Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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(FILES) A picture taken on July 18, 2013 shows Kurdish opposition fighters attending a ceremony the northern Syrian border village of al Qamishli. Jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda have taken hostage around 200 Kurdish civilians after violent clashes with Kurdish fighters in two villages of eastern Syria, a monitoring group said on July 31, 2013. (AFP PHOTO/STR)

Kurdish organization in Iran is prepared to send fighters to Syria

by Sherzad Shekhani | Aug 5, 2013 | Middle East

Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), a Kurdish organization in Iran, has announced that it is “ready to send fighters to Syrian Kurdistan to fight beside their people.” The decision comes in the light of ongoing clashes between the...

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Forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad stand near empty swimming pools during what they said a military operation against rebels in al-Mansoura area in Aleppo countryside, June 3, 2013. (REUTERS/George Ourfalian)

Syrian regime releases 43 women as part of detainee swap

by Caroline Akoum | Jul 20, 2013 | Middle East

Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—The release of 43 female activists by the Syrian regime yesterday sparked speculations over the fate of the nine Shi’ite pilgrims held hostages by the North Storm Brigade in Aleppo since May 2012. The kidnappers affiliated with the North...

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Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) are pictured in Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood, June 7, 2013. (REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman.)

Kurds and Islamists clash in eastern Syria

by Nazeer Rida | Jul 19, 2013 | Middle East

Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Clashes between Kurdish militants and Islamist rebels killed 29 people in the eastern city of Ras Al-Ayn in Syria, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) announced on Thursday. It has been reported that Kurdish militants...

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A Turkish Alawite woman prays as she visits a tomb, a holy site for the Alawite community, with her child in the Samandag district of Hatay province, close to the border with Syria, July 27, 2012. (Reuters)

Opinion: Turkey’s Alawite Opening

by Soner Cagaptay | Jul 13, 2013 | Opinion

In recent months, Turkey has done the unthinkable, launching peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an organization Ankara designates as a terrorist group. An important motivation for this breakthrough has been Turkey’s Syria policy. Turkey is pursuing...

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Syrian Opposition Coalition members and Syrian National Coalition members attend a meeting in Istanbul. (AP)

Syria Opposition Meets to Select PM

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Mar 18, 2013 | Middle East

Istanbul, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syria’s opposition coalition began a push Monday to form an interim government and choose its first prime minister. The meeting being held in Istanbul is the most serious attempt by the opposition to establish a rival administration and...