The opposition's Western and Gulf Arab backers sought to encourage a centralised rebel leadership and in December 2012 a number of brigades affiliated themselves to a newly-created Supreme Military Council (SMC). The SMC's chief-of-staff, Gen Idris, wants it to be a more moderate and stronger alternative to the jihadist rebel groups in Syria.
Bamyan Province is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the central highlands of the country. Its terrain is mountainous or semi-mount... Bamyan Province is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the central highlands of the country. Its terrain is mountainous or semi-mount... Skip navigation
Hainan province, China. 1  In addition, China has claimed three island groups south of Hainanâthe Paracel Islands (Xisha Qundao), Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha Qundao), and the Spratly Islands (Nansha Qundao)âand their surrounding waters and has designated them as part of the province.