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March 7, 2025 Targeting Iran’s agents of influence The sight of Israeli fighter jets flying low and loud over the funeral in Beirut last month of the eliminated Hezbollah terrorist chieftain Hassan Nasrallah was certainly gratifying. But I’ll wager that... March 7, 2025 A comparison of IDF and LAF activities in Lebanon post-November 27 ceasefire The state of ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, which went into effect on November 27, 2024, has now officially expired. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has withdrawn from almost all areas occupied... March 7, 2025 Fierce clashes erupt between Assad loyalists and government forces in western Syria On March 6, Syria witnessed the most intense and bloodiest clashes between the new Syrian government and loyalists to dictator Bashar al Assad since the Assad regime’s downfall on December 8. These battles... March 6, 2025 Bridging the Atlantic to Counter Tehran President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has startled many allies, with concerns ranging from tariff threats against Europe to pressuring Denmark to sell Greenland and arguing with... March 6, 2025 After 2 years, Iraq claims to be searching for kidnapped researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov On March 5, Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al Araji told the Associated Press that “Iraqi authorities are working under the prime minister’s direction” to find Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University researcher who was kidnapped two years ago in Iraq. March 6, 2025 US re-designates Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organization, sanctions leaders On Tuesday, the United States Department of State re-designated the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). March 5, 2025 Israel Can’t Substitute for the U.S. in the Middle East Defense Department nominee Elbridge Colby has contended that the U.S. can do less in the Middle East because Israel can do more if properly armed. Can we imagine an Israeli-Sunni Arab... March 5, 2025 What the suspension of US aid means for Ukrainian forces On Monday, the Trump administration announced it was “pausing and reviewing” military aid for Ukraine following the contentious Oval Office meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr... March 5, 2025 Turkey’s Balancing Act in the Ukraine Conflict—Again Turkey has once again positioned itself at the center of diplomatic efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict. Following high-profile visits to Ankara by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and... March 5, 2025 Premature elections in Ukraine would only play into Putin’s hands After the public falling out between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last Friday, some in the U.S. are renewing calls for Ukraine to hold elections,... March 5, 2025 Getting the U.S. and Ukraine back on track Vladimir Putin doesn’t drink much but I bet he poured himself a glass of Rossiyskoye Shampanskoye (faux Champagne, made in Russia) after watching relations between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump melt down last Friday. March 5, 2025 Iran’s loss is Turkey’s gain Recent diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Iran reflect a broader shift in the Middle East: Turkey has filled the vacuum left by Tehran, much to the Islamic Republic’s discontent. March 5, 2025 Can Hamas ever be defeated? The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has ended. The ceasefire has provided a welcome respite from 15 months of war. Thirty-three hostages were released, some of them dead but... March 5, 2025 How will the US-backed SDF be affected by PKK leader’s disarmament call? On February 27, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan called for the group to disarm and end its conflict with Turkey, according to a message he released from prison. March 5, 2025 Nasrallah’s funeral was Hezbollah’s desperately needed lifeline Hezbollah is in a crisis. The group suffered an unprecedented drubbing by Israel, which decimated most of its arsenal, eliminated a substantial number of its fighters, and killed its iconic Secretary-General... March 4, 2025 By halting Ukraine aid, Trump courts personal defeat President Donald Trump has suspended military aid for Kyiv following his contentious Oval Office meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. March 4, 2025 The Arab plan for Gaza sidelines Hamas and PA, but only for six months The Arab peace plan for Gaza sidelines the strip’s rulers, Hamas, as well as the internationally recognized, inept and corrupt Palestinian Authority (PA), but only for six months, “in preparation... March 4, 2025 Anti-Taliban groups conclude fifth Vienna Conference On February 18, 2025, various factions of the anti-Taliban resistance wrapped up the fifth Vienna Process Conference for a Democratic Afghanistan, calling for international assistance in forming a transitional government. March 4, 2025 Pro-Palestinian Activists Blame Bibas Children for Their Own Murders The confirmation of the murders of the red-haired Bibas boys was a gut punch for Israelis. For some pro-Palestinian activists, it was an opportunity to blame the victims. March 4, 2025 Israel assassinates commander of Hezbollah Radwan Force’s seaborne forces On Tuesday, March 4, reports emerged that Israeli aircraft targeted and destroyed a vehicle in south Lebanon, killing its occupants. An unnamed Israeli official told Galei Tzahal, the Israel Defense... March 4, 2025 Lebanon Must Relearn Democracy, Debate Peace with Israel Druze lawmaker Wael Abou-Faour said that U.S. officials have broached the subject of peace between Lebanon and Israel with top Lebanese leaders, but argued that peace would spark clashes... March 3, 2025 U.S. digital disarmament gives Russia free rein in cyberspace. Bad idea. On the heels of the stunning Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky comes the news of a shocking — and shockingly misguided — reversal of long-standing... March 3, 2025 How Arab leaders should respond to Trump’s Gaza challenge President Trump has laid down a challenge to Arab leaders: Show me a better plan for Gaza if you don’t like mine. At an emergency summit in Cairo on March 4, the Arab League will attempt... March 3, 2025 Nascent Syrian armed group emerges to confront Israeli forces An armed organization calling itself The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria—Great Might (formerly known as The Front for the Liberation of the South) has issued statements warning the Israel Defense Forces... March 3, 2025 Can Syria Survive? On February 25, Syria held a National Dialogue Conference, which is supposed to help the country come together after years of civil war and the toppling of the Assad regime. Syria’s new