SYRIA The Russian government on Thursday expressed some dismay that Turkey has not yet managed to separate extremist and moderate rebels in Idlib province. That process is key to the Idlib ceasefire agreement those two countries are maintaining, though the chances of it actually succeeding have always been an extremely long shot given how strong … Continue reading Middle East update: November 15 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN At least 9 Afghan soldiers were killed in Maidan Wardak province and 3 Afghan police officers were killed in Takhar province late Tuesday in separate Taliban attacks. Meanwhile, at least 7000 Hazara are believed to have been displaced by recent Taliban advances in Ghazni province's Jaghori and Malistan districts. They've gone either to … Continue reading World update: November 14 2018

YEMEN At least seven civilians were killed late Tuesday by a coalition airstrike in Hudaydah. There has reportedly been an "informal truce" in place in Hudaydah since late Monday, explaining the lull in fighting there, but clearly it's not a total ceasefire. And any hope you might have had that Congress would force a ceasefire … Continue reading Middle East update: November 14 2018

ASIAAFGHANISTAN The Trump administration, led by Afghanistan envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, may ask Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to postpone next year's presidential election so as to minimize disruptions as it seeks to engage the Taliban in peace talks. Of course suspending the election would itself be a huge political disruption that could lead to protests and … Continue reading World update: November 13 2018

SYRIA At least six people were injured on Tuesday when a bomb exploded on a bus in the city of Homs. So far nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the second bus bombing in Homs this year. Robert O'Brien, the State Department's hostage envoy, publicly called on Russia and Iran on Tuesday to help … Continue reading Middle East update: November 13 2018

EUROPE CYPRUS The Cypriot governments opened two border crossings between the country's Turkish and Greek regions on Monday. The openings went relatively peacefully and are seen as a critical step toward resuming talks on reunifying the island nation, which has been divided since a 1974 pro-Greek coup in Nicosia prompted a Turkish invasion and occupation … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: November 12 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN A suicide bomber killed at least six people on Monday outside a police checkpoint in Kabul. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban is reportedly on the verge of overrunning the Jaghori district in Ghazni province, where its fighters have been engaged in days of violent fighting with Hazara militia fighters. On … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: November 12 2018

SYRIA The Syrian government has reportedly changed the recently adopted property law that had threatened to dispossess refugees and internally displaced Syrians of their homes. The measure is known as "Law 10" and went into effect in April. The ostensible idea is to create redevelopment zones around the country where work can begin on rebuilding places … Continue reading Middle East update: November 12 2018

EUROPE RUSSIA Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump did not talk about the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in their brief encounter during Armistice Day festivities in Paris. So...OK then. Presumably they didn't talk about it because Trump isn't interested in reversing his decision to withdraw from it, but what do I know. UKRAINE Separatist governments in … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: November 10-11 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban overran and then blew up a small Afghan army base in Baghlan province late Saturday, killing 16 people. The initial attack killed 12 soldiers while the bombs the group set to destroy the base killed four more people who had come to try to help recover the bodies. On Saturday, the … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: November 10-11 2018