Kyle Orton

Normalising Bashar al Assad as a counter to Iran is a fool's errand

Attempts to transform Syrian regime leader Bashar al Assad into a regional bulwark against Iran have been tried before - and didn't work. There is little to no evidence that it will work this time around.

Myopic US policy in Syria is forcing Turkey to conduct another operation

The US attempt to focus on a single goal in Syria, namely Daesh, has served as fuel for other conflicts in the region and compromised Turkey's internal security.

Can EU countries make any difference in Syria?

The Syria summit in Istanbul was a prime opportunity for influencers from the European Union to step up and make their presence felt in finding a solution for Syria. Did they meet the mark?

What comes next for Syria's Idlib?

The assault on Idlib has been prevented, for now. The only way to prevent a future offensive, though, will be to get the US, Turkey and NATO on a united track.

The Sinai insurgency is not the only war Sisi is losing

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi presents himself as a bulwark against terrorism, but under his watch the Sinai has become a preferred destination for terrorists. Unfortunately for him, the insurgency is not the only major failure of his rule.

There is as much evidence against Assad as there was against the Nazis

As many as 200,000 people languish in Bashar al Assad's prisons today. Prisoners are systematically tortured, raped, starved and murdered. The case against Assad is ironclad.

The international community has let the murder in Syria go on for too long

The US and France have talked a big game when it comes to responding to gas attacks in Syria, but in the absence of a broad and coherent Syria policy, can they make a difference?

How the Syrian revolution turned into a global battlefield

The war in Syria is far removed from the ambitions of the protesters in Damascus in 2011. How did it get to this point and is there any hope left for the revolution?

The ceasefire in eastern Ghouta is a farce

The so-called ceasefire imposed by the international community in Ghouta simply serves Russia and the Assad regime's interests by sustaining their campaign of psychological warfare, and giving them an operational and political advantage.

Israel looks to set a red line in Syria

Israeli strikes in Syria last week could signal the beginning of a series of wars on Syrian territory that will overshadow the struggle for the removal of Bashar al Assad.

Why is the US allying with Russia to protect a US-listed terror group?

US President Donald Trump has approved a controversial plan to arm "Kurdish militias" in Syria. A detailed analysis of the militias shows that these weapons will essentially be going to the PKK, a terrorist organisation.

US strike in Syria tested Moscow, and Russia was found bluffing

It is now clear that Russia cannot protect the Syrian regime if the US is determined to challenge it. The myths and rationalisations of a "Third World War" have been overthrown.