president,... March 3, 2025 Shabaab mounts coordinated assault north of Mogadishu Since at least February 20, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, has mounted a sizable offensive in southern and central Somalia between the Middle Shabelle and Hiraan regions. In some areas,... March 2, 2025 Lebanon seizes funds bound for Hezbollah at Beirut airport On February 28, Reuters, quoting three anonymous and unidentified sources, reported that authorities at Lebanon’s Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport seized $2.5 million in cash destined for Hezbollah. March 2, 2025 US kills Al Qaeda’s military commander for Syria Video of CENTCOM's strike in northwestern Syria that killed Hurras al Din's overall military commander Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay. Hurras al Din is Al Qaeda's branch in Syria which claims to... February 28, 2025 Small thanks and a little grace can repair that disastrous Ukraine meeting High-stakes diplomatic negotiations almost never play out in view of the public. During Friday’s charged White House meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump,... February 28, 2025 Crushing Iran’s oil trade: The path to maximum pressure “We are committed to bringing the Iranians to going back to the 100,000 barrels a day of oil exports,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Feb. 14. “If we get [Iran] back... February 28, 2025 How Germany’s new leader can make history The Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant observed that “out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” February 27, 2025 Israel strikes southern Syria amid continued demands for demilitarization On the evening of February 25, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Syria. The strikes came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for south Syria... February 27, 2025 US and allies must get tough on Russia, China’s deep-sea cable sabotage Russia and China have no qualms about going low to gain an advantage over the United States — and now they’re going even lower, targeting subsea cables that carry the vast majority of our... February 27, 2025 Lebanon May Be Ready for Peace With Israel. Both Sides Need to Prepare Ask any Lebanese and they will tell you that the vibe in the country has drastically changed since September. Just this week Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi... February 27, 2025 Al Jazeera platforms Hamas’s “resistance” at annual conference On February 15, the Qatar-funded news organization Al Jazeera gave a platform to two Hamas officials at its 16th annual Al Jazeera Forum. The event, “From the War on Gaza to Change in Syria: Shifting... February 26, 2025 Meet Vladimir Putin Churchill famously called Russia “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Is the same true of Vladimir Putin, who has ruled Russia with an increasingly tight fist since 1999? I don’t... February 25, 2025 The United States Must Become the AI Arsenal of Democracy The United States confronts an adversary far more technologically savvy than any of those that came before. As with the Cold War, both Washington and Beijing view dominance over science and technology... February 25, 2025 Hassan Nasrallah May Be Dead, but at His Funeral, Hezbollah Showed It’s Alive and Kicking Excerpt Israel has defeated Hezbollah, conclusively and undeniably, yet the group is far from destroyed. The proof: the massive turnout for Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral on Sunday, demonstrating... February 25, 2025 What DeepSeek taught us about the gaps in US tech strategy In January, DeepSeek – then a relatively obscure Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up – turned the global tech ecosystem upside down. February 25, 2025 Netanyahu calls for the demilitarization of southern Syria On February 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for southern Syria to remain demilitarized in the wake of the collapse of the Bashar al Assad regime. “We will not allow forces from the... February 25, 2025 Is Iran poising itself for escalation with Israel? Tehran seized on the funeral of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah as a stage to reaffirm its steadfast commitment to revitalizing its Lebanese proxy and potentially escalating its attacks... February 25, 2025 Hezbollah is the Antithesis of Shia Islam A video went viral of a Lebanese woman standing at the Beirut Airport and berating other passengers, shouting: “We sacrificed our blood, this is our country, and whoever does not like it should emigrate.”... February 24, 2025 The Three Pillars of U.S. Technological Leadership The United States stands at a pivotal moment in the global technological race, facing an increasingly assertive China that leverages state-backed investments to dominate key industries. February 24, 2025 Suwayda Military Council: A new Druze coalition emerges in Syria A group of Druze militants in Suwayda, southern Syria, has announced the formation of the Suwayda Military Council, a coalition of local armed groups aimed at protecting the region and maintaining... February 23, 2025 The Pentagon must cut $50B of waste — put this weapon on the chopping block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans this week to move up to $50 billion of the Pentagon’s budget from “low-impact and low-priority programs” to ones that align with President... February 23, 2025 Why Russia Wants to See California Secede Following Donald Trump’s reelection to the presidency in November 2024, the idea of secession has reemerged on the ballot in America’s richest state. On Jan. 23, California’s Secretary... February 23, 2025 China roils the Pacific waters courtesy Australia and New Zealand This past week flights were diverted between Australia and New Zealand to avoid Chinese military live fire exercises, three Chinese military ships sailed within 277 kilometres of Sydney, and the Cook Islands and China agreed an “Action Plan 2025-2030 for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Cook Islands and the People’s Republic of China”. February 23, 2025 US military kills Al Qaeda facilitator in Syria The US military killed a senior member of Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria in an airstrike in the northwestern part of the country on February 21. February 23, 2025 Pro-Iranian Iraqi militia leaders gather in Lebanon for Hezbollah leader’s funeral Delegations and leaders of pro-Iranian Iraqi militias traveled to Lebanon for the funeral of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on February 23. February 21, 2025 The dreaded moment is finally here The moment we had all been dreading came to pass on Feb. 20, as four coffins draped with Israeli flags traveled from the Gaza Strip to Israel in a convoy led by the Israel Defense Forces. Two of the caskets...

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