Iraq
Iraq: US ground troops battle ISIS
US ground troops fought their first direct battle against ISIS as the jihadists launched an attack on a base in Anbar that housed mixed US, Iraqi and tribal forces.
Tag: Syria
Oceania
ISIS in Sydney?
Internet and media slueths scramble to identify the faction behind the jihadist flag raised by the militant in the Sydney hostage crisis—which follows Austrailian air-strikes on ISIS.
Greater Middle East
New Syrian rebel coalition: tilt to Turkey
Syrian rebels announced formation of a new Revolutionary Command Council at a meeting in Turkey—dominated by conservative Islamists but excluding Nusra Front and ISIS.
Greater Middle East
Nazi fugitive trained Syrian torturers: report
The Simon Wiesenthal Center says Alois Brunner, the world's most-wanted Nazi fugitive, died a free man in Syria, where he trained interrogators for sucessive regimes.
Iraq
Bedfellows get stranger in war on ISIS
Iran launched air-strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq, the Pentagon admitted. Meanwhile, it appears that NATO ally Turkey opened its territory to ISIS forces attacking Kobani.
Iraq
Yazidi woman speaks on ISIS genocide
Pari Ibrahim of the Free Yezidi Foundation spoke at New York's Institute for the Study of Human Rights on the ongoing genocide and sexual slavery of her people at the hands of ISIS.
Iraq
Observers: US-led Syria strikes kill over 900
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that US-led airstrikes in Syria have killed over 900—including 785 ISIS fighters, 72 Nusra Front militants and 52 civilians.
Greater Middle East
Amnesty: Syrian refugees face abuse in Turkey
Amnesty International accuses Turkey of firing on refugees at the Syrian border, and charges that the 1.6 million refugees within Turkey face destitution.
Iraq
Global terrorism survey finds surging attacks
A study by UK-based Institute for Economics and Peace finds there were nearly 10,000 terrorist attacks in 2013, 44% more than the year before.
Iraq
Rojava revolution speaks in New York City
A forum at New York's City College featured a Skype link to Saleh Muslim, political leader of the Kurdish resistance at Kobani, and vividly described life in the besieged autonomous zone.
Iraq
Kurdish revolution: what odds for survival?
Will the anarchist-oriented Rojava Kurds ultimately be crushed in deference to Washington's NATO ally Turkey—or coopted into imperial clients? Is a third revolutionary option possible?
Greater Middle East
Kobani defenders claim advances against ISIS
A joint force of Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga and Free Syrian Army units launched a new offensive at Kobani, driving back ISIS west of the city.