Middle Orient

Daraa: Assassination Attempt Ends with Clashes Between Air Force Intelligence and Eighth Brigade

Two factions associated with Air Force Intelligence and Military Intelligence clashed in al-Musayfra town, located in the eastern countryside of Daraa, on the evening of Saturday. The altercation erupted between a local faction led by Mohammed al-Rifai, known as “al-Lahham,” affiliated with Air Force Intelligence, and the Eighth Brigade group, …

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Syria Today – Russia and Turkey “to Cooperate in Fight Against Terror”; SDF Clashes with Iranian Militias; ISIS Kills More Truffle Hunters

Russian President Vladimir Putin held separate calls with his Turkish and Syrian counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar Al-Assad, on Saturday, promising “closer cooperation” in the fight against terrorism in the wake of the deadly concert attack in Moscow, according to a Kremlin statement, MEMO reported. The statement noted that …

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For Israel’s religious right, Gaza is a war of conquest

In the past week, comments from Israeli lawmakers have called into question whether Israel’s religious right, or even the entire government, views its war on Gaza not only as one of revenge but also of conquest. As 2024 began, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir told reporters and members …

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Chechen Jihadis Leave Syria, Join the Fight in Ukraine

Just an hour’s drive from this city under siege, at an old resort on the Azov Sea that’s now a military base, militants from Chechnya—veterans of the jihad in their own lands and, more recently, in Syria—now serve in what’s called the Sheikh Mansur Battalion. Some of them say they …

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UN demand for Gaza cease-fire provokes strongest clash between US and Israel since war began

The United Nations Security Council on Monday issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began. …

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ISIS-K’s sworn enemy What does the Islamic State branch claiming responsibility for the Moscow terrorist attack have against Russia?

The mass shooting and fire at the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow on March 22 was the deadliest terrorist attack Russia has seen since the 2004 Beslan school siege. The gunmen’s actions claimed at least 137 lives and injured 180 others. The four suspects currently in custody are …

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Houthis Announce Expansion Of Attacks On Israel-Bound Ships To All Of Indian Ocean

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah, said on March 14 that his country’s armed forces will expand their attacks against ships moving to Israel from the Red Sea region to the whole of the Indian Ocean. Stating that attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea and Bab-al-Mandab …

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Will The UK Recognize A Palestinian State? – Analysis

David Cameron, the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary, recently announced the UK may recognize a Palestinian state before the Palestinians and Israelis finalize a peace deal, but that “no such move could come while Hamas remains in Gaza.” At the same time, the United States is reviewing options to recognize a …

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Iran Update, March 24, 2024

Key Takeaways: Northern Gaza Strip: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) engaged Palestinian militias north of Gaza City, including in Beit Hanoun.Israeli forces continued operations near al Shifa Hospital, Gaza City, on March 24. CTP-ISW inaccurately reported on March 23 that the IDF had concluded its operation at al Shifa Hospital. …

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Why the Red Sea matters to Iran

Yemen’s Red Sea naval operations have drawn attention to Iran’s own strategic calculations for this vital maritime corridor, most of them driven by Tehran’s valid security and economic interests. The Red Sea has been a crucial historical nexus for Iran, with its roots tracing back to ancient times when the …

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