North Africa
ISIS preparing ‘retreat zone’ in Libya?
A UN Security Council report warns that ISIS is preparing a "retreat zone" in Libya as coalition air-strikes threaten the group's territory in Iraq and Syria.
Author: Bill Weinberg
Iraq
Patrick Cockburn serves up more lies on Syria
Patrick Cockburn's "briefing" to the House of Commons opposing British air-strikes on ISIS was a shameful betrayal of the Syrian democratic resistance—denying its very existence.
Greater Middle East
Syria: civil wars in the civil war
A growing split between secular and Islamist elements of the FSA is unfortunately mirrored by a breach between Kurds and Ankara-backed Arab and Turkmen forces.
Palestine
Google to suppress footage of Israeli war crimes?
Israeli cabinet member Tzipi Hotovely met with representatives of YouTube and Google to discuss cooperation in what she called the fight against "inciting violence and terrorism."
North Africa
Berbers symbolically raise Kabylia flag at UN
Some 500 Berber activists from Algeria's Kabylia region gathered at the UN headquarters to symbolically raise the flag of their homeland.
Inner Asia
Russo-Turkish pipeline route on hold amid crisis
With Moscow threatening sanctions against Turkey, plans for a Russo-Turkish free trade zone and joint gas pipeline route appear be on hold.
Greater Middle East
Opening shots of new Russo-Turkish war?
The situation in northern Syria is escalating amid Russo-Turkish brinkmanship, with Turkmen villages coming under intense Russian bombardment.
Greater Middle East
Russian warplane down: heightened contradictions
After Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane over Syria, Vladimir Putin openly accused Ankara of backing ISIS—echoing a charge Kurdish forces have been making for months.
Inner Asia
ISIS commander was trained by Blackwater: report
A former police commander from Tajikistan was featured in an ISIS video boasting that he had been trained by Blackwater in the US under State Department aegis.
North Africa
Glencore secures Libya oil contract
Global commodities giant Glencore signed a deal with Libya's state oil company—which is now divided into feuding branches loyal to the country's rival regimes.
Greater Middle East
Syria: protests break out in ISIS-held town
Residents of the ISIS-held northern Syrian town of Manbij have held unprecedented protests against jihadist rule, according to activists who got the word out via social media.
Africa
Mali: who is behind Bamako attack?
The deadly hotel siege in Mali's capital was apparently ordered by Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar—who was twice reported killed in military operations over the past two years.