My fear is that Caesar will achieve the exact opposite of its stated goals, fuelling the worst impulses of the Syrian regime and wider conflict
Julien Barnes-Dacey comments on the latest developments in Syria and the US ‘Caesar Act'.
Media mentions – Syria / Iraq / Lebanon
He saved this relationship. If not for this strange Trump factor, we really would have been in a Turkey-Russian axis.
Asli Aydintasbas comments on the relations between the US, Turkey and Russia in Syria.
The potential is there to present a new chapter but we are not sure how competent both sides are
With the recent protests in Iraq, the government has focused its security efforts on containing the unrest, which has reduced its bandwidth for dealing with the Islamic State
Sajad Jiyad writes on the increasing ISIS attacks in Iraq and how ISIS takes advantage of the government's response on unrest and the coronavirus and the international community's shift to focus on other issues
The Islamic State has been ramping up a campaign of violence in rural parts of Iraq since the second half of 2019, focusing on Diyala, Kirkuk and Salahaldin provinces, to the east and north of Baghdad. Both the frequency and character of the attacks have been steadily increasing.
In his column, Sajad Jiyad discusses the increasing attacks by the Islamic State in Iraq.
If the Europeans want to help stabilise Lebanon and prevent a further collapse in the face of the protests and the corona pandemic, then Hezbollah must inevitably be part of this process. Europe must both engage and put pressure on the main domestic actors.
To cut off communication with Hezbollah completely would be fatal. It would endanger the stability of Lebanon, warns Julien Barnes-Dacey in an interview with TAZ.
The priority is stability, but I am far from certain that the goal will be reached under the current circumstances,
Sajad Jiyad comments on how covid-19 has curbed protests in North Africa and the Middle East
In his op-ed, Julien Barnes-Dacey explains why Europe should not follow the US maximum pressure campaign.
EU members should reject the American ‘maximal pressure’ approach on Syria and should adopt a ‘society max’ strategy instead
In his op-ed, Julien Barnes-Dacey explains why Europe should not follow the US maximum pressure campaign.
Europe needs to face the reality: a political transition in Syria is not in sight. This is why the societal resilience and capacity needs to be strengthened.
In his op-ed, Julien Barnes-Dacey explains why Europe should not follow the US maximum pressure campaign.