Arab World

David Patrikarakos | ( RFE/RL ) | – – The coalition battling to take the Iraqi city of Mosul from the extremist [so-called] “Islamic State” group (IS) is closing in. Earlier this year, coalition forces captured eastern Mosul (the city is bisected by the Euphrates River) and are now squeezing the city’s western half. According […]

Iraq

Iraqis Weigh in on Airstrike That Killed Hundreds In Mosul

contributors

Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – There is plenty of speculation about how hundreds of non-combatants were killed in Mosul, all apparently by accident. US and Iraqi forces have admitted partial culpability. But there are other causative factors at work. The dramatic and tragic events in Mosul on March 22, that saw […]

Iran

Putin and the Ayatollahs: How Russia’s Alliance with Iran is reshaping the Middle East

contributors

By Clément Therme | (The Conversation) | – – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, will meet for the eighth time in four years from March 27 to 29. According to the Tehran Times, both sides are “preparing more than ten documents for signing” on various economic and political issues. The […]

Featured

Mosul: “Some” US Responsibility for Civilian deaths; but Iraqi PM lashes out at Critics

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – As US commanders begin confessing that it is likely that the US military bears responsibility for last Thursday’s errant airstrike that killed as many as 200-300 innocent civilians, America’s Iraqi partner Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi disagreed, lashing out at critics. Al-Abadi, from the fundamentalist Shiite Da’wa […]

Arab Spring

The Arab Spring and the Western Winter

contributors

Ishac Diwan | (Project Syndicate) | – – BEIRUT – There are many striking parallels between the “Arab Spring” that began in 2010 and the United Kingdom’s Brexit referendum, the election of US President Donald Trump, and the far-right resurgence across Europe. In each case, an old order fell, and progressive parties have been too […]

Houthi

As 100,000 Rally in Yemen, Houthis Defy Trump, Saudis

contributors

TeleSur | – – According to Yemen’s Legal Center of Rights and Development, the conflict has thus far killed over 12,040 Yemenis and left more than 20,000 others wounded. The leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badreddin Houthi, said in a speech marking the two-year anniversary of the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led bombing campaign in the […]

Iraq

Mosul: ISIL Scorched Earth Tactics put Civilians in Crossfire

contributors

Special Correspondent* | Niqash.org | Baghdad | – – Mosul Locals Explain Extremists’ Desperate Tactics Mosul locals, some of whom have escaped the extremists and some who are still under their control, describe the Islamic State group’s desperate tactics. They will fight to the death, trapped locals warn. A month has passed since Iraqi pro-government […]

Displaced and Refugees

After Trump Massacres in Mosul, Campaign against ISIL Halted

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Candidate Donald Trump called last year for carpet-bombing of Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) in Iraq and Syria. It is possible that Trump has loosened the rules of engagement for the US Air Force, which is providing air support to the Iraqi Army. Looser rules could well be […]

Displaced and Refugees

Top 5 Lessons Saudi should learn from its Failed Yemen War

contributors

By Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | – – Top 5 Lessons Saudi Arabia Learns from the Yemen War Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war has reached a dead end. Launched in late March 2015 to restore President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power, either by subduing or by eliminating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies, […]