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Partial Ceasefire Reached Without Ukraine at the Table
Combats continue in Donbas despite a brokered partial ceasefire. CREDIT: Ukrainian Presidency.A two-hour phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18 resulted in a series of preliminary agreements concerning the ongoing conflict in Donbas. Notably, Ukraine was not included in these negotiations. This call marked the first direct contact between the two leaders in a month and came amid…
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UN Leads Cyprus Peace Talks in Switzerland
Switzerland is hosting UN-backed informal Cyprus peace talks. The discussions aim to explore potential steps toward resolving the island’s division between the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has remained separated since 1974. In addition to its partition, significant areas of the island remain under the…
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Morocco: New Host for Turkish Drone Manufacturing?
Atlas Defense, a company newly registered in Rabat in January 2024, is expected to become the first production facility for Turkish military drones in Africa. The company’s stated activities include: “the design, manufacturing, development, and maintenance of drones.” The company is owned by Haluk and Selçuk Bayraktar, leaders of Türkiye ‘s Baykar defense firm. Baykar…
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Syria SitRep: Alawite Uprising Crushed, Mass Executions Reported
Today, we revisite the latest developments in Syria’s ongoing crisis. CREDIT: Rafael Medina.Armed clashes erupted on March 6 in the Syrian provinces of Latakia and Tartus, strongholds of the Alawite minority, after insurgents attacked security forces in Beit Ana. The violence escalated as pro-Assad militias also seized military positions, prompting a large-scale government military response. The Alawites The Alawites are a branch of Shia Islam, making up…
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Morocco Plans Military Airport in Sahara with US and French Support
Morocco is considering the construction of a military airport in the extreme south of the Sahara to address the alleged growing threat posed by terrorist groups in the Sahel. The project, reportedly involving cooperation with the United States and France, is intended to reinforce regional security as Western forces gradually withdraw from the area. The…
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Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stalled, Blocking Humanitarian Aid
Israel has halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing Hamas’s rejection of Israel’s proposal to extend phase one of the ceasefire brokered in January 2025, instead of moving to phase two as originally planned. The decision, announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, follows the expiration on March 2 of a 42-day ceasefire part of…
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PKK Declares Ceasefire with Turkiye Following Öcalan’s Call
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Executive Committee issued the statement on March 1, 2025, announcing a unilateral ceasefire, responding to a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan, for “peace and a democratic society.” The PKK is an armed political group founded in 1978 by Abdullah Öcalan, advocating for Kurdish autonomy and rights in Turkiye.…
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Three Years of War: The US-Russia Talks and Ukraine’s Uncertain Future
As the war in Ukraine reaches its third anniversary, diplomatic efforts have intensified to explore potential resolutions. Under the leadership of US President Donald Trump, the United States has taken a new approach, engaging directly with Russia while sidelining Ukraine in critical negotiations. Recent discussions between Washington and Moscow signal a potential shift in international…
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The Cost of Escape: Bribery in the Russian Military
On Februay 17, Vazhnye Istorii reported that some Russian military personnel are securing their departure from the front lines through financial transactions. Various sources, including military insiders, relatives of soldiers, and activists, have confirmed the practice to the media outlet. The price of these briberies varies based on the soldier’s status—whether they are mobilized, contracted,…
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El-Fasher Under Siege: A Critical Phase in the Sudan War
El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, remains under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) but has not fallen. The city has been encircled for over nine months, with intensified drone and artillery str1kes causing significant c1vilian casualties and displacement. Despite an RSF ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied groups,…