Author: Steven Sahiounie

The allegations follow the release of footage by Iraqi Shia militia group Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba last week allegedly showing the transfer of militants from Hasakah, northeastern Syria to Iraq under the dead of night by US helicopters. US forces have transfered Daesh (ISIS)* terrorists out of Syria and into Iraq, Mohammed Mahdi al-Bayati, a key member of the Badr Organization, a powerful Iraqi Shia political and militia group, has claimed. “Eyewitnesses living along the border with Syria have informed security officials that American forces are conducting extensive airborne transfers of Daesh terrorists from Syria to Iraq,” al-Bayati said, his remarks…

The Russian president first announced a period of nationwide ‘non-working’ days for non-essential workers in late March, extending them through the month of April and into early May as part of the country’s effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The period of state-mandated days off work for non-essential workers will end May 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced. This will allow sectors of the economy, including construction and agriculture, to resume their work, on the condition that they continue to follow strict safety rules. “Starting from tomorrow, May 12, the national period of non-working days will…

At least 19 people were killed and 15 more injured after the Iranian Navy frigate Jamaran accidentally struck the Konarak general-purpose vessel during live-fire exercises near the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. Iranian media have put out photos and videos of the aftermath of Sunday’s incident, with footage released by Jam-e Jam Daily showing smoke billowing from the Konarak light support vessel. Photos of the vessel as it’s towed by tugboats back to port show it to be almost completely destroyed, and taking in water. Media have also released the portraits of the 19 sailors killed in the incident. Sputnik reported…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Fierce battles are raging in Hasakah, a city in the far northeast of Syria, between two separate terrorist groups. ‘Sultan Murad’ and the ‘Al Hamza Division’ terrorist groups in Abo Rasen, northwest of Hasakah. The dead and wounded are both Turkish-backed terrorists. The fighting is over control of the town and the looting of the area. Both sides have sent reinforcements as the clashes continue. ‘There is no honor among thieves’ The Turkish-backed terrorist groups in northern Syria have been fighting each other for some time concerning their paychecks, and about the Turkish government sending Syrian…

Oil prices have rallied as traders believe the depths of demand destruction may be coming to an end with economies beginning to reopen. But some analysts are warning that the oil price rally may be premature. WTI prices have doubled from $12 to $24 in a little over a week. There is evidence that demand has bottomed out and has begun to rise from recent lows. US gasoline demand has ticked up for two consecutive weeks, rising from 5.31 million barrels per day (mb/d) in mid-April to 6.66 mb/d on May 1. On the supply side, shut ins plus the OPEC+ deal…

The Russian Air Force conducted several low-altitude flights over the Idlib Governorate last night, a military source in neighboring Hama told Al-Masdar News. According to the source, the Russian warplanes stalked the jihadist forces along the southern and western countrysides of Idlib, as they conducted mock raids over the militant positions. The source said the Russian Air Force’s mock raids were conducted in response to the jihadist attacks on the Latakia Governorate last night, which resulted in a failed attempt to strike the Hmeimim Airbase near the coastal city of Jableh. On Saturday evening, the jihadist rebels of the “Rouse…

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, announced the downing of a Turkish aircraft in the ‘Ayn Zara area near the capital city, Tripoli. The Libyan National Army spokesperson, Ahmed Al-Mismari, said that the air defense forces managed to shoot down a Turkish TB-2 drone in the ‘Ayn Zara area after it was seen flying towards their positions. The Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army said that their forces have now shot down three Turkish aircraft in the last 24 hours. Mismari had confirmed earlier that the technical teams in the Libyan Arab Armed…

Iran has expressed its willingness to conduct a full exchange of prisoners with the United States, the Reuters News Agency reported. The news site quoted a spokesman for the Iranian government, Ali Rabei, as saying that his country was ready to conduct a full exchange of prisoners with the United States, and that Washington had not yet responded to Iran’s invitation in this regard. We are concerned about the safety and health of the Iranians in prison … We hold America responsible for the safety of the Iranians amid the outbreak of the coronavirus,” he said. Tensions between the U.S.…

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has responded to the jihadist missile strikes on Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia by launching a heavy attack against the militants in the southern countryside of the Idlib Governorate on Sundayl. According to a field source in northwestern Syria, the Syrian Arab Army unleashed a big assault along the southern Idlib front-lines, hitting a number of points belonging to the jihadist rebels In particular, the Syrian Army heavily targeted the jihadist-held areas in Kansafra, Al-Bara’, and ‘Ayn Larouz, while also hitting the militant sites inside the Al-Ghaab Plain region of northwestern Hama. The attacks by the…

Protests have returned to the streets in Iraqi cities following a period of calm amid public discontent with the prevailing economic conditions. Residents in the southern cities of Kut, capital of Wasit province, as well as Basra blocked roads linking to the cities, burning tires on Saturday night. In Kut, protesters set fire to the offices of several parties and a house belonging to an official. Iraq’s Arabic-language al-Sumaria TV network said dozens of protesters poured into the streets to voice their anger against “corruption and theft” and the authorities’ failure to manage the current economic crisis in the Arab country.…