Hoplite Group

#Job / #Opportunity - Middle East Analyst - Publicly Available Information Analyst (Research and Analysis) POSITION DESCRIPTION:?Looking for U.S. citizens with strong academic background and prior experience in research and analysis focused on the Middle East. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to join the Hoplite Group team, in our flagship Publicly Available Information atmospherics project, focusing on public sentiments and media analysis in the greater Levant. The position is responsible for the daily correlation of media information, triangulation of reporting, and production of analytical reports, and work with a world class local team of local national analysts focused on Iraq, Northeast Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. The position is based in our Fusion Cell in the Middle East. If you are an analyst interested in specializing in the Middle East, this is the perfect opportunity. START: Immediate LOCATION:?Hoplite Group Regional Office (in the Middle East) ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL:?Provided JOB REQUIREMENTS:? - U.S. citizen with three (3) years of combined academic and professional experience of Publicly Available Information research and analysis covering any of the following countries: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan.? - Bachelors or Masters Degree in something related to the Middle East a must. - Demonstrated experience and exposure to the Middle East, with an understanding of the security, social/cultural, and political environments.? - Experience conducting media analysis and/or social media analysis. - Excellent writing and communications skills, able to produce finalized written products and deliverables, ready to send to clients. - Experience with open geospatial apps is a plus (e.g. Google Earth, Arc GIS, etc.). - High-level proficiency (to allow speed when producing deliverables) using Microsoft Office tools; specifically, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.??? - Strong organizational skills and project management to be able to leverage a team of analysts and build reports on time while meeting tight deadlines.? - Excellent attention to detail. - Works well with teams or independently, with minimal oversight, able to provide thorough and completed products. Feels comfortable working with local nationals and managing local national teams of analysts. DESIRED: Recent travels: Worked / traveled in the last few years to the Middle East. Arabic language proficiency is a strong advantage. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eMyfJPRd

#Afghanistan - #Taliban leadership silent on removal of Haqqani from US rewards list - from Amu TV Three days after the United States removed reward offers for three senior Haqqani Network figures from its “Rewards for Justice” program, the Taliban’s leadership, particularly its Kandahar-based faction, has remained publicly silent. The names of Sirajuddin Haqqani, deputy Taliban leader and interior minister, along with Aziz Haqqani and Yahya Haqqani — both senior members of the network — no longer appear on the U.S. State Department’s rewards website. However, Sirajuddin Haqqani and the Haqqani Network remain listed as designated terrorists on multiple U.S. government watchlists, including those maintained by the FBI and the State Department. Previously, the U.S. had offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Sirajuddin Haqqani, and $5 million each for Aziz and Yahya Haqqani. The State Department had also cited Sirajuddin’s close ties to al-Qaeda. The apparent removal of the rewards came just two days after a U.S. delegation visited Kabul — a move that some analysts have linked to behind-the-scenes diplomacy, including possible negotiations around hostage releases and counterterrorism cooperation. Despite celebrations among individuals close to the Haqqani Network, the Taliban’s central leadership has remained silent. The Taliban’s chief spokesperson has Zabihullah Mujahid not responded to multiple requests for comment from Amu. In a speech delivered in Kandahar last year, Sirajuddin Haqqani publicly admitted the network had carried out over 1,000 suicide attacks in Afghanistan — operations that resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and military personnel. The statement drew condemnation from war victims and human rights advocates who say such individuals should face justice, not leniency. Michael Kugelman, director of South Asia programs at the Wilson Center, suggested that the U.S. move may be linked to narrow objectives such as securing the release of American detainees or recovering U.S. military equipment left behind during the withdrawal. “The U.S. has limited goals in Afghanistan — freeing hostages, retrieving equipment, and potentially seeking Taliban help in targeting ISIS,” Kugelman said. “Removing the rewards could serve as an incentive.” Others, including Sarah Adams, a former CIA officer, have criticized the decision, citing Haqqani’s alleged role in directing suicide bombings against U.S. and NATO forces, as well as involvement in the August 26, 2021 bombing at Abbey Gate outside Kabul airport, which killed 13 U.S. troops and over 170 Afghans. The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a formal explanation for the removal of the rewards. In response to Amu’s inquiry, the department stated it would respond “soon.” https://amu.tv/164935/

