Author: Steven Sahiounie

The United States has offered up to $6 million in rewards for information about two senior al-Qaeda* terrorist group leaders, the State Department announced in a release. “The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is offering a reward for information on two senior al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leaders”, the release said. “RFJ is offering up to $6 million for information leading to the identification or location of Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki and up to $4 million for information leading to the identification or location of Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi”. The State Department said al-Awlaki is…

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.…

United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen says the opening round of talks aimed at finding a political solution to the ongoing conflict in Syria has been “better than expected”, with a new round due to be held in Geneva later this month. Speaking at a news conference at the end of the first round of the Constitutional Committee on Friday, Pedersen said, “I believe it has gone much better than most people would have expected.” He added that the committee discussed many key issues, including Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and fighting terrorism, without elaborating. The UN envoy noted that discussions…

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…