Author: Steven Sahiounie

BY ELIJAH J. MAGNIER The United States of America, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are fed up with Iran and its allies in the Middle East. But despite waging war against Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon, by inviting the Iraqi government to dilute al-Hashd al-Shaabi, by attempting to submit Gaza and to curb the Houthis in Yemen, it was not possible to break the strong alliances of Iran spread throughout the Middle East. Moreover, through democratic elections, Iran’s allies in Lebanon and Iraq managed to be part of the Parliament and have ministers in the cabinets of their respective countries. Also, in…

By Stephen Lendman According to US and Chinese media, negotiators of both countries agreed to partially roll back tariffs. Spokesman for China’s Commerce Ministry Gao Feng said the following: “If the phase-one deal is signed, China and the US should remove the same proportion of tariffs simultaneously based on the content of the deal,” adding:“This is what (both sides) agreed on following careful and constructive negotiations over the past two weeks.”“Economic and trade teams from both sides have been in constant communication. We hope to resolve our issues of core concern in an equal and mutually respectful manner.” According to the Wall Street…

By Sarah Abed This week, Iran’s atomic energy authority confirmed it would commence enriching uranium past the 3.67 percent cap to 5 percent at its Fordow plant starting Wednesday. This is Tehran’s fourth step in scaling back its commitments under the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in response to the US’s unilateral withdrawal last year, and consequently imposing crippling sanctions, as well as Europe’s inability to offer relief, as was promised. Tehran plans on continuing to scale back its commitments every sixty days till the United States returns to the deal or European nations can provide…

Nationwide protests in Iraq erupted in October and have since escalated. People are demanding the government’s dismissal, as well as economic reforms, better living conditions, social welfare and an end to corruption. According to Iraqi authorities, cited by Reuters, local security forces on Thursday killed at least four people during a break up of a sit-in protest in the southern city of Basra. Earlier in the day, a security source said that at least 10 people, including four medical personnel, had been killed in the past 24 hours during the ongoing mass anti-government demonstrations in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.…

Russia says the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group is establishing a base in Afghanistan to target ex-Soviet countries, days after the group’s leader was declared dead following a raid by US troops. Chief of Russia’s Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov made the warning on Thursday, saying that Daesh was seeking to carry out attacks in those countries using militants from Central Asia. “We are seeing increased activities of Daesh branches in Afghanistan,” Russian News Agency TASS quoted him as speaking at a regional security forum in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, adding that the terror group was uniting with Turkestan…

Russia has strongly rejected Western media reports that Russian private military companies linked to the Kremlin were operating in Libya in favor of one of the conflicting sides. Western media outlets Tuesday cited US military sources reporting the deployment of Russia’s private military experts to Libya. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, however, strongly refuted news about skilled Russians fighting in Libya. “I strongly reject this sort of speculation,” Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday. The high-ranking Russian diplomat insisted that any actions ordered by the Kremlin regarding the North African country were in the framework of international agreements meant to establish peace and security. …

BY KHALED ISKEF Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham (Nusra Front) Thursday attacked Kafar Takharim village in Idlib western countryside on the background of popular movements against the recent non-humanitarian acts by the gunmen of Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham during the past few months. Nusra Front attacked Kafar Takharim from all directions, using many mortar shells, missiles, and machine guns although all the village inhabitants are civilians. The attack claimed the lives of two people and wounded tens of others when the inhabitants attempted to prevent the advancement of Nusra Front vehicles into the village. Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham attack came after a deadline it gave…

By Arabi Souri The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continues its deployment north and east to secure as many Syrian people and as much Syrian land it can in a race with NATO and their terrorists. The importance of the SAA and Syrian Border Guard units deployment at the northeastern border areas with Turkey in Hasakah province is highlighted in this report by Lebanese Al-Mayadeen news station: Following is the transcript of the English translation of the above video report Border Guard units of the Syrian Army were deployed from Qamishli to Qahtaniyah and Jawadiyah to the outskirts of Rumilan oil fields…

Steven Sahiounie, political commentator The political solution to the Syrian conflict is the task at hand for the constitutional committee that has been meeting in Geneva since October 30.  The co-chairs are Ahmad Kuzbari from the Syrian government and Hadi Albahra from the opposition.  The Mini-Committee continued activities on Wednesday for the fourth successive day at the UN headquarters in Geneva while working towards amending the constitution for Syria, which is seen as the roadmap to recovery. The 45-member committee equally divided between the Syrian government, the opposition and civil society will hold a four-hour session per day. The full…

by Tim Korso The majority of the country’s oil fields are currently controlled by the US military, illegally stationed in the Arab Republic, and the Kurdish militia. Washington recently reaffirmed its intentions to “keep” the Syrian oil, despite objections from Moscow. The Syrian Army started deploying its forces near the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria, and specifically near the village of Mulla Abbas, claiming the Rumailan oilfield, which was lost to Damascus several years ago, during the civil war, SANA news agency reported. The area is located on the Turkish-Syrian border. The US to Remain to “Keep” Syrian Oil, Despite…