Orientul Mijlociu

World Powers Continue To Squabble As Syrians Suffer – OpEd

Millions of lives at stake. Families in dire need of international aid. Russia plays games with them all at the UN Security Council. Repeat every six months until further notice. Welcome to the Syria debate at the UN.

This has been the case ever since 2014. The UNSC authorizes the UN to use one Turkish-Syria border crossing to deliver aid — just one, at Bab Al-Hawa — while rejecting attempts to open others, as was the case previously. The Ya’roubia border crossing from Iraq into northeast Syria has been closed since January 2020. As a result of the earthquakes that hit southern Turkiye and northwest Syria in February, the Syrian government did make the rare move to allow an extra two border crossings with Turkiye to be used. This approval runs out on Aug. 13.

Benghazi Deportation Drama: Notorious Terrorist Detained, Sparks Fears of Potential Release

Benghazi Update:

In a dramatic turn of events on June 11th, 2023, the notorious terrorist Ziad Balaam, a key figure in the infamous 2012 Benghazi attacks on the U.S. Mission and CIA Annex, was detained and subsequently deported from Istanbul Airport in Turkey back to Libya. Ziad is now barred from returning to Turkey. This shocking development comes after years of Ziad enjoying freedom of movement in Turkey, adding a surprising twist to the long-standing pursuit of justice for the lives lost.

Five suspected ISIS militants killed in Kirkuk: Iraqi military

The Iraqi forces in Kirkuk on Sunday announced that they had killed five suspected ISIS militants in an operation, according to a press release.

Wearing “explosive belts”, three members of the group were killed in the Turkalan area in southwestern Kirkuk by the Iraqi Army’s Eighth Division soldiers, a statement from the Security Media Cell read.

Prigozhin’s Investments Remain in Syria

Prigozhin’s political and financial future remains uncertain as he seeks exile in Belarus, Iyad el-Jaafara writes.

During the tense hours of anticipation, analysts closely monitored the developments surrounding Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion against the Russian Ministry of Defense. There were discussions about the possibility of this uprising extending into Syrian territory, where the Wagner militia was still actively engaged. However, analysts downplayed this possibility until the Belarusian-brokered deal brought an end to the Wagner rebellion within Russian borders.

MIDDLE EAST 2.0

Muslim countries refused to be satellites of Washington
The territory of the Middle East (from Western Asia to North Africa) has always attracted foreign powers. First, the region is the main source of hydrocarbon production, primarily oil. Secondly, it is the center of the logistics system for transporting energy resources. Suffice it to recall the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles, the Bosporus, etc. etc.

Daesh terrorist preparing attacks caught in Istanbul

A Daesh member was caught in an operation in Istanbul while preparing a terrorist attack Friday.

As the Istanbul Police Department continues efforts to uncover the terrorist organization’s activities, police teams determined that a suspect, who was described as a “lone terrorist” and seeking to carry out an attack, possibly as an armed suicide bombing, was found at an address in the Bahçelievler district.