CULF 3331: "Middle Eastern Revolutions"

Signs of wider military cooperation in Syria have emerged as Russia revealed that discussions have taken place about coordinating the liberation of the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in conjunction with the US.

Russia is playing a "constructive" role in Syria's ceasefire, the Pentagon said, having noted "developments" on the ground. It encouraged Moscow to "continue to focus" on Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), while persuading Assad to stop the war.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has lambasted Western governments and praised Russia as "fundamental" to combating the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), in an interview with state news agency RIA Novosti. Assad spoke about the Syrian army's recent triumph in regaining control over the historic city of Palmyra, which was captured by ISIS in 2015.

With the retaking of Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, we seem to finally have made tangible, on-the-ground gains against ISIS - that is, if "we" refers to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. President Obama and several of his would-be successors are satisfied: The terrorists of ISIS are losing ground.

Not much to do with my topic but an interesting piece on western perspective. Disclosing information on the constant involvement the U.S. has on other countries that aren't asking for help.

Mark Dubowitz and Eric Lorber explain why Iran should not have access to U.S. funding. It would allow for them to get away with bad behavior and put the U.S in even more binds.

Claims that the Iran nuclear deal is really bad for the United States and future presidents guarantee to end the deal after the Obama Administration. Israel and other countries around Iran say it is more dangerous than ever.

After much debate, Iran is being given the opportunity to rewrite the nuclear deal. This is going to have a major effect on the relationship the United States has with its allies.

"The Saudis have initiated a major campaign to undermine Iran's ally Hezbollah, which they believe is vulnerable today. Riyadh is likely to have considerable but not complete success. It's a characteristically risky strategy. The Saudis branded Hezbollah a terrorist organization earlier this year and then persuaded their Gulf Cooperation Council allies to do the same on March 2. Then Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef pressed a summit of Arab interior ministers to join in lambasting Hezbollah in Tunis in early March. The Arab League formally agreed to label Hezbollah a terrorist group at a Foreign Ministerial in Cairo later in the month. Only Iraq and Lebanon abstained. "

"kingdom of Bahrain on Monday published a list of 68 Islamist groups it classified as "terrorist," according to the state news agency BNA Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement, already branded as "terrorist" by the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League, topped the list approved by Bahrain's cabinet, BNA said."

"Conventional wisdom that Syria will turn out to be "Hezbollah's mini-Vietnam", and that the Iranian backed Lebanese armed group could encounter its gradual collapse in the conflict, is proving to be misguided three years into its involvement. While Hezbollah is losing manpower and assets in Syria, it is also expanding its foothold and leverage across the country and gaining military expertise."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly admitted on Monday for the first time that Israel had attacked dozens of convoys transporting weapons in Syria destined for the Jewish state's arch-enemy Hezbollah.

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.

Activists feel the new requirements set in place by the Egyptian government is the worst assault experienced in human rights history. It is unclear just how many organizations will be subjected to the investigation by the Egyptian government.

In the Arab World, 2011 is developing into the year of revolution. Following the dramatic events in Tunisia and Egypt, a chain reaction has exposed the region's autocratic regimes to popular pressure like never before. Whatever the outcome of these events, the relationship between the rulers and the ruled in the Arab World has forever ...

The 'Arab Spring' of 2011 brought down autocratic governments across North Africa and the Middle East. But, despite widespread street protests that initially threatened to spark a Tunisian or Egyptian style revolt, an expected uprising in Algeria failed to materialise.

This article is stating the obvious. ISIS is sending large numbers of terrorists into Libya to disrupt Libya's emerging oil market and hopes to dismantle it's soon to be UN backed unity government.

British plans to send troops to Libya could result in another Afghanistan-style disaster, according to a former army colonel who led a "calamitous" mission in the war-ravaged North African state in 2012. Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Wieloch told the Telegraph on Monday that British involvement carried " a great danger of mission creep.