US airstrikes target Islamic State militants in Libya

US warplanes have carried out airstrikes on an Islamic State base in western Libya, targeting a leader linked to last Continue reading →

Turkey shells Kurdish positions in Syria for 2nd day

BEIRUT — Turkey shelled positions held by a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in northern Syria for a second day on Sunday, Continue reading →

World powers seek unlikely alliance with Taliban as ‘interests coincide’ in battle against shared enemy Isis

The Russians want them on their side; so do the Chinese and the Iranians. The Taliban, whom the Americans and Continue reading →

Victory near for Iraq forces as IS loses Ramadi compound

Baghdad (AFP) – Jihadist fighters abandoned their last stronghold in Ramadi on Sunday, bringing Iraqi federal forces within sight of Continue reading →

What I learned from the third Democratic Party presidential debate

By Robert A. Vella Last night, the three remaining Democratic Party candidates for president debated in New Hampshire.  This was Continue reading →

Over ‘100 dead’ as Turkey presses major offensive against its own Kurdish minority (not ISIS)

Diyarbakir (Turkey) (AFP) – The number of Kurdish rebels killed in a massive Turkish military offensive in the restive southeast Continue reading →

The Middle East at War – Autumn 2015 (MAP)

Iraqis think the U.S. is in cahoots with the Islamic State, and it is hurting the war

BAIJI, Iraq — On the front lines of the battle against the Islamic State, suspicion of the United States runs Continue reading →