Arab World

Berlin (AFP) – Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said in Berlin Friday his country would invest some 10 billion euros ($11.6 billion) in Germany, as he battles a policy of isolation by neighbouring states. “We are announcing Qatar’s desire to invest 10 billion euros in the German economy over the coming five years,” […]

Iraq

Iraq: Basra Protesters Torch Iranian Consulate in ongoing Water Protest

AFP

Basra (Iraq) (AFP) – Iraqi protesters on Friday torched the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra in fresh demonstrations over poor public services after parliament called for an emergency session on the unrest. Unidentified attackers also fired shells into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone in a rare attack on an area that houses parliament, […]

Iraq

Is Iraq Collapsing? Basra Protests of Dirty Water have sent 30,000 to Hospital, Green Zone Bombarded

AFP

Basra (Iraq) (AFP) – Three mortar shells were fired into Baghdad’s green zone early Friday as a curfew was imposed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra after a fresh outbreak of violent protests over poor public services left one person dead and 35 injured. The rare assault by unidentified attackers on the heavily-fortified green […]

Saudi Arabia

Signs of Rift in Saudi Royal Family over Yemen Quagmire that has left 10,000 Dead?

AFP

Riyadh (AFP) – Saudi King Salman’s brother has played down controversial remarks he made to anti-Saudi protesters in London that sparked furious speculation about possible discord within the royal family. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud apparently told a crowd in London to stop chanting slogans against the Saudi royal family over the kingdom’s involvement in […]

Donald Trump

Crazytown Abroad: Trump’s Dreams of Preemptive War, Assassination and Withdrawal

Juan Cole

Trump on Bashar al-Assad: “Let’s fucking kill him! Let’s go in. Let’s kill the fucking lot of them.”

China

Dragon Waiting: After Idlib, Will Beijing Bring Syria into its One Belt Network?

Neil Thompson

As speculation grows that the Syrian army under the regime of Bashar al-Assad is preparing to strike at the Idlib de-escalation zone, the last piece of Syrian territory with a significant rebel presence left active, it seems as if the brutal civil there is at last drawing to a bloody conclusion. Like Iraq, Syria may […]

Donald Trump

Trump Gingerly, Politely begs Russia not to Do Syria Idlib Campaign, Pretty Please

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – AFP reports that President Trump is cautioning the Syrian regime against launching an all-out assault on the last remaining rebel stronghold of Idlib Province. He also said that Russia and Iran would be making “a grave humanitarian mistake” to take part. It is hard to take the humanitarian part too […]

Iran

Iran FM in Syria for Talks ahead of Regime Offensive on rebel-held Idlib Province

AFP

Damascus (AFP) – Iran’s foreign minister met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday in a surprise visit to Damascus ahead of a looming regime offensive against the country’s last rebel stronghold. Mohammad Javad Zarif’s trip to war-ravaged Syria also comes just days before a top-level tripartite meeting in Tehran to discuss the Syrian conflict, […]

Qatar

Saudi Arabia again threatens Canal to make Neighbor Qatar an Island

AFP

Riyadh (AFP) – A Saudi official hinted Friday the kingdom was moving forward with a plan to dig a canal that would turn the neighbouring Qatari peninsula into an island, amid a diplomatic feud between the Gulf nations. “I am impatiently waiting for details on the implementation of the Salwa island project, a great, historic […]