Power Struggles and Geopolitical Maneuvering: The Eighth Brigade’s Standoff with Syria’s Defense Ministry – The Syrian Observer

The ongoing back-and-forth between the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the leadership of the Eighth Brigade, led by Ahmad al-Awda—verging on an outright dispute—suggests a deep-rooted disagreement that has so far prevented their alignment within the framework of the newly established army. However, the reasons behind this discord are not limited to issues of disarmament, dissolution, or integration. Rather, they likely stem from broader regional and international dynamics whose exact motivations and objectives remain unclear, though they are not difficult to speculate upon.

What Does Putin Hope to Gain From Ukraine Talks With Trump?

The Kremlin’s most basic task right now is to keep Washington in a constructive mindset toward Russia. That in itself is already facilitating the achievement of Putin’s goals in Ukraine.

Three weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he had a much-anticipated phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Both sides have kept a diplomatic silence over who initiated the call, but the very fact that it took place and lasted almost an hour and a half looks like a major win for the Russian leader. Effectively, the long-awaited negotiations between Moscow and Washington on the fate of Ukraine have been launched in the format that best suits Putin.

Kurdish officials fear Islamic State revival as US aid cuts loom

Humanitarian groups worried north-east Syrian camps holding suspected IS members will lose basic facilities

Kurdish officials have warned of an Islamic State resurgence if US foreign aid cuts take effect on Monday, which would cripple essential services for tens of thousands of people detained in tented camps in north-east Syria, including suspected members of IS and their families.

Bodies of migrants recovered in southeast Libya, attorney general says

Libya’s security authorities recovered at least 28 bodies of migrants from a mass grave in the desert in southeast Libya, the country’s attorney general said on its Facebook page on Sunday.

The bodies were found north of Kufra city, the attorney general said, while 76 migrants were freed “from forced detention.”

UN Accuses Sudan Paramilitaries Of Blocking Darfur Aid

The United Nations on Monday accused Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of blocking aid to the war-torn country’s famine-threatened Darfur region.

The RSF, which has been at war with the regular army since April 2023, controls nearly all of Darfur, a western region the size of France.

Rival factions to announce parallel government in Sudan

A coalition of Sudanese political factions, including some members of the “Tagadum” alliance, the “Qimam” alliance, the National Umma Party, and other groups, are finalizing preparations to form a parallel government in opposition to the current government in Port Sudan.

In Central African Republic, A Campaign Of Terror By Wagner’s Successors – Analysis

Just after noon on January 17, 2023, Privat Damabakizi, 35, and his wife were working in their farm field in a tiny Central African Republic settlement near the border with Cameroon when his brother, Alvin, called him.

Seven armed men wearing camouflage uniforms had just driven up in pickup trucks at Damabakizi’s home in Bouar, a town about 7 kilometers away from the field.