Research fellow

Confronting Authoritarians around the Globe

Previewing the 2026 UN General Assembly

Hezbollah Leader Vows To Retain Weapons as Israel Responds to Group’s Continued Ceasefire Violations

Qassem Pledges To Retain Arms: Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem vowed on April 27 that the Iran-backed terrorist organization would not “relinquish its weapons or its defenses.” Qassem also labeled last week’s meeting between Lebanese and Israeli officials a “gratuitous and humiliating concession” on the part of the Lebanese government. “We categorically reject direct negotiations with Israel, and those in power should know that their actions will not benefit Lebanon or themselves,” Qassem said.

Europe Approves 90 Billion Euro Interest-Free Loan to Ukraine

Funding for Defense and Budget Expenses: The European Union gave final approval to a 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine on April 23 after Hungary lifted its two-month veto. The interest-free...

Trump Announces 10-Day Ceasefire in Lebanon

Trump Announces Ceasefire: Following conversations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump announced on April...

Israel and Lebanon Hold Direct Talks in Washington as War With Hezbollah Continues

Talks Held in D.C.: Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted talks between delegations from Israel and Lebanon in Washington on April 14 — the first time the two countries had engaged...

Iran’s Largest Petrochemical Complex Struck by IDF

Israel Strikes Iran’s Largest Petrochemical Plant: The Israeli Air Force launched strikes against Iran’s largest petrochemical plant, Asaluyeh, on April 6. According to Israeli...

‘The Big One is Coming Soon’: Trump Warns Heavier Strikes on Tehran Regime Targets Imminent

Trump Praises Operation’s Progress: In an interview with CNN on March 2, President Donald Trump assessed that Operation Epic Fury targeting the regime in Iran was “going very...

3 U.S. Service Members Killed in Action as Iranian Regime Expands Regional Assault

U.S. Announces Casualties: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that three U.S. service members were killed in action as of 9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 1 during...

Russia ‘Trying To Drag Out Negotiations’: No Breakthrough in Latest Geneva Talks To End Ukraine War

Latest Developments Second Day of Negotiations End: The second day of trilateral negotiations in Geneva on February 18 between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, represented by envoys Steve Witkoff...

‘Far From Sufficient’: Israel Criticizes Lebanon’s Underwhelming Results in Disarming Hezbollah

Israel Says Hezbollah Rearming at Alarming Speed: Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated on January 8 that Lebanese optimism regarding the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist...

U.S. Seizes Russian-Flagged Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil After Lengthy Pursuit

Tanker Boarded by U.S. Forces: The United States seized the Russian-flagged Bella 1 oil tanker on January 7 after a two-week pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean triggered by its violation...

Putin Threatens Continued Armed Force Against Ukraine if Demands Are Not Met Through Negotiations

‘Little Pigs’: Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to continue using force to achieve Moscow’s objectives in Ukraine if its demands are not granted through negotiations....

Trump Signs Executive Order Designating Fentanyl a Weapon of Mass Destruction 

Executive Order To Designate Deadly Opioid as WMD: President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 15 to designate the drug fentanyl and “its core precursor chemicals”...

Iran Steps Up Persecution of Baha’i Faith 

Increased Targeting of Baha’i Minority Since War With Israel: Iranian authorities have increased efforts to target members of the Baha’i faith, subjecting Baha’i citizens...

Zelenskyy to Send Trump Peace Proposal

‘Peace Has No Alternative’: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he is finalizing his own peace deal, formulated in consultation with European partners, and...

New Survey Reveals 60 Percent of Americans Approved of U.S. Strikes Against Iranian Nuclear Facilities

Reagan Institute Survey Shows American Support for U.S. Action Against Iran: A new survey released by the Ronald Reagan Institute on December 4 found that 60 percent of Americans...

‘Liberate These Territories by Force’: Putin Reasserts Russian Claim on Entire Donbas Region of Ukraine

Putin Warns Ukrainian Troops To Withdraw: Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled on December 4 that he would not compromise on his demands for Ukrainian territory, warning Ukraine’s...

Putin Resistant to Trump’s Ukraine Peace Plan During Meeting With Witkoff and Kushner

Accepted Some Provisions, Rejected Others: A five-hour-long meeting in Moscow on December 2 to present President Donald Trump’s plan to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Russian...

Romania, Germany Scramble Fighter Jets To Track Russian Drone Incursion as U.S. and Ukraine Deliberate Over Ceasefire Deal

Latest Developments Russian Drones Breach NATO Airspace: German and Romanian fighter jets were scrambled on November 25 in response to a Russian drone incursion into Romanian airspace — marking the...