Articles from the author

The challenge for the international community is to accept the changing dynamics in order to be better positioned to respond to the threats it presents

Sending heavy weapons to a secular militia for the final assault on Daesh was an easy decision for the US. But it comes with heavy responsibilities

Even if the current operation works, the country will still be a long way from peace and stability. The most important question now is: Who will do the rebuilding?

Armed groups fill vacuum created by a lack of centralised authority

With governments embroiled in uprisings, Kurds are beginning to benefit

This fragile Turkey-Russia pact could work, but unless the Al Assad regime and its backers reconcile with the groups it still calls ‘terrorists’, more conflict is likely

Atrocities, like the one in Baghdad last Wednesday, will kill off hopes for democracy to be reinstated and peace to be re-established

Iraq is in disarray, but it can still call upon Kurdish forces and the Shiite militias to at least contain Daesh until Iraqi forces reorganise

Until Sunni Arab communities can trust the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad, there is little hope of permanently uprooting Daesh

The beleaguered nation’s problems need to be solved from within, but its politicians and judiciary have become obstacles to progress

The threat is real, but nothing new for the Kurds