Banned by many countries, cluster munitions leave unexploded bombs that pose a risk to civilians for decades to come.

• July 7, 2023

Mixed picture for Kyiv’s forces as Russia fights to hold onto Ukrainian territory captured in its 16-months-old invasion.

• July 3, 2023

Tehran blasts Paris for allowing meeting and protest by dissident group and thanks Albania after raid on what Iran considers a ‘terrorist’ organisation.

• July 3, 2023

Moscow says Ukraine ordered the alleged attack on Sergey Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of the annexed peninsula.

• July 3, 2023

Saturday’s attempted mutiny in Russia has led to speculation about the status of Wagner operatives in CAR and elsewhere in Africa.

• June 30, 2023

The move is the latest escalation in a crackdown on French-owned foreign media by the Burkinabe government in recent years.

• June 30, 2023

Russia demands explanation after Polish justice minister says suspect was 14th member of spy ring to be arrested in NATO member-country.

• June 30, 2023

By Fuad SHAHBAZOV, Baku-based independent regional security and defence analyst

Rising tensions between Iran and Afghanistan, sparked by territorial and water disputes, are at a critical juncture following a border incident resulting in deaths on both sides. While armed conflict seems unlikely due to the two nations’ relative military strength and political instability, the water scarcity problem, and the possible intervention of external actors like China underscore the necessity for diplomatic dialogue.
On May 27, 2023, a volatile situation erupted along the Iran-Afghanistan border, leading to the unfortunate deaths of two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter. This incident, near a border post, drastically intensified the already burgeoning tensions between these two nations Following contentious border incidents, both sides voiced solid and bitter accusations. However, several experts have interpreted this ongoing discord’s root cause as territorial and water disputes. The issue of water scarcity has steadily morphed into a significant challenge for Iran, causing friction with its neighbours. READ MORE

• June 27, 2023