Author: Steven Sahiounie

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies resumed on January 4 their strikes on the southeastern Idlib countryside, where a ground operation was launched last month. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the SAA artillery and rocket launchers struck terrorists’ positions in cities of Ma`arat al-Nu`man and Saraqib as well as the nearby towns of Ma’ar Shoreen, Ma’ar Shamshah and Talmenes. “The strikes eliminated a number of terrorists, injured others and destroyed their weapons and ammunition,” the SANA’s reporter said. The Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) and the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) also resumed their airstrikes on…

Tensions between the US and Iran are beginning to put the world on edge with the collapse of relations since the election of Donald Trump in 2016 culminating in the assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. A British admiral has warned that a potential US invasion of Iran would be comparable to the invasion of Germany in World War 2. Admiral Lord West said that the situation with Iran is “highly dangerous” following the assassination of Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani by the US in Iraq on Friday. West told the Daily Star Online that he believes it is “highly likely” that Iran…

Earlier in the day, three separate incidents took place in which rockets were fired in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, reportedly injuring at least five people as the Pentagon has purportedly continued attacking certain Iraqi military installations. An airstrike on the Iraqi-Syrian border and inside Syrian territory was reported by Al-Mayadeen, citing sources that claimed that forces deployed at the border posted a security alert. ​Local media claim, citing sources, that the most recent airstrikes have targeted installations of Iraq’s Kataeb Hezbollah militia in Al-Qaim region on the Iraqi-Syrian border. ​Unconfirmed reports claim that at least 5 people were killed in the US strike targeting “Imam…

Tensions are running high in the Middle East as Iran promised a decisive retaliation against the United States following the killing of Iranian top military official Qasem Soleimani. Two Katyusha rockets have hit the country’s Balad Air Base north of Baghdad hosting US forces, Reuters reported citing security sources. There are no immediate reports of casualties. ​Reuters previously cited the local police as saying that a rocket of the same type landed inside the Green Zone’s Celebrations Square near the US Embassy in Baghdad, causing no casualties. According to al Arabiya broadcaster, the road leading to the US Embassy was closed…

By Elijah J. Magnier The US did not plan to kill the vice commander of the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi brigade Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes when it assassinated Iranian Brigadier General Qassem Soleimani on Thursday at 11:00 PM local time at Baghdad airport. Usually, when Soleimani was arriving in Baghdad, security commander Abu Zeinab al-Lami, a deputy officer to al Muhandes, would have welcomed him. This time, al-Lami was outside Iraq and al-Muhandes replaced him. The US plan was to assassinate an Iranian General on Iraqi soil, not to kill a high-ranking Iraqi officer. By killing al-Muhandes, the US violated its treaty…

By Elizabeth McLaughlin The Pentagon is deploying roughly 3,500 more troops to the Middle East in response to rising tensions in the region with Iran and one day after a U.S. airstrike killed a top Iranian military commander. The soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division could leave Fort Bragg in North Carolina for the Middle East as early as this weekend, two U.S. officials told ABC News. One official indicated the troops could be stationed in Kuwait, where 750 soldiers from the same brigade were deployed on Tuesday following violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The decision to deploy additional…

Steven Sahiounie, political commentator Qasem Soleimani was assassinated last night in Baghdad by a drone strike ordered by President Trump. The Iranian Commander of the ‘Quds Force’ was killed alongside the leader of the Iraqi ‘Popular Mobilization Forces’, Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, aka Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, along with at least 6 persons. Regional leaders and analysts feel that Trump has crossed a ‘red-line’ by killing such a high-level Iranian official. This may illicit a comparable attack on a US official of equal stature. This decision by Trump is unprecedented, and many feel demonstrates his chaotic Middle East foreign policy. Defense Secretary…

Three rockets landed on the edge of Baghdad International Airport in the Iraqi capital early Friday morning, causing explosions, according to local reporters. At least 12 Iraqi servicemen were injured and 8 people killed, as well as several leaders of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, including head of protocol affairs Mohammed Rida al-Jabri. The attack reportedly targeted several SUVs belonging to a leadership committee of the Popular Mobilization Forces, the collection of semi-independent militias tied to the Iraqi government that were formed to fight Daesh in 2014. A Sky News reporter tweeted in Arabic about the potential deaths of PMF…

In its latest recruitment drive the British army has ascended a higher bar of desperation by reaching out to some of the most questionable elements in society. Army posters and adverts are now targeting “social media addicts”, “gym junkies” and “binge drinkers”. The aim of the campaign is to appeal to young people’s quest for self-confidence by creating the impression that army life can correct their low self-esteem and associated chaotic lifestyles. This latest clumsy recruitment drive comes on the heels of similar bizarre and failed attempts by the British army to recruit from the most disturbed sections of society.…

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has appointed the new government to be presented to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as the country strives to recover after months of political crisis, Algerian media reported. According to the Algerian state television, the new government will comprise Kamel Beldjoud as interior minister, Sabri Boukadoum as foreign minister, Mohamed Arkab as energy minister, Belkacem Zeghmati as justice minister, Abderrahmane Raouia as finance minister, Bendoudad Malika as culture minister, and Cherif Omari as the minister of agriculture — a total of 28 ministers, the youngest among them 26-year old Minister of Startups Yacine Oualid. Said Chengriha will serve…