Russian airstrikes allegedly against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria have forced airports in northern Iraq to close, stranding hundreds of Christians waiting to leave for Europe.
American officials have identified a marked drop in the number of Iranian soldiers fighting in Syria for dictator Bashar al-Assad, a report surfacing after weeks of speculation that Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani was injured in battle in Syria.
Masoud Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq, is currently in Ankara holding bilateral talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The meeting will cover trade and the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), and follows growing tensions between Turkey and Baghdad.
Contents: Number of foreign fighters joining ISIS in Syria doubles to 31,000; About 700 women from Tunisia are thought to have joined ISIS; Return of Russia’s foreign fighters from Syria threatens Russian security
Syria blamed the U.S.-led coalition for the deaths of three soldiers on Sunday night after warplanes attacked their camp. The Pentagon insists Russian forces, however, not Americans, conducted the airstrike. Russia is a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russian customs officials are denying Turkish nationals entry into the nation, reports indicate.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq, based in northeastern Erbil, has requested the Russian government keep its fighter jets out of its airspace when conducting missions against enemies of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Iraq.
Contents: Oil prices crash and OPEC collapses over Iran-Saudi rivalry; Kazakhstan may be forced to choose between Russia and Turkey
Five people were lightly injured when a homemade explosive detonated at a bus stop in central Moscow, authorities said Tuesday. The device went off Monday night on Pokrovka Street, a trendy area in central Moscow dotted with bars and restaurants.
A Russian soldier crossed Istanbul’s Bosporus aboard a warship, waving around a surface-to-air missile launcher, an action the Turkish government condemned and has branded “provocative.”
The Israeli government told The Jerusalem Post its military would only attack Iranian jets in Syria if they threatened Israel.
While the world waits to see if the tension between Turkey and Russia escalates, Turkey has also become embroiled in a dispute with the Iraqi government that has the potential to become more serious: Turkish troops have been crossing the border into Iraq without permission.
Contents: NY Times Page One calls for laws to confiscate some gun owners’ guns; Israel bombs targets in Syria since Russia’s military buildup; Israel receives tacit approval from Russia for Syrian airstrikes
The government of Turkey announced Friday that it has deployed 150 soldiers and 20 tanks to Mosul, Iraq, to participate with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL).
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his country that Turkey could face more sanctions as a consequence for its forces shooting down a Russian warplane over Syria on November 24.
On this weekend’s broadcast of the syndicated “McLaughlin Group” program, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan decried Turkey’s action of shooting down a Russian fighter jet over its airspace and warned against the United States being drawn into an armed conflict with
Ukraine is ready to move into the Turkish economic markets after Russia passed numerous sanctions against Turkey for downing one of its warplanes over Syria.
Contents: Russia and Turkey exchange vitriolic accusations about ISIS oil sales; Russia cancels Turkey gas pipeline, prepares for Bosporus closure; Turkey’s grievances against Russia, and the road to war; San Bernardino mass shootings
Ten Syrian militants from the Islamic State entered the Kingdom of Thailand between October 15 and 31 to target Russian interests, according to information provided by Moscow’s Federal Security Service (FSB). On Friday, Thai police said that Moscow’s top intelligence
“France was the beginning, tomorrow will be Washington, it will be New York, and it will be Moscow,” two English-speaking Islamic State (ISIS) jihadists declare in the first video message published by the terror organization since last night’s jihadist massacre in San Bernardino, California.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan now claims he possesses evidence that Russia purchased oil from the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL). His accusations come a day after the Russian government said it had proof Erdoğan’s family benefits from ISIS oil.
Russia’s space agency is planning to build a manned moon base – launching modules into space on six separate rockets.
Contents: HRW: Bahrain’s Sunni government continues abusing and torturing Shia majority; NATO formally invites Montenegro to join the alliance
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), who also happens to be vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, expressed concern that President Barack Obama’s approach to the civil war in Syria may lead to nuclear war during an exchange with Defense Secretary Ashton Carter at a House Armed Services hearing on Tuesday.
The latest Islamic State video, released today, depicts the beheading of a man alleged to be a Russian spy, knife-murdered by a jihadi speaking Russian.
