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Local fiefdoms will undermine Syrian service provision

Location:

SYRIA

Syria’s civil war is fought not just with bombs and bullets, but with salaries and services. The government has been able to win this aspect of the war by denying services to…

Damascus can manage fragmented military forces

Location:

SYRIA

President Bashar al-Assad's two principal foreign backers, Russia and Iran, support and to some extent direct sizeable forces in Syria on which Assad relies. That contributes to a…

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…

Iraq sees rising risk of a US-Iran clash in 2020

Location:

IRAQ

These have caused the United States to begin the process of shuttering its Baghdad embassy -- while signalling that it could reverse the process if the government moves more…

Coronavirus is set to hit Mideast conflict states hard

Location:

MIDDLE EAST

MIDDLE EAST: Coronavirus is set to hit conflict states

Rival Yemen governments face distinct, deep challenges

Location:

YEMEN

Most countries, and the UN Security Council, reserve international recognition for Hadi’s government-in-exile in Riyadh. The rival Huthi-led National Salvation Government (NSG) in…

Ankara and Damascus could clash in Idlib

Location:

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…

Growing ‘mercenary’ use will sustain Mideast conflicts

Location:

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…

Soleimani’s death may further weaken Iran in Syria

Location:

SYRIA

Iranian networks in Syria.

Islamic State may see a limited Iraq-Syria resurgence

Location:

IRAQ/SYRIA

Enabled in part by responses to the pandemic, 2020 saw a temporary surge in IS assaults across rural areas of Iraq and Syria. Attacks have also again become more coordinated and…