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MENASource

Feb 19, 2016

Top News: United States strikes ISIS camp in Libya, killing more than 40

By MENASource

American F-15 jets struck an Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) camp in Libya early Friday, targeting a senior Tunisian operative linked to two major terrorist attacks in Tunisia last year. The operative, Noureddine Chouchane, was most likely killed in the strike, according to the Pentagon.

SyriaSource

Feb 19, 2016

From Analysis to Action

By Frederic C. Hof

Those who think that President Barack Obama does not understand the crisis in Syria ought to read his remarks to the press at the US-ASEAN press conference in Rancho Mirage, California on February 16. Apologists for Bashar al-Assad and his Iranian and Russian enablers will not like the way the president parses the problem. The […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 19, 2016

Top News: February 19, 2016

By SyriaSource

US and Russia hold talks on Syria ceasefire ahead of UN meetingUN Syria envoy says February 25 resumption of talks not realisticPentagon asked Russia to avoid Syrian areas with US commandosMedia rights group calls on Turkey to release Syrian journalistRussia warns Assad on vow to retake all of SyriaEU to hold migration summit with Turkey […]

Syria

MENASource

Feb 19, 2016

Top News: Egyptians Protest after Policeman Kills Driver

By EgyptSource

Disgruntled Egyptians beat up a policeman, blocked roads, and surrounded the local security headquarters late Thursday night after the officer killed 24-year-old taxi driver Mohamed Sayed in a dispute. Egypt’s Interior Ministry said in a statement that the killing followed an argument over the sergeant’s fare for his ride in Cairo’s Darb al-Ahmar district.

MENASource

Feb 19, 2016

EconSource: Foreign Minister says Saudi Will Not Cut Oil Output

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia is “not prepared” to cut oil production, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Thursday, after it agreed to a tentative deal with Russia to freeze output if other oil producers followed suit.

SyriaSource

Feb 19, 2016

Turkey and Saudi Arabia’s Options in Syria are Narrowing

By Faysal Itani

Lately, the high geopolitics of events in Aleppo have rightly received a great deal of attention. Yet, while observers try to divine the great power intentions of the United States and Russia from diplomatic maneuvers and statements, local developments can be a better gauge of international intentions. This week, a new rebel coalition formed in […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Feb 18, 2016

The Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Aleppo

By S. Keleşoğlu

The recent regime advances in northern Syria have caused a new wave of people to head for Turkey seeking refuge from the fighting. However, the political maneuvering is worsening the humanitarian situation for Syrians in northern Aleppo. Turkey has begun building camps inside of Syria for those fleeing the violence in northern Aleppo, but this […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2016

Obama’s Cuba Trip Exposes Cruz, Rubio as ‘Outdated’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Most Americans, including Cuban-Americans, favor normalization of ties between the United States and Cuba, say Atlantic Council analysts US President Barack Obama’s decision to make an historic visit to Cuba in March will have a negligible impact on the presidential election in the United States; if anything, it has succeeded in exposing just how out […]

Cuba

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2016

Saudi-Iran Rivalry Keeps Oil Prices Down

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Gulf states seen eager to put ‘fiscal squeeze’ on Iran The regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran—the two main producers in a global oil cartel—has become a significant factor behind the sharp decline in oil prices that has also kept rates at historic lows. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil-producing countries have watched with […]

Energy & Environment Iran

MENASource

Feb 18, 2016

Top News: Car bomb strikes military convoy in Ankara; Turkey blames Syrian Kurdish militants

By MENASource

Assailants on Wednesday exploded a car bomb near vehicles carrying military personnel in the Turkish capital, killing at least 28 people and wounding 61 others. In his official statement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, “Our determination to respond in kind to attacks taking place inside and outside our borders is getting stronger with such […]