UNIPATH STAFF In early 2020, as the African sun blazed above the town of Adikivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 15 Pakistani women collected a distinguished honor. As members of Pakistan’s first female engagement team on a United Nations peacekeeping mission, these military officers appeared in dress uniforms to receive medals for their unique service. They were physicians, nurses, engineers, psychologists, lawyers and teachers: All deployed to the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Their special focus was women and children, victims whose needs are too often overlooked with the cessation…
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MAJ. GEN. MOHAMMED ZAID MAHMOUD IBRAHIM, YEMENI DEFENSE ATTACHE TO THE UNITED STATES When ancient man began his journey toward building society, he first formed families, then clans, then tribes. It was clear that an individual needed to exist within a body of people that would provide him with protection from inherent dangers and power imbalances should he try to engage the world by himself. The strength of the clan is paramount when its members, individually or collectively, are exposed to imminent danger and try to gain membership to a group in which they find safety and comfort. Yet these…
PROFESSOR ASAAD KAZEM SHABIB, FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF KUFA, IRAQ The theological and doctrinal literature traditionally used by radical Islamist organizations has been a primary cause for the rise of extremism. These organizations’ understanding of theological and doctrinal statements, stripped of context in texts written by preachers and jurists to address specific cases, has given birth to a literalist text-based mentality that interprets political, social, cultural and religious complexities on the basis of these statements. Therefore, these texts have had, and continue to have, a direct impact on the rise of extremism. To understand how this brand of…
UNIPATH STAFF His striking calmness during the heat of battle reveals leadership skills and self-confidence prized among field commanders. His humility and ethics have made him a highly respected figure among Soldiers and commanders. He frequently visits the front lines and personally follows up the requests of Soldiers. He is Staff Gen. Abdul Amir Rasheed Yarallah, Iraqi Army chief of staff. During the liberation battles against Daesh terrorist gangs, Army commanders encountered difficult times. But Gen. Yarallah exhibited nerves of steel and military acumen in managing battles. As he walked around the command-and-control center at the Joint Operations Command, his…
UNIPATH STAFF To enhance its ability to sustain operations against illicit states and nonstate actors, the Egyptian Navy conducted passing exercises (PASSEX) with partners in the U.S. and French navies in the Red Sea in March 2021. The PASSEX jointly conducted by the Egyptian guided-missile frigate ENS Sharm El-Sheikh and U.S. amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset focused on navigating in close proximity and conducting maritime missions together. The Egyptian-French PASSEX took place in the Egyptian Southern Fleet area of responsibility and included Egyptian frigate Sajam Al-Fateh and French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle — the only nuclear-powered…
UNIPATH STAFF As a testament to its readiness to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the country successfully managed a preliminary international football tournament that occupied two stadiums in February 2021. Six international soccer clubs competed in the weeklong 17th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 tournament: Al Duhail Sports Club, Qatar; Al Ahly Sporting Club, Egypt; Football Club Bayern Munich, Germany; Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Brazil; Tigres de la Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL), Mexico; and Ulsan Hyundai Football Club, South Korea. Education City Stadium, which opened in 2020, and Ahmed bin Ali Stadium provided…
UNIPATH STAFF Reaffirming its commitment to the security of Iraq and its ability to suppress terrorism, the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh provided the Iraqi Armed Forces equipment and weapons worth $5 million in March 2021. “The Iraqi security forces received equipment, weapons and vehicles to support counterterrorism operations, estimated at $5 million from the Global Coalition forces,” said Maj. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for the commander in chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces. The equipment is designed to support the country in its mission to eliminate Daesh and is part of a program launched in 2014 at the…
UNIPATH STAFF The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) and its partner, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, cleared mines to defend shipping lanes, boarded suspicious vessels and protected ports as part of the Neon Defender 21 exercise in April 2021. The bilateral, four-day exercise created scenarios in which Bahraini and U.S. Sailors could test their ability to operate together during military conflict. In addition to the familiar simulations, the 2021 exercise included for the first time Bahraini and U.S. pilots destroying maritime targets from the air. “This year’s iteration of Neon Defender was the largest in the series of exercises we regularly…
UNIPATH STAFF Pakistani and Tajik foreign ministers expressed support for deeper bilateral cooperation to tackle security challenges such as terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. At a visit to the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, in April 2021, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reserved time to talk with his Tajik counterpart, Sirajuddin Mehruddin. They discussed issues that concerned both countries, including what Qureshi called the “challenge of terrorism.” “We also discussed the rising level of extremism and the growing intolerance all over the world — not just in our region — and how we can overcome this challenge,” Qureshi said at…
UNIPATH STAFF Saudi Arabia launched two new satellites into Earth’s orbit in March 2021, reinforcing its role as a regional leader in space technology. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), in conjunction with the Saudi Space Commission, used Baikonur base in Kazakhstan to launch satellites named Shaheen Sat and CubeSat. Shaheen Sat provides topographical imagery and tracks marine traffic from a low Earth orbit. CubeSat’s mission focuses on capturing data from the Earth, moon and outer space. Shaheen Sat was partly developed by Saudi engineers at KACST. CubeSat is the work of 130 students in the College…