Arab World

Trump’s domestic woes as an unindicted co-conspirator inevitably make him weak on the world stage. Foreign adversaries don’t take seriously a president who looks as though he might be impeached. And they know that presidents under siege in the capital do not have the leisure to attend to foreign affairs with any concentration. Even friends […]

Yemen

Yemen: Outcry over Saudi Airstrikes on Children Marks 3 Years of War

AFP

Sanaa (AFP) – A Saudi-led coalition launched military operations in Yemen in 2015, helping the government to push back against rebels who had taken control of the capital and seized several provinces. The conflict has killed nearly 10,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians, and injured more than 55,000, according to the World Health […]

Iran

Trump Iran Sanctions Knee-Cap Baghdad’s Recovery from ISIL Catastrophe

Middle East Monitor

(Middle East Monitor) – The Iraqi government is worried about US sanctions imposed on Iran, which seem to have a negative impact on the Iraqi economy too. There is currently political unrest in Iraq, as the protests calling for economic reforms have restarted. Baghdad declared that it would ask Washington to exempt Tehran from the […]

Saudi Arabia

For 1st Time, Saudis Seek Death Penalty for Woman Shiite Activist

Human Rights Watch

First Woman Facing Execution in Trials of Shia Protesters

Iraq

Are Iraqis Dumping Sunni-Shiite Politics as they Demand Services, End of Corruption?

Seyed Ali Alavi

London (OpenDemocracy.net) – In the absence of civil war, the people of Iraq have found an opportunity to demand that the political elite deliver on their election campaign promises. While Iraq is in the grip of a breathtaking summer heat-wave, the odor of dissatisfaction rose in the major southern cities of Basra, Najaf and Karbala […]

Featured

Yemen: Why is the US Helping Saudis Kill Children, Allying with al-Qaeda?

Juan Cole

The Saudi and United Arab Emirates war on little Yemen, which was launched by Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman in March of 2015, has flown under the radar among the US public until recently. Then on August 9, the Saudi-led air coalition struck Saadeh, the stronghold of the Helpers of God (Houthi) movement in north […]

Syria

Trump Cancels $230 mn in Syrian Aid for former ISIL Areas, Urges Saudi Fund

Paul Handley

Washington (AFP) – The United States said Friday it is suspending $230 million budgeted for stabilization projects in Syria, citing the aid pledged by other partners in the coalition against the Islamic State group. But officials denied the United States was pulling out of Syria, saying Washington will support long-term reconstruction, but only under the […]

Qatar

Qatar Emir Supports Crisis-Hit Turkey with Visit, Pledges $15 bn in New Investment

AFP

Doha (AFP) – The emir of wealthy Qatar flew to Turkey Wednesday to meet close ally President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an apparent show of support as Ankara grapples with a currency crisis. State media in Doha said Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was travelling to Turkey for a “working visit”. The emir “will discuss […]

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Women can Finally Drive, But are their Voices Being Heard?

The Conversation

By Nermin Allam | – Earlier this summer, Saudi Arabia lifted the decades-long ban on women’s driving. The move is part of a series of reforms that the country has been implementing. In April the kingdom loosened male guardianship laws – under which women need the permission of a male guardian to work, travel or […]