This news release from today reported 12 wounded after rockets fired from Syria into Turkey's Kilis. It is highly suspected that the rocket launchers came from ISIL-controlled Bab region. There have been previous rocket projectiles form Bab on two separate incidents killing 8 people total, hitting a school and neighborhood.

This article, released on February 19th, details Turkey's attack on Kurdish targets post Ankara bombing. Heightened tensions between the Turks and the Kurds after a car bombing in Ankara killed 28 people. The YPG, a Syrian Kurdish group denied the accusations of involvement.

UN says the deal between the EU and Turkey regarding Syria's refugees would not be "consistent with European law" and is not consistent with International law. Turkey offered to take back all refugees and migrants who cross into Europe from its soil in return for more money, quicker visa travel for Turkish peoples, and faster EU membership talks.

Another issue Turkey is constantly dealing with, is the problem with the thousands of Syrian refugees at their border, in addition to the mini-civil war w/the Kurds, and its questionable oil business with ISIS. This article points out Erdogan's requests for the EU to deliver more funds to control the border situation. Different point of view from the other two articles I bookmarked this week.

In Feb. the United Nations demanded Turkey to open its borders to thousands of Syrian refugees. Erdogan responded "are you mocking us?" and accused the UN for overstepping its powers and to basically back off from the Syrian conflict.

A more recent article posted by BBC News on Feb. 19th of Turkey's recent renewment of bombardment against the Kurds (People's Protection Units) inside Syria. The US and UN have both pressed Turkey to cease shelling the YPG and EU urged Turkey to stop shelling Syria.

This report from December 2015, released news from Moscow that uncovered Turkey as ISIS' main destination for smuggling oil. Three main oil routes to Turkey have been discovered. Although ISIS' income from oil smuggling has been significantly reduced from $3 to $1.5 million per day, this still suggests Turkey was not only aware of ISIS' stealing, but aiding and buying.

Here is a personal account of an innocent civilian family affected by the daily and ongoing fight between the PKK and the Turkish Republic. A two-year ceasefire has been broke, as Turkey has increased its bombing campaign against the Kurds in the mountains.

This dissertation written by United Nations Commissioner for Refugees Laura Waas, provides some more academic insight into what exactly constitutes as stateless peoples in the Middle East and North African regions as well as the underlying conditions and legislation these stateless persons have developed. Waas points to the lack of nationality as the primary concern.

This recent update is a report on Vice President Joe Biden's visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden assures Israel U.S. will back Israel's security in response to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps reports their "ballistic missiles are capable of reaching Israel." Israel was not in favor of U.S. negotiations re: Iran Nuclear Deal last year, and they seriously doubt more security assurance from our end.

This article depicts a very real and recent trauma that Yemen is undergoing; their healthcare system and facilities, much like other poorer middle eastern countries, is on the brink of extinction. This raised the question that we have been discussing in class; would foreign aid eliminate poverty? While there are millions in Yemen starving, would it be justified to provide their country with aid as more developed countries are supplying refugee camps in Jordan and Syrian rebels?

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."

Interesting article covering one of Lebanon's refugee camps for Palestinians called Ain-al-Hilweh , providing security and free healthcare until now. UNRWA is suffering from a deficit of more than $100m last year trying to maintain this refugee camp.

More information on the Kurds' background and political struggle for an autonomous state. Kurds are fighting IS ever since IS attacked their ranks in Iraq, however more than 160,000 were displaced into Turkey. Turkey refused to allow Kurds to defend themselves- pulling PKK out of peace negotiations with Erdogon.

Jordan officials killed 7 suspected jihadist militants whom were supposedly planning to blow up civilian and military targets in the country. Jordan, backed by the U.S., has been amping up the crackdown on ISIL influence flooding from Syria.

Here is another perspective issued today from the New York Times; stating an Israeli soldier accidentally shot an army officer on the West Bank while they were aiming at a "Palestinian assailant trying to attack the officer." This author quotes the strife on the border as a "scene of numerous Palestinian attacks against Israelis."

This article published today by Al Jazeera reports inhumane treatment of Palestinian inmates interrogated at Shikma. I was an Israel supporter in the complex conflict between Israel and Palestine, also considering Israel is an ally of the U.S., but now I'm beginning to rethink my position. This is almost synonymous with the Turks treatment of the Kurds.

This article was posted from August 2015, but a shocking story I came across while looking at recent Middle East events. Israel's Minister of Culture and Sports and Israel's Prime Minister suppot force-feeding as a torture tactic against Palestinian inmates.

Turkey is now providing a safe haven for Syrian refugees in addition to Jordan's efforts. Turkish officials are trying to build a coalition to back a secure strip of territory for safe passage of refugees. There seems to be some significant disagreement between Turkey and the Kurdish militia.