Russian Navy amasses large force in eastern Mediterranean as Syrian troops launch offensive in Idlib
The Russian Navy has been sending several warships to the eastern Mediterranean recently, as they build up their forces off the coast of Syria.
Orientul Mijlociu
Body Organs of Over 15,000 Syrians Sold in Six Years: Coroner’s Office
Director-General of the Syria Coroner’s Office Hossein Noufel disclosed that the body organs of thousands of Syrian civilians have been sold in the international black markets over the past six years.
Exclusive: 2,000 Syrian fighters deployed to Libya to support government
Anti-Turkish sentiment could grow after Ankara agrees to help fight against insurgency.
France, The “Budding Islamic Republic”
In a country that used to stand for freedom of expression, self-censorship is soaring.
“For the past five years, I’ve been going to the police station every month or so to file a complaint about death threats, not insults, death threats”. — Marika Bret, a journalist at Charlie Hebdo today, January 8, 2020.
Turkey: Turning on Washington to Benefit Moscow
“Turkey and [Libya’s] Government of National Accord reached an unusual agreement to essentially carve up much of the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean between them — threatening to cut out Greece and Cyprus from the coming bonanza.” — Foreign Policy, Keith Johnson, December 23, 2019.
Soleimani supporter arrested in Kosovo, allegedly incited terror acts
A woman who criticized the United States on social media for the killing of a top Iranian general was arrested Tuesday in Kosovo.
Trial opens in Paris over ‘jihadist network’ linked to Charlie Hebdo attacks
On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the trial of 24 suspected jihadists linked to the massacre that killed 12 people at the satirical weekly has opened in Paris. Only five of the suspects are expected to appear in the dock, with most presumed dead in Iraq or Syria.
Germany charges Syrian accused of commanding IS unit
German prosecutors have filed terror charges against a Syrian man accused of commanding a unit of Islamic State group fighters in his homeland.
Soleimani Killing Cripples U.S. Position in Iraq
A key Iranian response to the U.S. strike that killed Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani will be to try to permanently oust the 6,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in Iraq.
Turkey’s Gunboat Gambit in the Mediterranean
Erdoğan seems to think that his best defense in the Mediterranean power game is an offense.
One emerging power in Libya, however, is not a Western state actor…. Russia has the potential to step into the Libyan theater with a bigger proxy and direct force, to establish its second permanent Mediterranean military presence.