Indian Ocean

February 5, 2025 | Clifford D. May |

Defeating the Houthis

Biden didn’t try; Trump can and should

October 9, 2024 | Clifford D. May |

Atoning for Britain’s colonialist past

By encouraging China’s colonialist present

October 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran’s president heads for Qatar as Iran’s army trains with Oman

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is heading to Qatar for the 19th Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit, aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties amid Iran’s ongoing regional maneuvers.

September 23, 2024 | Edmund Fitton-Brown |

The Houthis have challenged the Rules-Based International System and must be defeated

In my first analysis and opinion piece on the so-called Axis of Resistance, I set the scene by describing Iran’s 45-year trajectory from the Khomeini revolution to its current challenge to...

September 2, 2024 | Edmund Fitton-Brown |

Responding forcefully to the Axis of Resistance

Iran has defined itself in opposition to Israel, the United States, and the wider West since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Over the course of half a century of complex regional and global events, the clerical...

July 15, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran’s President Pezeshkian speaks with Hamas leader, praises Houthis

“We appreciate Iran for playing a role in supporting the Palestinian cause, and we demand more political and diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Israel’s aggression,” Haniyeh said.

July 2, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran-backed Houthis claim attacks on four more ships in multi-front assault

The Houthis have attempted to expand their operations in recent months, carrying out longer range strikes and also trying to reach the Mediterranean Sea.

June 26, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran’s multi-front war on Israel has diminishing returns

Iran is operationalizing multiple fronts against Israel. In some areas, the groups claim success; in others, it is unclear if the claims match reality.

May 10, 2024 | |

Houthis Target Ships Linked to Israel

The leader of the Houthis announced on May 8 that the Yemen-based, Iran-backed rebel group would target “ships of any company related to supplying or transporting goods to Israel...

May 6, 2024 | |

Iranian Warship Sails Into Southern Hemisphere

A ship in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) crossed into the southern hemisphere, Iranian state media reported on May 4. The Shahid Mahdavi, a converted container...

May 2, 2024 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Houthis attack four ships and threaten to expand operations against U.S. forces

On Apr. 29, Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen launched several attacks targeting commercial and military ships. A statement on the official spokesperson’s Telegram says, “The Yemeni armed forces...

May 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Kuwait Emir visits Egypt, meets with leaders over Rafah concerns

Cairo and Kuwait City meet to discuss humanitarian crisis in Gaza and necessity of ensuring peace in region.

April 30, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Houthis target US ships and expand operations as part of attack escalations in the region

Iran-backed Houthis have increased their attacks and made several claims of targeting numerous ships in recent days, including claims, without evidence, that they were targeting Israel-linked ships.

March 14, 2024 | |

China, Russia, and Iran Hold Fifth Trilateral Naval Drill

The naval forces of China, Russia, and Iran are conducting a four-day trilateral drill in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean that started on March 12. The drill’s spokesperson,...

March 14, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Russia, China, and Iran deepen ties with naval drill

Russia, Iran, and China have conducted at least four naval drills in the past. However, this year’s are larger, and they come amidst rising tensions in the Red Sea and off the coast of Yemen.

November 30, 2023 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

Iran continues to use drones in its shadow war against Israel

By using drones, which fly low and slow, Tehran is engaging in graduated escalation, in the hopes of forcing Israel to absorb the threat, rather than feel compelled to respond.

November 27, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US: Houthis’ maritime attacks put international shipping at risk

It is unclear if the Houthis intended to send a message while purposely missing their target or if the missiles were inaccurate.

November 17, 2023 | Bradley Bowman, Bill Roggio

International Maritime Security Construct issues warning as Houthis threaten commercial shipping

The International Maritime Security Construct issued a warning for vessels traveling thru the vital Bab al Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea just two days after the Houthis threatened to attack international...

November 8, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Tehran predicts Russia-China-Iran triangle of power – analysis

Iran hopes to ally with Eastern powers to gain economic and political power in the Middle East.

July 9, 2023 | Cleo Paskal, Col. Grant Newsham

U.S. fighting China on the wrong battlefield

While the U.S. has been focused on preparing for the kinetic warfare battlefield, China has been registering big wins on the political warfare battlefield. You can see it all over the Pacific Islands.