As the Syrian war enters its fifth year this week, the government, backed firmly by Russia and Iran, feels it is winning on the ground. The army has driven insurgents from suburbs south of Damascus and neutralised armed groups in Muadamiya, to the west, and Barzeh, to the east.

The destruction by Daesh of Iraq’s and Syria’s cultural heritage is impossible to comprehend. The latest target was Nimrud, the remnants of the ancient Assyrian capital city near Mosul, which, according to reliable reports, has been bulldozed. While ancient images o

Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a special session of both Houses of the US Congress was pure political theatre. His objectives were, in order of priority, to promote Netanyahu, to secure the advantage for his Likud Party in the March 17 parliamentary poll, to cement the Li

A showdown between Iran and the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany could come in a month’s time when the basics of a deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme are due to be agreed.

The West’s double standard, disadvantageous to Arabs and Muslims, is in operation once again. Western-dominated international media are giving prime coverage to last weekend’s shootings of two in Copenhagen by a Danish Muslim, while ignoring the execution of three Mu

It has been said: “Football is a game played for gentlemen by hooligans.” However, is has long been obvious that, in fact, football is a game played by hooligans for hooligans, as well as properly behaved folk. Last weekend, the Egyptian authorities suspended indefi

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud bloc is leading in opinion polls ahead of that country’s March 17 early general elections. The latest poll gave right-wing Likud 26 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, while 24 seats were projected for its nearest rival

The depredations of the so-called Islamic State have forced US President Barack Obama and his advisors to rethink their attitude towards President Bashar Assad and his government in Damascus. When asked late last year if the US still actively discussing ways to remove Assad as p

Catholic bishop of Jos Ignatius Kaigama accused the international community of lacking determination to tackle Boko Haram, the extremist movement which has slain thousands and taken hundreds prisoner in northeastern Nigeria. He questioned last weekend's demonstrations in France