The Mecca Defense Pact Looks Toothless. That Doesn’t Mean It’s Harmless.
The emerging Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan alliance threatens to trigger regional realignment.
Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy war
Saudis gravitate toward Middle East basket cases when it should join US’ fight against Iran
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called President Trump on Saturday and implored him to hold off on striking the Islamic Republic of Iran. Trump acquiesced and punted...
Op-eds
The Middle East Moves Toward a Multifront Maritime War
Yemen’s Houthis have brought the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait into the conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran — blocking millions more barrels of oil from easily...
Policy Briefs
Houthis announce blockade of Saudi Arabia, ships reroute to avoid Bab al Mandeb Strait
The Houthis announced a complete maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia on July 20. In response, a growing number of vessels are rerouting to avoid the Bab al Mandeb Strait, the southern...
Op-eds
Why the Houthis Declared a Blockade on Saudi Arabia
The Yemeni militant group is poised to disrupt another key chokepoint in the global energy supply.
Op-eds
Iraq sanctions individuals and entities tied to Lebanese Hezbollah
On July 15, Iraq’s Ministry of Finance circulated a banking directive instructing ministries, state entities, and financial institutions to implement recent US Treasury Department sanctions...
Op-eds
Riyadh Strikes Houthi-Controlled Airport To Block Flight From Iran
The Houthis and Saudi Arabia broke a four-year truce after Iran and its Yemeni proxy attempted to establish a direct flight path between Tehran and the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa. The flight openly...
Policy Briefs
Saudi Arabia and Houthis trade attacks over restarting direct flights between Yemen and Iran
Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa International Airport in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital on July 13 to stop the landing of a plane carrying the Houthi delegation to slain Iranian Supreme Leader...
Op-eds
Between Iraq and a Hard Place
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, only two months into his term, has a busy month of foreign engagements. In early July, he received the body of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei which was visiting Iraq’s...
Op-eds
Body of slain Iranian leader Khamenei arrives in Iraq for Najaf and Karbala rites
The body of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was taken to the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on July 8 as part of his funeral procession. Large crowds gathered to mourn the slain leader...
Op-eds
Sanaa-Tehran Direct Air Route Would Aid Iranian Efforts To Arm Houthis in Yemen
Despite an air blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, a delegation of Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen arrived in Tehran on July 3 — marking the first time in roughly a decade that a commercial...
Policy Briefs
Why Is Saudi Arabia Appeasing Iran?
Normalization with Israel would be far more beneficial for Saudi security than conciliation with the regime that has bombed its territory.
Op-eds
Saudi Arabia’s Voodoo Diplomacy Is Sabotaging Middle East Peace
While Iran has strangled Kuwait and Qatar’s ability to export energy and fund repairs for costly damage inflicted by Iranian attacks, Saudi Arabia has done nothing to challenge Tehran. Instead, Riyadh—the...
Op-eds
Iraq Forms a New Government Without Resolving Cabinet Role of Iran-Backed Militias
After six months of internal discord against the background of competing foreign interests, Iraq has formed its new government, ending the stasis that followed the November 2025 election. Prime Minister...
Policy Briefs
Saudi Arabia’s strange war: Appease Iran, rebuff Israel
Riyadh’s muted response to Iranian aggression reveals a leadership driven more by fear and domestic troubles than coherent regional strategy
Op-eds
Houthis portray steadfast support for Iran, reportedly consider Red Sea toll
After mostly sitting out the campaign that was launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al Houthi reiterated the Yemeni terrorist group’s...
Op-eds
Operation Economic Fury Turns Its Attention to Iraq
After weathering weeks of attacks from Iran-backed militias in Iraq, the United States designated seven leaders of these terror groups on April 17, asserting, “These militias operate with near impunity,...
Policy Briefs
Iran’s war against regional states: UAE bore the brunt, Iraqi Kurdistan still under fire
The ceasefire between the US and Iran has largely held since April 8, and large-scale Iranian barrages targeting Middle Eastern states have ended. However, some attacks, particularly against Iraqi Kurdistan,...
Op-eds
Strikes continue hitting Iran-backed Iraqi militias, Kataib Hezbollah declares temporary US embassy ceasefire
Airstrikes, likely conducted by the United States as part of the US-Israeli operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies, have continued hitting Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Many of...
Op-eds
Russian Hypocrisy on Display at the UN on Iran’s Behalf
Ties to the Persian Gulf region are “among Russia’s foreign policy top priorities,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared during a ministerial meeting with Arab Gulf states in the resort...