Media
Hostility Toward Militants Grows in Idlib as Turkey Deploys Troops
Source:Syria Deeply Date:24Oct2017
Residents of Syria’s Idlib province have welcomed Turkey’s latest cross-border campaign and many say they would side against HTS militants if a confrontation were to occur.
Iraq paramilitaries battle Kurds in push towards Turkish border oil hub
Source:CNBC Date:24Oct2017
Fighting between Kurdish peshmerga an Shia paramilitaries move closer to Turkish border, the oil pipeline and Turkey’s outpost against PKK, Camp Bashika. For Turkey the Kirkuk crisis is
Raqqa is free as ISIS loses steam, but hold off on the victory dance
Source:The Hill Date:21Oct2017
Poignant finale: As the Arab Spring unfolded, this rising Islamic State struck a vivid contrast to the rapid collapse of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, an intoxicating counterpoint to failed
‘Turkey Shield’ to purge region of terrorist organizations
Source:Yeni Safak Date:20Oct2017
Yeni Safak, a pro-AKP daily details Turkish Military’s plans to stop PKK and PYD-YPG in Iraq and Syria. It promises heavy clashes and years of involvement in the Southern neighbors.
Erdogan’s diplomatic spats leave a trail of Turkish disputes
Source:Financial Times Date:19Oct2017
This FT article actually describes Turkey’s institutional collapse, as Erdogan “personalizes” power in the Palace and among non-elected advisors, whose division of labor is
What to do about Turkey?
Source:European Council on Foreign Relations Date:19Oct2017
Turkey will be on the menu as European leaders meet for dinner in Brussels on 19 October, but it won’t be a happy meal. Relations between the EU and Turkey have deteriorated sharply over the past
SDF captures Syria’s Raqqa city from ISIL
Source:al Jazeera Date:17Oct2017
Destroyed and depopulated, Raqqa also faces an uncertain political future. The US and SDF have pledged to hand over the city to civilian rule, but the shape and political make-up of this civilian
Kirkuk: Iraqi forces capture key sites from Kurds
Source:BBC news Date:16Oct2017
The military also said troops had taken control of a military airport, police station, power plant and several industrial areas, as well as key bridges, roads, junctions. The Kurdistan Region
EU leaders prepare for Turkey showdown
Source:Financial Times Date:16Oct2017
Turkey risks losing more than €1bn in aid linked to its bid to join the EU, as member states prepare for a showdown over their deteriorating relationship with Ankara. A summit of the union’s
Kurdish and Iraqi troops in Kirkuk standoff amid fears of new violence
Source:The Guardian Date:14Oct2017
This is the opening salvos of a new nightmare in Iraq which is certain to drag in Turkey. Kirkuk becomes the new battlefield between Kurds and Shia. PM Abadi does not wish to attack, but