Author: M Barbu

The U.S. Desperately Needs a Strategy to Deal With Russia’s Mercenary Armies

Reports this week that the United Arab Emirates is potentially financing Russian mercenaries in Libya affiliated with the notorious Wagner Group, according to a Pentagon watchdog, appear to be sending mini shockwaves through Washington. But the UAE has long had a fixation on mercenaries, and the fact that Russia is a regular supplier of soldiers of fortune should surprise no one. Much more worrying is the lack of policy coherence in Washington on what to do about it.

Tunisian authorities wave threat of force in face of protests

Unrest has disrupted production and caused shortages in vital materials such as cooking gas and petrol.

Social protests, accompanied with disruption of production of vital resources in several parts of the country, prompted the Tunisian government to threaten to use force to deal with the spreading chaos.

Al-Qaeda fighters in Syria return to Yemen’s Marib

Tribal sources have disclosed that a number of Al-Qaeda leaders and fighters have returned to the Yemeni province of Marib from Syria in recent days, according to the Yemen News Portal.

The Al-Qaeda elements have reportedly arrived in Marib through the coast of Shabwah with many returnees from Syria settling in the two Yemeni provinces. The sources did not rule out whether these groups were linked in any way to factions supported by Turkey in Syria, amid suggestions by some Gulf news outlets that it has the intention to intervene in Yemen.

Germany bans far-right ‘Wolf Brigade 44’; finds weapons, Nazi symbols

“There is no place in our country for a group that sows hate and propagates the re-establishment of a Nazi state,” Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said.

Police found a crossbow, machete, knives and Nazi symbols in early-morning raids on Tuesday after banning a far-right extremist group called “Wolf Brigade 44” which the government says wants a Nazi state.

Biden on Iran: Nukes first – again – analysis

Israel may not be happy, but president-elect’s views are better than Obama administration.

The waiting is over.

After writing a more general article in mid-September, US President-elect Joe Biden has finally gotten into the details of his strategy for dealing with Iran.

Lebanese GDP to decrease by nearly 20% in 2020

The World Bank has proposed several reform measures as Lebanon continues to struggle with currency depreciation, the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

The World Bank released a bleak report on Tuesday on Lebanon’s economy in light of the financial crisis, COVID-19 and the aftermath of the August Beirut explosion.

Algeria says three extremists killed in army clash

Three extremists were killed Tuesday in a clash with the Algerian army in the country’s northeast, the defense ministry said, adding that an operation was ongoing.

The army killed “two terrorists following a clash with a dangerous” armed group in Jijel province, the ministry said in an initial statement, later revising the toll to three.