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Gulf-Iran diplomatic breakthroughs will be piecemeal

Location:

GULF STATES/IRAN

He declined to confirm reports of a Saudi visit preparing to reopen diplomatic facilities closed in 2016, pending further progress. A fourth round of negotiations between Saudi…

Iran and Turkey will compartmentalise relations

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IRAN/TURKEY

As the new US administration seeks to re-engage with Iran, both Washington and Ankara have launched negotiations with Tehran's enemy Saudi Arabia. Iran and Turkey have major…

Iraq may face new risks after US withdrawal from Syria

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IRAQ/SYRIA/US

This comes as US forces begin redeploying into Iraq as they start leaving north-eastern Syria, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from that country.

Shia and Kurdish forces may clash on Iraq-Syria border

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IRAQ/SYRIA

The pro-Iranian Badr Organisation is one of the larger PMUs -- groups of mostly Shia armed volunteers established in 2014 to help the army fight IS. They launched a new offensive…

UK Syria airstrikes strategy carries risks

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UNITED KINGDOM

The government is aligning itself with the emerging international strategy against ISG in Syria. Its push to participate in airstrikes in part reflects a wish to reassert the…

After Islamic State, Middle East fissures will deepen

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MIDDLE EAST

The salafi-jihadist group has lost almost all the territory it formerly held in Iraq and Syria. The recent attack on a mosque in Egypt’s Sinai also significantly reduced its local…

Lebanon’s local port blast investigation will stall

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LEBANON

However, the HRC stopped short of establishing an international probe -- a key demand of Lebanese protesters who complain the local process is stalled. They reject in particular…

Turkey's authoritarianism will be harder to ignore

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TURKEY

The European Commission has upped its contribution to 1 billion euros, with Germany next at 428 million, and Italy fourth at 225 million, after securing agreement that it would be…

Gulf states will need Turkey to counter Iran

Location:

GULF STATES/TURKEY

Relations between the Gulf states and Turkey.

Kurdish-Turkish spat may save Islamic State in Syria

Location:

SYRIA

The Kurdish-dominated SDF, with weapons and air support from the US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, on November 5 launched a campaign to encircle and eventually seize…