North Africa
Egypt bombs Libya —again?
Amid fierece fighting in Benghazi, AP cites unnamed "officials" as saying Egyptian warplanes have bombed Islamist positions in the eastern Libyan city.
Tag: UAE
Iraq
US air-strikes fueling growth of ISIS?
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that ISIS has recruited more than 6,000 new fighters since the US-led air-strikes began.
Iraq
First US air-strikes on ISIS targets in Syria
Warplanes flying from the USS George HW Bush carried out the first US air-strikes against ISIS targets in Syria, with planes from five Arab countries also participating in the raids.
North Africa
Libya: who bombed Tripoli?
Unidentified warplanes carried out air-strikes on targets controlled by Islamist militias in Tripoli. Libya said the planes were foreign, but the US, Italy and France denied involvement.
Greater Middle East
Egypt: jihad against feloul?
With Field Marshal al-Sisi consolidating his rule in alliance with Mubarak-era "left-overs," a Qaedist insurgency is rapidly spreading from the Sinai to the rest of Egypt.
Greater Middle East
UAE court sentences 69 activists in coup plot
A United Arab Emirates court gave sentences of up to 15 years in prison to 69 academics, lawyers and other professionals who are among 94 on trial for planning an Islamist coup.
Iran
Iran-China pipeline route via restive regions
A new pipeline that would link Iran to China via Pakistan, bypassing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, would pass through the insurgent regions of Baluchistan, Kashmir and Xinjiang.
UAE begins trial of 94 charged in coup plot
The United Arab Emirates began the trial of 94 charged with plotting to overthrow the government. The defendants are members of al-Islah, a nonviolent political association.
Greater Middle East
UAE arrests 18-year-old blogger: report
The Emirates Centre for Human Rights reports that the United Arab Emirates has arrested an 18-year-old blogger as part of a wider effort to crack down on government opposition.
Iran
Unprecedented maneuvers in Strait of Hormuz
With two US warships headed for Libya, 25 nations led by the US are converging on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for naval maneuvers on an unprecedented scale.
Africa
Somali pirate negotiator gets 12 life sentences
A US court in Virginia sentenced convicted Somali pirate negotiator Mohammad Shibin to a dozen life sentences for piracy, hostage taking, kidnapping, conspiracy, and other charges.
Greater Middle East
GJEC
Yemen war crime investigators called upon the UN Human Rights Council to renew their mandate and allow the continued inquiry into Yemen's internal conflict, calling the situation in the county "extremely alarming." The Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen, in their initial report, released in August, found evidence that "members of the Saudi-led coalition, the Yemeni government, and the Houthi armed group have been committing abuses, including indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians, arbitrary and abusive detention, and recruitment of children." At the time of the report, the experts recommended that their mandate be renewed. However, Saudi Arabia and other coalition members have pressed the council to discontinue the inquiry. (Photo via WikiMedia Commons)
