Al-Nusra Front
Islamic State suspects extradited or arrested in Lebanon, Canada, Australia, and the US
On September 23, media reports emerged that Lebanese Army Intelligence had arrested a suspected Islamic State member in northern Lebanon after placing him under surveillance. During questioning, the individual...
Op-eds
LAF-Hezbollah coordination and the limits of Lebanon’s disarmament effort
Israel assesses with “fairly high probability” that the Lebanese military is coordinating its activity in Lebanon’s disarmament pilot zones with Hezbollah, Israel’s Channel 14 reported on...
Op-eds
The Heart Attacks Fueling Suspicion in Syria
When a commander in the Syrian army’s 52nd Division died in March, a Syrian Telegram channel announced the news in the language of an ordinary obituary: Nader Mutlaq, better known as Abu Hatem...
Insights
Syria Is Off the Terror List, but Washington Still Has Leverage
US President Donald Trump has fulfilled the promise he made to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in May 2025, to give Syrians “a chance at greatness.” At the end of August of this year, Trump...
Op-eds
US moves to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism
US President Donald Trump “informed Congress of his administration’s intent to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST),” the US State Department announced on...
Op-eds
SADAT: Turkey’s Wagner Group
The SADAT International Defense Consultancy has grown into a key instrument of Turkish influence in Africa and the Middle East.
Op-eds
Islamist Turkey: A Base for Muslim Brotherhood Jihadism
Memos
Why Do We Allow Iran into American Classrooms?
Second graders are learning that non-Muslims are “the worst of all creatures” at the Brighter Horizons Academy near Dallas, Texas, according to a recent report by the Middle East Forum. The curriculum...
Op-eds
The Gaslighting Masterclass Happening Now In Doha
A masterclass in gaslighting is being given in Doha right now. Qatar is hosting the Conference of State Parties (CoSP) to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption from December 15 through 19. It’s...
Insights
Histories of Hezbollah’s assassinated top military commander, likely candidates to replace him
On Sunday, September 23, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the third and fourth floors of a residential building on Al Arid Street in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh suburbs...
Op-eds
Clashes erupt between Syrian government troops and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces
On November 19, the government-controlled Syrian army and the predominantly Kurdish, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) battled in the area of Maadan, east of Raqqa. According to Syrian...
Op-eds
Exposed: Qatar’s Circle of Terrorist Friends
In recent comments to CNN, Qatar’s prime minister reflected on his country’s unique ability to “convene between conflicted parties and understand the grievances.” ...
Op-eds
U.S. Administration Submits Proposal To End UN Sanctions on Syria
Sharaa Heading to Washington: The United States has drafted a proposal to the UN Security Council to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Interior Minister...
Flash Briefs
Syrian Government Launches Operation to Apprehend Wanted French Jihadist Fugitives
Clashes Erupt Near Idlib: Syrian government forces surrounded a camp near Idlib on October 21, launching a large-scale operation to apprehend French jihadist fighters wanted by...
Flash Briefs
US kills Al Qaeda-linked ‘attack planner’ in Syria
The US military killed a “senior Al-Qaeda affiliated attack planner” in an airstrike in Syria on October 2. The jihadi was a member of Ansar Islam, a terrorist organization that has operated in Iraq...
Op-eds
The United States Should be Prudent Regarding al-Sharaa’s Turn
Al-Sharaa’s turn away from the Nusra Front upon his seizure of power needs to be treated with prudence by the United States.
Op-eds
Turkey’s Quiet Relationship with ISIS
On June 29, 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State in al-Sham (ISIS), was recorded on video speaking at the al-Nuri Mosque in Mosul, Iraq. (“Al-Sham” is the traditional Arabic...
Op-eds
Turkey’s Push for Regime Change in Syria: The Jihadi Highway
Syria’s civil war broke out in March 2011, in reaction to the brutal crackdown by the regime of Bashar al-Asad of popular protests that were part of the wider Arab Spring. In supporting the Syrian...
Op-eds
Qatar Is Powering Syria
For Syria, Qatar’s money is power. On July 31, the Qatar Fund for Development announced plans to fund a surge of natural gas deliveries to Syria. Deliveries began on August 2. The gas, which is flowing...