Since October 7, my life has been split between two parallel realms. In the first, I go about my daily life as usual here in Turkey, where I work, visit my friends, do my routine shopping, and take care of my immediate family. In the second realm, I am immersed in the daily reports of the death, destruction, displacement, and fear that my family, friends, and neighbors are enduring in Gaza, and try to help them as much as possible.
Belgian authorities are expected to make a decision soon regarding Tajik refugee Sitoramo Ibrokhimova. She will most likely be extradited to the Rahmon regime, as was her sister, 27-year-old Nigora Saidova, who was sent to Tajikistan along with her seven-month-old daughter on charges of aiding terrorism, which, according to The Insider, were fabricated. In her homeland, Saidova was sentenced to eight years in the worst women’s prison, where prisoners face rape and torture. Poland has been denying refugee status to Tajiks year after year — they are among the top three in terms of refusals, after Russians and Iraqi citizens. Emomali Rahmon uses the fear of ISIS to persecute entire families of emigrants – these can be both relatives of terrorists and relatives of oppositionists, but, as The Insider and the Polish weekly Polityka found out, European authorities do not really understand the case materials and often extradite citizens to Rahmon against whom the charges are obviously falsified. According to human rights activists, sometimes those forcibly returned are extradited to Russians: they are interrogated on the territory of the 201st military base near Dushanbe – tortured and forced to confess about ties to Ukraine.
For over a week now, Ukrainian troops have been holding part of the Kursk region and, what’s more, expanding the combat zone. During this time, they have managed to occupy, according to various estimates, from 500 to 1,100 square kilometers and capture hundreds of prisoners. The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ offensive crosses the red line on the use of Western military equipment on internationally recognized Russian territory and clearly demonstrates that the presence of nuclear weapons does not guarantee protection from ground operations on the territory of the possessing state. But what are the ultimate goals of the Kursk operation? The Insider examines the main scenarios for the development of events.
The ongoing instability in Syria remains a significant concern for regional and international actors, as multiple reports highlight the persistent threat of the Islamic State (ISIS) and the complex geopolitical dynamics at play. According to a recent Wall Street Journal exclusive, U.S. forces are engaged in a covert campaign to contain an ISIS resurgence in areas previously cleared of the group. This effort includes airstrikes, surveillance, and targeted missions against ISIS leaders, as the group attempts to rebuild its strength in the Syrian desert. Meanwhile, U.S.-backed Syrian forces have escalated their operations in eastern Syria, clashing with pro-government militias in a region already fraught with tension. Amid these developments, Turkey has outlined strict conditions for its potential withdrawal from northern Syria, linking it to constitutional reforms and security guarantees, while Jordan faces funding challenges in its ongoing response to the Syrian crisis. In contrast, Mosul’s Governor has dismissed rumors of security deterioration along the Iraq-Syria border, asserting that the area remains firmly under control. These reports underscore the enduring complexity and volatility of the Syrian conflict, with implications that stretch far beyond the region.
As the Syrian conflict continues to unfold, various developments have emerged in recent weeks. A top Iranian military adviser has died from injuries sustained in a recent airstrike in Syria, while Syrian refugees in Gaza struggle to survive amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, Turkey and Syria are navigating a delicate diplomatic dance, with complex geopolitical influences and uncertainties at play. Additionally, a Pakistani organization is building a settlement in Syria’s Afrin region, raising concerns about land ownership, displacement, and environmental impact. These stories highlight the complex and ever-changing landscape of the Syrian conflict, with multiple actors and interests at play.
A senior defence official said Israeli soldiers did not do anything to stop a settler attack on Jit, which resulted in the killing of a Palestinian man.
Israeli army reservists stood by as dozens of armed Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank attacked Palestinian residents and torched their homes and cars, a preliminary investigation by Israel has revealed.
Iran has made no secret of the immense importance it places on the US protests – as a way to export its Islamic Revolution. They have been making it clear that the regime sees the protesters at US campuses as an Iranian fifth column in America to be used in the future….
According to the analysts, “60 percent of Pro-Palestine campus protestors were not authentic online users….” — XPOZ analyst, iranintel.com, August 2, 2024.
La patience du président Poutine a-t-elle atteint ses limites ?
par Peter Koenig
Toutes les lignes rouges ont été franchies – à plusieurs reprises
Une invasion de la Russie nucléaire par l’OTAN est actuellement en cours, et le monde ignore que nous vivons la Troisième Guerre mondiale, comme l’a rapporté Megatron (14 août 2024).
Iran has made no secret of the immense importance it places on the US protests – as a way to export its Islamic Revolution. They have been making it clear that the regime sees the protesters at US campuses as an Iranian fifth column in America to be used in the future….
On 24 February 2022, when Russia began its airstrike in the Donbas region of Ukraine, no one imagined it to become a full-blown war, nor that it would continue for so long. Yet, more than two years later, the metastasising war goes on. Despite the distance, the repercussions of the war have been deeply felt across Africa, threatening its food and energy security. In July 2023, a seven-member African peace delegationvisited both Russia and Ukraine to persuade two leaders to end the destructive war. Unfortunately, like many other peace initiative proposals by other countries, this effort also faltered as none of the leaders agreed to negotiate.