Trump has handed Bibi free rein on Gaza – he now needs to figure out a strategy
Removing Hamas requires a vision to prevent the territory becoming a source of more extremism and terror
Jihadism
FDD Analysis
Head of Iraq’s powerful pro-Iranian Popular Mobilization Units visits Tehran
On February 18, Falih al Fayyadh, the chairman of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), visited Tehran and met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a report in Iranian state media.
Op-eds
From Afghanistan to America: the rising reach of the Islamic State Khorasan Province
Four years after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the threat posed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has expanded beyond the region, now endangering both American and European soil.
Op-eds
Syria’s National Dialogue Committee: A Facade of Inclusivity
Syria’s new president pledged to champion inclusivity, yet he has stacked a key transition committee with like-minded Islamists. The seven-member National Dialogue Committee will organize the National...
Policy Briefs
Turkistan Islamic Party leader directs Syrian fighters from Afghanistan
Abdul Haq al Turkistani, the emir of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) who serves on Al Qaeda’s executive leadership council and resides in Afghanistan, is currently directing the group’s fighters...
Op-eds
The Problem with Christian Martyrs
Ten years ago, 21 Coptic Christians were given a choice by ISIS: renounce their faith or die. They chose the sword. Their sacrifice wasn’t passive - it was a powerful testimony to unwavering faith.
Op-eds
Pakistani and Tajik Taliban open training camps in Afghanistan
The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat Ansarullah (JA) have established training camps in Afghanistan with support from Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team reported.
Op-eds
US pushes countries to repatriate nationals in Syria’s displaced-persons camps
The US is urging countries to repatriate their nationals who reside in displaced-persons camps in eastern Syria. The potential change comes at a critical juncture in Syria after the fall of the Bashar...
Op-eds
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: February
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. As readers of our Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker will know, this is a monthly publication...
Policy Tracker
US, UAE conducting airstrikes in northern Somalia
On February 1, the United States launched at least six airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) in Somalia’s semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland in support of that region’s current military...
Op-eds
From Al-Qaeda Commander to Syrian President: Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s Ascent
The seismic transformation of the Syrian political landscape continues. On January 29, the country’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formally assumed the presidency, while the country’s 2012 constitution...
Policy Briefs
US airstrike kills Al Qaeda operative in Syria
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it killed a senior leader of Hurras al Din, Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria, in an airstrike in Syria on January 30. The strike, which took place less...
Op-eds
Syria gets a new autocrat as Sharaa styles himself ‘president’
If the economy tanks, it’s likely Sharaa will return to his Islamic roots and produce a state similar to ISIS
Op-eds
Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners, Many Convicted of Terrorism, in Exchange for 8 Hostages
Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners in Exchange for Hostages: Following the freeing of eight hostages from Hamas captivity on January 30, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners,...
Flash Briefs
Ahmad al Sharaa’s Victory Conference: Syria’s new era and an exclusive translation of Sharaa’s speech
On January 29, Syria’s new leadership, headed by Ahmad al Sharaa—formerly known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, the emir of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and previously the leader of Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate,...
Op-eds
Continued chaos in Syria: Iraqi militias and an Alawite insurgency
On January 25, a new Iraqi militia, Kataib Awliya’ al Haq (Guardians of Truth Brigades), announced its formation. So far, the group has issued a single statement displaying its full name, logo, and...
Op-eds
Islamic State calls for jihad in Sudan
“Sudan is forgotten!” reads the headline of the editorial in this week’s Al Naba newsletter, the Islamic State’s weekly publication highlighting its global activities. In the commentary, the terrorist...
Op-eds
During Ongoing Jenin Operation, IDF Eliminates Terrorists Who Killed Three Israelis
2 Gunmen Killed by IDF in Jenin: The IDF said it eliminated two Palestinian terrorists during counterterrorism operations in the West Bank who were responsible for murdering three...
Flash Briefs
Turkey and HTS: A New Era of Extremism in Syria?
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2023, Syria is now controlled by an alliance of opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While there has...
Op-eds
Former HTS fighter Ahmad Hammad al Mansour reportedly detained in Syria after threatening Egyptian president
The hashtag “Your turn, dictator” has been widely shared on Egyptian social media in the past two weeks. Modeled after the 2011 rallying cry “your turn, doctor” used against then-Syrian President...