing rivals to compete while enjoying …

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China’s Maritime Militia Threatens South China Sea Order – Analysis

Hundreds of Chinese maritime militia ships are operating in contested areas of the South China Sea on a consistent basis, according to a new U.S. think tank report that says this poses a significant challenge to “maritime order rooted in international law.” The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies …

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Iran’s IRGC Seizes Foreign Ship In Persian Gulf For Alleged Diesel Smuggling

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on November 20 they had seized a boat in the Persian Gulf for allegedly smuggling diesel. “A foreign ship, carrying smuggled diesel was seized,” Iranian media quoted Colonel Ahmad Hajian, commander of the Naval Type 412 Zulfaqar in the southern Parsian county, as …

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Israel’s Syria policy could be coming to new crossroads – analysis

The UAE foreign minister recently met with Bashar Assad, and the region now sees Syria as possibly being welcomed back into the fold by the Gulf states, Egypt and some other countries. Israel has been closely watching changes in the region and Syria may be a key to understanding some …

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Why is Hamas popular in Jerusalem? – analysis

Hamas is perceived as having initiated the war to stop the Sheikh Jarrah evictions and force Israel to rescind its strict security measures in Jerusalem’s Old City and the all-Aqsa Mosque compound. If there’s one thing that many Israelis and Palestinians agree on, it’s that Hamas enjoys widespread support among …

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Who was the Islamic ‘scholar’ who carried out the Jerusalem attack?

What is clear is that he was affiliated with Hamas and regularly expressed views similar to those of the Gaza-based group. Those who knew Sheikh Fadi Abu Shkhaydam were not surprised to hear that he was the terrorist who carried out the shooting attack in the Old City of Jerusalem …

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Iraqis celebrate restoration of Mosul churches destroyed by ISIS

Cymbals, prayers and Chaldean Catholic liturgy resounded in Mosul’s Saint George Monastery on Friday as Iraqi faithful marked the restoration of two churches destroyed by ISIS during their occupation of the city. Dozens gathered in one of the monastery’s churches that have been rebuilt in stone six years after the …

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Turkish bombardment | Artillery fire hit surrounding areas of refugee camp in northern Aleppo

Aleppo province: Syrian Observatory activists have reported that Turkish forces renewed artillery attacks on areas under the control of Kurdish and regime forces in the northern countryside of Aleppo, as they targeted the surrounding areas of al-Ouda camp, which accommodated displaced people from Afrin, nearby al-Ziyyarah village in the northern …

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Infiltration attempt | Clashes erupt between rebels and regime forces in Idlib countryside

SOHR sources have reported violent clashes with heavy machineguns between factions of “al-Fath al-Mubin” operations room and regime forces on the frontlines of Deir Sonbol village in the western countryside of Maarrat al-Nu’man. The clashes erupted following an infiltration attempt by regime forces into posts of the factions. However, no …

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