September, 2021

• 11 September

  Turkey Eyes Opportunity in Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan

  

  While the West views the fall of the US-backed government as a strategic disaster, Ankara plans to turn the crisis there to its own advantage. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on August 29 that Turkish diplomatic activity will continue in Kabul and all its embassy staff had returned to …

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• 11 September

  Moscow Eyes Moldova’s and Ukraine’s Warming Relations With Suspicion

  

  As Kyiv and Chisinau firm up once weak bilateral ties, the Kremlin observes the formation of what it suspects is an anti-Russian alliance with alarm. Moldovan and Ukrainian leaders aim to build a solid relationship to boost their respective European aspirations, having big players on the eastern flank of the …

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• 11 September

  Russia-Belarus Zapad Military Exercise Opens New Fronts

  

  This year’s joint military exercise organised by Russia and Belarus on NATO’s eastern border is an unprecedented attempt to bully the West, in a new context with fresh tactics, argues Polish security expert Anna Maria Dyner. The culminating stage of the Zapad 2021 joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise will take place …

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• 11 September

  Montenegro Violence Was Reckless Gamble by Country’s Former Rulers

  Last weekend’s street battles show the former ruling DPS won’t shrink from taking the whole country down with it, if it feels its interests are vitally threatened. For what it’s worth, many ordinary Montenegrins are as confused as everyone else about what just happened in their country. The violent scenes …

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• 11 September

  Die Taliban an der Macht

  Ein Kabinett nur aus Mitgliedern der Taliban, der Ministerpräsident auf einer Sanktionsliste der UN, der Innenminister ein vom FBI gesuchter Terrorist, fast alle Minister Paschtunen und keine Frau darunter – weiter von den „inklusiven“ Vorstellungen des Westens kann man kaum entfernt sein als mit dieser neuen Übergangsregierung in Afghanistan. Sie …

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• 11 September

  Tom Clonan: The Taliban’s power grab was spectacular but they can’t govern at gunpoint

  NATO’s war in Afghanistan is over. Over the last three weeks, the US and her allies – including Ireland – have evacuated over 120,000 people from Kabul International Airport. On Tuesday night, Major General Chris Donahue of the 82nd Airborne Division became the last US soldier to quit Afghan soil. …

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• 11 September

  Arab coalition destroys Houthi drones targeting Saudi Arabia

  Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed several explosive-laden drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia toward Khamis Mushayt on Thursday. The Arab coalition said the Iran-backed group continues to target civilians, which is tantamount to war crimes. The Houthis launch the rigged drones toward the Kingdom on a near-daily basis. …

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• 11 September

  Syrian forces enter war-torn Daraa, opposition alleges rights abuses

  

  The Syrian government and rebel groups recently reached a cease-fire deal in the southern city that played a large role in the 2011 uprising. Syrian government forces entered Daraa al-Balad on Wednesday as per an agreement with rebel groups in the southern Syrian city. Though there is a cease-fire, one …

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• 11 September

  Egypt, Jordan, Syria agree to export gas to crisis-stricken Lebanon

  

  Syria also agreed to transfer Jordanian electricity to Lebanon, while Iran already sent fuel. Several Middle Eastern states agreed to export natural gas from Egypt to energy-starved Lebanon, though the exact plan is not clear. The energy ministers of Egypt, Syria and Jordan met in Amman on Wednesday with their …

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• 11 September

  Boko Haram Capture of Military Equipment Fuels Lake Chad Insurgency

  

  Boko Haram’s capture of materiel from government forces in the Lake Chad region bolsters the jihadi insurgency’s lethality, posing a grave risk to civilians, peacekeepers, and other military personnel. A year ago on this platform I raised a concern that the two main Boko Haram factions secured considerable lethal materiel …

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