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.
Tag: ISIS
Iraq
Fears for Fallujah ‘disappeared’
Shi'ite militiamen who fought alongside the Iraqi army in the battle for Fallujah are believed to have seized some 900 civilian men and boys and killed nearly 50.
Greater Middle East
ISIS attacks Islamic holy city… WTF?
The ISIS attack on Medina, Islam's second holiest city, betrays the group's eschatological imperative and desire to bring about a final conflict that will purge the world of heresy.
South Asia
ISIS franchise in Bangladesh bakery siege
After a deadly ISIS siege of a Dhaka cafe, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the absurd statement that the attackers "don't have any religion."
Iraq
Entire population of Fallujah displaced
Iraqi forces backed by US warplanes have retaken Fallujah two years after the city fell to ISIS—but nearly the entire population, some 80,000 people, is now displaced.
Greater Middle East
Erdogan exploits Istanbul terror —of course
ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly Istanbul airport attack, but this did not prevent President Erdogan from exploiting the terror for anti-Kurdish propaganda.
Greater Middle East
Kurds and Assad in race for Raqqa
Russian and US warplanes are each backing rival sides as the Assad regime and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces race to take the ISIS "capital" of Raqqa.
Iraq
UN rights chief: civilians fleeing Fallujah face abuse
The UN Human Rights Commissioner cited "credible reports" that residents fleeing Fallujah have suffered abuses at the hands of pro-government militias besieging the city.
North America
Orlando massacre in propaganda wars
In the wake of the Orlando massacre, the left blames homophobia while the right blames Islam—both sides ignoring the obvious reality of homophobia rooted in political Islam.
North Africa
Libya: Misrata militia force battles ISIS at Sirte
An alliance of militias from the city of Misrata—nominally aligned with Libya's UN-backed government—are battling ISIS for control of Sirte port, the group's major stronghold.
Iraq
Syria: Kurdish feminist leads anti-ISIS offensive
Rojda Felat, a Kurdish revolutionary feminist, is leading the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces' offensive on Raqqa, capital of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate.
Greater Middle East
US rejects autonomy for Syrian Kurds
The US State Department rejected the Syrian Kurds' declaration of autonomy—ironically, just as the Pentagon is coordinating with Kurdish forces for a major offensive against ISIS.