Arab World

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Friday, Iran and Saudi Arabia will both attend an international summit on Syria and speak diplomatically about its future for the first time. It won’t be easy, since Iran has 1500 troops on the ground supporting the government of Bashar al-Assad, while Saudi Arabia is […]

Health

Yemen: Coalition Airstrikes Hit Hospital

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – (Sanaa) – The airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition on a hospital in northern Yemen supported by Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontiers, MSF) on October 26, 2015, was in apparent violation of the laws of war. The attack with a half-dozen bombs destroyed Haydan Hospital, the only medical facility […]

Featured

Iran helping build “New Syrian Army;” ISIL fighters Fleeing to Iraq from Russian Airstrikes

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Alarabiya television is reporting 16 new casualties in Syria since October 9 among Iranian fighters there. There are thought to be some 1,500 Iranian military personnel in Syria, though some of these are actually Afghans. Several of those Iranian personnel killed during the past 2 years […]

Featured

Bush Lapdog Blair can’t Even Apologize Correctly for Destabilizing the Middle East

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Former British PM Tony Blair reiterated on Sunday some of his previous half-hearted “apologies” for illegally launching a war of aggression on Iraq in 2003. Blair’s “apologies” always take the form of the little boy who, when instructed to apologize for calling a lady fat, says, […]

Human Rights

Russia/Syria: Possibly Unlawful Russian Air Strikes

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – (New York) – At least two air strikes in northern Homs on October 15, 2015, that local residents believed to be Russian, apparently violated the laws of war. The air strikes killed a total of 59 civilians, residents said, including 33 children and a commander of the local armed […]

Bashar al-Assad

Is Russia’s offer of Parliamentary Elections in Syria Serious?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (informed Comment) | – – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said three surprising things Saturday in an interview with Rossiya 1. 1. Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad would have to be part of any transition to a new govering. 2. Syria could have nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections next summer 3. Russia […]

Eastern Europe

Iraqi Kurds Face Hard Diplomatic Choices Between the US and Russia

contributors

By Histyar Qader | (Niqash.org) | – – It is tough for Iraqi Kurdistan to turn down any kind of aid when it comes to fighting the Islamic State. So now the Kurdish are not sure whether to stand with the US or to ask for help from the Russians. The relatively new Russian intervention […]

Israel/ Palestine

Forever Refugees – Palestinian Families expelled by Israelis to Syria lose Homes Again

contributors

By: Mai Abu Moghli, Nael Bitarie, and Nell Gabiam | Ma’an News Agency | – – Similarly to their Syrian counterparts, Palestinians in Syria have been severely affected by the ongoing war. Syrian towns and villages, as well as Palestinian refugee camps, have been subject to repeated attacks and prolonged sieges by troops loyal to […]

Iraq

Did US-Russia Tensions Help Bring Iraq Victory in Baiji and Anbar?

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | (Niqash.org) Recently Iraqi anti-extremist forces have made some of the biggest gains in months. Iraqi military leaders explain how they beat the Islamic State; some credit US- Russia tensions for the latest successes too. Fighters from Shiite Muslim volunteer militias celebrate victory at Baiji, earlier this year. (photo: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE) Over […]