#China / #Trade / #Oil - As China Expands Global Footprint, It Gets Into More Trouble - from Newsweek: Niger's expulsion of several Chinese oil executives over wage and employment disputes marks a reputational setback for China as it seeks to expand its influence across the African continent. Niger, a former French colony located in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert, remains one of the world's least-developed nations, despite its significant resource wealth, including uranium. Once a key U.S. counterterrorism partner, Niger's ties with the West have eroded in recent years—particularly after a 2023 military coup. The new junta expelled French peacekeepers fighting an Islamist insurgency and ordered the United States to vacate two drone bases, citing Washington's "condescending attitude." Niger has openly embraced stronger security ties with Russia and secured heavy Chinese investment in its energy sector. Earlier this month, Niger's junta expelled three Chinese oil executives serving as local directors of the West African Oil Pipeline Company, China National Petroleum Corporation, and the joint-venture refinery SORAZ, according to Reuters. Oil Minister Sahabi Oumarou pointed to stark pay disparities, citing an average monthly salary of $8,678 for Chinese employees versus $1,200 for their Nigerien counterparts. "We are not satisfied with the way in which wealth is distributed between the state of Niger and the partner," Oumarou told reporters. Another grievance involved the disproportionately high number of foreign nationals in managerial roles, while Nigeriens were more likely to fill lower-tier labor positions. These imbalances had persisted, despite multiple attempts to resolve them, Oumarou said, adding that officials were "still always open to discussions." Chinese authorities have yet to publicly address the expulsion.?Newsweek?reached out to Niger's government via a general email and to China's Foreign Ministry for comment. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/eRVh5e-T

#Ukraine / #Russia - War Update - U.S. negotiators worked on a proposed partial ceasefire in the?3-year-old war?in Ukraine on Monday, meeting representatives from Russia one day after holding separate talks with Kyiv team - from The Associated Press: It has been a struggle to reach even?a limited, 30-day ceasefire?— which Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week -- with both sides continuing to attack each other with drones and missiles. One major sticking point is what targets would be off-limits to strike, even after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries’ leaders, because the parties disagree. While the White House said “energy and infrastructure” would be covered, the Kremlin declared that the agreement referred more narrowly to “energy infrastructure.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would also like to see infrastructure like railways and ports protected. Talks Monday in the Saudi capital of Riyadh were expected to address some of those differences, as well as a potential pause in?attacks in the Black Sea?to ensure the?safety of commercial shipping. Russian state media reported late Monday local time that the talks had ended. In an exchange with reporters at the White House, Trump said territorial lines and the potential for U.S. ownership of a key nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine have been part of the talks. Last week, Trump floated the idea of the U.S. taking control of the?Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The six-reactor facility — one of the world’s largest — was seized by Russia early in the war. “Some people are saying the United States should own the power plant — work it that way because we have the expertise” to get the plant operating, Trump said. “Something like that would be fine with me.” Since falling under Russian control, the plant’s conditions have deteriorated. While its reactors have been shut down for years, they still require power and staff to maintain cooling systems and safety features. The facility is connected to Ukraine’s energy grid without producing electricity. ...Serhii Leshchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, said the delegation remained in Riyadh on Monday and expected to meet again with the Americans. In his nightly address Monday, Zelenskyy said representatives from Ukraine and the U.S. will meet again, although he did not specify when. Grigory Karasin, head of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian parliament’s upper house and a participant in Monday’s talks, told the Interfax news agency the negotiations were going on in a “creative way” and that U.S. and Russian delegations “understand each other’s views.” Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine continued to launch attacks across their borders. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/euT3Ed22

