al-Qaeda

April 18, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Pro-Iranian Iraqi network releases documents on Ahmad al Sharaa’s identity

On April 16, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani invited Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, to attend the Arab League summit scheduled for...

April 16, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi, Sinan Ciddi

Turkey’s Ties to Al-Qaeda Entities in Yemen Threaten Regional Security

“Turkey is a country that loves us, and we love it,” declared Abu Omar al-Nahdi, a former emir in al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch and now the leader of the newly formed Change and Liberation Movement in...

April 11, 2025 | |

‘When Your Friends Have Bad Relations’: Azerbaijan Mediates Syria Deconfliction Talks Between Israel and Turkey

Agreed to Continue Discussions: Seeking to avoid “undesirable incidents,” Israel and Turkey held the first round of discussions in Azerbaijan on April 9 to create deconfliction...

April 11, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Why do Iraqi Shiites hate the new Syria and its leader?

One might assume that the most unpopular individuals in Iraq are US President Donald Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

April 9, 2025 | Clifford D. May |

Israel’s second war of independence

Never again will Israelis allow a “ring of fire” to burn on their nation’s borders

April 6, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s new strongman isn’t living up to his promises for reform 

Excerpt Days before his troops overthrew the regime of Bashar Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa declared that Syria deserves a system in which no “single ruler makes arbitrary decisions.”...

April 6, 2025 | |

Israel ‘Not Looking for Conflict’: Netanyahu, Trump to Talk Turkey During Monday Visit to the White House

White House Invite: President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 7, marking the first visit by a foreign leader to the White House since the...

April 2, 2025 | Will Selber, Bill Roggio

US removal of Sirajuddin Haqqani’s $10 million bounty signals engagement with the Taliban

The Trump administration appears to be continuing its previous policy of engagement with the Taliban, which led to the 2020 Doha Agreement that paved the way for the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal...

April 2, 2025 | |

Israel Warns of Threats to Israeli and Jewish Travelers Ahead of Passover

Increase in Attacks on Jews and Israelis Expected: Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a travel advisory to Israelis on April 1, ahead of Passover when many Jews travel...

March 31, 2025 | Natalie Ecanow |

Instead of Rewarding Qatar With Weapons Sales, Washington Should Use Them as Leverage

Despite enabling terrorist groups, Qatar is poised to purchase nearly $2 billion worth of American arms. The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale on March 26 under the Foreign Military Sales...

March 30, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Trump admin ups the tempo of airstrikes against jihadist groups in Somalia

The Trump administration is significantly increasing the rate of American strikes inside Somalia. In just the first three months of President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has already...

March 28, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh, Behnam Ben Taleblu

U.S. Sanctions Iranian Intelligence Officials for Role in Abducting Former FBI Agent

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence (MOI) serves as the long arm of the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. Washington should treat it accordingly. On March 25, the U.S. Department of the Treasury...

March 28, 2025 | Reuel Marc Gerecht |

Why Trump can’t beat the Houthis

Attacking proxies won’t wound Iran

March 28, 2025 | Jonathan Schanzer, Sinan Ciddi, Melissa Sacks, Michael Rubin

Hamas and Turkey: Partners in Terror

March 27, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Turkey increasing military assistance to Syria

Reports circulating on Syrian social media claim that Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa is planning a visit to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to finalize a defense and military agreement between the two countries.

March 27, 2025 | |

‘No Blank Check’: European Envoys Press Syrian Leader Al-Sharaa to Hold Violent Jihadists Accountable

Message Comes After Alawite Massacre: Three European envoys told Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa that he has limited time to rein in violent jihadists in his country, according...

March 25, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Can Syria and Lebanon Rein In Hezbollah?

If Hezbollah continues to clash with the new Syrian government, this could encourage the government to lean on other extremist militias.

March 24, 2025 | Natalie Ecanow |

The Trump administration should bring Al Jazeera in line with US law

AJ+ is headquartered in the United States but the Justice Department found it operates “at the direction and control” of the Qatari government.

March 20, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Profiles of commanders in the new Syrian army’s regional divisions

On January 29, Syria’s new leadership announced the dissolution of the Assad regime’s Syrian Arab Army and launched a unification process to integrate various armed militias into a single national...

March 19, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Syria’s New Constitution: A Shift Toward Unchecked Presidential Powers

Days before his troops overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa said that Syria deserves a political system in which no “single ruler makes arbitrary decisions.” Yet now, as the country’s...