Arab World

London (Middle East Monitor) – Israel has reportedly informed the Trump Administration of several conditions it expects to be met if Saudi Arabia is to be sold reactors to develop its nuclear potential, according to Israel’s Channel 10 news. With the deal likely to go ahead, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz is believed to have […]

Syria

Syrian Government Recovers Economic Hub linking to Jordan, Gulf Oil States

AFP

By Rim Haddad | – Nassib (Syrie) (AFP) – Syrian army soldiers burned a rebel flag Saturday after they and Russian military police took over the crucial Nassib post on the border with Jordan. “The government has got its hands on a major economic hub that links Syria with other countries, above all Jordan and […]

Syria

In Syria’s Douma, UN finds likely Chlorine use, but not by Rebels

Brian Whitaker

London ( al-Bab.com) – The OPCW has now issued an interim report on the alleged chemical attack in Douma, Syria, last April. Although the investigation is not yet complete, laboratory tests so far have found possible evidence of chlorine use but no evidence of sarin or a similar nerve agent. The OPCW also visited two […]

Featured

Syria: Reports of Rebel Collapse in Deraa as al-Assad and Putin win Yet Again

Juan Cole

Rebel sources are saying that they have reached a framework for surrender in Deraa with Russia and the al-Assad government. If these reports are true, it is another step toward complete victory. The rebels say they have declared a ceasefire and have put down their arms after they negotiated through the Russians. Regime troops have […]

UAE

United Arab Emirate Soldiers Tortured, Sexually Abused Yemeni Prisoners: UN

Middle East Monitor

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) engaged in ill-treatment, torture and sexual abuse across Yemen’s prisons according to the UN human rights office, the Anadolu Agency reported today. “We have engaged with UAE government on this issue and requested access to UAE-run prisons in the country but to date we have not been granted access,” Liz […]

Syria

As Syrian Government advances on Daraa, 250,000 Civilians Flee in Panic

Mohamad Abazeed

Daraa (Syria) (AFP) – More than a quarter of a million people have fled a Russian-backed government onslaught on southern Syria, the United Nations said Monday, in the latest civilian exodus in the seven-year war. For nearly two weeks, regime forces and their Russian allies have battered rebel-held parts of southern Syria with air strikes, […]

Syria

Regime reclaims more ground in south Syria: monitor

AFP

Daraa (Syria) (AFP) – A string of rebel-held locations in southern Syria passed into regime control Sunday as the government regained more ground under Russian-brokered deals, a war monitor said. Talks involving rebels, local officials and regime ally Russia saw agreements struck for four villages and a strategic town near the border with Jordan, extending […]

Israel

As Assad Advances on South, Israel Warns Syrian Army away from Occupied Golan

Middle East Monitor

Israel beefed up its tank and artillery deployment on the Golan Heights frontier with Syria on Sunday, reports Reuters, cautioning Damascus’ forces to keep a distance as they sweep rebel-held areas over the border. Backed by Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched an offensive last month to regain the southwestern Deraa region, driving thousands of […]

Featured

Report: Trump hopes for Deal with Putin over Iran in Syria, US Exit

Juan Cole

CNN’s sources say that when Trump met with Jordanian king Abdullah II, he revealed his game plan for Syria. Trump is said to plan to discuss this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their proposed summer summit. The plan is apparently for the US to allow the government of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to […]