Syria
Syria: will peace plan mean world war?
Russia announced that it is sending forces to police the “de-escalation zones” in Syria—which could provide a spark for massive escalation.
Tag: Russia
Europe
Ukraine says Russia behind global cyber-attack
The Security Service of Ukraine stated that the hackers behind the recent global cyber-attack are the same Kremlin-backed outfit that conducted an attack on Ukraine's power grid in December.
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.
Syria
Syria slides closer to Arab-Kurdish ethnic war
Clashes broke out between Syrian rebel factions and Kurdish fighters in Aleppo province, as Arabs and Kurds are further pitted against each other by Great Power manipulation.
Europe
‘Soviet-style’ trial of Crimean Tatar leader
The first hearing in Russia's case against Crimean Tatar leader Ilmi Umerov opened in Simferopol, in what Ukrainian rights advocates decry as a "Soviet-style" show trial.
Iraq
US using white phosphorus in Raqqa: reports
Several civilians were killed when US air-strikes reportedly targeted ISIS-held Raqqa with white phosphorus—banned by the Geneva Convention as a weapon of war.
North America
Conspiranoids betray Reality Winner …of course
Some of the same voices that cheered on Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden are now dissing Reality Winner as an agent of the “Deep State.”
Iraq
Syria: mounting civilian toll of US air-strikes
Over the past month, air-strikes carried out by the US and its coalition partners in Syria have killed the highest number of civilians on record since the bombing campaign began.
Europe
Ukrainian general calls for ‘destruction’ of Jews
A Ukrainian general closely linked to the intelligence services called for "destruction" of the country's Jews—providing fodder for the portrayal of Russian aggression as "anti-fascism."
Planet Watch
US signs Arctic climate declaration —with caveats
Under diplomatic pressure, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed the Fairbanks Declaration on Arctic climate—but with caveats about how the US will not "rush" to change policy.
Syria
Syria: Trump approves plan to arm Rojava Kurds
The Rojava Kurds, caught in a pincer between Turkey and ISIS, are being forced to accept superpower aid—but with costs for Syrian revolutionary unity against ISIS and Assad.
Iraq
Syria: a No-Fly Zone for Rojava?
Following Turkish air-strikes on their forces in northern Syria, Kurdish leaders in the region issued a call for a "no-fly zone"—heightening the contradictions for Washington.