Terrorism

TeleSur | – – A chemical weapons investigator confirmed earlier reports that the extremist group used the banned chemical weapon. [ISIL] used chemical weapons against Kurdish militants last year, Reuters reported Monday. The August 2015 attack occurred near Erbil, the capital of autonomous Kurdish Iraq. About 35 Kurdish troops were attacked with mustard gas, according […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Why is ISIL still trying to Slaughter and Enslave the ancient Yazidi Minority?

contributors

By Brian Glyn Williams | (Informed Comment) | – – On February 3, the New York Times quoted the desperate plea of a Yazidi, a member of an ethnic-religious group facing communal extermination at the hands of ISIS jihadi terrorists. In simple, but moving terms he summed up the plight of his people, whose ancestral […]

Arab World

VICE Special Report: Fighting Isis (Ben Anderson Debrief)

Nicholas Kolenda

Ben Anderson of VICE gives a chilling report on Da’esh: the events that led to their rise and the situation as of today.

Africa

Kaj Larsen Gives a Debriefing on Boko Haram (Vice)

Nicholas Kolenda

Kaj Larsen gives a view into the workings of the infamous Nigerian Islamist group, Boko Haram

Bashar al-Assad

Syria Rebels face Collapse as Thousands flee North Aleppo

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Friday, the Syrian Arab Army and its Hizbullah and Iranian/ Afghan allies made further progress in taking the area just north of Aleppo. They were apparently mainly fighting al-Qaeda, which had a stronghold in the city of Ratyan. The Russians subjected it to intensive bombing […]

Bashar al-Assad

Syria: The Mother of all Battles for Aleppo is Joined

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Aided by a massive Russian bombing campaign and Hizbullah and Iranian (or likely actually Afghan) reinforcements, the Syrian Arab Army has broken out of the siege imposed on West Aleppo by rebel forces toward the north, and now seems positioned to besiege East Aleppo, which is […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

The ISIL Challenge: Neither WW III nor a Minor Threat

contributors

By Julie Poucher Harbin, editor/ Alberto Fernandez | ISLAMiCommentary | – – Dozens of Middle East studies scholars, students and the general public packed a public talk — “Beyond Hysteria and Apologia: The ISIS Challenge in Perspective” — given by retired US diplomat Ambassador Alberto Fernandez. “ISIS is neither the coming of World War 3, […]

Featured

Turkish-Russian Airspace Conflict as Ankara-backed Turkmen flee Syria

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Russia rejected as “propaganda” on Saturday renewed Turkish charges that its fighter jets had crossed Turkish territory. NATO asked Moscow to respect its joint airspace. A promontory of Turkish territory sticks down into northern Latakia, and it would be very difficult to conduct the sort of […]

Counter-Terrorism

8 Ways Nonviolence can Combat Terrorism

contributors

By George Lakey | ( Waging Non-Violence) | – – One of my most popular courses at Swarthmore College focused on the challenge of how to defend against terrorism, nonviolently. Events now unfolding in France make our course more relevant than ever. (The syllabus was published in “Peace, Justice, and Security Studies: A Curriculum Guide” […]