Iraqi and Kurdish forces have launched an assault on the last major urban holding of Islamic State in Iraq.

FARC peace deal suffers a shock defeat at the ballot box, Kunduz under siege again, and the Iraqi government prepares to attack Mosul.

After years of preparation, the third battle of Fallujah has begun, and this time it’s the Iraqi armed forces doing the fighting.

Iran’s energy engagement is serving to solidify Iraqi Kurdistan’s shift towards greater autonomy.

Recep Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has retaken its parliamentary majority in a shock result that might mean big changes for Turkey’s foreign policy.

Ankara’s decision to intervene directly in Syria further complicates an already complex battlefield dynamic, and it risks repercussions for Turkey’s internal and external security.

A “safe zone” in northern Syria could be a game-changer, but not necessarily a welcome one for the fight against Islamic State.

The dynamic in the Middle East is changing. Recent events have pushed Turkey towards a more activist position against Islamic State (ISIS) and Kurdish forces, which is shaping the response of other regional players, and leading to new alliances that will impact the future of Syria, Iraq, and the wider region.

This past week has seen a sea change in Turkey’s foreign policy, one that threatens to upend the last bastions of stability in an otherwise chaotic region.

With all eyes on Kobane, the Turkish government decided to launch on attack not on the Islamic State fighters besieging the town, but the Kurds desperate to defend it.