Orientul Mijlociu

Turkey has threatened to launch a military operation against the SDF in the wake of attacks carried out by the latter in north Syria.

Turkey has threatened to launch a military operation against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has recently stepped up its attacks in the areas controlled by the Turkish-backed factions in north Syria.

On Oct. 7, a rocket attack targeted a Turkish military convoy in the area, killing a Turkish soldier.

Iran is working on controlling and infiltrating the Syrian community by supporting local leaders affiliated with it, forming tribal councils and appointing new sheikhs from small clans and families to spread Shiism in its areas of control in east Syria.

A US airstrike in northwest Syria on Saturday killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar, according to a United States Central Command (CENTCOM) press release.

“We have no indications of civilian casualties as a result of the strike, which was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft,” U.S. Army Maj. John Rigsbee, a U.S. Central Command Spokesperson said.

Iraqis went to the polls on Oct. 10 to elect the 329 members of a new parliament, in what is considered one of the most crucial elections since the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. Iraq historically has been the focal point of Turkey’s regional politics due to its proximity and a failure to ensure security on Turkey’s doorstep.

The United Kingdom may consider the purchase of Turkish drones, Turkey’s minister of industry and technology revealed yesterday.

Speaking to CNN Turk, Mustafa Varank said that “the UK is very interested in Turkish armed drones. Now, they have to decide. We presented them with the options. Right now, they’re seriously considering these options.”

Iraq’s election on October 10 saw the lowest voter turnout of any of its six polls since the 2003 US-led invasion of the country.

All the same the results met one of the major demands of the young activists who had pressed for early elections, and then urged a voter boycott – a loosening of Iran’s stranglehold on the nation. The Iran-supported parliamentary bloc emerged surprisingly and significantly weaker.

Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shia cleric whose Mahdi Army followers battled U.S. forces during the years of the occupation, made big gains in Iraq’s parliamentary election on October 10. His victory could pose problems for the United States and Iran. But despite the Sadrist List’s electoral success, it is not a given that al-Sadr’s list will form the government, or even be the only kingmaker. USIP’s Elie Abouaoun examines the outcome of the election, the electoral process and the implications for Iraq’s future.

According to the latest results, Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sadrist List has the largest number of seats in the new parliament.

Armata americană a anunţat vineri, 22 octombrie, uciderea unui important lider Al-Qaida, Abdul Hamid al-Matar, într-un atac cu dronă în Siria, la două zile după atacul împotriva unei baze din sudul ţării utilizate de coaliţia antijihadistă condusă de Statele Unite, informează agențiile France Presse şi Reuters, preluate de Agerpres.