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"But Hezbollah appears to be the only military force capable of effectively fighting against ISIS - in the northeast of the country, on the border with Syria, and elsewhere. It is also the only organization providing a reliable social net to those hundreds of thousands of poor Lebanese citizens"

Syrian government forces have pushed back IS militants and reached the edge of Palmyra. The city was previously held by IS, during which they destroyed two 2,000 year old temples.

Although ISIS has been able to successfully use social media platforms to cater to their agenda, they have recently changed their strategies to deter US intelligence from intercepting crucial information. They have issued a new instruction manual to members regarding online behavior in order to circumvent data collection from digital postings.

More speculation about oil prices and contracts with Asia as oil productions continue to increase with little proof of future demand in oil

There are risks that oil price might go down, including if the Iran nuclear deal works out and sanctions are lifted

I found this article from 2015 to still be very relevant considering President Obama's speech and a recent push by university/techs to communicate regarding the exact threat of ISIS' cyberterrorism capabilities. The NSA reported that this means of war is parallel to that of the Cold War; leaving countries on edge since traditional human espionage is slowly becoming intertwined with "technical operations."

Iran and Saudi Arabia are suspected to go head to head in cyber warfare. Wikileaks revealed information that people put on edge in regards to Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, regional rivals in the Middle East, are involved in a cyber conflict. The nations use cyber attacks to release or leak critical intelligence to affect the outcomes of ongoing military conflicts in the region.

What does the term "human shield" mean? The term is used by critics of Hamas to imply that Hamas militants hide behind unwilling hostages, or especially that they cower behind women and children. If it's a fact that Hamas uses "human shields," who they are, what they're protecting, and why seem to be more salient points for analysis.

Six weeks have passed since the US-led coalition began its strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants and other jihadist groups in Syria, but recent developments in the stricken country confirm that the mission is facing huge challenges, as BBC Arabic's Feras Kilani reports "We are vanishing before the eyes of the whole world, including our friends in the US," a disappointed moderate commander told the BBC over the phone, after his group's defeat by the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

This article from BBC showcases how Egyptian street art is a new voice among Egyptian protestors. In response to events, artists have filled the walls with murals and slogans in response to events such as the Maspero Massacre in 2011. Some of the reoccurring images are of a tank aiming its cannon at a boy on a bicycle carrying bread on his head as well as a melancholy panda. Other artists have integrated some of Egypt's history in their murals showcasing Egyptian pride amongst the rebellion.

More than two years after protesters toppled Hosni Mubarak, Cairo is still ablaze with fiery visual reminders of Egypt's revolution. On the edge of Tahrir Square - the nerve centre of dissent - the burned-out tower block that once housed the headquarters of Mubarak's National Democratic Party stands blackened and empty.

! This article shares 3 stories of women who have gone through the FGM procedure. They tend to consider FGM as the "Right of Passage" for young worn. Many women die in childbirth or have complications because of the results of FGM.