January, 2019

• 28 January

  Messages to Arabia: Al-Qaida Attacks MBS and the Saudi Monarchy

  Since the early 1990s, al-Qaida has routinely vilified the Saudi royal family and its government for being un-Islamic and illegitimate, describing the monarchy and the princes as apostates who should be attacked and toppled from power. The gist of al-Qaida’s condemnation of the Saudi rulers is that they are lackeys …

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• 28 January

  Fratricide in rebel movements: A network analysis of Syrian militant infighting

  Violent conflict among rebels is a common feature of civil wars and insurgencies. Yet, not all rebel groups are equally prone to such infighting. While previous research has focused on the systemic causes of violent conflict within rebel movements, this article explores the factors that affect the risk of conflict …

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• 25 January

  US-backed forces close to uproot Daesh from Deir Ezzor province

  Kurdish-led forces, backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, have been so close to uproot Daesh (ISIS) from the eastern province of Deir Ezzor as the militants besieged in tiny enclave in Baghouz village, activists said Friday.

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• 23 January

  43 IS militants killed planning attack on Iraqi troops

  Pro-government fighters of Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi thwarted on Wednesday a planned attack by Islamic State militants on security forces in a village on the Iraqi-Syrian border, leaving 43 terrorists dead and wounded.

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• 23 January

  UK minister: US withdrawal should not affect northeast Syria

  UK Middle East Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said the withdrawal of American troops from Syria should not affect the fight against the Islamic State, nor result in Turkish incursions against Syrian Kurds.

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• 14 January

  Turkey deploys tanks at border with Syria

  The Turkish military deployed tanks and armored vehicles to the border province of Hatay on Jan. 13, as Turkey continues its preparations for a planned military operation in the east of River Euphrates in Syria against ISIL and the YPG, which it sees as the Syrian branch of the PKK.

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• 14 January

  Trump, Erdogan discuss Syria over phone

  In their third phone call to discuss the Syria situation and impending plans for US withdrawal, US president Donald Trump discussed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday a framework that would protect Syrian Kurds while preserving Turkey’s security.

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• 14 January

  Canada ends NATO deployment for 2018 in Romania

  Canada’s Air Task Force (ATF) has completed its four-month deployment with NATO’s enhanced Air Policing in Romania, according to the Canadian Ministry of National Defense Thursday. ATF-Romania is composed of approximately 135 Canadian Armed Forces personnel and five CF-18 Hornets.

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• 14 January

  Moldova expects support from Romania during its presidency of the Council of the EU

  Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip hopes that Romania within its presidency of the Council of the EU will support the European integration processes of the Eastern Partnership countries, including Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

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• 14 January

  Pompeo says US committed to fighting Daesh

  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to reassure Iraqi officials on Wednesday that Washington remained committed to fighting the Daesh group, as he tours regional allies troubled by US plans to withdraw from Syria. Pompeo’s unannounced visit comes less than two weeks after President Donald Trump drew criticism for …

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