On March 26, 2015 Operation Decisive Storm was launched by a coalition of ten countries. It was the first time such a coalition had been formed, something which has redefined the political and military concepts in the region. Saudi Arabia rapidly cobbled together the coalition in a manner unpreceden
News about 75 US-trained rebels entering Syria from Turkey has attracted special attention because it marks a new development on the military arena there despite the fact that the number is not enough to shift the balance on the ground in Syria. The military map in Syria has changed significantly, a
Baghdad and London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The United States embassy in Baghdad has recently foiled two assassination attempts on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, a senior government official has said, hinting that they may have been prompted by what he described as the PM’s “bold positions.” Accordin
Brussels, AP—A survey of defectors from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group has found many quit the organization because they felt it was too brutal or corrupt, or because it made war too frequently against other Sunni Muslims. The survey, issued Monday by a London-based research center, re
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—For over a year one story has dominated the Iranian media: settling the dispute over the nuclear project and getting sanctions lifted. Having won the presidency with the smallest margin in the lowest turnout in the history of elections in the Islamic Republic, Hassan Ro
Baghdad and London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraq’s former vice president Iyad Allawi, whose post was canceled by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, has called for Iraqi MPs to remove the PM. Abadi canceled Iraq’s three vice president posts in August as part of a drive to weed out corruption and trim a bloated
Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Yemeni government has not been informed of UN-brokered talks currently being held in the Omani capital Muscat in order to resolve the crisis in Yemen, Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin said on Sunday. UN Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who has been shuttling b
Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat—Dubai’s Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed, the eldest son of the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was buried on Saturday at the Umm Hurayr Cemetery in Dubai, according to state news agency WAM. Sheikh Rashid died on Saturday morning at age 33 following a heart at
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Saudi-led coalition targeting the Houthis in Yemen has denied its warplanes bombed the home of the Omani ambassador in Yemen’s capital Sana’a on Saturday, and accused Houthi militias of carrying out the attack. “The home of the Omani ambassador was not targeted [by the co
A disagreement between Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his main ally, the Iranian regime, has been on the cards for some time. This mutually beneficial relationship has lasted for a long time, and it is truly thanks to the Iranians that Assad and his regime have not entirely collapsed. The Iran
London, Reuters—US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad has to go but the timing of his departure should be decided through negotiation. Speaking after talks with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in London, Kerry called on Russia and Iran to
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Kremlin said on Friday Russia might send troops to Syria if President Bashar Al-Assad’s government requests help. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, told reporters: “If there is a request (from Syria), then in the framework of a bilateral dialogue it woul
Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—Loyalists to Yemen’s exiled President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi made strategic gains in the eastern Ma’rib province on Friday after fierce battles with the Houthi rebels, military sources said. At least 25 rebels were killed and dozens injured in the violent clashes that erupted i
Syria these days reminds me of an orphan surrounded by real enemies and false friends, forming a club of cynics, and trying to seize control of its destiny. Consider just the following examples: • Russian President Vladimir Putin insists that whatever “transition” is agreed must be chaperoned by Pre
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz has denounced the recent Israeli escalation against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine, saying that it constitutes “a flagrant violation of the sanctity of religions and feeds extremism and violence throughout the world.” The r
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—Tunisia has confirmed a video showing one of its nationals being executed by militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Libya. An investigation into the cause and time of the execution as well as when the victim was taken hostage by ISIS had been o
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi police arrested two terror suspects and seized weapons and ammunition in two raids in and around the capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. A ministry spokesman said two Saudi brothers suspected of having links to an attack on a Shi’ite mo
What does Russia want from what remains of Syria? Well, one thing is for sure: any bet that Moscow may be willing to implement the Geneva Documents—even according to the interpretation of Vladimir Putin and his diplomatic “commissar” Sergey Lavrov—is naïve to say the least. The current p
In a sunny sky the smallest cloud makes a big impression! This is how Mikhail Bakunin, one of the fathers of revolutionary radicalism in Europe, described the political situation of the continent in the 1860s. Europe seemed to be in peace, its leadership elites united around a consensus about the ne
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday ordered the compensation of the families of those killed in last Friday’s deadly crane collapse at Mecca’s Grand Mosque as well those injured as a result of the incident, which killed 107 people and injured 238. The cr
