Foreign Policy

Bitter Rift Deepens as Russia Rejects Findings on Syria’s Use of Chlorine Bombs

Russia on Thursday rejected the findings of a chemical weapons investigation led by the United Nations that found Syrian forces had used chlorine bombs at least three times in the past two years. During a Security Council meeting, Russia called the investigators’ findings inconclusive and no basis for punitive action. The response intensified the bitter […]

Islamic State uses religious texts to substantiate coming loss in Mosul

The Islamic State relies on religious precedence to absolve responsibility for the individual and group. As such, they’re finding authority to run from the battle. Nearly everything that the Islamic State does, in their view, has some kind of canonical precedent. They wish to create their own currency, based on the Quranic meaning of currency, […]

Putin says U.S. hysteria over Russia is an election ploy

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that American politicians were whipping up hysteria about a mythical Russian threat in the U.S. presidential campaign as a ploy to distract voters from their own failings. Putin, addressing an audience of foreign policy experts gathered in southern Russia, said he found it hard to believe that anyone […]

ISIS Sends ‘Suicide Squads’ to Iraqi Stronghold

ISIS is sending “suicide squads” from Syria to its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, witnesses have told CNN, as tens of thousands of troops close in on the key city to take it from the militant group’s control. Witnesses said hundreds of new arrivals had streamed into Mosul from the group’s heartland of Raqqa, Syria, in […]

Philippine Leader Duterte Wants U.S. Troops out ‘in the Next Two Years’

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday he wanted U.S. troops out of his country, perhaps in the next two years, underlining his intention to press ahead with a major realignment of his country’s foreign and security policies. It is not the first time Duterte has made this kind of threat, but his two-year timetable for […]

Spain Says Refuelling Request Withdrawn for Russian Warships

Russia has withdrawn a request for three warships to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta for refuelling, following concern among Nato allies. The Spanish foreign ministry says the stopovers have now been cancelled. Spain had been under pressure from Nato allies not to allow the refuelling of the Russian warships bound for Syria. Russia’s […]

Britain, U.S. Sending Planes, Troops to Russian Border

Britain said on Wednesday it will send fighter jets to Romania next year and the United States promised troops, tanks and artillery to Poland in NATO’s biggest military build-up on Russia’s borders since the Cold War. Germany, Canada and other NATO allies also pledged forces at a defense ministers meeting in Brussels on the same […]

Why Turkey Is Bombing Anti-ISIS Fighters in Iraq, Syria

Turkey is a NATO partner that stands with U.S. troops on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq, but it’s an ally that’s increasingly turning its guns on fighters the U.S. sees as vital to crushing ISIS. On Wednesday, Turkey launched one of its biggest airstrikes in decades — bombing 18 positions in northern Syria and […]

U.N. Aborts Plan to Evacuate Patients From Aleppo, Blames All Parties

The United Nations has abandoned plans to evacuate patients from besieged rebel-held east Aleppo which it had hoped to accomplish during a three day lull in fighting last week, blaming all parties to the conflict for obstructing efforts. “The evacuations were obstructed by various factors, including delays in receiving the necessary approvals from local authorities […]

The Great Myth About U.S. Intervention in Syria

As the carnage in Syria continues with no end in sight, it is hardly surprising that many people are redoubling their efforts to get the United States to “do something.” Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (and likely the next U.S. president) has used the campaign trail to convey that she still supports a no-fly zone (or […]

North Korea Unhappy With UN Threat of More Sanctions

North Korean officials lashed out Monday at efforts in the United Nations to strengthen sanctions following the North’s latest missile launches and nuclear test in September. The officials told an Associated Press Television crew in Pyongyang that sanctions targeting the nuclear and missile tests are “criminal documents” and accused the United States of orchestrating the […]

Rights group calls for probe into suspected airstrike as the Battle for Mosul continues

Iraqi forces shelled Islamic State (ISIS) positions outside Mosul on Monday as fighting to retake the extremist-held city entered its second week. A rights group, meanwhile, urged a probe into a suspected airstrike last week that mistakenly hit a mosque, killing over a dozen civilians. The purported airstrike in northern Iraq struck the women’s section […]