SYRIA Reuters says that ISIS is getting "pounded" in Baghouz, which is not nearly as hot as it sounds. The Syrian Democratic Forces militia earlier on Monday said it was advancing slowly into the town due to mines and other traps laid by ISIS along with the danger posed by ISIS snipers. I'm not sure … Continue reading Middle East update: March 11 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN US airstrikes in Nangarhar province on Saturday killed at least 13 Afghan civilians. The Pentagon categorized these as "precision airstrikes" and blamed the Taliban for using human shields. MYANMAR Fighters with the Arakan Army rebel group attacked a police outpost in Rakhine state on Saturday night, killing nine police officers. The Arakan Army, … Continue reading World update: March 9-10 2019

MIDDLE EAST SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces militia resumed its offensive to capture ISIS's last Syrian enclave around the town of Baghouz on Sunday evening, with reports of airstrikes on the town and clashes between ISIS and SDF fighters. The SDF had previously announced a Saturday deadline for civilians to flee Baghouz and/or ISIS fighters … Continue reading Middle East update: March 9-10 2019

MIDDLE EAST SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces militia has given the people remaining in Baghouz until Saturday afternoon to evacuate/surrender before it resumes its offensive to take the town from ISIS. Thousands of people have fled Baghouz over the past few weeks in response to the SDF's advance, mostly civilians but with a few hundred … Continue reading World update: March 8 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN ISIS fired rockets at a gathering of Hazara in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least three people and wounding "dozens" more. The event was intended for several Afghan presidential candidates to speak with members of the predominantly Shiʿa community, and so there were some high profile targets there including Afghan "Chief Executive Officer" … Continue reading World update: March 7 2019

HUMAN RIGHTS Amnesty International has released its annual report on the state of human rights in the Middle East and, well, it's not great: The killing of Palestinian protesters by Israeli forces in Gaza and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a Saudi Arabian consulate glaringly illustrated the unaccountability of Middle Eastern and North … Continue reading Middle East update: March 7 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN ISIS attacked the offices of a construction company in the city of Jalalabad on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people. The five ISIS attackers were all killed in the ensuing fight with Afghan security forces. CHINA United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet delivered her annual report to the Human Rights Council … Continue reading World update: March 6 2019

SYRIA At least 2000 more people evacuated Baghouz on Wednesday to escape the Syrian Democratic Forces' assault on the town. Among these were reportedly "hundreds" of ISIS fighters who surrendered to SDF fighters. Another 400 or so ISIS fighters were caught attempting to hide themselves among the crowd of evacuees, and while it would be … Continue reading Middle East update: March 6 2019

CLIMATE CHANGE Hey, this seems bad maybe: Global warming is gradually increasing the average temperature of the oceans, but the new research is the first systematic global analysis of ocean heatwaves, when temperatures reach extremes for five days or more. The research found heatwaves are becoming more frequent, prolonged and severe, with the number of … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: March 5 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTANThe New York Times highlights a budding split between urban and rural Afghans over peace talks with the Taliban: As American diplomats push for a peace deal with the Taliban to end the 18-year war, a strong voice of protest, largely coming from urban centers, has been cautioning against a rushed deal that could endanger … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: March 5 2019