Lifting Sanctions on Syrian Regime Is a Grave Mistake
At a future point, many will ask an obvious question: why did the United States and Europe lift sanctions on Syria? The question will come after the likely fall of the Ahmed...
Jihadism
FDD Analysis
A secular jihadi brings the intifada to Washington
The Islamist/leftist alliance metastasizes
Op-eds
Has the Era of Extremism Ended in the Middle East?
On May 20, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke about the U.S. decision to engage with the new Syrian government in Damascus. Rubio said that an unstable Syria has historically...
Op-eds
Syrian military integrates Al Qaeda-linked terror group into its ranks
The new Syrian government is integrating a Central Asian terrorist group that is part of Al Qaeda’s network into its military, despite the objections of US President Donald Trump. The head of this terror...
Op-eds
Trump Tells Syria to Expel Foreign Fighters, But Sharaa Gives Them Army Divisions
“Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria,” President Donald Trump told interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14 — just after lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria. Yet on May 18, Syria’s...
Policy Briefs
Former Michigan guardsmen detained for planning Islamic State-inspired attack on military base
On May 13, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, 19, a former member of the Michigan Army National Guard, was detained for planning a mass casualty attack on the United States Army’s Tank-Automotive...
Op-eds
Trump presses Sharaa on foreign fighters as jihadists rise in Syria’s new army
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump held talks with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a designated terrorist by both the US and the United Nations and the former head of Syria’s...
Op-eds
Pregnant Israeli Woman Murdered in West Bank Terror Attack While En Route to Give Birth
Terrorist Fired at Passing Vehicles: A pregnant 30-year-old Israeli woman has been murdered in a terrorist attack in the West Bank as her husband drove her to the hospital to deliver...
Flash Briefs
From Wanted to Welcomed: Trump Meets Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” said President Donald Trump on May 13 during a speech at an investment forum in Riyadh at...
Policy Briefs
President Trump meets with a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, lifts sanctions on Syria
President Donald Trump met with Syrian interim president Ahmad al Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, a US and UN-designated terrorist and the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham,...
Op-eds
Journalism or Jihad?
Al Jazeera Trainer Lauds Terrorists and Blames the Jews
Op-eds
India Claims Elimination of Terrorist Involved in Abduction and Murder of American Journalist Daniel Pearl
Wanted Islamist Terrorist Killed: India announced on May 8 that its armed forces had eliminated Islamist terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar, a co-conspirator in the 2002 abduction and murder...
Flash Briefs
India claims Jaish-e-Mohammad leader killed during airstrikes in Pakistan
The Indian government claimed that Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior leader of the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad and a brother of the group’s founder, Masood Azhar, was killed during India’s retaliatory airstrikes on Pakistan on May 7.
Op-eds
Iraq is not-so-seriously attempting to exert control over militias and weapons
After months of pressure on Iraq from Washington to disarm Iran-backed militias, reports are emerging that more militants are integrating into the country’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Iraq is...
Op-eds
‘Warning Operation’: Israeli Drones Strike Pro-Government Forces Clashing With Druze Factions in Syria
Israeli Officials Reiterate Pledge to Protect Druze: Israel has conducted drone strikes on the outskirts of Damascus, targeting Sunni extremists who attacked members of the Syrian...
Flash Briefs
Syria’s Fragile Truce With the Kurds Is Falling Apart
The agreement between the interim government in Syria and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), signed just two months ago, is already on the brink of collapse. If it breaks down completely,...
Policy Briefs
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: First 100 Days
Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. This is a special edition covering President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. As always, FDD’s experts assess...
Policy Tracker
Amid Syria troop reduction, will Trump repeat Middle East withdrawal mistakes?
Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argue in this op ed that getting out of Syria too quickly could leave the US vulnerable.
Op-eds
Pro-Iranian Iraqi politicians, militia leaders object to Syrian president visiting Iraq
A possible visit by Syria’s new transitional president, Ahmad al Sharaa, is causing controversy in Iraq. Several key Shiite political and militia leaders have come out against the visit and called on...
Op-eds
Will U.S. Forces Leave Syria for Good in 2025?
U.S. forces in Syria continue to support their partners in the war against ISIS. This is part of a mission that dates back to 2015, when the U.S. first became involved in Syria. However, recent reports point to an increasing likelihood that the U.S. role in Syria may end within months.