Iraq: violent protests in Basra against government failure. Cabinet making drifts on. Iran/US.
Articles tagged: ‘Iran’
Iraq: disturbances in a political vacuum
Posted onIraq: violent protests in Basra against government failure. Cabinet making drifts on. Iran/US.
Idlib next
Posted onSyrian government assault on Idlib province begins. Warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe and talk of a chemical attack which would provoke US retaliation.
Pakistan – Imran Khan
Posted onAs Prime Minister Imran Khan prioritises blasphemy in line with strong sentiment in Pakistan, and also with Saudi policy. He needs Saudi finance but is not personally close to the Saudis. Next problem: China and the Uighurs.
Not the hajj
Posted onMany other shrines and pilgrimages in the Muslim world. Frontiers crossed. Shia take gold.
Syria: the endgame
Posted onSyrian government forces to target Idlib next. Complications with Israel, Iran, Turkey, Kurds, China, US, IS. Russia in the driving seat.
Qatar vs Four – real consequences
Posted onThe Qatar vs four dispute appears trivial and absurd but has real consequences – human, political, economic, defence.
Iraq: still no government
Posted onAttempts continue to form a government following the 12 May elections in Iraq. Corruption allegations. Protests in the Shia south. The problem of the Hashd al-Sha’bi.
The maritime boundaries of the Arab Gulf states
Posted onIraq and the six GCC states share the Gulf with Iran and with each other. In many cases, maritime boundaries between them have been agreed; in other cases, disputes remain. Where offshore oil and gas deposits do not fall neatly under the sovereignty of one state, cooperative arrangements have often been instituted.
Mercenaries in Yemen
Posted onSaudi and UAE attempts to share the burden of fighting in Yemen have had limited success. Sudan participated but is thinking again. A few hundred Colombians. No luck so far with other Africans.