Libya

February 5, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

US, UAE conducting airstrikes in northern Somalia

On February 1, the United States launched at least six airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) in Somalia’s semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland in support of that region’s current military...

January 24, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Islamic State calls for jihad in Sudan

“Sudan is forgotten!” reads the headline of the editorial in this week’s Al Naba newsletter, the Islamic State’s weekly publication highlighting its global activities. In the commentary, the terrorist...

January 15, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, Sophia Epley

Turkey and HTS: A New Era of Extremism in Syria?

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2023, Syria is now controlled by an alliance of opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). While there has...

January 15, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Trump Doctrine 2.0: What It Means for the Middle East

Countries across the Middle East are making moves and preparing for President Donald Trump’s incoming United States administration. Many of the region’s leaders were in power during the first...

January 1, 2025 | Caleb Weiss |

Islamic State release highlights the foreign-fighter nature of its recent assault in Somalia

A day after the Islamic State Somalia’s (ISS) brazen suicide assault against a Puntland military base—its most audacious attack to date in Somalia—the jihadist group released images of the men it...

December 31, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Russia enters 2025 at a crossroads in a post-Assad Middle East

Having lost it's Syrian ally in the former Assad regime, Russia is shifting forces from Syria to other places.

December 17, 2024 | |

‘The Factions Will be Dissolved’: Jolani Pushes to Disband Rebel and Pro-Assad Armed Groups in Syria

Al-Sharaa Pushes for Unity Amongst Rebel Factions: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, better known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, announced on December...

December 16, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Tehran eyes influence in Syria with plans to reopen Damascus embassy

The Iranian decision shows that it wants to jockey for a role in Syria again.

December 15, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Is Syria’s Julani part of a rising generation of younger Middle East leaders?

If Julani is to remain in power for the coming years, he could play a transformative role in Syria and the Middle East.

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 28, 2024 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

The economic silver lining of disarming Hezbollah

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire gives Lebanon the chance to rethink and overhaul its entire government and economic models

October 21, 2024 | Saeed Ghasseminejad |

Biden Administration Admits Iran’s Oil Exports Have Grown Exponentially in Value and Volume

Earlier this month, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) published its first report about Iran’s petroleum exports as mandated by the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum(SHIP) Act enacted earlier this year....

October 15, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo to discuss Gaza, Lebanon, Red Sea

Historically, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were the two pillars of stability for the region, and both are friends of the United States.

October 11, 2024 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Time for Berri to lead Lebanon’s Shiites away from Iran

With Hassan Nasrallah gone, Hezbollah reeling and Iran’s grip weakening, the Lebanese have started crawling out of the woodwork. On Monday, a few oligarchs and a bloc of 31 lawmakers, out of 128, called...

October 7, 2024 | Sinan Ciddi, Sophia Epley

Erdogan Accuses Israel of Intending to Invade Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin’s Netanyahu government harbored ambitions that include the capture of Anatolia as part of “Greater Israel,” warning of...

September 27, 2024 | Tyler Stapleton, Sinan Ciddi

Erdogan’s private military company looks to raise an Islamist army

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks a role for Turkey in Gaza’s post-war reconstruction if not governance, and the Biden administration appears ready to accede to this request. Others also see...

September 24, 2024 | Sinan Ciddi, Mariam Wahba

A Marriage of Convenience—the Limits of a Turkish Rapprochement With Egypt

On Sept. 4, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Ankara, marking Sisi’ first visit to Turkey since taking power in 2014. Despite the optics...

August 15, 2024 | Sinan Ciddi, Sophia Epley

Turkey is committed to undermining NATO

Ankara is blowing past established norms and boundaries

August 12, 2024 | Andrea Stricker |

Iran: The Next Nuclear Weapons State?

U.S. Intelligence Community Drops a Bombshell Regarding Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Work: An astonishing U.S. intelligence report just revealed a grim truth: The Islamic Republic of Iran may...

August 9, 2024 | |

Turkey Officially Requests to Join South African Genocide Case Targeting Israel at ICJ

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on August 8 that his country had formally submitted a request to join South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)...