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Iraqi Kurdish independence vote risks new conflict

Location:

IRAQ

KRI President Massoud Barzani, who announced the initiative in February, has stressed that the result will be non-binding; however, his move has unsettled allies in Ankara and…

Syria’s weakened al-Qaida remnants may act as spoilers

Location:

SYRIA

Ansar al-Islam is part of ‘Be Steadfast’ (Fathbutu), a coalition of al-Qaida-linked groups formed in June. Meanwhile, the dominant rebel force in the north, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham…

Relations between Iraqi and Syrian Kurds worsen

Location:

SYRIA/IRAQ

This is part of a wider rift between Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Syrian Kurdish forces, the latter divided among themselves. The KRG closed two border…

Russia seeks mediating but not dominant Libyan role

Location:

RUSSIA/LIBYA

Moscow is increasingly involved in Libya in support of a dual ambition to be taken seriously as a regional power and an honest intermediary. As Turkey takes sides in the conflict…

Trump will follow Obama’s policy on Syria

Location:

SYRIA/US

He suggested that this offensive would not involve a major US troop increase; Washington must therefore decide whether to cooperate with Turkey or Turkey's enemies, the Syrian…

Kurds will try to keep Iraq out of the Gaza conflict

Location:

IRAQ

The Gaza conflict has led to a resurgence of attacks by Iran-backed armed groups on US forces, breaking the earlier unofficial truce. Some of those attacks have targeted bases in…

North-west Syria’s top rebel faction will keep control

Location:

SYRIA

The official, Abu Ahmed Zakour, was reportedly associated with Iraqi-born former HTS leading figure Abu Mariya al-Qahtani, who was arrested in August amid ‘spying’ accusations…

Al-Qaida's local branch set to dominate Syria rebels

Location:

SYRIA

JaN's standing among the Syrian rebel movement has been bolstered by a series of major strategic wins against the regime in north western Syria. The capture of Idlib city and Jisr…

If Turkey's parties form a coalition, it may be brief

Location:

TURKEY

The former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is regaining the politcal ascendancy, with its sights focused on early elections. It wants a caretaker government until then…

Iraqi Kurdish strategies will wait on Turkish election

Location:

IRAQ

Months of tensions between their respective parties have paralysed the region’s cabinet and also played into a crisis with Turkey. Talabani in late April sought to communicate…