Recent Posts

Taliban Takes Another Key District In Northern Afghanistan

The Taliban has captured yet another key district in the northern Afghan province of Takhar amid increased violence and stalled peace talks between the militants and the Western-backed government in Kabul that have cast uncertainty over the future of the country once U.S.-led international forces leave by September. Three local …

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With Shekau Dead, What is the Future of Jihad in West Africa?

ISWAP has killed Boko Haram leader and longtime nemesis, Abubakar Shekau, and seeks to take over his faction’s bases in Nigeria. With the potential collapse of Shekau’s Boko Haram faction, ISWAP will be less distracted from implementing its civilian-centric insurgency strategy. Some portion of Shekau’s remaining faction could defect to …

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Iran-Backed Militias Continue to Roil Iraq

Attacks by Iraqi militia, backed by Iran, on protesters and activists are destabilizing Iraq in the run-up to October 2021 national elections. The government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is attempting to marginalize the Iran-backed militias, but only enjoying mixed success. The militias suppress any challenge to their autonomy, their …

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Foreign Ministry: Israel as Dangerous as Daesh or al-Nusra

Syria has renewed its call on the Security Council to assume its responsibilities within the framework of the United Nations Charter and to force the Israeli occupation entity to respect its decisions related to the Separation of Forces Agreement and hold all parties that support terrorism and launch attacks on …

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The UK And US Relationship Is Here To Stay – OpEd

History matters. Not least in the Middle East, where very little is unrelated to what happened some time ago, and often needs to be interpreted in that light. The UK/US relationship is much the same. The week of the G7 summit in England began with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson …

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Russia Said Ready To Send Advanced Satellite System To Iran

The Washington Post has quoted current and former U.S. and Middle Eastern officials as saying that Russia is preparing to supply Iran with an advanced satellite system that could greatly advance Tehran’s surveillance in the region and beyond. The report says the Russian-made Kanopus-V satellite and its high-resolution camera could …

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