Author: Kerent Benjumea

What Does Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s Death Mean for ISIL?

ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed on Sunday as a result of a raid by U.S. Special Operations Forces in northern Syria. The leader of the Islamic State was cornered when he triggered an explosive suicide vest that killed himself and three of his children. He was quickly identified

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Qatar Announces Abolishment Of Kafala System For Migrant Workers

The UN employment rights agency, The International Labour Organization (ILO), recently stated they will be terminating Qatar’s Kafala system by January. This move is in response to criticism from human rights groups for the inhumane treatment of migrant workers, after news that the country would host the 2022 World Cup.

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ISIS Militants Break Out Of Syrian Prison Amid Turkish Bombing

A spokesman for Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria said that five ISIS members have broken out of prison in Qamishli city yesterday due to Turkish bombing nearby. Concurrently, women who were previously affiliated with ISIS at the Al Hol camp began an uprising where they attacked security forces with

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Jordanian Teachers Continue Strike Against Low Pay

Teachers in Jordan continue their strike demanding a 50% salary increase for the third week. After being promised pay increases in 2014, the government has not completed this promise and is now claiming that there is simply not enough money. Walid Maani, the Minister of Education, told Jordanian Roya TV

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Turkey And U.S. Visit Syrian Safe Zone

Syria and Turkey have established a joint safe-zone on the Syrian-Turkish border, meant to address Turkey’s national security concerns. This will result in the clearing of the People’s Protection Unit (YPG) near the Turkish border. This news comes after much pressure from Turkey’s President Erdogan on the United States to

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UN Calls For Accountability Of War Crimes In Yemen

The UN has recently released a statement announcing that the U.K., the U.S., France, and Iran may be responsible for war crimes carried out in Yemen through their continuous support for parties operating in the war-torn state. Both the Houthis, backed by Iran, and the government and their loyalists, backed

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ISIS Continues To Operate Despite Trump Announcing Their Eradication

Various sources have confirmed that ISIS has regained strength in major footholds, months after Trump claimed responsibility for wiping out the terror group entirely. According to a 15 July United Nations assessment on the status of ISIS, the “caliphate” has lost its geographical centre and is operating covertly. However, its

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U.S. Sanctions Preventing Iranians From Receiving Medicine

The United States’ sanctions have resulted in Iranians scrambling to find life-saving medicine. Trump and his “maximum pressure” campaign has been blamed for the deterioration of health and employment in Iran’s population. While Iran is able to supply more than 90% of their own pharmaceuticals, about 4% of medicine is

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42 Casualties After Libya Drone Strike

The town of Murzuq in Libya was hit by an air strike on Monday, leaving 42 civilians dead and more than 60 injured, of which 30 are critically injured. The 200 civilians were gathering at a town hall meeting in the Qalaa neighborhood “to settle social differences,” council official Ibrahim

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The U.A.E. Pulls Back From The War In Yemen

The United Arab Emirates has decided to start pulling out troops from the devastating war in Yemen, but has denied full withdrawal from the conflict. In doing so, the U.A.E. has now left the fight against Houthi rebels up to Saudi Arabian forces backed by the United States. However, the

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Sudan’s Military Rejects Ethiopia’s Transition Proposal

A transition plan to move Sudan towards civilian rule was proposed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on June 23rd but was rejected by Sudanese military rulers. The Transitional Military Council (TMC), nevertheless, refused this proposal. “We asked the mediators to unite their efforts and submit a joint paper

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