Fuel crisis threatens security and stability in the Sahel A good round-up on the current security situation in the Sahel based on interviews with @simnasr.bsky.social @cagataycebe.bsky.social and myself (by @anadoluajansicom.bsky.social) www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/sah...

Sahel’de yakıt krizi güvenlik ve istikrarı tehdit ediyor

Uzmanlar Mali, Burkina Faso ve Nijer'de derinleşen ve Batı Afrika’nın diğer ülkelerine sıçrama riski bulunan yakıt krizinin halkın günlük yaşamını felç ettiğini, güvenlik ve siyasi istikrar üzerinde c...

aa.com.tr

A look at how security pressure in Turkey and the Afghanistan–Pakistan region weakened ISIS’ Turkish-language media presence.

A Short Assessment of ISIS Turkish Media Service

A look at how security pressure in Turkey and the Afghanistan–Pakistan region weakened ISIS’s Turkish-language media presence.

open.substack.com

The arrest of Halis Bayancuk, one of Turkey's well-known and rising religious figures, sparked a debate on social media between Sufis and Salafis in recent days.

The detentions that deepened the Sufi–Salafi tension on social media in Turkey

How the arrest of two Salafi figures after the 10 November debate reshaped discussions between religious communities.

open.substack.com

JNIM in Mali issued a statement today calling on international organizations, businesspeople, student groups, and the working class. It created a narrative encompassing the people of the coastal region.

An interesting statement from al Qaeda in West Africa.

In their latest statement, JNIM calls on the international and local actors to investigate and tries to gain the support from locals in Mali and the rest of the Sahel.

open.substack.com

I'll publish some of my articles in English and Turkish on Substack. To subscribe: fromcagataycebe.substack.com/welcome

I spoke with sheikhs from the al-Baggara, al-Ugeidat/Aqidat, and Masahadah tribes in eastern Syria. They shared their views on the SDF.

The View of Syrian Arab Tribes on the SDF

How Arab tribes in Syria see the SDF and why tensions continue in the region

fromcagataycebe.substack.com

During Trump and Sharaa's meeting, Syria announced its decision to join the anti-ISIS coalition politically, rather than militarily. Two weeks ago, a Syrian official told me that Damascus had requested that the U.S. halt ground operations, though they could accept sharing intelligence against ISIS

Syria officials: US strike on jihadi commander a message to rebel holdouts

A US strike that killed a prominent rebel in Syria in early October aimed to send a message to militants who refuse to join the new Syrian national army, Syrian sources told Al-Monitor.

al-monitor.com

"AFRICOM officials were concerned that the U.S. lacked the intelligence and assets to support expanding operations to Nigeria, one of the people familiar said."

Trump’s ‘guns-a-blazing’ threat to Nigeria shocked key players, aides

President Trump’s threat to go “guns-a-blazing” into Nigeria concerned U.S. military officials in Africa and surprised even those who had been pushing the issue.

washingtonpost.com

Iran, Sudani said, is “a neighboring country with which we have friendly ties. But certainly, this friendship will not be at the expense of our national decisions and the interests of Iraq and Iraqis.”

Iraq’s Leader Seeks an Improbable Prize: Independence From the U.S. and Iran

Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is running for re-election Tuesday after managing to keep his country out of the region’s recent conflicts.

wsj.com

Like Iran’s “axis of resistance” - a network of non-state actors loosely tied together under an Islamic revolutionary banner - the UAE’s “axis of secessionists” comprises a network of non-state actors tied together under a counterrevolutionary banner.

How Abu Dhabi built an axis of secessionists across the region

From North Africa to the Gulf, the UAE has aggressively expanded its counter-revolutionary strategy in the wake of the Arab Spring

middleeasteye.net

A sophisticated Chinese spy ship monitored Australian, Philippines, United States and New Zealand naval forces as they conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea last week. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Chinese ship spies on Australia, Philippines and the US

A sophisticated Chinese spy ship monitors Australian, Philippines, United States and New Zealand naval forces as they conduct another round of joint exercises in the South China Sea.

abc.net.au

"More than 200 million people are estimated to live in territories controlled by non-state armed groups."

Climate change is here to stay. So are armed groups. Ahead of COP30, here’s why that matters…

A Q&A unpacking the complex impacts of climate change on violent crises, and the increasingly important role of non-state actors.

thenewhumanitarian.org

Defense Intelligence Agency and the State Department’s intelligence bureau, show an increase in the flow of material from the U.A.E. to the rebel RSF since the spring.

Exclusive | How U.A.E. Arms Bolstered a Sudanese Militia Accused of Genocide

Reports by U.S. intelligence agencies show an increase in the flow of materiel from the U.A.E. to the rebel Rapid Support Forces since the spring, according to U.S. officials.

wsj.com

President Trump on Saturday threatened Nigeria with potential military action and said the United States might cut off aid, accusing the West African country’s government of failing to protect Christians.

Trump Threatens Military Action in Nigeria Over Protections for Christians

nytimes.com

My latest: Sources ranging from former Hurras ad-Deen/al-Qaeda members to official army personnel emphasize that CENTCOM's use of the term "al-Qaeda" is merely a pretext, and that the real aim is to push jihadi groups not yet in the army's ranks to join.

