SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces announced on Sunday that, thanks to a reduction in Turkish artillery attacks in northern Syria, they will be resuming their ground offensive against ISIS in Hajin. It's unclear what's happened behind the scenes here but presumably some negotiations between the US and Turkish governments. This is good news if you're … Continue reading Middle East update: November 10-11 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN A Taliban attack in Farah province late Thursday killed seven Afghan police officers, while another attack on a military outpost in Takhar province on Friday morning killed at least 10 Afghan soldiers. The Russian government hosted its big Afghan peace conference on Friday, featuring a Taliban delegation as well as several members of … Continue reading World update: November 9 2018

SYRIA Multiple sources are reporting a fairly substantial battle between pro-government forces and Syrian rebels around the village of Halfaya in Hama province. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pro-government forces attacked rebel positions there, leaving at least 22 members of the Army of Glory (Jaysh al-Izza) faction dead. State media is saying … Continue reading Middle East update: November 9 2018

ASIA ARMENIA Journalist David O'Byrne looks at what US sanctions on Iran might mean for the Caucasus. Georgia seems minimally affected, and Azerbaijan as a net energy exporter will probably be OK, but Armenia could be in a difficult situation: The bulk of Armenia’s gas is imported from Russia (via Georgia), but Yerevan also imported … Continue reading World update: November 8 2018

SYRIA Syrian journalist Khaled al-Khateb writes that the Idlib province ceasefire hasn't really been much of a ceasefire so far: Turkey and Russia had concluded an agreement on Sept. 17 to establish a buffer zone between the armed opposition regions and the regime-controlled areas in Idlib. According to this agreement that entered into force Oct. 15, … Continue reading Middle East update: November 8 2018

Happy Diwali to those who are celebrating! ASIAPAKISTAN Asia Bibi, whose 2010 blasphemy conviction was tossed out in court last week, has reportedly been released from prison. Which may not be great news for her, given that she and her family have almost certainly become targets for Islamist extremists. Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, has been pleading … Continue reading World update: November 7 2018

Happy Diwali to those who are celebrating! SYRIA Turkish officials say their forces killed one YPG militia fighter on Wednesday after that fighter fired into Turkey from across the border in Syria's Hasakah province. Ankara says it will not stop killing YPG fighters no matter how cooperative the Trump administration decides to be on the … Continue reading Middle East update: November 7 2018

EUROPE RUSSIA The US State Department said on Tuesday that it is preparing another wave of sanctions against Russia over the Sergei Skripal attack in the United Kingdom. The Trump administration invoked the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act back in August, imposing an initial round of sanctions while giving Russia a 90 … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: November 5-6 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Unless you're rooting for the Taliban, it has not been a good couple of days in Afghanistan: In perhaps the most severe blow, insurgents captured battalion headquarters of the Afghan Border Force in Farah Province, in western Afghanistan, killing or taking prisoner nearly the entire contingent of officers, with as many as 20 … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: November 5-6 2018

SYRIA As you may have heard, the Syrian Democratic Forces operation to eradicate ISIS from its last chunk of territory east of the Euphrates River has ground to a halt, partly because of stiffer than expected resistance from ISIS but mostly because Turkey has started shelling Kurdish positions in northern Syria in preparation for another … Continue reading Middle East update: November 5-6 2018