Year: 2019

Intra-Afghan peace talks resume in Qatar

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) – Dozens of powerful Afghans resumed talks with the Taliban on Monday, July 8 in Doha, where a possible ceasefire is on the table along with key issues such as women’s rights. Stakes are high for the talks which follow a week of U.S.-Taliban negotiations with both sides eyeing a resolution to the bloody 18-year conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that the Afghan gathering “has been a long time coming” and praised the country’s “government, civil society, women, and Taliban” for coming together. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw. Around 70 delegates are attending the two-day gathering which has been organized by Germany and Qatar. “History will remember those who were able to set their differences aside for the sake of the country” said Germany envoy Markus Potzel as he opened the gathering Sunday. A German source confirmed the second day of talks got underway just before 0600 GMT. Delegate Asila Wardak, a member of the High Peace Council established by former president Hamid Karzai to engage with Taliban elements, said …

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If the world really wants to defeat ISIS, it needs to listen to North East Syria

The organizers of the International Forum on ISIS hope to shed light on the next steps against the resurgent terror group in northeast Syria

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Car bomb in southern Turkey kills 3 Syrian nationals

At least three people were killed on Friday, July 5 after a car blast in the Turkish town of Reyhanli close to the Syrian border, state media reported. Two others were also injured, state news agency Anadolu said, as ambulances and police were rushed to the scene. The governor of Hatay province, where Reyhanli is located, Rahmi Dogan, told Anadolu that the cause of the explosion was not yet known. “The initial findings suggest there may be more of a link with terror,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. “It is clear there was a bomb in the car,” he said. Three people were killed, all Syrian nationals, Erdogan said. “Our colleagues are looking into who was behind this,” he said in televised comments, adding the government would provide more information in a few hours. The blast took place less than a kilometer from the Reyhanli district governor’s office around 1000 GMT, Anadolu reported. Images in Turkish media showed thick black smoke and flames from the car as firefighters fought the blaze. A twin car bombing blamed on pro-Damascus groups in May 2013 in Reyhanli killed over 50 people in one of the deadliest attacks in Turkey’s modern …

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LNA forces claim downing of Libya L-39 Albatross jet

Troops loyal to Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar said they shot down an L-39 plane belonging to forces loyal to the Government of National Accord

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US approves anti-radar missile sale to Germany via NATO procurement agency

The US State Department approved the sale to Germany of AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency

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Naval Group awarded €1.2 billion contract for 4 Romania navy corvettes

The French Naval Group company won a contract to build four corvette warships for the Romanian navy, the country's defense minister said

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Suspected Tunis suicide bombing plotter killed, ministry says

The suspected mastermind of twin suicide bombings in Tunis was killed when he blew himself up during a police manhunt outside the capital

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Popular Mobilization Force reform in Iraq: Reintegration or consolidation of militia power?

Mahdi's plan to reform the Popular Mobilization Units will either reduce the risk from militias or dangerously consolidate their power in Iraq, Michael Knights says

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Raqqa civil authorities uncover new mass grave of ISIS victims

Two hundred corpses, including those of people believed to have been executed by Islamic State, were found near the Syrian city of Raqqa

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Mahdi orders full integration of Shia militias into Iraq’s armed forces

Iraq’s Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi ordered the Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) to integrate into the Iraqi armed forces or disarm

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