IS Archives - Page 2 of 18

The Libyan blind alley

2 October 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailEgypt, France, Human rights, IS, Italy, Libya, Russia, Sudan, UAE, UK, USA

Haftar’s military operation to take Tripoli seems to have failed. His foreign supporters. Need for an international conference and a political solution.

Syria: more bloodshed

17 July 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailFrance, Iran, IS, Israel, Syria, Turkey, UK, USA

Syria – inconclusive fighting in Idlib province and elsewhere. Peace talks not dead.

Tunisia – a black day

1 July 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailIS, Libya, Tunisia, UAE

Tunisia – President Essebsi survives a health crisis. Jihadi attacks. Economic problems breed discontent.

Mauritania elects a president

24 June 201924 June 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailFrance, IS, Mauritania

Ghazouani peacefully elected as president of Mauritania in place of Abdel Aziz – no change. Economy doing well.

Yemen – talk peace, make war

13 June 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailIran, IS, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen

Stockholm peace process for Hudaida continues, but so does escalation of the war with Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. Two more tankers hit. Since our posting of 13 May the war in Yemen has continued unabated, not only between the Houthis and the Saudi led coalition forces; Al Qaeda and IS remain active, though largely against each other. Pro-coalition statements routinely describe the Houthis as “Iran backed“, but independent commentators argue that while there is certainly Iranian involvement the Houthi/Iranian relationship is pragmatic and limited. The war has increased …

Libya: oil and water

21 May 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailFrance, IS, Libya, UAE, UK, USA

Libya – descent into civil war. Oil revenue and drinking water supplies under threat.

Syria – kaleidoscope of war

16 May 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailFrance, Germany, Iran, IS, Kurds, Kuwait, Russia, Syria, Turkey, UK, USA

Syria – IS eliminated as a territory. Regime still seeking full control, but (about) five other armies have their own agendas.

Tankers sabotaged near the Gulf

14 May 201914 May 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailIran, IS, oil, Saudi Arabia, UAE

Four oil vessels damaged off Fujaira. Little detail – no casualties or pollution. No claims of responsibility.

Yemen – glacial progress

13 May 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailFrance, Germany, IS, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, USA, Yemen

Yemen – Houthi withdrawal in Hudaida a small first step. The war goes on. Some unease among the arms suppliers.

Pompeo – sudden visit to Iraq

9 May 2019Oliver MilesArab Digest EmailIran, Iraq, IS, USA

US military task force to the region. Pompeo tells Iraqis there is a threat from Iran to US forces there.