Interview exposes Tahrir al-Sham chief's only loyalty is to himself

2021-06-11

Abu Mohammad al-Jolani has a long, bloody history with extremist groups, but now with the noose tightening around his neck, he is claiming he is not a terrorist. No one agrees with his assessment.

United States to donate 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to world

Health

2021-06-11

United States to donate 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to world

It represents the largest single purchase and donation of COVID-19 vaccines by any single country ever. Pfizer jabs will start being sent out to the world's poorest countries in August.

United States offers $3 million for information on Iraq attacks

Crime & Justice

2021-06-11

United States offers $3 million for information on Iraq attacks

The announcement comes one day after an attack with three explosive-laden drones on Baghdad airport where US troops are deployed. It was the first such attack on targets in the capital.

Baghdad airport, Balad airbase hit by rockets, drones

Terrorism

2021-06-10

Baghdad airport, Balad airbase hit by rockets, drones

The rocket and explosives-laden drone attacks bear the hallmark of pro-Iran groups, and came as the IRGC Quds Force commander visited Iraq.

Years of misplaced priorities inside Iran led to embarrassing military mishaps

Security

2021-06-09

Years of misplaced priorities inside Iran led to embarrassing military mishaps

A series of recent military mishaps makes it clear that Iran has failed to invest in its regular armed forces, even as it heavily bankrolls the IRGC amid an economic crisis.

Syrian students see foreign language options dwindle as Moscow pushes Russian

Politics

2021-06-09

Syrian students see foreign language options dwindle as Moscow pushes Russian

Russian language learning has been heavily promoted in Syria, as part of Russia's soft power plan to increase its control over the Middle Eastern country.

How should China be held accountable for its crimes against Muslims in Xinjiang?

Spotlight

Baghdad airport, Balad airbase hit by rockets, drones

The rocket and explosives-laden drone attacks bear the hallmark of pro-Iran groups, and came as the IRGC Quds Force commander visited Iraq.

Observers see humanitarian crisis looming in event of Iran conflict

Politics

2021-06-07

Observers see humanitarian crisis looming in event of Iran conflict

A mass exodus of Iranians would be expected in the event of a war, and of great concern is the plight of refugees inside Iran and the potential for a regional refugee crisis.

Iraqi army shoots down 2 drones above Anbar base

Security

2021-06-07

Iraqi army shoots down 2 drones above Anbar base

Previous such attacks have been claimed by a new crop of 'smokescreen' militias aligned with Iran that have emerged in Iraq over the past year.

Iran struggles to recoup huge financial losses from Syrian conflict

Economy

2021-06-04

Iran struggles to recoup huge financial losses from Syrian conflict

Faced with an economic crisis at home, the Islamic Republic has mounted a massive effort to enter the Syrian marketplace and recoup its war losses. But Moscow has outmaneuvered Tehran.

Navy ship, oil refinery fires singe Iranian regime's image

Analysis

2021-06-03

Navy ship, oil refinery fires singe Iranian regime's image

In the past two days, massive fires at a major oil refinery near Tehran and on a navy ship in the Gulf have highlighted the deteriorating situation inside Iran.

Drought, Iran-backed militias stymie Iraq's agricultural production

Economy

2021-06-03

Drought, Iran-backed militias stymie Iraq's agricultural production

Some farmers blame IRGC-backed militias of setting local crop fields on fire and then flooding the local market with imported goods in order to keep Iraq dependent on imports.

Egypt, international allies ensure Suez Canal remains open for global trade

Security

2021-06-02

Egypt, international allies ensure Suez Canal remains open for global trade

With tensions rising in the region, the strategic waterway continues to play a key role in global commerce, as Egypt and its allies work to ensure freedom of maritime navigation.

US military deployments aim to reassure allies amid heightened tensions

Security

2021-06-01

US military deployments aim to reassure allies amid heightened tensions

Recent deployments of fighter aircraft in the Middle East signal the United States' ongoing support for regional allies and further integration of allied militaries.

New Syria war toll adds 42,000 killed under regime torture

Human Rights

2021-06-01

New Syria war toll adds 42,000 killed under regime torture

Nearly half of the 100,000 newly confirmed fatalities are civilians, most of them killed under torture in Syrian regime prisons. Nearly 500,000 total have been killed in the war.

China arrested over 1,000 imams amid crackdown on Islam in Xinjiang

Human Rights

2021-05-31

China arrested over 1,000 imams amid crackdown on Islam in Xinjiang

Chinese authorities targeted imams for 'crimes' such as preaching, convening prayer groups or officiating weddings. Others were detained for refusing to turn in Qur'ans to be burned.

