Armed Militias and Extremist Groups

Iranian forces in Syria establish new prison in Raqqa

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is redeploying and building new bases and prisons in its areas of control in northeastern Syria after coming under repeated Israeli and US airstrikes.

Mohammed Hardan | Syria | Jul 23, 2021

A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stands guard in a prison where men suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group are jailed in northeast Syria in the city of Hasakah on Oct. 26, 2019.

Turkish-backed rebels leave trail of abuse and criminality in Syria’s Afrin

The serene topography of the Syrian enclave of Afrin belies the power vacuum and violence now afflicting many of the territories under the control of Turkish-backed forces in the war-torn country’s northeast.

Dan Wilkofsky, Amberin Zaman, Mohammed Hardan | Syria | Jul 22, 2021

Turkish-backed Syrian fighters of the Sultan Murad Turkoman brigade are pictured during a military show in the Afrin region in the rebel-held northern countryside of Syria's northern Aleppo province on Nov. 17, 2020.

Erdogan takes Taliban's warning in stride

Turkey's leaders are brushing off the Taliban's warnings over extending its mission in Afghanistan.

Al-Monitor Staff | Turkey | Jul 19, 2021

Syrian jihadi groups crack down on rivals in Idlib

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is tightening the noose on the jihadi Jundallah group and asking it to join it or leave Idlib, in what observers described as an attempt on the part of HTS to get rid of non-Syrian fighters.

Sultan al-Kanj | Syria | Jul 18, 2021

Jihadis of former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Iraq arrests killer of respected analyst

Hisham al-Hashimi was gunned down outside his Baghdad apartment in July 2020.

Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Jul 16, 2021

Has Turkey changed its anti-Islamic State strategy?

Although Turkish authorities have increased security operations against Islamic State cells in the country, Ankara’s anti-IS strategy remains riddled with gaping holes.

Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Jul 15, 2021

2021 Turkish protest against 2015 Islamic State Suruc attack

Turkey shrugs off Taliban warning over Kabul airport

Flights to evacuate Afghan interpreters will begin by the end of July, the White House said today.

Al-Monitor Staff | Turkey | Jul 15, 2021

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) shakes hands with a Turkish soldier.

Idlib authorities begin restoration of historic mosque

The government affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria’s Idlib is restoring the historic Great Mosque, which was severely damaged by Syrian government shelling.

Mohammed Hardan | Syria | Jul 14, 2021

Restoration work at Great Mosque in Idlib

IRGC official urged Iraq militias to continue hitting US, report

The IRGC intelligence chief's visit to Iraq last week followed one by top commander Ismail Ghaani.

Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Jul 14, 2021

A picture taken on June 20, 2018, shows a propaganda billboard for the pro-Iran Hezbollah Brigades militia.

Pompeo speaks at conference by controversial Iran opposition group

Slovenia's prime minister and other former US officials also speak at virtual event held by Mujahedeen-e-Khalq.

Adam Lucente | Iran | Jul 12, 2021

Taliban renew demand that Turkey leave Afghanistan

American and Turkish officials are still ironing out the last details on how to secure Kabul's airport.

Al-Monitor Staff | Turkey | Jul 12, 2021

Taliban negotiator Suhail Shaheen attends a press conference in Moscow on July 9, 2021.

Confrontation between US, pro-Iranian groups in Syria and Iraq poses challenges for Russia

While Moscow does not yet have the resources to eliminate Iranian influence in Syria, it would be in its interests to at least prevent the expansion of the activities of pro-Iranian paramilitary structures.

Kirill Semenov | Syria | Jul 12, 2021

US soldiers stand near a Russian military vehicle in the Syrian town of al-Malikiyah (Derik), on June 3, 2020.

Biden's airstrikes fail to halt cycle of militia violence in Iraq

The Pentagon says it is taking a recent spate of drone and rocket attacks "deadly seriously."

Jared Szuba | Syria | Jul 9, 2021

Cairo cracks down on Salafist preachers

The Egyptian state and its institutions have been waging a fierce campaign against the preachers of Egypt’s Salafi movement over ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

George Mikhail | Egypt | Jul 8, 2021

Gazan children graduate from Islamic Jihad’s military camp

Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, concluded its summer training camps with the participation of more than 2,000 boys ages 14 to 17, who received military training simulating a confrontation with the Israeli army.

Rasha Abou Jalal | Palestine | Jul 7, 2021

Armed Militias and Extremist Groups

Iranian forces in Syria establish new prison in Raqqa

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is redeploying and building new bases and prisons in its areas of control in northeastern Syria after coming under repeated Israeli and US airstrikes.

Turkish-backed rebels leave trail of abuse and criminality in Syria’s Afrin

Erdogan takes Taliban's warning in stride

Syrian jihadi groups crack down on rivals in Idlib

Iraq arrests killer of respected analyst

Has Turkey changed its anti-Islamic State strategy?

Turkey shrugs off Taliban warning over Kabul airport

Idlib authorities begin restoration of historic mosque

IRGC official urged Iraq militias to continue hitting US, report

Pompeo speaks at conference by controversial Iran opposition group

Taliban renew demand that Turkey leave Afghanistan

Confrontation between US, pro-Iranian groups in Syria and Iraq poses challenges for Russia

Biden's airstrikes fail to halt cycle of militia violence in Iraq

Cairo cracks down on Salafist preachers

Gazan children graduate from Islamic Jihad’s military camp

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