SYRIA DEVELOPING, MAYBE: The New Arab is reporting that the SDF has made a deal with the remaining ISIS fighters in Baghouz that calls for a five day truce and the relocation of those fighters to "an area in the Syrian desert." The SDF has also agreed to allow food shipments into the town in return for ISIS … Continue reading Middle East update: February 16-17 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN According to US Central Command boss Joseph Votel, the Pentagon may soon reduce its troop presence in Afghanistan by more than 1000 from its current level of around 14,000 (acknowledged) personnel. But the move isn't related to the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban--instead, it's apparently an operational decision by new US Afghanistan … Continue reading World update: February 15 2019

SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces militia has paused its offensive in Baghouz again out of concerns for civilian casualties. The SDF had opened up a corridor for people to flee ISIS's final Syrian enclave last week and seemed to be ready to resume operations in full after thousands of people took advantage of the corridor … Continue reading Middle East update: February 15 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry confirmed (sort of) on Thursday that his government will host another round of peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the United States, but did not specify when that round will take place. The Taliban say they're meeting with US representatives in Islamabad on February 18, ahead of … Continue reading World update: February 14 2019

SYRIA It turns out that ISIS has been shooting at people trying to flee its last Syrian enclave around Baghouz, even when those people are the wives of ISIS fighters. "Hundreds" of women and children have left Baghouz and made it to the Syrian Democratic Forces' line around the enclave, and some of them have … Continue reading Middle East update: February 14 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban says it will hold another round of peace talks with US representatives in Islamabad on February 18. The US, uh, says it doesn't know anything about it. That's a little weird. Assuming the meeting does happen it's interesting that it will be happening in Pakistan and not at the Taliban's diplomatic … Continue reading World update: February 13 2019

SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces have paused their operation in Baghouz to give the people remaining in ISIS's last pocket of territory in Syria a chance to leave. An estimated 1200 have done so just in the past day or so. There were ISIS fighters among them, and the fact that they were able to … Continue reading Middle East update: February 13 2019

EUROPE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA The former Republic of Macedonia is now officially the Republic of North Macedonia. The country will roll out changes to documents, currency, license plates, etc. over the next few months. HUNGARY Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is offering to pay Hungarian women to have more Hungarian children: The latest example … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: February 12 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan visited Afghanistan on Monday and stressed that the Trump administration has not come to a decision about any possible US troop withdrawal. The administration has been negotiating with the Taliban about a peace deal that would require the US to withdraw, and there have been rumors that … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: February 12 2019

SYRIA A car bomb hit a checkpoint near the Turkish border outside the town of al-Rai on Tuesday. Three police officers and four civilians were wounded. That area is controlled by Turkey and its proxies, so there are a number of possible suspects including the YPG, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and of course ISIS. Speaking of … Continue reading Middle East update: February 12 2019