Author Archives: jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 21/12 The apparent decision by US President Donald Trump to order the complete withdrawal of US forces from Syria was preceded by a looming crisis between the US and Turkey. It is worth looking at this crisis in … Continue reading →

Jerusalem Post, 30/11 Syrian Regime closes accounts with west- and Israel-linked rebels, as Iran builds and expands its presence in the area   Evidence emerging from south west Syria indicates that the Assad regime has begun to ‘close accounts’ with … Continue reading →

Jerusalem Post, 2/11 The jihadi organization is currently stirring in outlying areas of Iraq and Syria Islamic State fighters operating in the Lower Euphrates river valley this week killed 68 fighters of the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces.  Under cover of … Continue reading →

Jerusalem Post, 9/10 Teheran prefers to strike directly only at weak and peripheral enemies, while acting against stronger ones through proxies. Is this distinction sustainable? The effort by the US and its allies to contain and ultimately roll back the … Continue reading →

Jerusalem Post, 27/10 Turkey and Qatar seek to turn the death of Jamal Khashoggi to political advantage   The killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi represents a golden opportunity for all those forces opposed to the current direction of … Continue reading →

29/9 In Raqqa, they were exhuming  a mass grave as we drove into the city.  It was by the municipality, in the center of the town.  A great gaping pit.  A group of men in blue municipality uniforms at work … Continue reading →

Jerusalem Post, 14/9 Over the past week, violent protests have swept the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Twelve people have been killed in the protests and hundreds injured. The protests focused on the dire living conditions in the city, which … Continue reading →