Arab Digest editor William Law welcomes back the geopolitical analyst and commentator Samuel Ramani to discuss how, in the past decade, Russia has consistently played a strong hand in the Middle East, buttressing relations with MENA states and presenting itself as an honest disputes mediator while exploiting anxieties and uncertainties to advantage as America continues to pull away from its longstanding role as the region’s guarantor of security.
Summary: in the past, international criminals in the Arab world have rarely faced justice but a landmark trial in Germany signals the legal landscape is changing.
Summary: As the world adjusts to the Taliban victory, and the US and UK scramble to make the last evacuations before the looming 31 August deadline, Arab regimes face a disconcerting moment.
Summary: heroin mostly enters the Arab world from Afghanistan via Iran enroute to markets in Europe. Arab countries close to the main smuggling routes are the most impacted by the trade. The Syrian war has led traffickers to re-route heroin shipments via the Black Sea and Africa.
Summary: concern is growing that ISIS will use Ramadan to launch new attacks and expand its military operations in Syria and Iraq.
Summary: we conclude our look at the Airwars 2020 Report on civilian harm caused by air and artillery attacks with Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
Summary: with the publication of their annual report Airwars once again puts the focus on aerial warfare and artillery attacks on civilians whose death and injuries would otherwise go unacknowledged and unaccountable.
Summary: Greg Shapland reviews Water and Conflict in the Middle East, a study of hydro-politics in a troubled region.
Summary: The Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah has declared a truce in Iraq until after the US presidential election as long as the Americans agree to get all their soldiers out.
Summary: As Turkey, Russia and the US weigh up their options, a shaky ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib province may be about to end.
