Author: Steven Sahiounie

On June 10, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) concluded the first stage of its security operation against ISIS cells in northeast Syria. In an official statement, the SDF said that vast areas between southern al-Hasakah and southeast Deir Ezzor were combed with help from the US-led coalition and in cooperation with Iraqi government forces. The group summarized the results of the first stage as follows: A 175 km long, 60 km wide area, including more than 150 towns and farms, was combed;56 positions and hideouts of ISIS cells were raided;110 ISIS terrorists and suspects were apprehended;Loads of weapons, including hand…

Syrian pro-government forces are conducting new security operations against ISIS remnants in the country’s central region. The al-Quds Brigade, a Palestinian pro-government force, and units of the National Defense Forces (NDF) are currently conducting a new operation against the terrorist group’s cells in the Homs desert. A video of the operation was released by the al-Quds Brigade on June 9. The video shows the group’s fighters combing the desert between Homs and Raqqa. A similar operation was launched on June 10 by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Deir Ezzor’s western desert, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human…

On June 10, US F-22 Raptor fighter jets, supported by KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, escorted Russian formations entering the NORAD’s Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. “The first formation consisted of two Tu-95 bombers, accompanied by two Su-35 fighter jets and an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft, which came within 20 nautical miles of Alaskan shores. The second formation consisted of two Tu-95 bombers supported by an A-50 and came within 32 nm. The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and at no time did they enter United States sovereign airspace,” NORAD (North American Aerospace…

As President Donald Trump leans on religion to reconnect with his political base ahead of the November election, most Americans dismiss the notion that he himself is a man of faith. Only 27 percent of registered voters in a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll said they somewhat or strongly agree that Trump himself is religious, while 55 percent somewhat or strongly disagree. Among subgroups, just over a third of all Christians view the president as religious (50 percent do not), while 23 percent of Catholics and 18 percent of independents see him that way. Evangelicals were more likely to view Trump…

Turkey has slammed Egypt’s proposal for a ceasefire in Libya as not sincere, saying the initiative aims to save renegade general Khalifa Haftar, whose fighters are losing ground in the war-torn country. Ankara supports the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj against rebels commanded by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, among other countries. Egypt recently proposed a ceasefire that would have started on Monday and an elected leadership council as Haftar’s offensive to capture Tripoli, the seat of the Libyan government, collapsed and as the…

Qatar’s Ambassador to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi says Doha welcomes any genuine initiative that would end the economic and diplomatic blockade Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies imposed on the gas-rich kingdom in June 2017. “Qatar has always been keen on maintaining the unity of Persian Gulf littoral states to face challenges in the region. Qatar’s doors are always open to any real initiative to lift the blockade, respect the country’s sovereignty, prevent interference in its internal affairs and respect international law and the principle of equality between states,” he said in an exclusive interview with…

News / Economy Iran, Iraq reach initial deal on building 354km highway: Minister Wednesday, 10 June 2020 4:11 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 10 June 2020 4:11 PM ] Iran and Iraq have finalized initial plans to build a 354-kilometer highway connecting the two neighbors. Iran’s minister of transportation says an initial deal has been reached with the neighboring Iraq to build a long highway that would ease traffic across the border and would help boost trade between the two neighboring countries. Mohammad Eslami said on Wednesday that the 354-kilometer highway would connect the city of Mehran on the western Iranian border to the…

After seizing control over the coastal enclave in 2007, the Islamist group has improved its attack capabilities, says a former security officer who witnessed the bloody events that paved the way for Hamas’ control, adding that getting rid of the organisation, deemed terrorist by Israel, will be a mission impossible. Mohammed Ibrahim will never forget that hot summer day in mid-June when Hamas, an Islamist group deemed terrorist by Israel, took control of Gaza, ousting the Fatah officials that had governed the enclave since 1993. Back then, Mohammed, who is now 36, was serving as a police officer in the…

The EU, unlike the US, earlier stopped short of promising to take any action against Beijing over its decision to introduce a new piece of legislation in Hong Kong. The law would ban activities directed at dividing China. EU Foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell has stated that the EU is not going to launch a “cold war” with China, noting that Beijing has been notified about Brussels’ position. “I told [Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi]: ‘Don’t worry, Europe is not going to embark on any kind of Cold War with China'”, Borrell said. Borrell’s statement comes as Brussels and Beijing…

The island of Taiwan’s defence authority said fighter jets of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) approached the island on Tuesday, the day a US military aircraft flew over the island that’s bound to further raise cross-Straits tensions following a series of US arms sales to the island, and a US warship transit through the Taiwan Straits. The US warplane’s rare flight over Taiwan showed the increasing collaboration between the US military and Taiwan secessionists, and the Chinese mainland’s fighter jet sorties and approaches sent them a powerful warning and demonstrated how much the PLA was determined and prepared for…