Spring of freedom

The 'Ashraf 3' Conference in Albania, on 25 November 2018. [Handout photo] Jaromír Štětina MEP, is a Czech journalist, writer and politician. He was a war correspondent for the conflict areas of the former Soviet Union. He is currently Vice-Chair of Subcommittee on Security and Defence in the European Parliament Last week, together with colleague MEP Tunne Kelam, and former MEP Struan Stevenson,  I visited “Ashraf 3”  the new site of the Iranian democratic opposition PMOI (MEK) in Albania outside Tirana. This visit was truly an inspiring journey and an eye-opener to how misinformation and fake news can deceive the general public about the reality when states like Iran use their vast financial resources to divert the truth. Nearly 3000 members of Iranian democratic opposition, many of whom have dedicated their entire lives to establish freedom and democracy in their country, are residing in Ashraf 3. As a war journalist covering various conflict zones in Europe a...

Hezbollah and Syrian flags flutter on a military vehicle in Western Qalamoun, Syria August 28, 2017 AFP, 2 October 2017  - A drone strike on Monday killed at least eight members of the Hezbollah militia in Syria, where the Lebanese group is fighting alongside the regime, a Britain-based monitor said. An unidentified “drone hit a Hezbollah position near the town of Sukhna (in central Homs province) killing eight fighters, and injuring more than 20,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. A source on the ground confirmed the strike, giving a toll of seven dead from Hezbollah, and said it was still unclear who had carried out the attack. Hezbollah is a key force multiplier for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and has fought alongside his troops across the country against rebel forces. Assad’s forces and allied fighters are currently waging a campaign in Syria’s vast Badiya desert region against the ISIS group. The camp...