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February 5, 2025 | Max Lesser, Mariam Davlashelidze

America’s Adversaries Use AI for Malign Influence, But Not to Great Effect … Yet

Iran, China, and Russia all used Google’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool Gemini to accelerate their influence operations (IO), Google warned in a new report published on January 29. At...

February 4, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Drone attack targets gas field in northern Iraq

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) targeted the Khor Mor gas field in northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan Region on February 2, 2025. It is the latest kamikaze drone attack on the gas field run by Dana Gas.

January 31, 2025 | Ben Cohen |

The right to exist

Out of more than 200 states in the international system, the survival of only one of them—the State of Israel—seems to be up for debate.

January 31, 2025 | Max Lesser, Saman Nazari

Russian Malign Influence Campaigns Expand Onto Bluesky

The Russian influence operation known as Doppelganger has expanded onto the social media platform Bluesky to spread anti-Ukraine and antisemitic messages, according to a report released by Alliance4Europe...

January 29, 2025 | Natalie Ecanow |

Qatar Seeks Nobel Peace Prize for Gaza Mediation Despite Enabling Hamas

A Qatari diplomat recently suggested that the emir of Qatar deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the war in Gaza that Doha effectively abetted. In a statement to The Jerusalem Post, Qatar’s...

December 17, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Night raid: Watching female IDF soldiers detain terror suspects in Bethlehem

Most of the residents are descended from Arabs who fled Beit Jibrin in 1948. Today, it is also home to wanted suspects who have engaged in terrorism or who may be active in threats against Israel.

December 8, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

As Assad falls and Iran weakens, Qatar gains influence across Middle East

While Israel is pleased to see the weakness of the Iranian-backed axis, it’s worth pausing and noting that celebrations should be tempered by reality.

November 21, 2024 | Ari Ben Am |

How to Prevent Classified U.S. Intelligence from Ending up on Social Media

Once again, highly classified U.S. intelligence reports are circulating on social media. Last month, Telegram’s pro-Iran propaganda channel Middle East Spectator published two classified...

November 14, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Destroyed by ISIS, a historic minaret in Mosul rises again

The repairs to this site which is in the old city of Mosul on the western bank of the Tigris river that runs through the city, is an important accomplishment.

November 7, 2024 | Jack Burnham, Craig Singleton

China’s Careful Reaction to U.S. Election Masks Deepening Rift

China’s restrained response to President-elect Donald Trump’s victory sharply contrasts with its months-long campaign to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral process and sow societal discord....

November 5, 2024 | David Daoud |

Naim Qassem is finally the bride

Hezbollah has a new secretary-general, though far from the obvious choice. On October 29, the group announced that its demure and soft-spoken Naim Qassem, rumored to be hiding in Iran, had succeeded...

October 29, 2024 | David R. Shedd, Ivana Stradner

The Covert War for American Minds

How Russia, China, and Iran Seek to Spread Disinformation and Chaos in the United States

October 28, 2024 | |

Israel SitRep: October 28, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Israeli Defense Ministry Signs $535 Million Order to Expand Production of Iron Beam | IDF Continues Operations in Northern, Central, and Southern Gaza, Including Evacuating Civilians...

October 21, 2024 | |

Iran Sentences 10 Women From Baha’i Religious Minority to Lengthy Prison Terms

Iran’s judiciary sentenced 10 women belonging to the beleaguered Baha’i religious minority to a combined total of 90 years in prison, Iran International reported on October 21....

October 21, 2024 | David Adesnik |

How Facebook Whitewashes ‘From the River to the Sea’

The brilliance of the slogan “From the river to the sea,” is that it allows protesters to call for dismantling the State of Israel, and then insist that they have articulated nothing more than “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence.” ...

October 16, 2024 | David May, Pavak Patel

U.S., Canada Designate Samidoun a Sham Charity Front for the PFLP Terrorist Group

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, in a joint action with the Canadian government, designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and Khaled Barakat on October 15 for raising funds on...

October 11, 2024 | |

Dutch Parliament Votes to Designate PFLP Front Samidoun as a Terrorist Group

The Dutch parliament voted overwhelmingly on October 10 to call for Samidoun, a Canada-based group believed to be a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP),...

October 3, 2024 | Ari Ben Am, Max Lesser

Iranian Cyber Operations Raise Fears of Attacks on Military Personnel

“You and your children … are our legitimate targets around the world,” an X account called @idfleaks threatened in December 2023, addressing service members from the Israel Defense Forces...

September 16, 2024 | David Adesnik |

How Israel Lost a Battle to Al Jazeera — and How It Must Do Better Next Time

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September 13, 2024 | |

6 Things to Know About Samidoun, the ‘Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network’

Samidoun describes itself as an “international network of organizers and activists” that campaigns for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The group sponsors demonstrations, protests,...