As might have been expected, the crisis in relations between Moscow and Ankara has dominated regional politics since the Turks downed a Russian warplane close to the Syrian border. Russian President Vladimir Putin clearly believes that the Turks shot his plane as part of a plot by NATO to warn Mosco
This is the first serious attempt to shape the future of Syria, and it is the first conference for the Syrian opposition held with international and official backing. It comes as a result of the recent Vienna conference and its sponsors which includes the Russians. Representatives of different group
The Saudi Council of Ministers led by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz yesterday stressed that Saudi Arabia is keen on a “political solution” to the Syrian crisis. The comments come on the eve of the Riyadh conference for the Syrian opposition which aims to determine t
An official from the US Department of State confirmed his country was intent on working with regional allies to flight ISIS and regain occupied sites. He added that Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed during the last ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
The man accused of stabbing two people at Leytonstone station in London appeared in court yesterday after he was charged by anti-terrorism officers with attempted murder. 48 hours after the attack, police continued to investigate whether Muhyadin Mire, 29, acted alone. Mire, a resident of East Londo
A series of personal messages indicate that Iran has finally decided to host Assad i.e. grant him asylum, and receive him in Tehran as a hero. A statement made by the Supreme Leader’s advisor Velayati when he visited Syria and Lebanon a few days ago formed the basis of this indication. Did Velayati
Social tensions are rising in Lebanon, with the phrase “Leave you Syrians!” written on the walls. Many warn that an explosive social situation is imminent. The UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) has already rang the alarm bells that tensions are growing, despite its attempts to assu
Baghdad :<Asharq Al-awsat> Haider al-Abadi, prime minister of Iraq, declared his country’s right to all “available options.” Sources told <Asharq Al-awsat>that he gave a 48 hour deadline for Turkish troops near Mosul to withdraw, saying he would call on the UN Security Council to interfe
Whilst condemnations of Major General Jaafar Mohammed Saad’s assassination continued in Yemen and abroad, the finger of blame was pointed at “militias subordinate to Houthis and the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh”. Saad and 6 of his bodyguards were killed in an explosion targeting his convoy in
Amid an atmosphere of heightened security seen in western capitals and cities these days, a London Underground station witnessed a stabbing which police are treating as a terrorist incident. The anti-terrorism unit of the police confirmed that the attack that took place at Leytonstone station has al
Consultations between political forces have intensified in Lebanon, especially between Christian parties, to push for the nomination of MP Suleiman Franjieh as president of Lebanon. The flurry of activity comes after the Marada Movement leader appeared to have both regional and international backing
After years of hesitation, US President Barack Obama’s administration has acknowledged that there is no way to defeat terrorist organisations that are wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria except by sending in ground troops, instead of being content with air strikes which are not producing any real chang
An informed Saudi Arabian source confirmed that the perpetrators of the recent mass shootings in San Bernardino, California, did not meet in Saudi Arabia, adding that Saudi Arabia “receives hundreds of pilgrims who are American citizens yearly, and they return to the United States without being radi
Barely a day goes by without a significant development that gives an idea about what might befall the Middle East during Barack Obama’s remaining days in the White House. A few weeks ago press reports suggested that Washington’s strategy in the region includes its control of Iraq, while leaving Syri
For the past week the Islamic Republic’s propaganda machine has been in full gear promoting an “Open Letter” written by the “Supreme Guide” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed to “The Youth of America and Europe.” With this epistolary exercise, the ayatollah hopes to imitate Ali Ibn Abi-Talib who is re
ISIS terrorists in the city of Sirte, northern Libya, are training to fly planes using at least one flight simulator according to military sources in the North African state. The sources added that there is a prevailing belief amongst investigators that the device was seized from the training depart
A year after two terrorists who killed British expat Michael Hamilton in Al-Khobar (eastern Saudi Arabia) were sentenced, his widow Penelope Hamilton expressed her acceptance of the verdict sentencing her husband’s killers to death and considers the ruling to be “correct”. Hamilton’s killers shot hi
Saudi-led coalition forces fighting for the legitimacy of Yemen announced that military operations in the city of Taiz are progressing according to plan and gradually, and this is so that population density is taken into consideration. Both the national army of Yemen and the resistance are preparing
After two Russian planes were brought to the ground; the first a civilian plane which crashed over Egypt and the second that was bombed over Turkey, it seems that the Russians are bent on revenge and winning the war in Syria. Now we see them implementing an intelligent plan revolving around the isol
The National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces announced yesterday that it received an official invitation from Saudi Arabia to attend a conference which will be held in Riyadh and discuss the formation of a united delegation for the opposition to negotiate with the regime. The d
