Amwaj.media

''In late March, an Iraqi Turkmen tribal leader was slain in a mysterious blast in Kifri, a disputed region approximately 125 km (80 miles) southeast of Kirkuk. The area is home to a mixed population of Kurds, Sunni Arabs, and Turkmen. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing of Sheikh Hussein Alloush. However, the United Iraqi Turkmen Front Alliance (UITFA) has charged that he was the target of a drone strike carried out by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—an entity designated as a terrorist group by the European Union, Turkey, and the United States. If the PKK is confirmed to have killed Alloush, and especially in a drone strike, it would signal a profound shift in the group’s military strategy and capabilities. Furthermore, it would indicate the widening of the PKK-Turkey conflict to include Iraq’s Turkmen.'' Mehmet Alaca for Amwaj.media #iraq #kurdistan #turkmen #pkk #security

''Iran has to a great extent been able to physically weaken the Kurdish nationalist movement within its borders. However, it has drastically failed to address the concerns which drive such sentiments. Recent developments, including the election of a Kurdish-speaking president, have highlighted the timeliness of the Islamic Republic finally addressing the Kurdish question. Although the 2022 women-led protests in Iran united the discourse of entire communities against the political establishment, parallel polarization—particularly in the diaspora—underscored deep-seated and unresolved issues. There have been several developments that provide optimism about the future. For instance, despite several bilateral issues, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani visited Iran in May. Kurdish media as well as the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) described the engagement as positive.'' Kamal Chomani for Amwaj.media #iran #kurdistan #kurds

''Over the past several years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has played a critical role in bringing Syria back into the Arab diplomatic fold. Since Abu Dhabi reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018, high-ranking Emirati and Syrian officials have consistently engaged in manners that serve to shore up the standing of Bashar Al-Assad’s government in the Arab world. The Syrian president’s Mar. 2022 visit to the UAE was a watershed in terms of his gradual rehabilitation as a “legitimate” head of state in the eyes of Sunni Arab statesmen. The Emiratis have a host of interests in bringing Assad back in from the cold. In the UAE’s thinking, it is not useful for Arab states to avoid engaging with Damascus, an ally of Iran and Russia. As Abu Dhabi sees it, having clout in Syria requires a dialogue with the Damascus regime. And though western sanctions so far prevent Gulf Arab states from making economic gains in Syria, the UAE would like to eventually seize on opportunities when it comes to Syria’s reconstruction and redevelopment.'' Giorgio Cafiero for Amwaj.media #uae #syria #iran #diplomacy

''A diplomatic and security crisis has erupted in Iraq over a Saudi TV channel’s description of slain leaders of Iran-backed armed groups as “terrorists.” Only hours after the report, protesters reportedly aligned with the targeted groups sacked the Baghdad office of Saudi media conglomerate MBC. Given the growing scale of the controversy, Iraqi authorities are moving to cancel the channel’s operating license—eliciting a range of heated reactions.'' Via Amwaj.media #iraq #saudiarabia #MBC #television

NEW: ''Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has refrained from adopting an explicit position on whether, and how, Iran should respond to Israel’s Oct. 26 attack. Instead, he has seemingly delegated next steps to civilian and military leaders. Factional competition is thus now apparently heating up again, particularly against the backdrop of leadership succession. One camp seems to see an opportunity to avert all-out war by engaging with the west to calm tensions. But another group appears intent on hitting Israel back hard, even as it may risk further escalation. Ultimately, the bigger contest is over the direction of Iranian foreign policy, and the future orientation of the Islamic Republic.'' Via Amwaj.media #iran #israel #security

NEW: ''Israel’s reported use of Iraqi airspace for its Oct. 26 attack on Iran has triggered condemnation in Baghdad. The Iraqi government says it has lodged a complaint at the United Nations over the “flagrant violation” of “sovereignty.” Meanwhile, leaders of Iran-backed Shiite armed groups have struck a relatively measured tone, largely limiting their demands to redoubled diplomatic sanction. This comes as reports of fallen missile components in Iraq have sparked questions over where and how the Israeli strike was launched.'' Via Amwaj.media #iraq #iran #israel #gazawar #airspace #politics

''Soon after becoming the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opted to travel to Saudi Arabia during his first official trip abroad. The visit was notable not only because of the choice of destination, but also as it featured the issuing of a joint statement with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud that urged Iraq to comply with land boundaries established in the aftermath of Saddam Hussein’s 1990-91 invasion of Kuwait. Additionally, the statement demanded that Baghdad uphold an agreement that regulates navigation in a strategic waterway that separates Kuwaiti islands from Iraq's Al-Faw Peninsula. The move came as tensions between Iraq and Kuwait reached a boiling point late last year, after the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court issued a ruling against the maritime accord. Although the pact primarily concerns security in the waterway, politicians, and media in Iraq view it as a matter of sovereignty. Amid indications that the dispute may also have greater regional dimensions, these dynamics leave the door open to continued contention.'' Munther Al-Habeeb for Amwaj.media #iraq #kuwait #saudiarabia #diplomacy

''The director general of Turkey’s state broadcaster TRT has sparked controversy by announcing plans to launch a Persian-language TV channel to “disturb Iran.” Zahid Sobaci’s comment has led to criticism both in Iran and Turkey. Iranian critics demand an appropriate response from the Islamic Republic while Turkish detractors question Sobaci’s choice of words.'' Via Amwaj.media #iran #turkey #television #media

''As several highly public scandals mount, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ Al-Sudani is facing perhaps the most daunting threat to his political fortunes. Coming amid a dizzying array of economic, political, and social crises, allegations that his allies have been running an extensive wiretapping network have mobilized his opponents. While notable in its own right, the wiretapping controversy has also served as a medium through which critics of the premier have focused opposition against Sudani’s rumored bid for a second term. It has also come to intersect with, and in some ways become indistinguishable from, other ongoing governance-related dramas. While the Sudani administration has sought to downplay the eavesdropping controversy in the hopes that it will dissipate on its own accord, limiting the political fallout may demand a more holistic approach. Doing so will likely require a deft and careful hand, if not to upset the interlinked networks of alliances that the prime minister has forged over his two years in office.'' مهند فارس Mohanad Faris for Amwaj.media #iraq #wiretapping #politics

''In April this year, Pakistan’s interior ministry announced a revision to its list of proscribed organizations, adding the Iranian-backed Zainabiyoun Brigade. Made up of Pakistani Shiite Muslims, the armed group is not exactly a novel actor. It has been operating in Syria for more than a decade, and Pakistan’s law enforcement institutions have long kept an eye on its recruitment drives—and at times also arrested its members. However, up until April, the outfit had evaded a total ban. The motives behind the proscription appear to be a mix of internal and external factors. Given Zainabiyoun’s close ties with Iran, Islamabad has assessed that the move will likely impact the relationship with Tehran. To balance the blacklisting, Pakistan is thus taking a series of measures to address Iranian economic and security-related concerns.'' umer karim for Amwaj.media #iran #pakistan #syria #security