The Guardian: Iraqi special forces hold positions after entering Isis-held Mosul
No new advances planned for Wednesday after poor weather hampers visibility for aircraft and drone support
Iraqi special forces are holding their positions in Mosul a day after entering the Islamic State-held city for the first time since 2014.
Amid poor visibility for the US-led aircraft and drones that have backed Iraqi forces in their assault on the country’s second largest city, special forces general Haider Fadhil told Associated Press no new advances within Mosul were planned for Wednesday.
Fighting continued on the southern approaches to the city, where Iraqi troops took four small villages.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
Bad weather holds up Iraqi coalition's advance into Mosul. Iraqi's Mosul advance pauses in east, inches on in the south.
Iraqi troops push on Mosul as Turkey slams PM. Iraq-Turkey tension rises amid battle for Mosul. Iraqi forces advance on town where Islamic State accused of executions.
Russia tells rebels to leave Syria's Aleppo by Friday evening. Battle for Aleppo: Russia offers humanitarian pause. Putin offers new pause, exits for Syrian's besieged Aleppo.
Turkish army chief holds 'constructive' talks with Russia on Syria: statement.
US call for end to airstrikes in Yemen faces backlash from advocacy groups.
Saudi prince flogged by police after court ruling – report.
Iranians shocked as Koran reciter faces child sex abuse claims. Iran's former prosecutor sentenced to 135 lashes for corruption.
ASIA
South Korea President Park reshuffles cabinet as crisis deepens.
Duterte lashes US 'monkeys' for halting sale of weapons.
India police under fire over prisoner killings.
China's Xi condemns 'cliques' and 'conspiracies' within party.
China, Japan have much to do to get relations back to normal: premier.
Asian MPs urge probe of reported abuses, envoys visit Myanmar's Rakhine.
Flight MH370 'made rapid descent'.
European watchdog to observe Uzbekistan election.
Pakistan denies bail to National Geographic's 'Afghan Girl'.
AFRICA
Mali Islamists say still waging war, dismiss ceasefire report.
18 killed, 43 injured as farmers, herders clash in Niger.
U.N. peacekeepers failed to respond to South Sudan hotel attack: inquiry.
S Africa: Corruption report increases pressure on Zuma. Report raises pressure on Jacob Zuma as thousands protest in Pretoria.
Gambia President Yahya Jammeh 'silencing critics'.
Thirteen port officials charged in Kenyan corruption clampdown.
EU hopes Libyan coast guard training will end attacks on boats.
EUROPE
France moves Calais child migrants, says Britain to take hundreds more.
Swiss take hard line on EU immigration before Merkel talks.
Ukraine rebuilds navy, with U.S. help, to counter Russian build-up in Crimea.
Lavrov calls not to speculate about US’ position on Syria after presidential election.
Russian authorities seal Amnesty International Moscow office.
Moldova: pro-Russian candidate leads ahead of runoff.
Irish PM warns Brexit talks between UK and EU could turn vicious.
Best outcome of Brexit talks is to avert it: German experts.
German unemployment hits 25-year low.
AMERICAS
Clinton and Trump push closing arguments as markets fret over tight race.
Race tightening, Clinton revives Trump-women issue.
Obama on FBI procedures: 'We don't operate on innuendo'.
Venezuela rivals' 'truce' crumbles amid name calling.
Colombia making 'substantial progress' with peace deal: President.
Waiting for peace, Colombia youths set up camp in main square.
Nicaragua president's running mate: his wife.
Police: 2 Iowa officers killed in 2 ambush-style attacks. Iowa police killing: Suspect held after two officers shot.
Obama says US mulling alternate routes for North Dakota pipeline.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
'There will be terrorist attacks in Britain,' says MI5 chief. Warning as hundreds of jailed terrorists back on UK streets.
ISIS child soldiers are latest casualties of brutal terrorist army.
Yemeni money exchange, owners sanctioned for aiding Al Qaeda: U.S. Treasury.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Oil continues to fall as US stockpiles unexpectedly grow.
Fed is widely expected to leave key interest rate unchanged.
US election uncertainty weighs on global markets and dollar.
