Commentary
By fueling the arguments of both supporters and opponents of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijan wants to ensure he is re-elected with a weaker mandate.
Bashir Kitachaev
{
"authors": [
"Mario Abou Zeid",
"Mamoun Abu-Nowar",
"Kamel Wazne"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
"programAffiliation": "MEP",
"programs": [
"Middle East"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"Levant",
"Syria",
"Middle East"
],
"topics": [
"Political Reform",
"Security"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Can Syrian Rebels Unite Against Assad?
An alliance of opposition forces has seized control of a second strategic city from government troops.
Published on Apr 26, 2015
Source: Al Jazeera’s Inside Story
A loose alliance of rebel groups in Syria is claiming a second significant victory against government forces in less than a month. The opposition offensive in northern Idlib province was spearheaded by al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, Nusra Front. Fighting under the banner, “Army of Conquest,” rebel allies seized control of the provincial capital Idlib at the end of March.
A broader union of fighters says it has now overrun nearby Jisr al Shughur. The city was one of the first places to take up arms against president Assad, when security forces cracked down on protests.
The fight for Idlib province comes ahead of UN-backed talks in Geneva on May 4.
So can opposition groups present a united front in the push for peace? Or will the pursuit of different agendas eclipse the fight against a common enemy? Carnegie’s Mario Abou Zeid spoke with Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
This interview was originally broadcast by Al Jazeera’s Inside Story.
About the Authors
Mario Abou Zeid
Former Research Analyst, Middle East Center
Abou Zeid was a research analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where his work focuses on political developments in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
Mamoun Abu-Nowar
Kamel Wazne
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
- Who Does Azerbaijan Want to See Win Armenia’s Elections?
- Russia’s Elite Conflict Over Internet Restrictions Does Not Herald Regime CollapseCommentary
A much-discussed disagreement over internet restrictions in Russia was never an existential threat for Putin: It was about elite groups protecting their interests.
Alexandra Prokopenko
- Is Belarus Really Set to Return to the Ukraine War?Commentary
By reminding the world that Lukashenko is a threat to NATO and Ukraine, Kyiv is trying to return the focus to why the Belarusian regime needs to be contained rather than rewarded.
Artyom Shraibman
- Russian Market Sours for Belarusian State CompaniesCommentary
Minsk’s faith in the future of its larger neighbor’s economy is fading as Belarusian firms in Russia see record losses.
Olga Loiko
- What Does Central Europe’s Post-Orban Russia Policy Look Like?Commentary
Though Orban is gone, Putin can still count on some like-minded individuals in Central and Eastern Europe. However, they will seek to avoid open confrontation with EU institutions over Ukraine and their ties with Moscow.
Dimitar Bechev
