Terrorism

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Russian Federation is a key player in Syria, and backer of the dictatorial government of Bashar al-Assad. Moscow on Wednesday and Thursday attempted some diplomacy, however, welcoming a delegation of Syrian rebels against the authoritarian al-Assad in Damascus. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said just […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Is ISIL/ Daesh biggest threat to Saudi Arabia?: Mosque of Secret Police Bombed

contributors

By Mohammed Al Nemer | ( Global Voices Online) | – – Another suicide bomb hit Saudi Arabia on Thursday, this time at a mosque inside a Special Forces headquarters in Asir, southwest of Saudi Arabia, killing 15 people and injuring nine. The attack, by ISIS, was carried out by Abu Sinan Al Najdi. This […]

Iraq

Controversy: Did Turkish anti-PKK Airstrikes hit civilian Kurdish village of Zargeli?

contributors

BBC | (Video News Report) | – – “Turkey may have joined the air war against Islamic State militants across the border in Syria. The nation has also been taking action against Kurdish fighters that it accuses of launching attacks within Turkey. One such airstrike took place last Saturday over the border in Iraq, where […]

Israel

Palestine: Funeral-Protest for father of burned Baby draws Thousands

contributors

By IMEMC | – – Thousands of Palestinians participated, on Saturday evening, in the funeral procession and ceremony of Sa’ad Dawabsha who died Saturday of serious burns and injuries resulting from the Israeli terrorist attack on his family home, leading to the death of his baby, Ali, ten days ago. Dawabsha’s body was moved from […]

Christianity

Daesh/ ISIL takes 250 Captive, including 60 Christians in Syria

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In more bad news for the Baath regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) fighters have taken the town of Al Qariyatain southeast of Homs and are advancing west on the nearby towns of Mheen and Sadad. These central small towns are Sunni-majority, but […]

Christianity

Leader of extremist Israeli organization calls for torching churches

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) –The leader of a Jewish extremist group in Israel allegedly called for arson attacks on churches in front of Israeli students, Israeli media reported on Thursday. Benzi Gopstein, leader of anti-Arab group Lehava, allegedly called for the burning of churches at a panel held this week for […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Russia Condemns US Mission Creep, New Bombing Plans for Syria

contributors

Russia Today | (Video Report) | – – Editorial note: Russia Today is an organ of the Russian government, so this report is not independent, critical analysis. On the other hand, Russia is a player in Syria and what it thinks is important, and US media tend not to report outside-the-Beltway points of view. Just […]

Israel

Pic of the Day: Palestinians shield Israeli policewoman from stone-throwers

contributors

Striking photo of Palestinians shielding Israeli policewoman from stones thrown by settlers. https://t.co/gburzyw8jP pic.twitter.com/8N6hDqgaFl — Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) August 2, 2015 N.B. A reader wrote in to say that they were protecting her from Palestinian stone-throwers, not settlers.

Israel

Grandson of Meir Kahane arrested for burning baby; part of extremist network

contributors

By Celine Hagbard | (IMEMC News ) As Israeli investigators release their findings that a right-wing Jewish terrorist network is gaining power throughout Israel and illegal West Bank settlements, an arrest has been made in the arson attack Thursday night that burned a baby to death and severely wounded his mother, father and 4-year old […]