Orientul Mijlociu

One-time U.S. foe emerges as top vote-getter but could still struggle to form the next government.

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.

Turkey is being accused by Kurdish security forces of carrying out a drone attack Tuesday in northeastern Syria that killed three civilians in a car.

The strike took place in Qamishli, a city on the Syria-Turkey border that is controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

SOHR activists have reported that a regime soldier was shot dead by rebel factions on Saraqib frontlines, east of Idlib city.

Meanwhile, opposition factions have shelled, with rockets, positions of regime forces in Telat al-Burkan in northern Latakia, al-Shaikh Uqail frontline, Ourom al-Soughra in western Aleppo, al-Dar al-Kabera frontline and al-Talheya village in Idlib countryside. However, no casualties have been reported yet.

Syrian Kurds in the Northeast are prepared to offer 75% of the oil produced in their region to Damascus, as a gesture of goodwill, according to Asharq al-Awsat.

With the decrease of tension in northeastern Syria following “American assurances” to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), “tacit coordination” has emerged aimed at encouraging the Kurds to enter serious understandings with the Damascus regime, even when it comes to oil production.

At a time when the Sadrist movement is seeking understandings with Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties to form a government, the forces rejecting the results of the elections are taking to the streets in protest against any Cabinet formation talks before the results issue is resolved.

Iraq’s Sadrist movement head Muqtada al-Sadr discussed on Nov. 5 his Cabinet formation with Victory Alliance head Haider al-Abadi during a rare visit by Sadr to the capital. This came after meeting with parliamentary speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi and National Wisdom Movement head Ammar al-Hakim. Sadr had become accustomed to handling political issues and making decisions while at his residence in the Shiite town of al-Hanana, west of Najaf.

Here’s What You Need to Remember: In 2017 forces loyal to the Syrian regime recaptured Ksheesh air base from ISIS.

Between 2013 and 2017 a small number of L-39 light attack jets at a Syrian air force base east of Aleppo changed hands several times. Syrian rebels captured them from the Syrian air force. Then Islamic State militants seized the planes from the rebels. Finally, forces loyal to the Syrian regime recaptured the L-39s.

Deir Ezzor province: SOHR activists have reported that a 25 year-old displaced woman from al-Mayadeen was killed in al-Busayra city in Deir Ezzor countryside.

According to local sources, two unidentified women were accused of the murder, as they had entered the victim’s house, which is next to the culture center in al-Busayra, this morning.

Mazlum Kobane, commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, also says Damascus is not yet ready for negotiations.

Turkey has resumed its threats of yet another large military operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces, the United States’ top ally in the fight against the Islamic State.

Unlike in October 2019 when Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan got the go-ahead from then-President Donald Trump to invade a large chunk of the Syrian Kurdish region, Turkey is facing resistance from the international community.

The attempted assassination of Iraq’s prime minister was carried out by at least one Tehran-backed militia using explosives-laden drones made in Iran, security officials and militia sources said on Monday.

Mustafa Al-Kadhimi escaped unhurt when three drones targeted his residence in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Sunday. Two of the weapons were intercepted and destroyed, but a third detonated, damaging the building and injuring several of his personal bodyguards.