Turmoil, as usual, plagues the middle east. Isis had been recently pushed out of Raqqa in Syria. This was considered ISIS’ stronghold. This is another huge win because ISIS is trying to make their own state but they don’t have the territory, money, or enforcement to do it therefore they are falling. Though ISIS was driven out, rebuilding the city… Read more »
Source: Reuters AGHDAD (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan region on Monday to resolve their conflict over Kurdish self-determination and disputed territories through dialogue. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson smiles alongside Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during a media availability after their meeting, in Doha, Qatar… Read more »
Source: ABC news The Islamic State militants came into the Syrian town with a hit list. By the time they left three weeks later, more than 70 civilians had been killed — shot or beheaded, their bodies dumped in farms and ditches. The apparent revenge killings in the town of Qaryatayn underscore the ability of the extremists to inflict heavy… Read more »
Source: The Guardian An independence referendum supposed to strengthen the Kurds’ position ended in a retreat in which Iranian influence was key Kurds displaced from Kirkuk by the ongoing conflict between Iraq the Kurdistan region protest outside the US Embassy in Erbil. Photograph: Elizabeth Fitt/Rex When the guns fell silent on the Kirkuk-Erbil road, just after noon on Friday, a… Read more »
Source: ABC news In ongoing standoff following a referendum for an independent state separate from Iraq, Kurds in northwestern Iraq have suffered significant losses, including areas that supply much of the region’s revenue. Iraqi Kurds lost another major territory on Tuesday to Baghdad, surrendering the town of Sinjar — one day after losing the oil-rich Kirkuk. Alaa Al-Marjani/ReutersMembers of Iraqi… Read more »
Driving out ISIS is just the start — rebuilding Raqqa will take years By Haid Haid Updated 12:10 PM ET, Wed October 18, 2017 Pause Fullscreen Now PlayingRaqqa drone video… Raqqa drone video shows ISIS execution square 01:42 Haid Haid is a Syrian research fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King’s College London. He is also a… Read more »
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034 Islamic State and the crisis in Iraq and Syria in maps 21 October 2017 From the sectionMiddle East Share this with Facebook Share this with Twitter Share this with Messenger Share this with Email Share Related Topics Syrian civil war A US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters says it has seized control of the city of Raqqa,… Read more »
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/isil-accused-killing-scores-qaryatayn-civilians-171023170441853.html ISIL accused of killing scores of Qaryatayn civilians 7 hours ago MORE ON SYRIA’S CIVIL WAR ISIL accused of killing scores of Qaryatayn civilianstoday FSA rebels: We would have won if not for Irantoday Syrian children’s hunger crisis worsens, aid groups blockedtoday Who will pay for the reconstruction of Raqqa?today ISIL has been accused of executing scores of people in a… Read more »
SOURCE: Aljazeera http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/171023172816517.html Kurds accuse Baghdad of troop build-up on region border 9 hours ago MORE ON KURDS In Kurdistan we need change, not theatricstoday Gorran says Barzani should resign after Kurdish votetoday Kurds accuse Baghdad of troop build-up on region bordertoday Abadi tells Tillerson: PMF is hope of Iraq and regiontoday The Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq has accused the federal government… Read more »
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-civil-war-explained-160505084119966.html As the Syrian conflict enters its seventh year, more than 465,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, more than a million injured and over 12 million Syrians – half the country’s prewar population – have been displaced from their homes.