Russian jets to launch airstrikes in Syria from aircraft carrier

Russian jets to launch airstrikes in Syria from aircraft carrier

by WorldTribune Staff, November 9, 2016 Warplanes from Russia’s lone active aircraft carrier will soon begin airstrikes on the Syrian city of Aleppo, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Nov. 8. Jets from the Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, will target rebel positions on the outskirts of Aleppo, where the rebels […]

Obama’s successor to inherit multi-front war against ISIL; U.S. conducting daily strikes in Libya

Obama’s successor to inherit multi-front war against ISIL; U.S. conducting daily strikes in Libya

by WorldTribune Staff, November 8, 2016 U.S. forces are engaged on multiple fronts against an enemy that has no problem putting civilians in harm’s way. And there is no end in sight for this long-term mission against jihadists determined to carry out mass attacks long after they are driven from their Iraqi and Syrian strongholds. […]

On election day in U.S., a fight to the death with ISIL rages in Raqqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq

On election day in U.S., a fight to the death with ISIL rages in Raqqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq

by WorldTribune Staff, November 8, 2016 As U.S. voters headed to the polls to elect President Barack Obama’s successor on Nov. 8, U.S.-backed forces pushed toward Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq amid heavy resistance from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance said it had advanced south […]

Iran signs $6 billion gas deal with France’s Total

Iran signs $6 billion gas deal with France’s Total

by WorldTribune Staff, November 8, 2016 Iran on Nov. 8 signed a $6 billion gas development deal with France’s Total. The deal is the first of its kind between the Islamic Republic and a Western energy firm since the nuclear deal with world powers took effect in January 2016. The deal for development of Phase […]

Syria’s Assad: ‘Weaker’ West did nothing to stop ISIL

Syria’s Assad: ‘Weaker’ West did nothing to stop ISIL

by WorldTribune Staff, November 7, 2016 While the “much weaker West” did nothing to stop Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in Syria it was ultimately Russian firepower that “made the difference,” Syrian President Bashar Assad said. “In the past if I said anything, people would say the Syrian president is disconnected from reality. […]

Iraqi Kurdish forces advance on ISIL-held town near Mosul

Iraqi Kurdish forces advance on ISIL-held town near Mosul

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Iraqi Kurdish forces have launched an attack to retake a town held by Islamic State (IS) militants east of Mosul, where government forces are locked in fierce urban war with the extremists. Around 2,000 Peshmerga fighters entered the town of Bashiqa on November 7, which is […]

ISIL slows advance on Mosul with suicide bombs, IEDs

ISIL slows advance on Mosul with suicide bombs, IEDs

by WorldTribune Staff, November 6, 2016 Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL) use of car bombs and human shields has slowed Iraq’s advance on Mosul. ISIL has deployed waves of suicide car bombs, as well as mortar attacks, roadside bombs and sniper fire against the advancing Iraqi army. “We are carrying out the toughest […]

Turkey building a wall along its entire border with Syria

Turkey building a wall along its entire border with Syria

by WorldTribune Staff, November 6, 2016 Turkey plans to complete a 900-kilometer wall along its border with Syria by early 2017, the country’s defense minister said. “We plan to build a wall along our entire border with Syria,” Fikri Isik said on Nov. 2 during an inspection tour of military personnel and installations in the […]

Iranians celebrate at former U.S. embassy, 37 years seizing it, taking 52 hostages

Iranians celebrate at former U.S. embassy, 37 years seizing it, taking 52 hostages

by WorldTribune Staff, November 4, 2016 Iranians burned U.S. and Israeli flags and chanted “death to America” and “death to Israel” on Nov. 3 to mark the anniversary of the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Teheran. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he agrees with the “death to America” chants, claiming the goal of […]

Mideast meltdown 2009-2016: A U.S. president leaves for his successor a living hell

Mideast meltdown 2009-2016: A U.S. president leaves for his successor a living hell

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The tumultuous events which have swept the Mideast like a malevolent sandstorm have hardly abated;  crises and conflict are now nearly entrenched. Thus looking back at the results of President Barack Obama’s two-term legacy, its clear we are facing a Mideast meltdown with dangerous and […]