Arab World

The government of the Netherlands is facing widespread criticism from lawmakers and citizens after it was revealed it had supported a Syrian rebel group, which Dutch prosecutors had labeled a ‘terrorist’ organization. The revelation came in a news report on Nieuwsuur, a current affairs program on public broadcasters NOS and NTR Monday. According to the […]

Iraq

Iraq: Muqtada al-Sadr demands PM Abadi Resign after Massive Basra anti-Corruption Protests

Ammar Karim

Baghdad (AFP) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faced calls to resign Saturday as his alliance with a populist cleric who won May elections crumbled over deadly unrest shaking the country’s oil-rich south. The two leading groups in parliament called on Abadi to step down, after lawmakers held an emergency meeting on the public anger […]

Qatar

Qatar Emir to Invest $12 bn in Germany, Seeking to Break out of Saudi Blockade

AFP

Berlin (AFP) – Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said in Berlin Friday his country would invest some 10 billion euros ($11.6 billion) in Germany, as he battles a policy of isolation by neighbouring states. “We are announcing Qatar’s desire to invest 10 billion euros in the German economy over the coming five years,” […]

Iraq

Iraq: Basra Protesters Torch Iranian Consulate in ongoing Water Protest

AFP

Basra (Iraq) (AFP) – Iraqi protesters on Friday torched the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra in fresh demonstrations over poor public services after parliament called for an emergency session on the unrest. Unidentified attackers also fired shells into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone in a rare attack on an area that houses parliament, […]

Iraq

Is Iraq Collapsing? Basra Protests of Dirty Water have sent 30,000 to Hospital, Green Zone Bombarded

AFP

Basra (Iraq) (AFP) – Three mortar shells were fired into Baghdad’s green zone early Friday as a curfew was imposed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra after a fresh outbreak of violent protests over poor public services left one person dead and 35 injured. The rare assault by unidentified attackers on the heavily-fortified green […]

Saudi Arabia

Signs of Rift in Saudi Royal Family over Yemen Quagmire that has left 10,000 Dead?

AFP

Riyadh (AFP) – Saudi King Salman’s brother has played down controversial remarks he made to anti-Saudi protesters in London that sparked furious speculation about possible discord within the royal family. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud apparently told a crowd in London to stop chanting slogans against the Saudi royal family over the kingdom’s involvement in […]

Donald Trump

Crazytown Abroad: Trump’s Dreams of Preemptive War, Assassination and Withdrawal

Juan Cole

Trump on Bashar al-Assad: “Let’s fucking kill him! Let’s go in. Let’s kill the fucking lot of them.”

China

Dragon Waiting: After Idlib, Will Beijing Bring Syria into its One Belt Network?

Neil Thompson

As speculation grows that the Syrian army under the regime of Bashar al-Assad is preparing to strike at the Idlib de-escalation zone, the last piece of Syrian territory with a significant rebel presence left active, it seems as if the brutal civil there is at last drawing to a bloody conclusion. Like Iraq, Syria may […]

Donald Trump

Trump Gingerly, Politely begs Russia not to Do Syria Idlib Campaign, Pretty Please

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – AFP reports that President Trump is cautioning the Syrian regime against launching an all-out assault on the last remaining rebel stronghold of Idlib Province. He also said that Russia and Iran would be making “a grave humanitarian mistake” to take part. It is hard to take the humanitarian part too […]