Afghanistan
Afghanistan: thousands protest Hazara beheadings
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Kabul with coffins carrying the bodies of seven ethnic Hazara, demanding justice after their beheadings by jihadists.
Tag: ISIS
Greater Middle East
Syria: anti-ISIS forces advance —despite everything
The new Kurdish-Arab alliance in northern Syria continues to advance into ISIS-held territory—in spite of efforts by virtually all the regional powers to sabotage it.
North Africa
Libya: oil output plummets as rival regimes fight
Libya's oil output dropped to a record low after the government in the east sent troops to shut down an export terminal controlled by the rival regime in the west.
Afghanistan
UN sees decline in Afghan opium: Pyrrhic victory?
The UN notes a sharp drop in opium cultivation in Afghanistan after years of big increases—but due to drought and desertification, not government eradication efforts.
Iran
US embraces Iran as (ironic) ‘peace’ partner in Syria
Iran is invited to the US-backed Vienna "peace" talks on the Syria war—seeming to confirm suspicions that cooperation against ISIS was the real motive behind the nuclear deal.
Iraq
US ground troops to Iraq, Syria: Pentagon
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a statement to Congress that the US will begin ground operations against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria.
Greater Middle East
Turkey attacks Kurdish positions on Syrian border
Turkish military forces attacked Kurdish positions on the Syrian border, raising fears that Turkey is moving to establish its "buffer zone."
South Asia
Bangladesh: ISIS claims sectarian terror attack
ISIS claimed responsibility for blasts that targeted Shi'ites as they gathered in Dhaka for a procession marking the holy day of Ashura.
North Africa
Meanwhile in, um, Benghazi…
Missiles and mortar rounds were fired into a crowd of anti-Islamist demonstrators in central Benghazi, killing six and injuring many more.
Iraq
Iraq: sectarian terror in battle for Baiji
After taking the oil refinery city of Baiji from ISIS, Iraqi Shi'ite militias reported the discovery of some 20 mass graves—said to contain the bodies of over 350 ISIS fighters.
Greater Middle East
New Syrian rebel coalition unites Kurds, Arabs
A new coalition of 13 armed organizations announced the formation of the Democratic Forces of Syria, which is now planning a major offensive against ISIS.
Greater Middle East
AKP-ISIS collaboration in Ankara massacre?
Several PKK sympathizers have been arrested in connection with the Ankara suicide blasts—but the Turkish left charges that the ruling AKP collaborated with ISIS in the attack.