#Russia / #Romania / #Bulgaria / #BlackSea / #Ukraine - Why US-Russia Black Sea talks are making Europe nervous - Financial Times: Europe’s Black Sea states are watching on nervously as US-Russia peace negotiations over Ukraine continue today in Saudi Arabia, fearful of a possible deal that would restore some of Moscow’s clout over the contested waters. Context: US President Donald Trump has demanded a rapid end to the war in Ukraine and opened bilateral negotiations with both Moscow and Kyiv in a bid to find a framework for a peace deal. European countries are not directly involved in the discussions. Negotiators from Moscow and Washington will discuss Black Sea safety and a potential resumption of export lanes in Riyadh today, with the intention of tying a naval deal to a wider peace agreement. Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, said yesterday the talks would focus on “a Black Sea maritime ceasefire so that both sides can move grain, fuel and start conducting trade again in the Black Sea”. EU littoral?states Romania and Bulgaria are wary of any significant changes to the status quo in the Black Sea as part of any broader potential agreement between Russia and the US, officials from the region told the FT, given that it would expand the Russian navy’s operational area. Ukraine has successfully driven Russia’s navy out of the western part of the sea, in one of Kyiv’s most striking military achievements?of the more than three-year-long war. Any agreement negotiated is thus expected to be beneficial to Moscow, the officials said, and could affect their countries’ security without giving them a say. “This is our neighbourhood and we don’t trust the Russians if they are allowed more freedom to operate,” said one of the officials. US and Russian officials have described today’s talks as “technical”, involving mid-level officials rather than senior politicians. Still, Trump’s top Russia envoy Steve Witkoff yesterday seemed pretty bullish. “I think that you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries,” he told Fox News. Article above: https://lnkd.in/eKMbugGm picture from Kyiv Independent.

#Syria / #Israel - Jerusalem Post reports: IDF begins conducting ground operations in Syria. The IDF confirmed that "several terrorists" opened fire upon troops from southern Syria on Tuesday morning. The soldiers then returned fire, and the Israel Air Force struck targets in the region, the military added, stating that there were confirmed hits on terror targets. According to Syrian reports, the IDF launched a ground advance toward the village of Kuwaya, located west of Daraa in southern?Syria. https://lnkd.in/eQaXu_C3

#Iraq / #Iran - Iraq says Iran used forged Iraqi documents on oil tankers, Tehran denies - from Reuters News Agency: Iraq's oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani has said told state television that Iranian oil tankers stopped by U.S. forces in the Gulf were using forged Iraqi documents. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has restored his earlier "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, reviving a policy that seeks to isolate the country from the global economy and?eliminate its oil export revenue?in order to slow Tehran's development of a nuclear weapon. "We received some verbal inquiries about oil tankers being detained in the Gulf by U.S. naval forces carrying Iraqi shipping manifests," Abdel-Ghani said on state television late on Sunday, adding there had been no formal written communication. "It turned out that these tankers were Iranian ... and were using forged Iraqi documents. We explained this to the relevant authorities with complete transparency and they also confirmed this." Iran's oil ministry on Monday denied that Tehran had used forged official documents and said allegations that they had done so came from U.S. officials, the ministry's Shana news agency reported. "It's obvious that these allegations by U.S. officials fold into the illegal... pressure on the nation of Iran and have no basis or credibility," Shana said. Iran views neighbour and ally Iraq as vital to keeping its economy afloat while under sanctions. But Baghdad, a partner to both Washington and Tehran, is wary of being caught in the crosshairs of Trump's policy to squeeze Iran, sources have said. Reuters reported in December that a?sophisticated fuel oil smuggling network?that experts believe generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq in the past few years, including by using forged documentation. Abdel-Ghani said state marketer SOMO sold crude exclusively to companies that own refineries and does not supply trading firms. "SOMO operates with full transparency and has committed no wrongdoing in the oil export process," he said. https://lnkd.in/ek5nTSfN

