SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces reportedly advanced deeper into Hajin on Thursday, putting additional pressure on ISIS's last Syrian outpost, while also warning that a renewed Turkish offensive in northern Syria would interfere with the Hajin operation. The SDF even reported that it's captured Hajin's town center, though that's unconfirmed and probably pending the outcome … Continue reading Middle East update: December 13 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Under heavy pressure from the Taliban, Afghan forces have abandoned the Shebkoh district in Farah province and retreated to Farah city. The Taliban has focused a good deal of effort on Farah province this year, both because it's remote from Kabul and therefore hard for the Afghans to defend, and because it's home to … Continue reading World update: December 12 2018

SYRIA Syrians who participated in the Arab Spring protests against Bashar al-Assad's government back in 2011 say that the Syrian government is using an obscure anti-terrorism law to seize their property even though they played no role in the rebellion that cropped up after Assad tried to violently suppress the demonstrations. Damascus insists that it … Continue reading Middle East update: December 12 2018

ASIA ARMENIA The International Crisis Group's Olesya Vartanyan says that Nikol Pashinyan's landslide electoral win on Sunday could improve the prospects for peace with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan is in no position to make dramatic concessions to Azerbaijan on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, but now that he's broken the long-time ruling Republican Party there is an opportunity for … Continue reading World update: December 11 2018

SYRIA Iraqi warplanes bombed two alleged ISIS positions near the Syrian town of Susah on Tuesday, potentially (according to the Iraqis) targeting upwards of 45 ISIS fighters across both targets. Susah is located a bit south of Hajin along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, not far from the Iraqi border. It's unclear whether … Continue reading Middle East update: December 11 2018

EUROPE RUSSIA The Trump administration renewed its objection to Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea on Monday, with Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon arguing that it will give Moscow additional leverage over Western Europe while bypassing and isolating Ukraine. The Ukrainian economy is partially dependent on the … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: December 10 2018

UNITED NATIONS ASIA https://twitter.com/UN/status/1072296406562484224 The UN on Monday adopted the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, absent 29 countries who have decided to reject the accord or are debating whether to reject it. It's rare that an international treaty like this generates so much drama, but such is the power of racism I … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: December 10 2018

SYRIA The Syrian military announced on Monday that it's going to demobilize conscripts and reserves who have completed five years of military service in the civil war (in the case of conscripts, that means five years beyond their mandatory 18 months of service). This reflects quite a turnaround for the Syrian government, which was so short … Continue reading Middle East update: December 10 2018

ASIA ARMENIA As expected, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's One Step Alliance won a resounding victory in Sunday's Armenian parliamentary election. One Step reportedly came away with over 70 percent of the vote, albeit with relatively low (around 49 percent) turnout. Election observers have yet to weigh in on any potential irregularities. AFGHANISTAN Taliban fighters attacked a … Continue reading World update: December 8-9 2018

SYRIA Syrian state media reported Sunday that Syrian air defenses had intercepted "enemy targets" near Damascus airport. Wow, this is a big stor--I'm sorry, what's that? They retracted the report? Oh, well, never mind then. The Trump administration has reportedly come to believe that it has enough leverage to force Russia and Iran to in … Continue reading Middle East update: December 8-9 2018