The shifting dynamics in Syria and the Middle East have forced a reconsideration of strategies among key players, including the Russian Federation. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the ascension of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have created a new geopolitical landscape, challenging Russia’s long-term objectives in the region.
Analysing how separatist camps near communities in the region provide a hideout for the insurgents, a cover for their cache of weapons, and a grave for their victims.
As far as many residents of southeastern Nigeria are concerned, the vast stretch of interstate borderland between Anambra and Imo state is no man’s land — except for the few who find haven in the area.
Analysis: The end of the Assad family’s 54-year rule is the start of a new chapter in Syrian history, one that will have reverberations across the Middle East.
For years, many commentators inaccurately claimed that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government had “won” the civil war. In truth, the Assad regime had, until a few days ago, merely survived the conflict, which froze in 2020.
War is of its nature an uncertain business. Only in retrospect does Assad’s fall, so improbable last week, now look fated. It is ironic, given the opprobrium with which Arab normalisation with his regime was greeted by pro-rebel advocates, that that same normalisation may have helped spell his doom. Seeking to reintegrate himself into the Arab fold, Assad allowed relations to cool with the Iran-centred Resistance Axis which had ensured his survival a decade ago. Yemen’s Houthis have accused Assad of clamping down on their activities in Syria to win Israeli and Gulf Arab favour; Iran now briefs that Assad was an ungrateful and undependable ally in their conflict with Israel; Hezbollah, smarting at Assad’s standoffish response to their recent setbacks, swiftly abandoned a last-minute attempt to preserve his rule.
Head of one of northern Gaza’s last partially functioning hospitals arrested as Israeli military raids the facility and forces out dozens of doctors and patients.
Concerns are rising about the safety of the director of one of the last partially functioning hospitals in northern Gaza after the Israeli military detained him.
HTS is a radical terrorist organization that is directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people in Syria in the past seven years. Although the organization liberated Syria from its brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad, we recommend that you never forget its origins and deeds along the way, which may suggest a new brutal dictatorship. Al-Julani and his designated ministers already stated that Syria will be a country of Sharia law. They even use the jihadist flag.
Resolution allows deployment of 12,626 personnel – but it is unclear if Ethiopia will stay part of peacekeeping force amid territory dispute
The UN has authorised a new African peacekeeping mission to continue supporting Somalia in its fight against al-Shabaab, the insurgent group affiliated with al-Qaida, but there are doubts about whether troops from neighbouring Ethiopia will remain part of the deployment.
On Feb. 26, jihadist social media sites reported that Abu al Khayr al Masri, one of al Qaeda’s top leaders, had been killed in a US drone strike in Idlib, Syria.
Images of Masri’s car were first posted online by Pieter Van Ostaeyen, a PhD candidate who closely tracks the fighting in Iraq and Syria. One of the pictures, which Mr. Van Ostaeyen obtained from an administrator at the jihadi outfit Al Maqalaat, can be seen above.
Status: Dead
Terror organization: Hezbollah, ‘Imam Hussein’ Division.
Status: Commander of the ‘Imam Hussein’ Division.
Role: D’U Al-Faqar Hanawi, commander of the ‘Imam Hussein’ Division. The terrorist Hanawi enlisted in Hezbollah and was, among other things, responsible for the explosives at the ‘Aziz’ unit and responsible for Hezbollah forces in the Aleppo region. He was later appointed commander of the ‘Imam Hussein’ Division, with the full support of Qassem Soleimani and Hassan Nasrallah.
In short
Over the last decade, ISIS is one of the most ferocious terror organizations in the world. Its horrible techniques of torturing and slaughtering its enemies (which is pretty much everyone else) is considered extreme even for other terrorists and gave it during its prime days a vile reputation.
Recently 400 ISIS operatives with European citizenship, were chosen to return to Europe on a secret mission. The operation started three and a half years ago (mid 2019) with the goal to return to Europe without their real documents and to lead new terror cells on the continent. They were chosen due to their loyalty to ISIS, leadership, achievements in battlefield, and radical perspectives.