Syria Today – Explosions in Lebanon and Syria, Persistent Torture in Regime Prisons, Lafarge Complicit in ISIS Crimes?

This news roundup covers a series of developments related to the ongoing conflicts in Syria and its neighbouring regions. In Lebanon and Syria, Hezbollah members and others were wounded in a coordinated attack involving exploding pagers, which officials suspect was carried out by Israel. Meanwhile, the persistent use of torture in Syria continues despite recent legal efforts by Canada and the Netherlands at the International Court of Justice to hold the Syrian government accountable. Additionally, an op-ed discusses the risks of the United States withdrawing its forces from Iraq, which could allow the resurgence of ISIS in Syria. Finally, French cement company Lafarge faces legal challenges over its payments to ISIS during the Syrian civil war, raising questions about corporate complicity in crimes against humanity.

Kurdish National Council Suspends Participation in the Syrian Opposition Coalition

The KNC demanded the removal of the representative of the al-Amshat faction from the General Authority of the Coalition, according to Enab Baladi.

The Kurdish National Council (KNC) has suspended its involvement with the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SOC) following reports of attacks by military groups affiliated with the Syrian National Army (SNA) on Kurdish civilians in Afrin, northern Aleppo.

Protests in al-Bukamal for Removal IRGC’s 47th Regiment HQ

The 47th Regiment is one of the IRGC’s most significant military formations, DEIR EZZOR 24 says.

Local sources from the countryside of al-Bukamal, under the control of the Syrian regime and Iranian militias, reported that residents demanded the withdrawal of the 47th Regiment of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday.

Pax Americana et «totalitarisme»

L’ordre mondial établi en 1945, après la défaite du Troisième Reich, est sur le point de prendre fin. Ceci dit, en 2024, il va sans dire que la fin d’une ère géopolitique peut ressembler à l’agonie d’un individu humain : atteint d’une maladie incurable, il est comme un mauvais patient qui, loin de reconnaître l’imminence de sa mort, utilise ses dernières forces à rendre malheureux ceux qui vivent avec lui et répand ainsi le souffle de la mort dans tout son environnement. C’est ce qui arrive aujourd’hui à l’Occident malade.

Reconnaissance faciale dans votre voiture : Vers une surveillance totale de vos déplacements ?

Depuis le 7 juillet 2024, la reconnaissance faciale est obligatoire dans les véhicules neufs.

Si cette nouvelle technologie nous est présentée comme un moyen de lutter contre le fléau des morts sur la route, la réalité semble toute autre. Imposée par les institutions européennes, cette nouvelle mesure semble être une volonté bien éloignée des simples questions sécuritaires.

Surveillance et contrôles renforcés

Bosnia and Herzegovina: the challenges of hosting migrants

As Bosnia and Herzegovina prepares to take on greater responsibility for migration management, one of the main challenges remains that of guaranteeing people on the move adequate and dignified reception conditions

As Bosnia and Herzegovina prepares to take on greater responsibility in managing migration, one of the main challenges remains ensuring adequate and dignified reception of migrants.

Turkey’s Defense Industry Emerges As A Global Player – Analysis

In recent years, Türkiye has made significant strides in indigenizing its defense industry, emerging as a key arms exporter. The country’s advancements in producing high-quality, cost-effective defense equipment have bolstered its strategic influence in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Gulf. Turkish drones, notably the Bayraktar TB2, played a pivotal role in Azerbaijan’s sweeping victory over Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, showcasing the efficacy and sophistication of Turkish defense technology. Coming off a record year for defense exports in 2023, Türkiye is poised to continue its upward trajectory, albeit not without competition or challenges to its market share.

Why Egypt Prefers Palestinian Terrorists On Its Border

“Before el-Sissi, but also during his tenure, cars, motorcycles, clothes, drugs, medicines, alcoholic beverages, and weapons were smuggled through the Philadelphi Corridor over the years, lots of weapons: improved RPG-29 rockets that killed our soldiers in the Iron Swords War, hidden rocket parts, machine guns, mines, and more.” — Nadav Shragai, Israeli author and journalist, Israel Hayom, July 10, 2024.

Where is Afghanistan Three Years into Taliban Rule?

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Afghanistan has a façade of domestic stability, with armed conflict decreasing since the U.S. withdrawal.
  • But dire economic, humanitarian and human rights conditions and Taliban violence build pressure on the population.
  • The international community remains vexed over how to engage the Taliban.

Lacking formal recognition from all member states, the Taliban will not be present at the U.N. General Assembly next week. Their absence speaks volumes about how the international community struggles to constrain a regime that has repeatedly defied U.N. treaties, sanctions and Security Council resolutions. Three years into Taliban rule, the Afghan people are beset by a host of human rights, economic and humanitarian challenges, with women and girls particularly impacted. Meanwhile, the international community still has no clear approach to dealing with the Taliban, with the regime rejecting a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a special envoy to develop a roadmap for normalizing Afghanistan’s relations with the international community.

Why Israel is seeking to forge closer ties with Balkan states

Analysis: Isaac Herzog’s visits to Albania and Serbia underscore Israel’s expanding ties with the Balkans amid global isolation due to its war on Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded a historic first visit to Albania last week, following a similarly significant trip to Serbia, where both countries agreed to pursue a free trade agreement.