Arab World

TeleSur | – – Widespread destruction from the U.S-backed Saudi airstrikes has displaced over a million people in the region. A U.N. report on human rights abuses has accused Saudi Arabia’s coalition airstrikes for causing extensive damage in Yemen. Since the beginning of the war in 2015, at least 10,000 people have been killed in […]

Authoritarianism

Saudi Prince Alwaleed in talks with gov’t over demand he surrender Billions

contributors

Middle East Monitor | – – Saudi Arabia’s billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, detained for over two months in an anti-corruption crackdown, is negotiating a possible settlement with authorities but so far has not agreed on terms, a senior Saudi official said. Prince Alwaleed, whose net worth has been estimated by Forbes magazine at $17 […]

Arab Spring

The Tunisian revolution seven years on

contributors

By Lakhdar Ghettas | (OpenDemocracy.net) | – – Seven years after the Tunisian revolution one can dissect four main conflict issues in Tunisia today. A rally marking the third anniversary of the uprising that ousted long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2014 in Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis. Picture by Palacio […]

Featured

Nearly a year after Trump bombed Syria, al-Assad and Russia extend control

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Syrian war limps along at the margins. It is over where it matters but continues in key demographic pockets. The two most significant are East Ghouta near the al-Assad-held capital of Damascus and the province of Idlib in the northwest of the country. East Ghouta […]

Employment

Tunisia: Austerity Protests roil Birthplace of Arab Spring

contributors

TeleSur | – – Protests have been taking place across the North African country over the past several nights in protest against government austerity measures at the behest of the IMF. At least one person is dead and 200 people have been arrested during several nights of protests in Tunisia, according to The Guardian. Protests […]

Donald Trump

Trump Engineered Saudi Soft Coup, attack on Qatar, to Save Self

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Michael Wolff in his new book Fire and Fury makes a number of allegations about Trump’s role in the Gulf crisis that, if true, help explain the mess in that part of the Middle East. Wolff asserts that Trump and his then inner circle–Jared Kushner, Steve […]

Egypt

Egypt Promotes Jerusalem as Israeli Capital in Secret Calls

contributors

TeleSur | – – The private conversations stand in stark contrast with the government’s public position, in which it has consistently condemned the declaration made by US President Donald Trump. Four taped phone calls reveal Egyptian intelligence officer Capt. Ashraf al-Kholi telling popular talk-show hosts and one singer to promote a positive view of Jerusalem […]

Donald Trump

America’s Biggest Mideast Foreign Policy Challenges in 2018

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In some ways, the United States faces a more favorable foreign policy environment in 2018 than it has in some years, with regard to facts on the ground. Ironically, some of the more severe challenges emanate not from objective conditions abroad but from the erratic and […]