World roundup: October 17 2022

Stories from Iran, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

SYRIA

This past weekend’s ceasefire between elements of the Turkish-backed “Syrian National Army” and the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group in Syria’s Aleppo province has already been scrapped, with new reports of heavy fighting between the rebel factions. HTS has reportedly been advancing toward an important border crossing hitherto controlled by the SNA and on the town of Azaz, which is the administrative “capital” of the SNA’s political entity. Al-Monitor’s Amberin Zaman wonders whether HTS is making these gains despite Turkish resistance or with Turkish blessing. It’s possible the Turks are prepared to let HTS expand its presence in northwestern Syria because they view the jihadist group as a potential counterweight to the Kurdish YPG/Syrian Democratic Forces group.