Arab World

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) | – NBC reports that a US convoy of light armored vehicles carrying special operations forces has been sighted heading from Iraq into northeast Syria and then south to the oil-rich Deir al-Zor province, with attack helicopters hovering above. You have to wonder if the Kurds pelted them with rotten vegetables […]

Donald Trump

Iran seeks to Take advantage of Trump’s Exit from Syria to become Diplomatic Power Broker

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – How has Trump’s impetuous invitation to Turkey to invade Syria and displace America’s allies against ISIL, the Syrian Kurds, issued nearly two weeks ago, been taken advantage of by Iran? It should be noted in the first instance that Iran has its own restive Kurdish province and is no more […]

Displaced and Refugees

Erdogan’s Plan to Resettle Arabs in Syrian Kurdish Zone is dangerous and expensive

Middle East Monitor

By Stasa Salacanin | – Although the Turkish offensive in north-east Syria has ceased for five days, concerns are mounting over the humanitarian impact of the operation to push Kurdish-led forces, which Turkey regards as terrorists, out of the area. Ankara’s plan to resettle millions of refugees into the area and its president’s threat to […]

Donald Trump

New War for Oil? Trump to Occupy Oil-Rich Syrian Province with Tank Corps, Asks for Kurdish Displacement There

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump said he talked to Syrian Democratic Forces leader Gen. Mazloum Abdi on Thursday. As usual, Trump’s report of the conversation is marred by outright lies and bizarre allegations. He said, I really enjoyed my conversation with General @MazloumAbdi. He appreciates what we have done, and I appreciate what the […]

Displaced and Refugees

No, Erdogan can’t send most of Turkey’s 3.7 mn Syrian Refugees into Kurdish Regions

The Conversation

By Shelley Inglis | – Turkey’s recent military incursion into northern Syria is aimed at weakening Syrian Kurdish forces along its border. Turkey believes those forces are linked to the insurgent Kurdish militia inside Turkey, whom Turkey and the U.S. have labeled terrorists. But that’s not the only goal. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s long-term […]

Donald Trump

Did Trump just reward Turkish Pres. Erdogan for Obeying Putin?

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – I asked last week how it could be that Trump greenlighted the Turkish invasion of northern Syrian and the ethnic cleansing of Syrian Kurds along the Turkish border, but at the same time announced sanctions on Turkey for doing just that. On Wednesday, Trump announced that there wouldn’t be any […]

Donald Trump

Unlike Trump, Putin faces down Turkey on Plans for Massive Syria Incursion

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – With Trump and his special operations troops out of Syria, it fell to Russia to deal with Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria to push back from its border the leftist Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). Trump has not only become irrelevant, but the troops formerly stationed in Syria now seem […]

Displaced and Refugees

Deportation to Syria could mean death for women, children and LGBTQ refugees in Turkey

The Conversation

Deina Abdelkader | – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan isn’t limiting his assault on neighboring Syria to attacking Kurdish troops that run the country’s northern region. He says the 3.6 million Syrians now living as war refugees in Turkey may also be returned “to their own homes” once northern Syria is wrenched from Kurdish control. […]

Tunisia

Will Tunisia’s Populist “Robocop” new President bring “Freedom and Dignity” or . . .?

The Conversation

By Mohamed Kerrou | – Kaïs Saïed has won Tunisia’s presidential election. This triumph came at the expense of the two forces that have dominated Tunisia’s political landscape since the 2011 revolution: Islamism and nationalist secular parties. Over the past eight years, these two movements failed to meet the urgent demands of the people, expressed […]