Middle East

Erdogan Dreams of Annexing Arab Countries, Reviving the Turkish Empire

The prospect of a revived Turkish empire poses a new threat to Arab sovereignty.

The Third World Wants You – Not In a Good Way

Turkey’s Cooperation with Russia and China Is a Major Reason It Shouldn’t Receive the F-35 Jet

President Trump departed the NATO Summit in Ankara without announcing Turkey’s reinstatement in the F-35 program, a major disappointment to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This omission...

Qatar’s diplomacy should worry Trump in Iran talks

From Hamas to Hezbollah and Iran, Doha's deals carry dangerous long-term costs

US moves to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

US President Donald Trump “informed Congress of his administration’s intent to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST),” the US State Department announced on...

Why Iran Sanctions Relief Wouldn’t Have Stopped Iran

As the United States and Iran trade blows again, it’s important to remember that sanctions relief would have only allowed the Islamic Republic to finance its war machine.

Hamas announces intent to dissolve Gaza government as disarmament questions remain

Hamas claimed on July 6 it was ready to transfer authority and dissolve its government in Gaza. The announcement appeared to be in line with the US-brokered ceasefire that envisions...

Don’t Launder Erdogan’s Record at the NATO Summit

The NATO summit convening in Ankara next week will offer Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan an opportunity to present himself as a vital ally: one with a military capable of blunting Russian aggression,...

Iranian ballistic missile operations: 2024–2026

Over the past two years, the Islamic Republic has engaged in at least 15 distinct ballistic missile operations from its territory against foreign targets. These attacks, starting in January 2024, ended...

Syria appoints new parliament as Israel tensions continue

On July 1, Syria’s government said that the country’s Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections had announced the final list of names for the country’s new parliament.  The...

How Trump’s Understanding With Iran Echoes Obama’s 2015 Nuclear Deal

If you want to understand Iran’s negotiating posture for the new nuclear deal with the United States, listen to what Washington and Tehran said about the nuclear deal of July 2015. At the time, President...

Iraq launches corruption crackdown, sets deadline for militia weapons handover

Iraq launched a series of raids targeting corrupt politicians and officials on June 28. “Elite Counter Terrorism Service units raided homes inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified ‌Green Zone...

10 Cases of UN Abuse, Waste, and Subversion of U.S. Interests

The United Nations is hurtling toward self-inflicted insolvency, and it has itself to blame. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres needs to secure $8.68 billion to keep the lights on for regular operations...

Decision or stagnation in Gaza?

Eight months after the ceasefire, Hamas still controls half of Gaza

Israel is walking towards an Iranian trap with its eyes open

From Iran's perspective, military pressure is not meant to defeat the enemy, but to influence the terms of the agreement reached through negotiations. Lebanon has become leverage over Washington and a means of increasing friction between the US and Israel. This is precisely the point that the Israeli government is struggling to internalize, or refuses to understand.

US kills Islamic State senior leader in Syria, Damascus rejects Lebanon intervention

On June 19, US Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out an airstrike targeting a senior leader of the Islamic State in Syria as the US maintains its decade-long campaign against the jihadist...

As Kurdistan Region seeks drone defenses, Rubio warns Iraq about Iran proxies

Iraq is working to shore up the economic stability and security of the Kurdistan Region in the wake of months of drone and missile attacks. More than 800 attacks, many assumed to have originated...

Don’t Let Turkey Hijack the NATO Summit

NATO leaders must make it clear to Turkey that it cannot be a NATO member and pursue a foreign policy that undermines the alliance.

Breaking Down the US-Iran MOU

Gaza peace plan sees slow progress after Hamas meets in Cairo

The US-backed peace plan for Gaza has continued to progress slowly, though ceasefire talks held in Cairo in the first week and a half of June appeared to stall over the issue of Hamas’s disarmament,...