Alastair Crooke The dramatic arrival of Da’ish (ISIS) on the stage of Iraq has shocked many in the West. Many have been perplexed — and horrified — by its violence and its evident magnetism for Sunni youth. But more than this, they find Saudi Arabia’s ambivalence in the face of […]
Jul 03,2016 – JORDAN TIMES EDITORIAL Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is just around the corner and people are preparing to celebrate the occasion with hope that the days ahead will be better, brighter and safer for the country and for the […]
The relief of Isis-besieged Kuweires air base last year after an astonishing two-year hold-out was a major symbolic blow against Isis in Syria. Robert Fisk, the first Western journalist to visit the site, finds tales both of death and defiance Robert Fisk @indyvoices The remains of the Isis fighters still […]
Jun 19,2016 – JORDAN TIMES – Amer Al Sabaileh Every day, the new tactics of Daesh prove more efficient in achieving two major goals — conducting terrorist attacks and piling pressure on the security apparatuses of many countries. Since the declaration of “the caliphate”, security challenges around the world have taken […]
May 21,2016 – JORDAN TIMES – MUSA KEILANI The recapture of the Iraqi town of Rutba by government forces gives two strong indications: that Daesh is not invincible; that the Iraqi military knows how to win a battle when it is determined, without having to use ragtag militias like Badr […]
Published time: 6 May, 2016 15:29 © Jason Reed / Reuters British special forces under US command have reportedly captured three mid-ranking Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terror chiefs in lightning raids in IS-held northern Iraq. The IS leaders were handed to Kurdish and Iraqi officials for interrogation, the Mirror […]
New, commercially available encryption software ‘had and is having major, profound effects on our ability’ to collect intelligence, ‘particularly against terrorists,’ James Clapper told reporters at a Monitor-hosted breakfast. By Anna Mulrine, Staff writer APRIL 25, 2016 Save for later Michael Bonfigli /The Christian Science Monitor View Caption WASHINGTON — […]
Source: Time By Simon Shuster / Düsseldorf, Germany Programs to integrate Muslim communities may have helped Germany so far avoid the Islamist violence in neighboring France and Belgium During his lunch […]
Isn’t a triple suicide-bombing in the capital of Belgium more surprising than a terrorist attack in Turkey? Not more appalling, not more deadly, not more grotesque; but more unexpected and unpredictable? Surely it is Will Gore @willjgore 42 comments Last week I answered my phone to an angry man. Why, […]
BY KURT EICHENWALD ON 3/22/16 NEWSWEEK.COM Police control access to the central train station following the bomb attacks in Brussels on March 22.REUTERS Anyone surprised by the murderous attack in Brussels has not been paying attention. On a per capita basis, Belgium has been Europe’s hotbed of young Muslims who travel […]
By Reuters – Mar 23,2016 – JORDAN TIMES This file photo taken on March 14, 2014, shows a partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra, 215 kilometres northeast of Damascus (AFP photo) BEIRUT — Syrian soldiers and their allies advanced to within 1km of Palmyra on Thursday and […]
Feb 14,2016 – JORDAN TIMES EDITORIAL In his Friday speech to the 52nd Munich Security Conference, His Majesty King Abdullah outlined his views on the manner in which terrorism can be fought, which should be holistic and global. “Failed states, conflict zones and sectarian divisions are fertile grounds for terrorism,” […]
By Reuters – Feb 07,2016 – JORDAN TIMES DUBAI — Iraq is trying to persuade satellite firms to halt Internet services in areas under Daesh’s rule, seeking to deal a major blow to the group’s potent propaganda machine, which relies heavily on social media to inspire its followers. Social […]
By Reuters – Feb 08,2016 – JORDAN TIMES MOSCOW — Ramzan Kadyrov, hardline leader of Russia’s Chechen region and close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said Chechen spies loyal to Moscow had infiltrated Daesh in Syria and were gathering intelligence for Russian air force bombing strikes. The assertion, by […]
There are three brigades located in that base now and their number will eventually reach 4,500 soldiers Published: 19:11 February 8, 2016 AFP Kirkuk: The Iraqi army is deploying thousands of soldiers to a northern base in preparation for operations to retake Daesh’s hub of Mosul, officials said on Monday. […]
Source: Tehran Times Climate change is a bigger threat than nuclear war or international terrorism, Blix says In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera English’s flagship current affairs show, UpFront, […]
By Reuters – Feb 07,2016 – JORDAN TIMES Syrians, some carrying belongings, head towards the Bab Al Salama border crossing with Turkey, in Syria, on Saturday. Thousands of Syrians have rushed towards the Turkish border, fleeing fierce Syrian government offensives and intense Russian air strikes (AP photo) ONCUPINAR, Turkey/BEIRUT […]
Voices The tables have turned and now it is the rebels who find themselves surrounded, along with the tens of thousands of civilians in their sector of the city Robert Fisk Middle East correspondent @indyvoices Friday 5 February 2016 61 comments A Syrian man comforts a boy amid the rubble […]
By LOLITA C. BALDOR15 hours ago WASHINGTON (AP) — New intelligence assessments show that the number of Islamic State group fighters has dropped in Iraq and Syria but is rising in Libya, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday. According to the official, reports suggest there are 19,000 to 25,000 […]
Created on Monday, 01 February 2016 The Rise of ISIS and Other Extremist Groups: the role of the West and Regional Powers by Bouthaina Shaaban This essay examines the role of Western and regional players (i.e. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar) in inflaming the conflict and the growth of […]