Most Viewed

Drought, Iran-backed militias stymie Iraq's agricultural production

Mosul university deemed hub for ISIS chemical weapons programme

Years of misplaced priorities inside Iran led to embarrassing military mishaps

Most Commented

US calls on Iraq to dismantle armed groups

Iran must refrain from military retaliation against US: experts

Virtual reality game explores Mosul relics, promotes message of peace

Kataib Hizbullah: Iran's nerve centre in Iraq

Security

2021-05-28

Kataib Hizbullah: Iran's nerve centre in Iraq

The militia receives money, weapons and training from the IRGC, which it uses to undermine Iraq's security and eliminate those who expose the truth.

Wuhan lab leak theory gains traction as COVID-19 origin probe continues

Health

2021-05-28

Wuhan lab leak theory gains traction as COVID-19 origin probe continues

Mounting evidence points to the Wuhan Institute of Virology as the origin of the devastating global pandemic, and China's propaganda machine is working overtime to debunk the theory.

Elections

2021-05-27

Syrians, world community dismiss predictable outcome of farcical elections

The outcome of the Syrian presidential elections was obvious before they even started: Bashar al-Assad will win a fourth term, giving tyranny, Iran, and Russia more years in office.

Iraq arrests Iran-aligned paramilitary commander over activist's murder

Protests

2021-05-27

Iraq arrests Iran-aligned paramilitary commander over activist's murder

Anbar paramilitary commander reportedly gave the order to kill prominent activist Ihab al-Wazni, who was assassinated in Karbala in May.

Hundreds of Iraqis repatriated from Syria's al-Hol camp

Security

2021-05-27

Hundreds of Iraqis repatriated from Syria's al-Hol camp

The 94 families who were transferred to al-Jadaa camp in al-Qayyarah are 'not ISIS families', a Kurdish official said, and their transfer was approved after a stringent security check.

Tensions emerge as Iraqi militias defy IRGC handlers

Security

2021-05-26

Tensions emerge as Iraqi militias defy IRGC handlers

Reports of strained relations between Iraqi militias and their Iranian handlers indicate the 'iron fist' consolidated by Qassem Soleimani is crumbling.

Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets over unpunished killings

Protests

2021-05-26

Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets over unpunished killings

Demonstrators carried banners bearing the slogan, 'Who Killed Me?' demanded justice for slain Iraqi activists and journalists whose deaths are blamed on Iran-backed militias.

China risks punishing US sanctions as it inches closer to Iran

Analysis

2021-05-24

China risks punishing US sanctions as it inches closer to Iran

Expanding Chinese assistance to Iran means that Beijing would be providing direct support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an outfit responsible for arming militias across the region.

Authorities unearth mass grave of civilians executed by Iran-backed militias in Anbar

Terrorism

2021-05-21

Authorities unearth mass grave of civilians executed by Iran-backed militias in Anbar

Iran-backed militias operating in the Fallujah area of Anbar have cordoned off the grave site in an attempt to cover up the crime, watchdog says.

Terrorism

2021-05-21

Canadian court rules Iran downing of Ukraine Flight 752 'act of terrorism'

Lawyers said the decision was 'unprecedented in Canadian law' and would have a significant impact on family members seeking justice.

Iraqi truck drivers incur losses due to militias' extortion

Crime & Justice

2021-05-20

Iraqi truck drivers incur losses due to militias' extortion

Iran-backed militias have set up checkpoints on major roads and refuse to allow the drivers of commercial trucks to pass unless they pay, causing delays and financial losses.

Mosul university deemed hub for ISIS chemical weapons programme

Terrorism

2021-05-19

Mosul university deemed hub for ISIS chemical weapons programme

New evidence from a UN team indicates that ISIS tested biological and chemical agents and conducted experiments on prisoners as part of a chemical weapons programme.

Iran-aligned militias seize Iraqi land by using 'military zones' designation

Society

2021-05-17

Iran-aligned militias seize Iraqi land by using 'military zones' designation

The designation has given the militias a pretext for preventing displaced residents from returning to their homes, and justification for moving militia members in to effect demographic change.

Investigation details China's campaign to sterilise Muslim women in Xinjiang

Human Rights

2021-05-17

Investigation details China's campaign to sterilise Muslim women in Xinjiang

Women are forced to be fitted with contraceptive devices or be sterilised, abort pregnancies, pay steep fines if they had too many children, and take drugs that stop their menstrual cycles.

Elections

2021-05-14

The fox and its tail: Iran offers to monitor farcical Syrian elections

The Islamic Republic, which has not held a free or fair election in its four-decade-old history, is offering to monitor an election that is assured only one outcome: more tyranny for Syrians.