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SyriaSource

Nov 18, 2015

Hezbollah’s Winning Hand

By Fidaa Itani

Hezbollah stands helpless following the explosion at its headquarters based in al-Dahieh (the southern suburbs of Beirut) on November 12. For three years, while fighting in Syria, it has been alternating between sectarian and nationalistic justifications to legitimize its actions therein, but now finds the fighting in the heart of its territory.

Syria

SyriaSource

Nov 18, 2015

Top News: November 18, 2015

By SyriaSource

– Obama calls on Russia to focus on war against ISIS in Syria; international debate Assad– French, Russia raids in Syria kill 33 ISIS militants; ISIS stiffens defenses in Raqqa– Syria accused of attacks on medical facilities and personnel– Turkey detains eight Europe-bound ISIS suspects ‘posing as refugees’– Abadi orders an investigation into attacks on […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Nov 18, 2015

Japan Should Strive to be ‘Regional Security Leader,’ Report Suggests

By Alejandro Alvarez

Atlantic Council report recommends Japan bolster self-defense forces while maintaining close military ties with the United States Japan should take on a more active role in regional security but remain closely under the United States’ military umbrella, according to a new Atlantic Council report presented on Nov. 15. The report, “Japan’s Security Role and Capabilities […]

Indo-Pacific Japan

UkraineAlert

Nov 18, 2015

Making Sense of Ukraine’s Local Elections: Voters Put Multiple Parties in Office

By Brian Mefford

As the ballots are counted in Ukraine’s November 15 runoff elections, the preliminary results show no national mandate or overarching themes. Instead, in a positive step for the country’s democratic development, voters dispersed power widely and put multiple political parties into office. Here’s a quick rundown of the big races and the big surprises: Kyiv: […]

Ukraine

MENASource

Nov 18, 2015

Red-Teaming ISIS

By Bilal Y. Saab

If the Islamic State’s (ISIS or ISIL) intent behind the deadly attacks in France was to cause death, pain, and panic among Western societies (what transnational jihadists call “the far enemy”) then mission accomplished. But more importantly, what is ISIS’s ultimate purpose for this act of mass murder in Paris and possibly others in the […]

Bremain vs Brexit

Nov 18, 2015

Considering Brexit

By Nico Catano

On November 10th, Downing Street released David Cameron's long awaited letter to European Council President Donald Tusk on Great Britain's envisioned reforms to the European Union (EU). With a portion of the ruling Conservative party desiring an EU exit, as well as the rising prominence of the UK Independence Party, unity should not be taken for granted.

Economy & Business European Union

MENASource

Nov 18, 2015

Top News: French, Russia Raids in Syria Kill 33 ISIS militants; ISIS Stiffens Defenses in Raqqa

By MENASource

French and Russian air strikes in northern Syria have killed at least thirty-three ISIS fighters in the last 72 hours according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

MENASource

Nov 18, 2015

EconSource: World Bank Expects to Pay $1 Billion Loan to Egypt

By EconSource

The World Bank expects to make a $1 billion development policy loan available to Egypt in December, the Bank’s Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Hafez Ghanem said.

MENASource

Nov 18, 2015

Top News: Egypt Says Reason for Plane Crash Unconfirmed; Russian Newspaper Says Bomb Was in Main Cabin

By EgyptSource

Egypt said on Tuesday it would take into account Russia’s conclusion that a bomb brought down a passenger plane over the Sinai Peninsula last month but its investigation had so far found no evidence of criminal action.

SyriaSource

Nov 18, 2015

A Presidential Pardon for ISIL in Syria?

By Frederic C. Hof

Having executed an abomination in Paris while promising more to come, the leaders of the Islamic State (ISIL, ISIS, or Da’esh) in Syria may well have expected the West to shake off its lethargy and build a coalition of ground combat forces to hunt them down and kill them. But perhaps they acted with the […]

Syria