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Growing ‘mercenary’ use will sustain Mideast conflicts

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MIDDLE EAST

From US contractors in Iraq and Russian mercenary groups in Syria, to Gulf states’ ‘foreign legions’ in Yemen and multiple Iranian proxy militias, national armies no longer…

Al-Qaida core could keep control of Syria’s Idlib

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SYRIA

The last major rebel-held area in Syria, Idlib province is under the military control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a salafi-jihadist rebel alliance. Jaysh al-Ahrar, the largest…

Damascus may press on in Idlib, at high human cost

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SYRIA

Troops supporting President Bashar al-Assad launched their latest offensive in Syria’s last large rebel-held region in November 2019. Russian air support has enabled them to make…

Israeli diplomacy will fail to quash Iran-Syria threat

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ISRAEL

Israel sees rising risks from developments in Syria, especially the implementation of four ‘de-escalation zones’ agreed on May 6 by Russia, Iran and Turkey after talks in Astana…

Prospects for Syria to end-2019

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PROSPECTS H2 2019

Prospects for Syria to end-2019

Ankara and Damascus could clash in Idlib

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SYRIA

Rebels complain that pro-government forces had earlier allowed IS safe passage to Idlib from Hama. At the same time, in northern Idlib, Turkish armoured convoys have deployed to…

Syrian Kurds face a possible loss of autonomy

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SYRIA

After the outbreak of civil war in 2011 and the rise of Islamic State (IS), the US-backed SDF managed to establish an autonomous administration in northeast Syria. However, it…

Syrian government can consolidate, but not reconstruct

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SYRIA

Idlib is one of four ‘de-escalation zones’ agreed between Russia, Turkey and Iran on May 6. Their partial implementation has reduced the pressure of airstrikes by pro-government…

Damascus will balance between Moscow and Tehran

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SYRIA

He had kept a low profile in late January, prompting rumours of illness, or even a coup plot. The president’s absence from the limelight came at a sensitive time. Following talks…

Better US ties are a short-term boost for Syrian Kurds

Location:

SYRIA

The Kurdish administration is seeking to maximise benefits from much-improved relations with US President Joe Biden, compared with his predecessor. However, economic pressures are…