#Afghanistan - U.S. Lifts Millions in Bounties on Senior Taliban Officials by The New York Times The United States has lifted multimillion-dollar bounties on three senior Taliban officials, according to Afghan authorities and a senior American official. The move is a significant shift by the Trump administration toward militants who were behind some of the deadliest attacks during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan but have refashioned themselves as a more moderate voice within the Taliban. The bounties were removed days after a U.S. hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, made the first visit by a high-ranking American diplomat to Kabul, the Afghan capital, since the Taliban seized power in 2021. His talks with Taliban representatives led to?the release?of an American citizen who had been detained in Afghanistan for more than two years. Many Taliban officials saw the meeting in Kabul and the subsequent lifting of the bounties as a major victory for a government that was almost completely shut out by the United States during the Biden administration. The steps also put fresh momentum behind a Taliban faction that has pushed for the government to pull back on its hard-line policies to gain wider acceptance on the world stage. The United States had offered $20 million in bounties for information about three leaders of the Haqqani network, the only wing of the Taliban to be classified by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. Among the three leaders is?Sirajuddin Haqqani, who heads up the network and is the acting Taliban interior minister. Mr. Haqqani, his brother Abdul Azizi Haqqani and a cousin, Yahya Haqqani, no longer appear on the State Department’s Rewards for Justice website. The bounty was removed on Monday from the F.B.I.’s?wanted poster?for Sirajuddin Haqqani. A spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, Abdul Mateen Qani, said that “a deal with the U.S. was finalized” to lift the bounties, after the issue was discussed multiple times with American officials. “This is a major achievement for the Islamic Emirate,” he added, referring to the Taliban government. The American official who confirmed the bounty removals spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. The Trump administration, including in a January?social media post?by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has made clear that it could reimpose or increase bounties on Taliban leaders if additional Americans held in Afghanistan are not released. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/evdkSXy5

#Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh?has been fighting the Taliban for almost a quarter of a century now. He was born in Panjshir in northeastern Afghanistan in 1972 and, after fighting the communist government of the country during the 1992-1996 civil war, he joined Ahmed Shah Massoud's Northern Alliance... In an interview with DH’s Anirban Bhaumik from an undisclosed location, Saleh says that Pakistan overestimated its relevance and value in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. He also says India can balance principle and pragmatism in its engagement with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. For the free read:?https://lnkd.in/exi942Ay

#Mali / #Russia - ‘Callous’: Are Malian troops and Russian mercenaries attacking civilians? From Al Jazeera Media Network: Grainy camera footage showed them lying still in the blistering heat of the desert – six or seven bodies, maybe more. Wet, red spots in the sand and belongings scattered across the landscape were signs of what had happened. As the camera shifted back and forth, it caught a dirtied pair of jeans in the sand, curiously without its owner. It was February in northern Mali. The group lying dead in the sand were reportedly returning from a wedding in the Gao region when they were attacked, not by armed groups, but allegedly by the Malian army and allied Russian mercenaries of the Wagner group. At least 20 people who had been travelling in two vehicles were killed, including children and old people. Mali’s military government, in a rare move, promised to?“investigate”?soldiers alleged to have been involved in the deaths as an outcry from rights groups mounted. Weeks later, there aren’t yet any results. Analysts were not surprised – saying the incident was only one of several reported killings of civilians by state forces in the insecure West African country. The Malian army has long been accused of?abuses?against civilians, and now Russian fighters, who have made inroads in the country in the wake of declining French military presence, are fast building a similar reputation. “The most striking difference with France’s former military presence has been Wagner’s callous strategy, characterised by wanton violence against civilians,” Constantin Gouvy, a Sahel researcher with the international affairs think tank, Clingendael Institute, told Al Jazeera, comparing the Russian fighters with French troops who were once Mali’s main support against invading armed groups before they?exited the country?in 2021 when Bamako and Paris fell out. Mali has since sacked an 11,000-man United Nations peacekeeping mission, as well, and turned exclusively to?Russian paramilitaries. Wagner troops were almost immediately spotted deep in enemy territory upon their deployment in 2022 and were accused by rights groups of collaborating in civilian “massacres” alongside state forces and pro-government ethnic fighter groups. However, analysts say that since August 2023, after the death of Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, the fighters appear to have intensified their involvement in Mali and expanded their scope of operations – at the cost of civilian lives. Bamako is eager to weaken armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) and has targeted villagers in the north that it sees as sympathetic to them. But battles with Tuareg groups, some of whom are fighting for a secessionist state of “Azawad”, have become a key focus, and have reawakened a decades-long independence war in the north. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/evU4_QYr