The Inside Story Podcast

Libya's warlord Khalifa Haftar is pushing on with his efforts to capture the capital Tripoli.

It’s in the west, where the UN-recognised government of Prime Minister Fayez Al-Serraj is based, while Haftar has the support of a rival government in the east.

Libya’s been divided like this since Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

It’s more than eight months since Haftar launched his offensive against Tripoli and his forces have now reached the centre of Sirte 450 kilometres away.

The strategically important city lies close to Libya's so-called oil crescent where several key export terminals are located.

The advance on Tripoli comes as Turkey has begun deploying troops to support Al-Serraj's government, which also the backing of Qatar, Italy and most Western countries.

Haftar gets help from Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and France, and private security forces from Russia are also reportedly fighting alongside him.

On Inside Story, an in-depth discussion on the consequences of outside intervention in war-torn Libya.

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests

Youcef Bouandel, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Qatar University

Naim Ghariani, Member of the Tripoli-Based House of Representatives and a former Minister of Higher Education in the first transitional government of Libya from 2011 to 2012.

Claudia Gazzini, senior Libya Analyst at the International Crisis

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The Middle East is grappling with the United States' assassination of Qassem Soleimani.

In an extraordinary session on Sunday, Iraq's parliament voted to remove foreign troops.

US president President threatened what he calls 'very big sanctions' on Iraq if American troops are forced to leave.

The military alliance NATO has suspended its training mission in Iraq, fearing soldiers could be attacked in reprisal for the killing of Iran's top military commander.

What are the consequences for Iraq and the Middle East if all foreign soldiers leave?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibaut

Guests:

Richard Weitz - Security Analyst with Wikistrat, a global risk consultancy

Jean-Marc Rickli - Head of Global Risk, Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Zeidon Alkinani - Independent researcher on identity politics in Iraq and the Middle East

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The Middle East is grappling with the United States' assassination of Qassem Soleimani.

In an extraordinary session on Sunday, Iraq's parliament voted to remove foreign troops.

US president President threatened what he calls 'very big sanctions' on Iraq if American troops are forced to leave.

The military alliance NATO has suspended its training mission in Iraq, fearing soldiers could be attacked in reprisal for the killing of Iran's top military commander.

What are the consequences for Iraq and the Middle East if all foreign soldiers leave?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibaut

Guests:

Richard Weitz - Security Analyst with Wikistrat, a global risk consultancy

Jean-Marc Rickli - Head of Global Risk, Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Zeidon Alkinani - Independent researcher on identity politics in Iraq and the Middle East

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #IraqForeignTroops

Europe appears caught in the middle following the targeted killing of Iran's most powerful general by the US

Many countries are urging restraint as they try to balance relations with both sides.

European leaders have warned against further escalation in the region.

But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says their responses haven't been "helpful".

In the past, Tehran has accused Europe of not doing enough to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that the US withdrew from two years ago.

Should the EU rethink its Iran policies?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Hassan Ahmadian - Assistant professor of political science at the University of Tehran

Rouzbeh Parsi - Head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs

Matthew Bryza - Former US diplomat

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #IranEU

Europe appears caught in the middle following the targeted killing of Iran's most powerful general by the US

Many countries are urging restraint as they try to balance relations with both sides.

European leaders have warned against further escalation in the region.

But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says their responses haven't been "helpful".

In the past, Tehran has accused Europe of not doing enough to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that the US withdrew from two years ago.

Should the EU rethink its Iran policies?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Hassan Ahmadian - Assistant professor of political science at the University of Tehran

Rouzbeh Parsi - Head of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs

Matthew Bryza - Former US diplomat

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The U.S. President has long said he'd pull American troops out of what he called the 'endless wars' in the Middle East.

But there are fears Donald Trump may have just laid the groundwork for a new conflict.

He ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani who led an elite force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A U.S. air strike near Baghdad airport on Friday killed Soleimani and also the deputy commander of an Iraqi paramilitary group, backed by Iran.

Now there are vows from armed groups to avenge the deaths and all Americans are being urged to leave Iraq immediately.

The Pentagon is sending an extra 3,000 troops to the Middle East in case of reprisal attacks.

Presenter:

Halla Mohieddeen.

Guests:

Hillary Mann Leverett, CEO of the political risk consultancy Stratega and a former U.S. diplomat.

Andreas Krieg, Assistant Professor in Defence Studies at King's College London and co-author of "Surrogate Warfare: The Transformation of War in the Twenty-First Century".

Adolfo Franco, Republican strategist and former Advisor to Senator John McCain.

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The U.S. President has long said he'd pull American troops out of what he called the 'endless wars' in the Middle East.

But there are fears Donald Trump may have just laid the groundwork for a new conflict.

He ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani who led an elite force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A U.S. air strike near Baghdad airport on Friday killed Soleimani and also the deputy commander of an Iraqi paramilitary group, backed by Iran.

Now there are vows from armed groups to avenge the deaths and all Americans are being urged to leave Iraq immediately.

The Pentagon is sending an extra 3,000 troops to the Middle East in case of reprisal attacks.

Presenter:

Halla Mohieddeen.

Guests:

Hillary Mann Leverett, CEO of the political risk consultancy Stratega and a former U.S. diplomat.

Andreas Krieg, Assistant Professor in Defence Studies at King's College London and co-author of "Surrogate Warfare: The Transformation of War in the Twenty-First Century".

Adolfo Franco, Republican strategist and former Advisor to Senator John McCain.

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The targeted killing of Major General Qassam Soleimani, who led the elite Al-Quds force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was ordered by US President Trump.

An American air strike hit his convoy, near the airport in Baghdad.

The assassination marks a dangerous escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned there would be ‘harsh revenge.’

A senior Iraqi official also died in the attack, and all Americans have now been advised to leave Iraq, because of the threat of reprisal attacks.

Presenter:

Darren Jordon

Guests:

Hamed Mousavi, Professor of Political Science at the University of Tehran.

Ellie Geranmayeh, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Marwan Kabalan, Director of Policy Analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies at the Doha Institute.

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The targeted killing of Major General Qassam Soleimani, who led the elite Al-Quds force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was ordered by US President Trump.

An American air strike hit his convoy, near the airport in Baghdad.

The assassination marks a dangerous escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned there would be ‘harsh revenge.’

A senior Iraqi official also died in the attack, and all Americans have now been advised to leave Iraq, because of the threat of reprisal attacks.

Presenter:

Darren Jordon

Guests:

Hamed Mousavi, Professor of Political Science at the University of Tehran.

Ellie Geranmayeh, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Marwan Kabalan, Director of Policy Analysis at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies at the Doha Institute.

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Worldwide demand for natural gas is growing and discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean are changing the EU's policies on its energy supplies.

For decades, it's relied on Russia for gas. But Israel, Greece and Cyprus have signed off on a project for a pipeline that would lessen Europe's dependence on Moscow.

The supply will connect Israel's offshore fields with Europe and is expected to meet about 10% of the EU's demand for natural gas.

But that unites the three signatories in opposition to Turkey and Libya.

Last month, Ankara and Tripoli agreed on a new maritime boundary they call their Exclusive Economic Zone.

They say this gives them full rights to exploit natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean - including oil and gas.

So, how is this deal shaping politics in the region?

Presenter: Julie McDonald

Guests

Gabriel Mitchell, Policy Fellow at the Mitvim Institute think tank.

Mehmet Ogutcu, Chairman of the London Energy Club and a former Turkish diplomat.

James Moran, Associate Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies and former EU Ambassador to Egypt.

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