Tag "Bashar al-Assad"
Big win for AKP in Turkey, but future is uncertain
In a shock to many pollsters, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) regained its parliamentary majority, lost in the June elections, with a vote of 49.5% and 317 seats in
Obama’s diplomatic shift in Syria
On Friday, President Obama announced that the United States is to deploy around 50 Special Forces troops to Syria, after repeatedly ruling out US “boots on the ground” action in
Iran’s military and economic investment in Syria
Since the early 1980s, Iran has invested substantial political and economic capital into Syria. Tehran will continue to support the Assad regime, acting as a counter-point alongside Russia to the
Three reasons why Europe should welcome migrants
European economies could experience a significant long-term boost from accepting more refugees from war-torn countries like Syria and Iraq. But high short-term costs and inflexible labor markets could limit the
Russia’s sudden military build-up in Syria
Recent reports suggest a Russian military build-up in Syria as President Vladimir Putin searches for new venues to stoke both domestic and international legitimacy — an expanded foray into the
Can the US and Russia find agreement on Syria after the nuclear deal?
Discussions between high level US and Russian diplomatic officials over Syria may be signaling the conflict is entering its end phase. With the Iranian nuclear agreement finalized, bilateral cooperation on
Two ways WWII’s legacy still links Europe to the Middle East
This May 7th marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe (VE Day). Just a short distance away, the Middle East still remains a major source of
Turkey has much to lose in Kobani
With the Islamic State’s insurgency in Kobani still raging economic fallout in Turkey has already begun. The Turkish state is making significant unforced errors, with damaging long-term consequences for its
Islamic State takes advantage of cash economies in Iraq and Syria
Backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in locally generated funding, the Islamic State has reaped the benefits of cash-driven economies in Iraq and Syria. The US-led military campaign must
Islamic State reshapes Syria’s war economy
In the Syrian conflict, all sides had developed a stake in maintaining a war economy. With the emergence of the Islamic State (IS), which controls a third of Syria’s territory, the
