Lebanon – still no sign of a government following the election in May 2018. Tunnelling on the Israeli border could be a warning of something much worse.
Newsletter Archive
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Saudi Arabia still in the doghouse
Posted onTrial of 11 unnamed persons for the Khashoggi murder begins. Any stick will now do to beat Saudi Arabia.
Iraq: still no government
Posted onIraq politicking – no government six months after the election. Trump’s undiplomatic visit. IS ruination – the fight continues.
Turkey and Syria – on the edge
Posted onTurkey still poised to extend its invasion of northern Syria, but faces uncertainties with US and Russia.
Syria and the Knave of Trumps
Posted onDonald Trump’s announcement that he is withdrawing all US military personnel from Syria may fulfil one of his 2016 election pledges to the American people. But it is also a — domestically driven — betrayal of key American allies, not least the Kurds. Latest clear indicator of the overall shape of US foreign policy for as long as Mr Trump remains in the Oval Office.
Is this the beginning of the end of the Yemen war?
Posted onYemen – talks in Sweden may lead to a ceasefire in Hudayda and allow in vitally needed food and medicine.
Political prisoners
Posted onMany countries in the region hold disgracefully large numbers of prisoners, but information is patchy and unreliable.
Violence in the West Bank
Posted onWest Bank – a week of shootings. Possible political consequences. Kushner’s peace plan still at the other end of the rainbow.
Turkey and the Kurds in Syria
Posted onAny Turkish strike on Kurds in Syria east or west of the Euphrates unwelcome to the Pentagon and would risk a clash with US-led or actual US troops.
Tunisia – the Central Bank offers hope
Posted onTunisia – continuing corruption, weariness and despair among the young. Only the central bank under Marouane El Abassi tackling Tunisia’s internal and external economic problems.