Author: M Barbu

A Neglected Crisis in Bosnia Threatens to Boil Over

Bosnia-Herzegovina could be on the brink of a political collapse that triggers a new conflagration in the Balkans. There is a growing consensus among experts that this is the country’s most dangerous moment since the 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended a war that cost 100,000 lives and displaced more than 2 million people. Analysts also say stability in the Balkans has been eroded recently by the disengagement of the European Union and United States.

“The prospects for further division and conflict are very real,” the international community’s chief representative in Bosnia, Christian Schmidt, wrote in a report to the United Nations that was leaked earlier this month.

The High Stakes of the U.S.-Russia Confrontation Over Ukraine

A report in Covert Action Magazine from the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic in Eastern Ukraine describes grave fears of a new offensive by Ukrainian government forces, after increased shelling, a drone strike by a Turkish-built drone and an attack on Staromaryevka, a village inside the buffer zone established by the 2014-15 Minsk Accords.

The People’s Republics of Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR), which declared independence in response to the U.S.-backed coup in Ukraine in 2014, have once again become flashpoints in the intensifying Cold War between the United States and Russia. The U.S. and NATO appear to be fully supporting a new government offensive against these Russian-backed enclaves, which could quickly escalate into a full-blown international military conflict.

Has the Countdown Begun for Regime Return to East of Euphrates?

The regime will return to the areas under the control of the PYD, in a way similar to what happened in Daraa and under a decentralization formula, Fouad Alteiko writes in Nedaa Post.

The regime has never been far from the area under the control of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, as a result of the understandings that took place between them at that time to hand over the area militarily to the PYD. The links and coordination between the two parties have not been interrupted so far in many areas, especially in the cities of Hassakeh and Qamishli, as well as in the regions of al-Shahba, Manbij, and some neighborhoods of Aleppo.

Despite Qatar Objection, Syria to Attend Upcoming Arab League Summit

A senior source inside the General Secretariat of the Arab League said that Algeria’s discussions with Arab countries have resulted in a preliminary agreement to invite Syria to the group’s next summit. It was also agreed to restore Syria’s place in the Arab League at the upcoming meeting, which will be held in Algeria in March 2022.

The source explained that this step is the result of meetings held by Algeria with Arab countries, while noting that Qatar had objected.

Erdogan Continues Turkification, Opens Turkish-language School in Afrin

The Turkish regime of Erdogan continues to implement its policies of Turkification in the areas it occupies in northern Aleppo to change its demographic character, especially in the Afrin region.

According to local sources, the Government of the Turkish regime opened a new school in the Rajo district of the northwestern Afrin countryside. They held a large opening ceremony during which Turkish flags were raised mainly above the school. The opening was attended by a number of figures of the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime coming from the State of Kilis, along with a large number of leaders of terrorist organizations and armed militias loyal to Erdogan, in Afrin, according to Athr Press (pro-Syrian government, editor’s note).

SDF: Syrian Government Exploits Turkish Threats to Dominate Northeast

The Syrian government exploits Turkish threats to take control over northeast Syria’s regions, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement on Monday.

“The Syrian government is not ready for any political settlement in Syria, and it exploits the deteriorating economic conditions of the people,” the SDF statement added.

Russia Won’t Let Ukraine Go Without a Fight

Ominous signs indicate that Russia may conduct a military offensive in Ukraine as early as the coming winter. Moscow has quietly built up its forces along the Ukrainian border over the past several months, which could be a prelude to a military operation that aims to resolve the political deadlock in Ukraine in its favor. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin may once again be engaging in coercive diplomacy, this time around Moscow may not be bluffing. If no agreement is reached, the conflict may renew on a much larger scale.

Bulgaria accuses Turkey of election interference

Turkey has rejected accusations that it is helping Bulgarian politicians representing the country’s Turkish minority.

The Turkish government has denied allegations that it interfered in neighboring Bulgaria’s election.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador to Turkey, Hristov Tcholakov, and told him that Turkey rejects all accusations that it interfered in the Nov. 14 vote. The move followed Bulgaria summoning Turkey’s ambassador over the alleged interference, the official Anadolu Agency reported.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Evacuates T4 Military Airport in Homs

Informed sources revealed that Iranian militias emptied the T4 military airport in the eastern countryside of Homs, and transported its equipment to the Shayrat airbase in the south of the governorate (in the center of the country).

Ain al-Furat (Eye of the Euphrates, anti-regime, editor’s note) quoted unnamed sources saying that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard militia transported heavy military equipment in four trucks, including “communications equipment, heavy artillery, electric motors, and ammunition boxes” from T4 military airport, east of Homs, to the Shayrat airbase.

Iraqis celebrate restoration of Mosul churches destroyed by ISIS

Cymbals, prayers and Chaldean Catholic liturgy resounded in Mosul’s Saint George Monastery on Friday as Iraqi faithful marked the restoration of two churches destroyed by ISIS during their occupation of the city.

Dozens gathered in one of the monastery’s churches that have been rebuilt in stone six years after the extremists pulverised them.

It is the latest sign of a slow return to normality in Iraq’s second city and the home of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.