Arab World

By Amira Al Hussaini | ( GlobalVoices.org) Saudi Arabia announced today it had executed 47 people under “terrorism” charges, including top shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr who was seen as a leader in anti-government protests that took place in the Eastern province of the absolute monarchy at the beginning of the so-called Arab Spring. Saudi […]

Iraq

In the past 12 months, Iraqis finally lost all Hope

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – In 2015, every Iraqi – almost without exception – paid a price for events in their country. Some Iraqis lost their jobs, others lost loved ones. But the biggest loss of all in 2015 cannot be measured. In Iraq, 2015 was a taxing year. Almost […]

Natural Disasters

Huge Fire Engulfs Dubai Building Near New Year’s Eve Fireworks

contributors

Sky News | (Video News Report) | – – “Huge fire in Dubai building thought to be a hotel, close to planned New Year’s Eve fireworks display and Burj Khalifa skyscraper” Sky News: “Huge Fire Engulfs Dubai Building Near New Year’s Eve Fireworks”

Counter-Terrorism

How his Syria Intervention brought Putin in from the Cold in 2015

contributors

By Carl Schreck | ( RFE/ RL | – – In December 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama fielded a question about Russia while addressing a group of American business leaders in Washington. President Vladimir Putin’s incursion into Ukraine and “backward-looking” policies, Obama said, are “isolating Russia completely internationally.” If it was Russian expansionism last year […]

Iraq

What It Takes To Defeat ISIL’s Ideology

contributors

By Charles Recknagel | RFE/RL Daniel Koehler is among a handful of people in the West who work with Islamist militants returning from Syria in an effort to reintegrate them into normal life. A native of Germany, he works with such former fighters and their families in countries across Europe and in North America and […]

Saudi Arabia

Yemen: US-Backed Saudi Coalition illegally bombing Residential Areas

contributors

By Human Rights Watch | – – (Beirut) – The Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting in Yemen carried out at least six apparently unlawful airstrikes in residential areas of the capital, Sanaa, in September and October 2015, killing 60 civilians. Coalition members and the United States, as a party to the conflict, are required under the […]

Iraq

Will Mosul rise against Daesh/ ISIL? If not, who can liberate it?

Juan Cole

By Nawzat Shamdeen | (Niqash.org) | – – “Everyone says zero hour is coming closer. Some of the politicians – including the Prime Minister – have said that operations to liberate Mosul have already started,” a Mosul man, who still lives in the extremist-occupied city, wrote in a message sent to NIQASH on social media. […]

Featured

Eyes on Mosul next, as Iraqi Army advances in Ramadi in face of Stiff ISIL/ Daesh Resistance

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Iraqi prime minister Haydar al-Abadi announced Friday that after the city of Ramadi was recovered from Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), the Iraqi army would go on to liberate Mosul (a city of some 2 million before Daesh took it), 420 km. north of Ramadi. On Friday, the […]

Featured

The Regime Strikes Back: Syrian Gov’t advances, Bolstered by Russia

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Russia’s aerial intervention in Syria is apparently yielding some modest battlefield advances for the Baath regime of Bashar al-Assad. Russia is also resupplying the Syrian Arab Army, training it in tactics, and giving it strategic advice. The big news is that Russia airstrikes on the secret […]