Since the defeat of ISIS forces at Al-Baghouz in 2019, five factors have stymied the group’s revival in Syria and Iraq. On March 23, 2019, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), assisted
A network led by Syrian-Russian banker Mudalal Khouri evolved into a parallel bank for the Assad regime, operating through offshore companies in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands and Russian banks such as Tempbank. The network facilitated
Investigation Official statistics on busts of drug shipments originating in Colombia — the world’s largest cocaine producer by far — are scattershot and hard to find. A leak of prosecutor’s
Investigation A flood of drugs out of Syria has opened a new phase in the country’s conflict, pitting drug traffickers — with apparent support from Syrian authorities — against security
Investigation Syria’s licensing of a third mobile operator, Wafa Telecom, looked like another effort by authorities to seize control of the lucrative telecoms sector. But the Assad government may also
In what has been dubbed Iraq’s “theft of the century,” more than $2.5 billion was siphoned from a government tax account at Baghdad’s Rafidain Bank between 2021 and 2022 through
An email domain not visible to the public — LLCInvest.ru — helped reporters uncover a group of interconnected companies that hold palaces, resorts, yachts, jets, and bank accounts full of
Tear gas has been used in a number of incidents in recent months in Iraq, France, Chile, Hong Kong, and elsewhere. Numerous allegations about tear gas have been made, and
Law firm’s internal files reveal oil, mineral and grain trader Glencore signed secret deals and loaned millions toa high-risk business partner. By Will Fitzgibbon, Bastian Obermayer, Frederik Obermaier, Edouard Perrin, Petra Blum and Oliver Zihlmann The Glencore
Inside a Global Drug Collaboration Think of the drug trade, and you might think of rigid hierarchies run by drug lords like Pablo Escobar or Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Today,