OPINION

The UAE, not an old state and not even a state in every sense of the word, was founded in the 1970s with the British support for small sheikhdoms and immigration of people from other parts of the Arab Peninsula. The 47-year-old state lies on the southern coasts …

Abdel Bari Atwan • As a deadly cholera epidemic compounds the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Saudi-led war on Yemen, the military and political situation in the country is in stalemate. Other than the occasional Houthi missile strike into Saudi territory and sporadic fighting on the Saudi-Yemen border that …

As expected, the intra-Syrian agreement on a cessation of hostilities between the Syrian army and the armed factions in what was seen as a principled success of the deal could lead to ending the six-year war in Syria. Moscow explained that it was in contact with the American …

Polina Tikhonova • As Turkey turns its back on the West and seeks rapprochement with Russia, Pakistan has formally asked Moscow to help stabilize Afghanistan. Turkey, Pakistan and Russia are pushing toward a peaceful world with Turkey backing Moscow’s diplomatic initiative to resolve the Syrian conflict. Meanwhile, Pakistan, China and Russia working …

Egyptian expert says Russia is ‘excellent candidate’ to mediate in crisis around Qatar CAIRO, July 31. /TASS/. Doha’s crisis with Arab states was imposed on the Arab states from outside. It is dangerous not only because of a possible military confrontation of Arab states with Iran, but also …

The leading oil producer within OPEC, Saudi Arabia, seems to be suffering from low oil prices and instability within the country. RIA Novosti political observer Igor Gashkov analyzed how the country, in fact, might ruin itself from within, and what external factors might play a certain role. Saudi …

America’s plan to divide and conquer Iraq continues to backfire spectacularly as Iraq’s Defence Minister arrives in Tehran to sign a memorandum for future military cooperation. By Adam Garrie / The Duran / Ever since Iraq restored a measure of self-government after the illegal 2003 invasion and occupation …

Iraq is embracing Iran, Russia and Syria while actively distancing itself from the US and its multiple bases in the country. Iraq’s Vice President Nouri al-Maliki is in Moscow where he openly declared that he seeks a military and political alliance with the Russian Federation. After talks with …

Friday’s announcement that the CIA’s covert program to arm and back Syrian rebels is being shut down amounts to an official declaration that the US administration has abandoned both the political and armed wings of the Syrian opposition. That effectively means handing Syria, or most of it, to …