Beware of Falling BRICS
With the BRICS Summit coming to a close, it is unclear what has been accomplished.
Ethiopia
AFRICOM launches ‘self-defense’ airstrikes against Shabaab in Somalia
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) killed five members of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, in a “self-defense airstrike” in central Somalia on July 19. AFRICOM has launched four self-defense...
Op-eds
Analysis: Shabaab takes advantage of slowed counter-offensive
Somalia’s large counter-offensive against Shabaab is currently stalled and its much touted next phase continues to be delayed. In response, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, seeks to gain...
Op-eds
Two Years On, Syria’s Suspension from the OPCW Was Beneficial
Member States’ Next Act Should be Suspending Russia
Memos
Israel and Nigeria Will Begin Direct Flights
Latest Developments Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev approved a deal on Sunday to allow non-stop flights between Nigeria and Israel. Pending final approval by Israel’s cabinet, the agreement...
Flash Briefs
Analysis: U.S. Military kills key Islamic State leader in Africa
The United States announced yesterday that it conducted a special operations forces (SOF) raid on a hideout of the Islamic State’s branch in Somalia. During the raid, the SOF troops killed Bilal al-Sudani,...
Op-eds
Sanctions Have Hurt Iran’s Aviation Sector, But Not Enough
There is more the U.S. can do to keep the Islamic Republic from using planes to support dictators and terrorists.
Op-eds
Analysis: Al Qaeda ideologue calls for jihad in Sudan, provides guidelines
Earlier this month, Bayt al Maqdis, a jihadi publishing house believed linked to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released a book compiled of various letters written by the ideologue Abu Hudhayfah...
Op-eds
Shabaab conducts triple suicide bombing in central Somalia
As military operations continue against the group across much of central Somalia, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, retaliated today with a triple suicide car bombing in the city of Beledweyne. According...
Op-eds
U.S. military kills wanted Shabaab leader in airstrike in Somalia
The U.S. military killed a senior Shabaab leader in an airstrike in a terrorist haven in southern Somalia on Oct. 1. Abdullahi Yare, the Shabaab commander who was killed, had a $3 million reward out for...
Op-eds
Shabaab continues to lose ground in central Somalia
Over the last few weeks, troops from the Somali National Army (SNA), backed by clan-based militias, African Union forces, and U.S. air support, have steadily made progress against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s...
Op-eds
U.S. airstrike kills 27 Shabaab fighters in central Somalia
The U.S. military killed 27 members of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, in an airstrike in support of a Somali military and African Union offensive in central Somalia. Since June 3, the US has...
Op-eds
Analysis: Thirty hour long hotel siege emblematic of Somalia’s remaining security challenges
On Friday, Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, launched a coordinated suicide assault on the Hayat Hotel in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu. Almost 30 hours later it was ended by Somali security...
Op-eds
US picks up pace of airstrikes in Somalia
Since resuming military activity inside Somalia earlier this year, the Biden Administration has ramped up the pace of airstrikes in the Horn of Africa country in recent weeks. Since June 3, the US has conducted...
Op-eds
A victorious Taliban is inspiring a new generation of Islamic extremists
On May 15, 1989, the Soviet army withdrew from Afghanistan. The Soviets, who had been slugging it out for 10 years with Islamist fighters, finally threw in the towel. The withdrawal was immediately hailed...
Op-eds
IRGC-Controlled Iranian Airline Makes Unexplained Flights to Russia Amidst Invasion of Ukraine
The U.S.-sanctioned Iranian airline Qeshm Fars Air has flown to Moscow at least seven times since mid-April after having made that trip only twice last year, according to the flight tracking service FlightRadar24....
Policy Briefs
Don’t Cling to Hopes That Putin Will Ever Face Justice
The system for prosecuting war crimes is broken—but focusing on sanctions could work.
Op-eds
Engines of Influence
Turkey’s Defense Industry Under Erdogan
Memos
Accommodating Iran Will Be No More Successful Than Accommodating Russia
Putin’s horrifying war in Ukraine shows the likely results of the West continuing to ignore Iran’s nuclear quest
Op-eds
Amnesty spreads the virus of antisemitism
It defames, demonizes, and attempts to delegitimize the Jewish state