Beijing, China | XINHUA | Tensions swelled in the Arab world 10 years ago in the name of “Arab Spring,” and the region has since undergone major changes, though many countries were still reeling from a heavy blow from the movement. After the wave of anti-government protests and violence, some …
Read More »‘Really tired’: French IS women languish in Syria camp
Al-Hol Camp, Syria | AFP | In an overcrowded desert camp for families linked to the Islamic State group in northeastern Syria, a French woman begged for another chance so she and her children could go home. In the same settlement, two other French women were more tepid about the prospect …
Read More »Children of foreign IS jihadists must be repatriated: UN
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | UN investigators on Thursday called for thousands of children of jihadists who fought for the Islamic State group to be repatriated from Syria. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a report that the children were in a “particularly precarious” situation since they often …
Read More »Trump confirms death of Islamic State group chief Baghdadi in US raid
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump said Sunday that the Islamic State group’s elusive leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed, dying “like a dog” in a daring nighttime raid by US special forces in northwest Syria. Trump told the nation in a televised White House address that …
Read More »Islamic State head Baghdadi believed dead after US strike
Washington, United States | AFP | Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was believed to be dead after a US military raid in Syria’s Idlib region, US media reported early Sunday. Baghdadi may have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces descended, media said citing multiple government …
Read More »TRUMP: Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool
Trump letter to Erdogan: ‘Don’t be a fool’ Washington, United States | AFP | “Don’t be a fool,” Donald Trump warned his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an extraordinary letter sent the day Turkey launched its incursion into northeastern Syria — warning history risked branding him a “devil.” Three days …
Read More »Pelosi clashes with Trump, again
Trump, Pelosi clash in heated White House meeting on Syria Washington, United States | AFP | Top congressional Democrats walked out of a fractious White House meeting on Syria policy Wednesday when US President Donald Trump attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a “third-rate politician.” One of the Democrats attending …
Read More »Trump authorizes sanctions, slaps steel tariffs on Turkey
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Monday authorized sanctions on Turkey’s leaders, reimposed steel tariffs and ended trade negotiations to protest Ankara’s offensive into Syria. “I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey’s economy if Turkish leaders continue down this dangerous and destructive path,” Trump said …
Read More »Trump: Let ‘Napoleon Bonaparte’ rescue Kurds
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump suggested Monday that Syria’s formerly US-allied Kurds could look to 19th century French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte for protection after the US president ordered the departure of nearly 1,000 US troops from the country. Turkey was threatening to invade northeastern Syria after launching a …
Read More »EU ‘has no magic powers’ to stop Turkey offensive
Luxembourg, Luxembourg | AFP | EU foreign ministers on Monday voiced concern and condemnation at Turkey’s assault on Kurdish forces in northern Syria, but warned their options for coordinated action across the bloc were limited. Several European countries including Germany and France have halted arms exports to Turkey over the offensive …
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