Pursuing an active policy in Syria up to direct involvement in the military conflict seems to be bringing Moscow both fresh opportunities and new risks, both ... ... country that defends dictators and bombs the moderate opposition and civilians, while others will see it as an enemy of the Sunnis. Details regarding the groups bombed, real targets for air attacks, or the fact that Russia has 20 million Sunnis residing ...
... several decades. And now the main theater for this confrontation lies in Iraq, whose western and central regions have become home to the Islamic State (IS), territory claimed by a group of radical Islamists
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AFP / LOUAI BESHARA
Elena Suponina:
Shiites and Sunnis: The Danger of Major War
from Syria to Pakistan
Emergence of a major Islamist entity in close proximity to its borders constitutes a direct threat to Iran's national security. Hence, sources suggest, Iranian troops have already entered Iraqi territory to support local Shiite militias ...
..., who have their own long-standing similar problems, have become the first victims outside of Syria to suffer from the religious conflict. However, this religious problem is affecting not only these states, but also countries beyond the Middle East.
Shiites and Sunnis: Neighbors and Even Relatives
Unlike other countries the mosaic of religious and ethnic composition in Syria will have a profound impact on the alignment of forces in the Middle East should the regime in the country change dramatically.
In terms of size, Shiite Muslims are the minority, making up according to estimates 10 to 15 percent of the total population ...