G7 The G7 is meeting in Quebec over the weekend, and already–you might want to sit down for this, because it’s going to shock you–Donald Trump is planning on being a dick to everybody else there: In a sign that Trump is looking to stoke divisions, White House officials are discussing ways to impose additional… Continue reading World update: June 6 2018
Tag: civilian casualties
World update: April 23 2018
MIDDLE EAST SYRIA The Syrian military kept up its bombardment of Yarmouk for another day on Monday, though it says it targeted only areas still under ISIS control. Apparently some of the group’s fighters are refusing to leave despite the surrender agreement they negotiated with the Syrian government late last week. YEMEN The Saudi-led coalition… Continue reading World update: April 23 2018
Middle East update: April 20 2018
SYRIA The Syrian military continues to pound away at Yarmouk and the surrounding areas in an effort to clear out the last area near Damascus that remains out of its control. Insurgents there–including ISIS, which has controlled most of Yarmouk since 2015–have reportedly agreed in principle to be relocated (ISIS fighters to the east, everybody… Continue reading Middle East update: April 20 2018
World update: April 13 2018
ASIA ARMENIA Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is expected to be named prime minister on Saturday, the culmination of a political transition meant to extend Sargsyan’s time in power despite his having been term limited out of the presidency. Over the past several months, Sargsyan has engineered a constitutional change that makes Armenia’s premiership more powerful… Continue reading World update: April 13 2018
Middle East update: April 13 2018
SYRIA BREAKING: Donald Trump will reportedly be making a “statement” about Syria at 9 PM this evening, Washington time. World on the interwebs is that he’ll be announcing strikes, but it’s not clear what they’ll involve. Come back here for updates. UPDATE: The US is bombing Syria along with France and the UK. Heavy explosions reported… Continue reading Middle East update: April 13 2018
Middle East update: April 9 2018
SYRIA It took a little while, but both Russia and the Syrian government dropped their accusations that the United States was behind this morning’s (local time) attack on Syria’s T4 airbase near Homs and came around to the consensus view that it was an Israeli strike. So that appears to be settled. There are lingering… Continue reading Middle East update: April 9 2018
Middle East update: April 5 2018
SYRIA Jaysh al-Islam’s evacuation of Douma hit a snag and was apparently suspended on Thursday for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. Since the group never formally/officially accepted a deal to surrender and be relocated it’s possible that there are internal disagreements that are affecting the evacuation and/or that all the Jaysh al-Islam fighters who were… Continue reading Middle East update: April 5 2018
