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New York Times article with youtube videos of rebel fighters using Russian SA-7s to shoot down fixed and rotary wing aircraft

The video contains quite a bit of footage shot in the streets during firefights and also contains lots of before and after shots of the city. I found the direct before-and-after comparison shots really powerful and it was for a sort of visual representation of the scale of destruction going on.

This article also talks about the problems Syrian children face regarding education. International laws about "schools remain out of conflict" has gone ignored for a long time. Public Schools are overstretched in neighboring countries due to extra children in schools. The most interesting part of this article is the video which goes into more details about the growth of education in the last four years. 

An article from the International Business Times discussing the involvement of Russian troops in the Syrian Civil War and a video of Russian troops "training" in Syria. I've put the word "training" because I believe that as much is I believe that as much as I believe Pres. Kennedy when he said we sent "advisers" to Vietnam.

An article from the firm's blog talking about World War II weapons being used in the Syrian Civil War. I found both the article and accompanying video very interesting. Besides showing a bunch of very old weapons being used and the essentially finding new life in this conflict, it also shows a government stockpile seized by rebels full of Stg 44s (assault rifles from Nazi Germany). For me this raises the question of how did they get there?

This is an article from Russia today that talks about supposed gains that the Syrian government has made with the support of Russian air power. It has an accompanying video of the Syrian Armed Forces fighting against rebels. Overall a piece of propaganda, but interesting footage nonetheless of Syrian Armed Forces using a variety of US and Russian-made weapons.

A Russian news report from Zvezda (Star) channel, including interviews with pro-Syrian army militia commanders. The video is all in Russian but includes English subtitles and takes an interesting look at the system of tunnels various groups are using in this conflict. I chose this because it was a another look at the current conflict from a Russian channel but without the extreme propaganda one finds in the Russia Today articles.

This article/video is from pbs.org, talking about the revolution that happened 5 years ago at Tahrir Square. Women were apart of the revolution, by participating and leading protests. They were able to safely join men to protest, but changed later on. Female protestors were being sexually assaulted. Because of these assaults, laws are now being implemented in Egypt.

a short video explain why saudi arabia might face a bankrupt due to the falling of the oil prices and because it's %95 of the government income.

This article questions and takes into account the Muslim Brotherhood's role in shaping Egypt's future. Both the article and video concerning this topic interview individuals who experienced the Egyptian Revolution first hand.

Across the region, protesters took to the streets in fury threatening to re-ignite worsening sectarian tensions in Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain. This video talks about the Middle Eastern crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

A New York Times article on the violence in Greece between Syrian refugees and the Macedonian border guards. The article talks about the Europeans not being able to come to a consensus on what to do with refugees. Additionally the page has a video of the protesters attempting to break through the barricade, which in response Macedonian authorities indiscriminately fired tear gas into a crowd including small children.

This article covers Yemen's civil war and rejects the notion that the Houthis are 'Iran-backed.' According to the author, the Houthis are not merely Iran's pawns and, labeling them as such, diminishes the decades of conflict that led to the rebellion.

Russia claims to be withdrawing from Syria, but the countries actions suggest otherwise. It seems as if they have long term military presence planned in Syria.

Iran Nuclear Deal is filled with loop-hole phrases that allows Iran to technically make nuclear missiles. Ambassador John Bolton states that the plan was a complete failure and one of the better options would to essentially start over when the next president is sworn in.

Before the conflict and poverty that has been affecting the nation for years, Yemen was once a center of civilization and wealth. This article outlines the history of this tumultuous country from its beginnings as "Happy Arabia" (as the Romans used to call it) to a country divided.

Due to Libya's lack of institutional structure and weak centralized government, rival militia violence and clashes have created constant chaos leading the country towards another civil war. After the fall of Qaddafi, who obliterated institutions necessary for a functional government, Libya has been unable to manage the state. The National Transitional Council, which replaced the Qaddafi Regime, turned into the General National Congress and was given 18 months to form a democratic constitution. When the deadline passed the constitution was incomplete, which forced Congress to organize elections to a new House of Representatives. The former GNC members declared a new self proclaimed GNC, electing Omar al-Hasi as their prime minister. The new GNC is not recognized by Libya's parliament nor is it by the international community. Al Jazeera says the country literally has two parliaments and two governments, creating inconceivable instability throughout the state. The newly elected House has moved to Tobruk after armed islamic GNC militia groups overran the capital, seizing control over the major institutions in Tripoli. Due to this lack of a functional government, the rest of the state has turned to chaos. After the civil war, anti and pro Qaddafi forces branched into militias striving for power. Without a working state and government, militias had to rely on themselves to provide security, and really have no incentive to give up arms and no true government to be a part of. General Khalifa Hifter, a former Qaddafi general who later joined the Libyan rebel army in 2011, formed an anti-militia militia, targeting islamist militias like Ansar al-Sharia. Hifter is not affiliated with either of the governments, but rather strives for a military government, and supreme control of the armed forces.

Video: Confidence and optimism brimming in Iran - Iran is up-and-coming power of the Middle East - Only one serious about fighting ISIS. All human societies should unite and wage war against them - Wants better relations with the world Obama remains skeptical and recommends that the threat of sanctions should remain sound until final nuclear agreement with Iran is reached.