Why did Syria’s Kurds sign a deal with the new regime?

On March 10, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an agreement with Syria’s interim government, integrating the SDF’s 100,000-strong, predominantly Kurdish force into the new Syrian military. This move is surprising, given the deep distrust Syria’s Kurds have toward the interim government led by Ahmed al Sharaa.

Retour aux racines : pourquoi tout reste possible ?

Consanguinités mentales et survalorisations trop dopées des têtes aux pouvoirs sont bien les 2 ingrédients délabrés pour «devenir fous ensembles»1. Notre analyse les retrouve, ces têtes cramées, dans la frénésie de supplanter tout le monde en défiant uniquement les illégalités (ce qui fait désordre chez des politiciens prétendus «élus», tout de même !). Jamais ils n’écoutent personne, jamais ils ne recherchent ni ne confrontent les réalités ; ils fuient, dératés, tout vrai débat. Vu qu’ils seraient d’essence divine (les jupes itér-rations, en somme). Là, ils savent aussi tout d’essence céleste. Ils n’ont donc pas besoin de penser, ils savent tout déjà à l’avance ! Quoi ? eh bien, pour se le rappeler ils courent toujours… après. Etc.

Comment les Européens font face à l’ère complexe

Les Américains se désengagent non seulement de l’Ukraine, mais plus généralement de l’Europe en termes de présence militaire directe et d’investissements. Ce désengagement s’inscrit dans leur stratégie de réduction des dépenses de l’État et rassure Moscou sur le fait que cette administration ne considère pas Moscou comme un ennemi stratégique. Ce retrait pourrait s’étendre, au-delà de l’Ukraine, aux pays européens annexés par l’OTAN depuis les années 1990.

What is the value of US security guarantees? Here’s what history shows

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, argues that any US-organised peace agreement would have to be accompanied by “security guarantees” from the US to prevent Russia from resuming its offensive in the future.

However, Donald Trump has so far said the US will not commit to sending troops to Ukraine if Russia doesn’t stand by any such deal.

What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains

Ukraine’s minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them. But what are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after?

Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the world’s most remarkable geological formations, the “Ukrainian Shield”.

No negotiations before total Iranian nuclear rollback

Any talk of negotiating a new nuclear agreement—before Iran meets strict preconditions—is a dangerous mistake.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington marked an important moment in US-Israel relations. As the first foreign leader received by President Trump in this new phase of his presidency, Netanyahu was welcomed with high honors, reminiscent of their 2017 meeting. While much of the public focus was on Gaza, the most critical discussions behind closed doors centered on the Iranian threat—the regime’s nuclear ambitions, its regional aggression, and its sponsorship of terrorism.

How Britain allowed Pinochet to escape justice for atrocities

25 years ago, the UK government allowed Chile’s former dictator to evade extradition to Spain. Declassified files reveal how the decision was made.

On 2 March 2000, Augusto Pinochet walked falteringly across the tarmac at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and boarded a Chilean air force jet, marking his final steps on British soil.

Counterterrorism Shortcomings In Mali, Burkina Faso, And Niger – Analysis

Policy Problem

(FPRI) — As the global epicenter of Salafi-jihadi activity, the Sahel in 2023 accounted for 26 percent of global terrorist attacks, which caused 47 percent of terrorist-related deaths. Burkina Faso is ranked as the country most affected by terrorism in the world, followed by Mali in third place and Niger in tenth. Both would be one spot higher if not for Hamas’s October 2023 attacks in Israel. These standings show the prevalence and lethality of jihadist groups in the Sahel. The situation has not always been this dire. After Malian and French security forces regained control of northern Mali from jihadists in 2014, terrorist attacks were infrequent. There was little evidence of insurgencies until 2016. However, jihadist activity rose steadily from 2017 until 2021, and since 2021, jihadist attacks have doubled and resulting deaths have tripled. Mali has little control over its northern regions and is constantly contested in its central regions. Jihadist groups control or contest over half of Burkina Faso. In all three countries, jihadists are encircling areas closer to the capitals. Attacks have spread to coastal countries Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. Thus, jihadist groups have reconstituted since their 2014 setback to wage escalating insurgencies and conduct complex terrorist attacks.

Islamic State

Highlights:

Established In: 1999

Established By: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (death), Amir Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Mawli al-Salbi (also known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi);

Al-Qaeda

Highlights:

Established In: 1988

Established By: Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam

Also Known As: Al-Qaida, The Base, The Foundation, The Database

Country Of Origin: Afghanistan