ReplyDeleteIt appears the Egyptians may have arrived in Syria.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/egyptian-soldiers-arrive-syria-reports/
RRH:
ReplyDeleteThe Egyptian relationship changes with the US and Russia are not getting the attention it's deserve. Maybe I just overreact the changes, but the relationship between Egypt and the US just getting tenser, and a few weeks ago Russia sent some forces to Egypt, for a joint training/exercise with their Egyptian counterparts, and now this Syrian deployment, something is stinks here to me. I do not call this another Philippines, yet, but feel something in the air.
"yet, but feel something in the air."
ReplyDeleteYou'd better believe it.
I agree.
ReplyDeleteIt seems a lot of people have been ignoring a quite a few things. For instance, the historical ties between Egypt and Syria; the loud Egyptian disdain for Turkish (Erdogan's) machinations in Syria; the re-emergence of Russo-Egyptian military cooperation; the tension between the Saudis and Egyptians; the U.S./Egypt funk (as you mentioned) the fact that Egypt is still widely seen as "the Mother of all Arabs" with all that entails -including the legacy of Nasser.
It may be presumptious on my part, but I've had the feeling some time now that the agenda to break down and bust up Arab states through invasions, no fly zones, sanctions, fueling sectarianism and proxy forces would result in the re-emergence of a pan Arabism backed by Russia and not unfriendly to Iran.
Regardless "something" is definitely "up" and I don't feel like we're going to have to wait long to find out what.
My Arab/Syrian buddies with relatives in the SAA have said that it was "just a matter of time" before Egypt showed up.
RRH,
ReplyDeleteInstead of thinking in the term "historical ties between Egypt and Syria" think instead of the historical relationships and historical definitions of Egypt and Syria. What "is" Syria historically? This not meant to disregard external influences in the region, which "dramatically" exist, but rather to get at what are these people, their groupings, nations, in the sense of what the everyday Syrian, Egyptian, etc, feel and react. I say this because we seeing the rise of the effectiveness on the scene of the everyday person and the decline of the nation/state in the area. This may seem counter intuitive, but I believe it's true.
James, I can see what you mean.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons this whole Salafist/Wahhabi project has not been victorious is who Syrians are historically. Syrians (and Egyptians) by and large are much more sophisticated and bound by shared history than "our" leaders and media would have us believe.
For instance, I have a Syrian friend who is a Christian and laughs at the idea that Syrians (let alone Arabs) can be separated based on religion. He calls that a Saudi project, backed by the U.S. -and Israel- and believes it's ridiculous. "Nobody with a brain wants that shit" is his constant refrain. And yes, we have seen the rise of individuals/groups across the spectrum who "believe what they believe" defending what Syria "is".
All that being said, I don't discount the impact the formation of post colonial modern states with a pan Arab outlook has had on Syrians, Egyptians and others. Further to that, the "globalizers" with their neo-liberal trash culture just may have won the day in Syria if their neoconservative/Wahhabi/Zio attack dogs had been kept on the leash. Now, more Syrians, especially, most importantly, the youth, are re-discovering their history and identity. A new generation is forming with an outlook that will reject the monoculture dictats of "the west" or the Saudis/GCC.
I sometimes wonder if the neolibs (e.g. Canadian Gov) understand the above and open the doors to refugees in order to build a new cadre of ex pats in waiting to undermine what will be a renewed Syrian/Arab project. I just don't believe they are taking people in out of the goodness of their hearts. Besides the fact that they don't have any goodness in their hearts, their past actions plainly show they do not mean the Syrians (or Arab/ME people not going along with the agenda) any good.
RRH,
ReplyDeleteMore or less along the lines you state. I will add that combined with the long historical record of the area it has to be understood that these people by and large reject all western ideology from the wing that you espouse to the wing that I stand on and every single one in between. Theirs is a very different world which so many in the west in their conceit have misunderstood............... badly. They are not all angels neither are they a brood of devils, but simply people with a very different world perception than we have.
Have you ever noticed that the majority of suicide bombers come from and grew up in the west?
Never trust conventional wisdom, yourself when you think it's obvious, and especially Russians who wear shorts. It isn't the shorts so much as they usually wear sandals with the shorts and that is frightening!