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SyriaSource

Jan 12, 2016

Russia Targeting Civilians to Support Syrian Regime’s Advance in Northern Syria

By Saleem al-Omar

On December 22, Russian warplanes launched ten air raids against three northern Syrian villages in close proximity to one another: Bidama in western Idlib and Shahroura and Ain al-Ghazal in Latakia. These strikes killed 10 civilians, including four children and two women, and displaced hundreds of local families, turning the villages into ghost towns, according […]

Syria

MENASource

Jan 12, 2016

ISIS Changes Tactics in Turkey

By Aaron Stein

At 10:00am Tuesday morning, a 28-year-old Saudi national, identified as Nabil Fadli, crossed into Turkey from Syria and reportedly detonated a suicide vest near the Diliktaş (Egyptian Obelisk) in a small square next to Sultanahmet mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque.

Turkey

SyriaSource

Jan 12, 2016

Top News: January 12, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Aid convoys reach besieged Syrian communities; some residents need medical evacuation– Syria army enters rebel bastion in Latakia province– Putin says premature to speak of asylum for Assad– Iraq rocked by three major suicide bombings– Ten dead, 15 wounded in Istanbul tourist district explosion

Syria
Russia's Yars missile system, April 9, 2014

NATOSource

Jan 12, 2016

Russia to Deploy New Divisions on Western Flank, Form Nuclear Regiments

By Reuters

Russia will create three new military divisions on its Western flank in 2016 and bring five new strategic nuclear missile regiments into service, Sergei Shoigu, the country’s defense minister, was quoted as saying by news agencies on Tuesday.

NATO Russia

MENASource

Jan 12, 2016

Top News: Ten dead, 15 wounded in Istanbul tourist district explosion

By MENASource

An explosion in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district has killed at least 10 people and injured 15 others. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the bomber was a 28-year-old Syrian national whose “connections” were being investigated.

UkraineAlert

Jan 12, 2016

Ukraine Should Do More to Combat Human Trafficking

By Luke A. Drabyn

Ukraine remains one of Europe’s most notorious sources of human trafficking. Since 1991, over 160,000 men, women, and children have been exploited for labor, sex, forced begging, and organ removal, according to a mid-2015 report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, with recommendations from domestic and international nongovernmental organizations, […]

Ukraine

MENASource

Jan 12, 2016

EconSource: Libya’s Oil Company Empties Ras Lanuf Storage After ISIS Attacks

By EconSource

The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) has emptied oil storage tanks at the Ras Lanuf terminal as a precaution after Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) militants attacked the country’s two biggest oil ports, Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, last week.

MENASource

Jan 12, 2016

Top News: Egypt Tightens Security on Libyan Border Following Mysterious Airstrikes

By EgyptSource

Egyptian police forces deployed near the border with Libya have been put on a high state of alert following airstrikes on Libyan soil by unidentified fighter jets late Sunday.

MENASource

Jan 12, 2016

Constitutional Reforms in Algeria

By Karim Mezran

Following months of popular protests and demonstrations, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced in March 2011 his intention to introduce important reforms to the Algerian constitution to make it more liberal and effective in the protection of citizens’ rights.

North Africa

UkraineAlert

Jan 12, 2016

2016 Will Be a Make It or Break It Year for Ukraine

By Alina Polyakova

Two years ago, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians braved the freezing temperatures on Kyiv’s Maidan to protest. Since then, Ukraine has gone through almost too many crises to count: upheaval with the ousting of former President Viktor Yanukovych; Russian occupation of Crimea; a war with Russian forces in the Donbas that continues to simmer; and […]

Russia Ukraine