Author: M Barbu

Is Iran trying to provoke Israel against Russian assets in Syria? – opinion

Iran is well aware of the changing dynamic, and it would like to advance its interests by creating a fissure between Israel and Russia.

Why would Iran want to incite Israel to strike Russian personnel or facilities in Syria? To answer that question, we need to understand the evolution of Iranian and Russian interests in Syria, which have diverged over time. Today’s post-war situation in Syria is very different from just a few years ago when Assad was hanging by a thread for his survival. At that time, Russian and Iranian interests aligned in their shared desire to defeat ISIS and prop up the Syrian dictator.

A Death In Idlib: The Killing of the Top ISIS Leader and Its Impact

On 3 February, U.S. commandos raided a house in Syria’s Idlib province, killing Abdullah Qardash, head of the Islamic State’s core group in the Levant. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts Jerome Drevon and Dareen Khalifa explore the implications of the ISIS leader’s demise.

Who was the ISIS leader killed yesterday in north-western Syria?

Abdullah Qardash, an Iraqi national also known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, became ISIS leader on 31 October 2019, one week after his predecessor, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in a U.S. raid in Idlib province in north-western Syria. Qardash was a long-time jihadist veteran. He joined what was known as al-Qaeda in Iraq shortly after the 2003 U.S. invasion to fight the U.S.-led coalition forces and the new Iraqi government. Like several other future ISIS leaders, he was arrested for his role in the insurgency and spent time in the U.S. Camp Bucca detention facility.

Turkey Announces Winter Eagle Air Operation Against Terrorists in Syria and Iraq

Turkey announced the beginning of an air campaign against “terrorist groups” on the border with Syria and Iraq, according to the Shaam News Network.

On Wednesday, the defense ministry of Turkey announced the launch of an air operation called Winter Eagle against so-called terrorists in the areas of Malikiyah – Derik, Sinjar, and Qarajiq –which they use as bases in northern Iraq and Syria, Turkey’s Anatolia news agency reported.

SDF Sells Syrian Oil to HTS Company in Idleb

The SDF signed an agreement with an HTS-affiliated company to supply it with oil, according to Athr Press.

Anonymous sources revealed to Athr Press that an oil supply agreement was signed between representatives of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the militants of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, al-Nusra Front and its allies). The latter are responsible for managing the Watad company, which is affiliated with the so-called Abu Muhammad al-Julani in Idleb. It distributes oil derivatives in the areas controlled by al-Nusra in the Idleb countryside.

Ministerial Meeting Soon to Discuss Syria Return to Arab League

The Secretary-General of the Arab League said a ministerial meeting would be held next month to discuss the return of Syria to the organization, al-Watan writes.

On Wednesday, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, announced that an Arab ministerial meeting will be held next month to discuss “the possibility of the return of Syria to the Arab League.” At the same time, King Abdullah II of Jordan emphasized his country’s keenness to support any effort to develop and institutionalize joint Arab action.

The Russians Are Coming: Are Beijing and Moscow at the Cusp of a Formal Alliance?

It should matter little to the Chinese that American diplomats and a handful of their western allies will not be attending the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. What truly matters is that the Russians are coming.

The above is not an arbitrary statement. It is supported with facts. According to a survey conducted by China’s Global Times newspaper, the majority of the Chinese people value their country’s relations with Russia more than that of the EU and certainly more than that of the United States. The newspaper reported that such a finding makes it “the first time in 15 years that China-US ties did not top the list of the important bilateral relations in the Global Times annual survey.”

Divine right of the Empire faces challenge as Putin talks about Russia-China partnership

Vladimir Putin has again made it clear: It’s a different time. The post-Cold War days are over. The Empire’s imperialist arbitrary acts are going to be increasingly difficult to carry on.

Putin penned an article for Xinhua, the state-run media of China. It appears ahead of his Beijing visit to join the Winter Olympic, an event of solidarity and friendship, of pursuit of human endeavor to defy limits.

China, to the Russian president, is Russia’s strategic partner – partner on the arena of global politics and global relations, in resolving global and regional issues, in the area of peace, security and trade.