Syria

By Juan Cole | — Kurdish forces (including both the local YPG and Peshmerga units from Iraqi Kurdistan), and supported by Free Syrian Army troops and coalition air strikes, have largely recovered Kobane from rule by Daesh (called in the West ISIL or ISIS). Kurdish forces have recovered control of the downtown where the government […]

Climate Change

Did Drought and Climate Change cause Middle Eastern States to Collapse in 2014?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — The Middle East, from North Africa to Afghanistan, has seen an unusual number of governments collapse in recent years. Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have abruptly become something akin to failed states, and masses overthrew dictators in Egypt and Tunisia. It is unclear how strong the Afghanistan state […]

Displaced and Refugees

Syrian Refugees in Turkey struggle to Cope with Frigid Winter

contributors

CCTV | — “As budget shortfalls continue to plague UN relief agencies, the colder weather brings with it further challenges for the millions of Syrian refugees who have fled the war zones in Syria. While some refugee camps inside Syria and Iraq are being equipped with emergency winter kits, including heating stoves, blankets, mattresses and […]

Bashar al-Assad

Did Iran win “2014”? Top 6 Iran Developments this Year

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — In 2014, Iran made news on a number of important fronts. 1. Although there was no decisive breakthrough in its relationship with the United States and the European Union, there was anticipation that some sort of deal would be reached eventually with the permanent members of the UN […]

Bashar al-Assad

Baathist Riposte: How the Regime Came back in the Syrian Civil War in 2014

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — In the course of 2014, two major trends, long since visible in the Syrian civil war, were strengthened. First, the Baath regime of Bashar al-Assad continued to assert control over most urban areas along the trunk roads of the west of the country. Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia and […]

Free Syrian Army

The Israeli Hospital Admitting Syrian Fighters: The War Next Door

contributors

Vice News | — “In August, al Nusra Front jihadists took control of Syria’s side of the border crossing with Israel and kidnapped over 40 United Nations peacekeepers — who have since been released. But al Nusra Front, an al Qaeda-affiliate, isn’t Israel’s only threat from Syria. President Bashar al-Assad’s military, in a possible effort […]

Christianity

No more Turning the Cheek: Assyrian Christians form Militia in Syria to fight al-Qaeda

contributors

Middle East Eye | — “The Syriac Military Council (MFS) was established in January 2013 to protect the marginalised Assyrian Christian communities in Syria. They have fought to defend themselves from the Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham and frequently work in tandem with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). As sectarian violence swamps […]

al-Qaeda

Muslim Fundamentalist Militants on Israel’s Doorstep: The War Next Door

contributors

Vice News | — “In August, al Nusra Front jihadists took control of Syria’s side of the border crossing with Israel and kidnapped over 40 United Nations peacekeepers — who have since been released. Now, al Nusra Front is attempting to draw Israel into Syria’s civil war and escalate region-wide instability. But al Nusra Front, […]

Displaced and Refugees

West Only has Money for Bombs? 60,000 Child Laborers in Jordan as Syrian Refugees struggle to Survive

contributors

AMMAN | (IRIN) | – Jordan is straining under the weight of its over 600,000 Syrian refugees, with government officials and aid agencies warning of dwindling resources and capacity to respond to the ever-growing needs. Yet Syrians fleeing the current conflict only make up one small portion of the country’s refugee population. For decades, the tiny […]