ACLED Regional Overview – Middle East (8-21 May 2021)
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In the last two weeks in the Middle East, an 11-day military conflict broke out between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip, while Arabs and Jews engaged in political violence inside Israel and throughout the occupied West Bank. Across the Middle East, hundreds of demonstrations were held in solidarity with Palestine. Meanwhile, airstrikes were carried out by Russia and Israel in Syria, while the Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD) launched a large-scale security operation against the Islamic State (IS) in the Deir-ez-Zor countryside. In Iraq, riots broke out following the killing of a prominent activist in Kerbala. In Yemen, the overall level of political violence continued to decrease as fighting subsided in Marib and Taizz governorates, although the Houthi stronghold of Sadah was targeted by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes. Elsewhere, fighting between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Turkish milit
ACLED Regional Overview – Middle East (24-30 April 2021)
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Last week in the Middle East, while Yemen’s Marib and Hodeidah governorates continued to be focal points of fighting, violence also significantly increased in Ad Dali governorate as Houthis launched an offensive against pro-Hadi and Southern Resistance forces. In Syria, three people were killed in a drone airstrike conducted by an unidentified armed group targeting an oil tanker off the coast of Banyas. Another unidentified drone attack killed a pro-Iran Fatemiyoun Brigade commander in Siyal. Elsewhere in the region, Turkish forces launched new operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Northern Iraq. Riots were reported in Baghdad as demonstrators blocked roads and clashed with police forces over electricity supply problems. Lastly, violence continued in East Jerusalem, while Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip launched rockets into Israel, drawing retailitary airstrikes.
Yemen: fighting rages near ancient city of Marib amid Houthi offensive thenationalnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenationalnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Fighting has raged around the government-held city since February, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a campaign to try to take the oil-rich region from the government.
Thousands of civilians living in camps for internally displaced people have already had to flee again as the fighting approached the city, Mr Omar said.
“Civilians in Marib have been suffering a lot,” he said. “They need life-saving aid and medical assistance.”
Mr Omar urged the parties in the conflict to make safe corridors to allow civilians to escape the fighting, and to protect vital infrastructure such as dams, power plants and the water network.
70 dead as battle for Yemen s Marib rages on three fronts jordantimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jordantimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.