In The News

War Has Broken Yemen: Guardian

Hisham Al-Omeisy April 9, 2019
The war in Yemen, which has entered its fifth year, has contributed to a growing humanitarian crisis alongside the hostilities between pro-government and Saudi-led forces and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. A third group “seeking to re-establish an independent southern state” is allied with the pro-government side. As Hisham Al-Omeisy notes for the Guardian, nearly 80 percent of the country’s...

India, Pakistan, Kashmir: The Guardian

Amanda Holpuch March 23, 2019
Tensions run high between Pakistan and India in recent weeks after political violence in the disputed Kashmir region. The Guardian reports that the path to possible war opened up after “Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan on Tuesday, carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a 14 February suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops.” Although Kashmir is...

Joint Operation Against PKK: Anadolu

Hatice Ozdemir Tosun March 18, 2019
Turkey and Iran launched a joint attack against the Kurdish group PKK – the far left Kurdistan Workers Party – on Turkey’s eastern border, reports Anadolu Agency, adding Turkey for the first time has confirmed a raid. Turkish security forces have often clashed with PKK members and the country regards PKK as a terrorist group. The two sides came close to negotiating a peace deal, and PKK...

Turkey, Iran to Target Kurds: Al Jazeera

March 6, 2019
Kurdish fighters were key in defeating the Islamic State in Syria. The ethnic group represents 10 percent of the population in Iran and Syria, and up to 20 percent in Turkey and Iraq, and it’s no secret that many prefer autonomy and even a country of their own. As the war in Syria winds down, Turkey’s interior minister announced a joint operation with Iran against Kurdish rebels, but offered no...

Europe Reluctant to Take Back ISIS Fighters: NPR

Vanessa Romo February 20, 2019
The Islamic State recruited young men and women from around the world with propaganda, promising a caliphate, devout surroundings, marriage and adventure. Syria, the United States, Russia and the Kurds, Turkey and Iran worked separately to defeat the brutal terrorist group. Now, disillusioned and defiant ISIS members hope to return to their homes, reports NPR. Some express less remorse than...

Foreign Policy: Trump’s State of the Union

Robbie Gramer and Amy Mackinnon February 6, 2019
In his state of the union address, Donald Trump quickly reviewed foreign policies. Trade talks with China are underway, and the president described previous deals as “calamitous.” He focused on southern border security and need for a wall although undocumented immigrants in the US are at low levels. He plans a second summit with North Korea’s dictator, claiming these talks prevent war – even...

New Yorker: Trump Eyes Iran as Bush Once Eyed Iraq

Jonathan Chait February 5, 2019
US intelligence officials testified on live television before a Senate committee that their evidence shows Iran has not resumed efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. Donald Trump initially took offense, before claiming the public mischaracterized the assessment and the officials privately agreed with him. “Trump’s rejection of intelligence assessments of Iran’s weapons of mass destruction...