Despite Announced Truce, Fighting in Yemen Continues
A negotiated pause in fighting is respected by neither side as the war continues with no end in sight.
Middle East and North Africa
Turkey Denies Planning Syria Incursion to Block Kurds
Turkey denies plans to send troops into northern Syria but does beef up its military presence on the border.
Jordan Seeks Buffer Zone to Keep Syrian Islamists at Bay
Jordan would be prepared to send troops into Syria to prevent radical Islamists from menacing its border.
Rival Libyan Factions Fail to Agree to Power-Sharing Plan
Libya’s rival factions turn down a peace plan even though they share a common enemy: Islamic State.
Turkey Planning Invasion to Stave Off Kurdish State
Turkey plans to send troops thirty kilometers deep into Syria to stop Kurds from forming their own state there.
Why the West Shies Away from Fighting Islamic State
The Islamists do not pose much of a threat to the West and should be defeated by other Muslims.
War Tests Syrian Druze’s Loyalties and Israel’s Neutrality
Syria’s Druze are torn between supporting Bashar Assad and seeking help from neighboring Israel.
Turkish Nationalists Kingmakers in New Parliament
Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party now holds the balance of power in parliament.
Kurds Deny Turkey’s Ruling Party Majority
In a setback for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s ruling Islamist party loses its majority in parliament.
Blaming Sykes-Picot: A Dangerous Deception
Taken to its logical conclusion, the “artificial state” narratives leads to more violence, not less.
Russian S-300 Missile Sale Worries Iran’s Neighbors
Russia’s sale of advanced missile defenses to Iran raises the risk of an arms race in the Middle East.
Turkish Election Outcome Hinges on Kurdish Minority
A minority of Kurdish voters will decide if Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can make his presidency more powerful.
Europe to Launch Anti-Smuggling Mission, Rejects Migrants Scheme
European countries will go after people smugglers in the Mediterranean but hesitate to take in more asylum seekers.
Fall of Ramadi Biggest Setback for Iraq in Year’s Time
The fall of Ramadi marks the biggest setback for Iraq’s central government since the group took Mosul.
Syria Never Gave Up All Its Chemical Weapons
New evidence supports the contention that Syria only declared its outdated chemicals and lied about the rest.