On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #166 Sweden did not take Turkey's terrorism concerns seriously enough says former Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde Turkey blocked Sweden's NATO membership for nine months saying Stockholm needed to curb anti-Turkish groups it classifies as terrorists. Those demands were widely dismissed as a foil for Ankara's real aim, to get the United States Congress to authorize the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. Yet, some of Turkey's concerns were legitimate, says Sweden's Former Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #165 Does Turkey really support ISIS and, if so, why did ISIS just attack it again? Expert Aaron Zelin explains The Islamic State carried out an attack against a Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul on Jan. 28, killing one person. In its statement claiming responsibility for the attack the group referred to Turkey as "Wilayat al Turkiya" — or its "Turkish province" — sending a chilling message that it views the country among its prime targets. Any further such attacks would deal a big blow to Turkey's multi-billion dollar tourism industry in the midst of economic turbulence.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #164 Does Iran control Shiite militias that are attacking US forces in Iraq and Syria? Two leading experts weigh in The deaths of three US servicemen Sunday in an attack by an Iran-backed Shiite militia at a base wedged between Syria and Jordan has raised the specter of a direct confrontation between the United States and Iran like never before. But are things as black and white as they seem? Does Iran have full control over the Shiite militias that are part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces created to fight the Islamic State? A US withdrawal from Iraq and Syria would help resuscitate the Islamic State which recently killed hundreds of civilians inside Iran. What is the end game?
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #163 German federal prosecutors petitioned to launch war crimes case against Turkish-backed Sunni factions abusing Kurds in Syria Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights have filed a complaint with German federal prosecutors against Turkish-backed Sunni factions they accuse of war crimes against Kurds in Afrin. These include ethnic cleansing, rape and looting. German prosecutors have convicted individuals accused of torturing fellow Syrians on behalf of the Assad regime.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #162 Kuwaiti academic says Red Sea escalation with Yemen's Houthis won't end without US pressure on Israel to end Gaza war Tensions between the United States and Iran-backed Houthi rebels continue to escalate in the Red Sea, disrupting maritime traffic in a key shipping lane. A barrage of US airstrikes against the Houthis shows little signs of slowing them down. The Shiite rebels insist they won't stop targeting merchant ships and US naval vessels unless Israel ends its war against Palestinians in Gaza. Kuwaiti academic Bader Al-Saif tells Al-Monitor they should be taken at their word.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #161 Israel does not want a war with Iran, says Haaretz English editor-in-chief The assassination of Hamas' number two man in Beirut on Tuesday has deepened concerns that the conflict in Gaza will engulf neighboring Lebanon. However, Esther Solomon, the editor-in-chief of Haaretz English, dismisses the idea that Israel wants to provoke a war with Iran that would drag in the United States.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #160 Turkey won't be at the table when Gaza conflict ends, says Turkey analyst Alan Makovsky Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly sided with Hamas in its ongoing conflict with Israel in Gaza, making him a hero on the Arab street. However, his vocal support for the group that is designated as terrorists by the United States will likely further strain relations between Ankara and Washington. It will also make it harder for Turkey to normalize relations with Israel in the future, according to Alan Makovsky, a leading analyst of Turkish affairs in Washington.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #159 Former CENTCOM commander Gen. Joseph Votel warns Gaza conflict may expand because Iran lacks full control of its militia proxies As Israel’s war to unseat Hamas in the Gaza Strip grinds into its second month, the former top US military commander in the Middle East, Gen. Joseph Votel (ret.), says the hardest fighting is yet to come. While the IDF appears to be implementing some of Washington’s advice by allowing for the flow of humanitarian aid and civilian evacuation corridors, there remains real risk that Iran-backed militias throughout the region may escalate reckless attacks that could draw the United States into another war.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #158 Iran continues strategic miscalculations even after Hamas' attack on Israel, says analyst Hamidreza Azizi Iran is doing its best to avoid getting dragged into the conflict in Gaza. Its strategy of deterrence through its proxies appears to have backfired and the United States is more present than ever in the region, says Iran analyst Hamidreza Azizi.
On the Middle East with Andrew Parasiliti and Amberin Zaman | Episode #157 The Israel-Hamas War: Live Q&A with Ali Hashem, Joyce Karam, and Daoud Kuttab In another special edition of the podcast, we have the audio from the fourth edition of our live Q&A webinar series on the Israel-Hamas war, where Al-Monitor's Columnist Ali Hashem, Senior News Editor Joyce Karam, and Palestine Columnist Daoud Kuttab discussed the conflict's latest developments, including Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah's big speech and calls by US President Joe Biden for a humanitarian pause in the fighting, as well as answered guest questions.
Columbia University drops deadline for dismantling pro-Palestinian protest camp by Vivian Lin | AFP | Apr 26, 2024
Ceremony held for World Central Kitchen aid workers killed in Gaza Agence France-Presse | AFP | Apr 25, 2024
Sister of Israeli-Russian scholar Elizabeth Tsurkov, who is being held by Iran-backed Shiite militia, calls for US military sanctions on Iraq