Syria officials: US strike on jihadi commander a message to rebel holdouts

A US strike that killed a prominent rebel in Syria in early October aimed to send a message to militants who refuse to join the new Syrian national army, Syrian sources told Al-Monitor.

al-monitor.com

Xi, who wants Trump to drop his tariffs on Chinese goods, ease access to U.S. technology like semiconductors and loosen restrictions on Chinese investments in the US, analysts said. The icing on the cake for Xi would be if Trump signaled he was open to reducing Washington’s support for Taiwan.

Asia, Caught in the Middle, Faces Trump and Xi’s Tug of War

nytimes.com

Jointly and separately, US and NATO forces conducted operations and exercises throughout the Arctic in recent weeks to counter increasing competition in the higher latitudes, officials from the forces have acknowledged.

US, NATO hone Arctic skills across High Northern latitudes

Jointly and separately, US and NATO forces conducted operations and exercises throughout the Arctic in recent weeks to counter increasing competition in the higher...

janes.com

Senior White House and Navy officials are in early discussions to replace the current mix of warships with a new “Golden Fleet” that would be better suited to counter China and other potential future threats, according to former and current officials.

Exclusive | Trump Pushes for New Classes of Navy Warships

The president is personally involved in discussions for what the Navy is calling the “Golden Fleet.” The new warships would be better suited to counter China and other potential future threats.

wsj.com

ECFR warns that "Traoré is struggling to control territory beyond major urban centres, and many African and European analysts now fear Ouagadougou could fall to jihadist groups". Around 60% of Burkina Faso’s territory is now believed to be beyond government authority.

Burkina Faso: Will Ouagadougou fall to jihadists? - The Africa Report.com

Behind the patriotic propaganda and Russian backing, Burkina Faso’s military is losing ground fast and the once unthinkable prospect of an isolated capital now looms large as jihadist groups choke its...

theafricareport.com

“I want Chevron here for another 100 years,” Mr. Maduro said after Chevron got a U.S. permit to restart pumping oil. The company has been in Venezuela since 1923.

How a U.S. Oil Giant Became a Pillar of Venezuela’s Fragile Economy

nytimes.com

Missiles, Subs, and Drones: How China Plans to Sink a U.S. Aircraft Carrier

China's Plan to Sink U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Comes Down to 3 Words

A look inside China's A2/AD "bubble." How carrier-killer missiles, hypersonic weapons, and a "drone wall" are designed to keep the U.S. Navy and its aircraft carriers out.

nationalsecurityjournal.org

Ermenistan-Azerbaycan barışının sağlanması Güney Kafkasya’da büyük bir değişim yaratabilir. Yıllardır kapalı olan sınırların açılmasıyla, bölgenin Avrupa ile Asya arasında bir transit merkezi haline gelmesine katkıda bulunarak küresel ekonomiye entegrasyonu güçlendirebilir.

Ermenistan ve Azerbaycan: Kalıcı Barışa Giden Zorlu Yol | International Crisis Group

Ermenistan ve Azerbaycan arasında ihtilafı sonlandıracak anlaşma imzaya hazır bekliyor. Barış, hem iki ülke hem de iki ülkenin bölgesel ekonomik entegrasyona dair ortak vizyonları için faydalı olur. B...

crisisgroup.org

An elite Army Special Operations aviation unit (160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment) has been conducting flights in the southern Caribbean Sea near the coast of Venezuela.

U.S. B-52s and Helicopters Fly Near Venezuela in Show of Threats

nytimes.com

"...an interrogator revving a power drill near a blindfolded prisoner to scare him into divulging Al Qaeda secrets in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. In another, the interrogator is holding a handgun to the prisoner’s head."

Fragments of 2003 Cable Detail Torture in a Secret C.I.A. Prison

nytimes.com

"Together with a ban on Russian warships visiting Cyprus, which had previously supplied refueling and maintenance services, this was a major blow to the Russian presence in the Mediterranean."

Russia’s Submarine Problem Is Much Worse Than Many Imagine - Naval News

The Russian submarine Novorossiysk, an Improved Kilo-class vessel, has been forced to limp home to the Baltic after a mechanical failure in the Mediterranean. While some reports exaggerated its plight...

navalnews.com

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has introduced a new generation of its Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Swarm solution at AUSA 2025.

IAI unveils new generation multi-layered defence system against drone swarms at AUSA 2025

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has introduced a new generation of its Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Swarm solution at AUSA 2025.

defence-industry.eu

Singapore is set to launch the first of its new multirole combat vessels (MRCVs) in October, marking a major milestone in the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) fleet renewal programme.

Singapore prepares to launch first multirole combat vessel

Singapore is set to launch the first of its new multirole combat vessels (MRCVs) in October, marking a major milestone in the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) fleet...

janes.com

All of this should concern Israelis. Even if the war ends, there will then need to be a moment of soul-searching about the collective society’s responsibility for the years of mass killing and displacement. Palestinians desperately need this war to end. But so do Israelis.

Opinion | Israel Cannot Go On Winning Like This

nytimes.com

An arrest means that counterintelligence has failed to deter and, for a time, to detect the recruitment of an American by a foreign intelligence service.

Some 83,000 Israelis emigrated in 2024, 50 percent more than the previous year. Seven members of the Israeli military died by suicide in July and August alone.

Israel at War With Itself

nytimes.com