Author: M Barbu

A Vital Humanitarian Mandate for Syria’s North West

What is at stake in the Security Council?

The UN Security Council is set to vote soon on the renewal of a mandate that allows UN agencies to deliver aid to rebel-held Idlib in north-western Syria via a border crossing with Türkiye without asking for approval from the government in Damascus. The UN calculates that nearly two and a half million people rely on this lifeline for food and other essential supplies. Yet the arrangement is contentious. Since 2019, Russia, the Syrian regime’s ally, has aimed to curtail the mandate, arguing that the UN should work with Damascus on aid deliveries out of respect for Syria’s sovereignty.

Why is the US determined to build a security alliance against Iran?

The pieces are aligning ahead of Biden’s trip to the Middle East next week — almost too neatly. But will it create or shatter stability?

Next week President Biden is headed to Saudi Arabia — which he once promised to treat like a “pariah” — reportedly intent on discussing broad security guarantees with the Kingdom, including an air defense umbrella. Unfortunately, the administration’s proposal will deepen U.S. entanglement in the Middle East and further strain Iran nuclear negotiations.

A US security alliance in the Middle East is unjustified

There is no legitimate case for Washington making new security commitments and assuming additional costs on behalf of Saudi Arabia and Israel.

There is increasing talk about the United States getting more deeply committed to anti-Iran security arrangements on the side of Arab states of the Persian Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

Can outside actors stop the atrocities in Africa’s Sahel?

We know that counterterrorism programs are not helping, but some of the non-military plans long abandoned by the US could work.

Mass atrocities now occur regularly in the Sahel. The names of towns, villages, and districts in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger become infamous one after the next: Moura, Seytenga, and Bankass. The perpetrators are often jihadists — namely, an al-Qaida affiliate called the Group for Supporting Islam and Muslims (known by its Arabic acronym JNIM) and its rival, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, or ISGS.

Great Power folly? NATO’s ill-timed turn to China

While Europe becomes increasingly dependent on the US in its own backyard, the alliance puts Beijing on notice.

Russia and Ukraine are at war, Europe’s failure to take its defense seriously is evident to all, and the allies finally feel pressure to spend and do more militarily. Why, then, did they treat China as an adversary and invite several Asia-Pacific governments to last week’s NATO summit?

The ‘Melilla Massacre’ Epitomizes Europe’s Anti-Migration Dystopia

International condemnation is growing against Morocco and Spain as more details emerge about the violent deaths of at least 37 migrants during an attempt last week to cross Morocco’s border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla. According to media reports, more than 2,000 people attempted to enter the enclave from the Moroccan city of Nador.

Syrian forces crack down on Islamic State in Syrian desert

The Syrian government forces are waging a revenge war against the Islamic State in the Syrian desert amid escalating attacks.

The Syrian desert known as the Badia region has been recently witnessing violent battles between the Syrian government forces and Islamic State (IS) militants, while Russian warplanes are raiding the group’s hideouts and military vehicles in the main clash area of Jebel Bishri, which extends over large areas south of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces in the east of the country.

Belgium paves way to send convicted terrorist to Iran

There is growing international pressure not to back treaty that would allow Iranians convicted in Belgium to serve their sentences in Iran.

Belgium’s parliament on Tuesday will debate whether to ratify a proposed treaty with Iran that could allow an Iranian convicted of terrorism in Belgium to be sent back to Tehran.

European force battling extremists withdraws from Mali

A European military task force that helped Mali’s government fight Islamic extremists has formally withdrawn from the West African country amid tensions with its ruling military junta.

The French military, which spearheaded the Takuba task force, announced Friday that it officially ended its work Thursday. The move was tied to France’s decision earlier this year to withdraw troops from Mali after nine years helping Malian forces fight violent extremists who had threatened to seize power.