Iraq
Syria: will fall of Raqqa widen war?
With the Syrian Kurds now facing open war from both Turkey and the Assad regime, the imminent taking of Raqqa portends a multi-sided scramble for former ISIS territory.
Tag: balkanization
Iraq
Iraq: Kurdistan to vote on independence
Authorities in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region announced that a referendum on independence will be held in September—drawing immediate harsh criticism from Baghdad.
North Africa
Women, Berber rights at issue in Libya constitution
Libya's Constitution Drafting Assembly is under harsh critcism from women's rights advocates, while Berber leaders have called for a boycott to press demands on language rights.
Syria
Syria: Trump approves plan to arm Rojava Kurds
TheĀ Rojava Kurds, caught in a pincer between Turkey and ISIS, are being forced to accept superpower aidābut with costs for Syrian revolutionary unity against ISIS and Assad.
Syria
Syria: Russia and Assad dropping Rojava Kurds?
Insistence on regional autonomy and a federal solution for Syria is straining the de facto alliance between the Rojava Kurds and Damascus, despite their mutual enmity for Turkey.
The Caucasus
Alania re-emerges from history, Georgia pist
The voteĀ over the name change from South Ossetia to Alania reveals how the autonomist aspirations of the Ossetians (however legitimate) have been exploited in the Great Game. (Map: Wikipedia)
Europe
Scotland and Wales to enter Brexit lawsuit
The UK Supreme Court ruled that Scotland and Wales may join a case challenging Prime Minister Theresa May’s power to leave the EU without a parliamentary vote.
Iraq
Syria and Iraq in the Trump world order
Trump intends to divide Syria with Putin the way Hitler divided Poland with Stalin—but will the US will be able to control its sphere amid social collapse and sectarian maelstrom?
Iraq
Erdogan revives Ottoman-era designs on Iraq, Syria
As Turkey turns its warplanes on the autonomous Kurds of northern Syria, state media release propaganda maps showing claims to former Ottoman lands in Syria and Iraq alike.
Greater Middle East
Syria: ‘peace deal’ signals escalation… of course
The announced new cooperation between imperial rivals the US, Russia and Turkey can only mean a betrayal of the Rojava Kurds and and other democratic forces in Syria.
Greater Middle East
Syria: reject Arab-Kurdish ethnic war
The Turkish intervention in northern Syria has set off open war between Free Syrian Army factions and the Rojava Kurds—which only serves the interests of ISIS and Assad.
Greater Middle East
US, Russia broach Syria carve-up
Obama's proposed agreement with Russia for military cooperation in Syria in exchange for protected zones for US-backed rebels actually means a division of the country.