Special Analyses

Syria: Who’s in control of Idlib?

The northern Syrian province of Idlib is the last remaining stronghold controlled by forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian government forces have been pushing into rebel-held territory with the help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian airstrikes. Dozens of towns and villages have been captured by Syrian forces including a key strategic highway, the main economic artery through Syria from north to south, linking Damascus, Homs and Aleppo.

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Quand le Sénat se couche devant l’islam politique

Les sénateurs n’ont pas de courage, mais se réservent le droit d’en avoir un jour

« Élections sénatoriales, c’est parti », titrait le 4 septembre dernier sur son site la chaîne parlementaire Public Sénat. Comment ne pas soupçonner que c’est pour ces élections, qui auront lieu le 27 septembre prochain, qu’ont été bâclées les élections municipales ? Les élus locaux étant les grands électeurs des élections sénatoriales, le Président du Sénat ne pouvait que s’inquiéter qu’elles pussent être différées. Lors du premier tour des municipales, certains responsables politiques ne lui ont-ils pas imputé la faible participation des citoyens à ce scrutin (44,66%) ? Le second tour sera pire, avec une participation de 41,6%.

Will Either Macron or Erdogan Back Down in the Eastern Mediterranean?

French President Emmanuel Macron has clearly decided to up the ante in a standoff with Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, where France is backing Greece and Cyprus in their dispute with Ankara over natural gas reserves and maritime boundaries. First, Macron ordered a temporary reinforcement of French aerial and naval assets to the Eastern Mediterranean in mid-August, in response to Turkish ships resuming controversial gas exploration activities south of Cyprus. Then, he went as far as to frame his actions as a “red line policy” in order to show President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he meant business.

Turkey’s intervention in Libyan conflict | Over 1,200 mercenaries return to Syria in ten days

Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that the Turkish government has cut the salaries of mercenaries of the Turkish-backed factions who desire to continue fighting in Libya. According to the Turkish government’s decision, which comes in the wake of the Libyan-Libyan consensus, the recruited mercenaries will receive 600 USD per month each, after they were getting paid a monthly salary of estimated 2,000 USD each.