Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Erdogan’s government in panic over risk of electoral defeats

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Thursday, March 21 | Daily Briefing [By: Kadri Gursel on Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2019]( Turkey 1 [Erdogan’s government in panic over risk of electoral defeats]( President Erdogan and his party are waging an election campaign of unprecedented vitriol and polarization, including a strong dose of religion, the main driver of which is the fear of losing big cities amid the country’s economic crisis. Washington 2 [US singles out ‘undisciplined armed actors’ in Iraq as impediment to stabilization]( In exclusive interviews with Al-Monitor at the State Department, two top State Department officials lay out US policy goals as Iraq seeks normalize and balance ties with Iran and its other neighbors while seeking to prevent a return of the Islamic State. Syria 3 [Turkish intervention could trigger Syria's 'second great war']( Mazlum Kobane, the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, talks to Al-Monitor in an exclusive interview about how the Kurds in northeastern Syria have maintained a complicated network of alliances and why the prospect of Turkish intervention in the region could trigger another war. Iran 4 [Road map for Iran-EU trade and investment relations]( Europe is making efforts to set up a special purpose vehicle to uphold legitimate trade with Iran, but there is a need for a more comprehensive action plan for such trade and political relations. Washington 5 [Pentagon fails to deliver US strategy on Yemen]( The Pentagon has missed multiple congressional deadlines to report on US goals for the Saudi-led intervention. Russia / Mideast 6 [How exploitation of Crimea benefits Syria]( Over Crimea's five years under the Russian rule, the peninsula has been used in a number of ways to support various Russian activities in Syria. Iran 7 [Iran's state TV woos audiences with American-style shows]( Iranian versions of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and "America's Got Talent" are now on state TV, but seem to draw more criticism than ratings. Palestine 8 [Why were rockets fired toward Tel Aviv?]( The Gaza Strip rushed to contain the repercussions of the rockets fired at Tel Aviv; such an attack that actually hit the Israeli city could drag Palestinians into a war. Iraq 9 [Is Tehran trying to distance Qasem Soleimani from Iraq?]( The recent visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Iraq has been read as attempt to distance Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani from Iraq, replacing him with the Foreign Ministry. Turkey 10 [Turkey tightens the screws on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi murder]( Interpol has issued “red notices,” on Ankara’s request, for a total of 20 Saudi citizens suspected of involvement in the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Iran 11 [France bans flights operated by Iran's second-largest airline]( Iran's second-largest airline, Mahan Air, has to stop flights to Paris for what has been reported as sanctions imposed by the French government. Turkey 12 [Erdogan took Christchurch shooting to campaign trail]( Erdogan’s campaign uses brutal images at election rallies of the New Zealand terrorist’s footage and hateful rhetoric, deepening the rift within Turkish society and distancing Turkey further from the West. Syria 13 [New villages are mushrooming in Syria’s opposition-held areas]( Syria's displaced are creating small towns after having been forced out of their hometowns. Israel 14 [Why is Ukraine detaining tourists from Israel?]( In an attempt to fight migrant labor and sex trafficking, Israel is preventing the entry of thousands of Ukrainian citizens every year. STAY CONNECTED [fb_icon_footer]( [twitter_icon_footer]( [instagram_icon_footer]( [rss_icon_footer]( CONTACT US [Support & Contact]( [Advertise](mailto:advertise@al-monitor.com) NEWSLETTERS [Subscribe]( TERMS OF USE [Visitor Agreement]( [Privacy Policy]( © 2019 Al-Monitor. All Rights Reserved. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe or manage your preferences]( at any time. Al-Monitor · 1850 K St NW · Suite 1225 · Washington, DC 20006 · USA