Russian troops begin evacuating from northern Syria
Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa made his second visit to Moscow in four months on January 28, even as Russia is withdrawing its forces from the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria. Moscow...
Syria
Iran and its proxies threaten retaliation against US and Israel amid US military buildup
Tehran and its regional proxies are escalating threats against the United States and Israel as Washington moves additional naval forces into the Middle East. The US military buildup follows US President...
Op-eds
Hezbollah: We will not remain neutral if Islamic Republic endangered
Hezbollah is arguably the Islamic Republic of Iran’s primary and central extension, having described itself as such in the 1985 Open Letter, the group’s founding and constitutional document. As...
Op-eds
Israeli operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah: January 19–25, 2026
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted numerous operations throughout Lebanon against Hezbollah between January 19 and January 25, 2026. Israeli activities last week were intense, particularly on Sunday....
Op-eds
Peace for Land, Not Land for Peace
“Land for peace,” the mantra since Camp David, has brought the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to a dead end, with Palestinian militias remaining active despite the promise of statehood. It’s now time to reverse this broken policy into “peace for land,” where Palestinian acceptance of Zionism earns them territory to govern themselves. A version of this model is being tested in Gaza as part of President Trump’s peace plan. Its success is imperative. Its failure risks more of the same.
Op-eds
Don’t forget Iran!
There is truly a historic opportunity at work, based on the civilian protest movement. The world should not squander it.
Op-eds
Transfer of ISIS Prisoners To Iraq Exposes Fragile Nature of Ceasefire in Syria
As northeastern Syria reels from the Syrian government’s offensive into areas held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), detained Islamic State (ISIS) fighters are being transferred to Iraq...
Policy Briefs
Over the Barrel of a Gun: Syria’s Deal With the SDF
“Our Kurdish people, descendants of Saladin, beware of believing claims that we seek harm against you,” Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said in a televised address on January 16 to Syria’s...
Op-eds
US withdraws from Iraqi airbase, transfers Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq
US forces left Iraq’s Ain al Assad Airbase in Iraq’s Al Anbar Governorate, according to Iraq’s Defense Ministry, CNN reported on January 19. The redeployment of forces away from the large...
Op-eds
Syrian Offensive Against Kurdish-Led SDF Risks Escape of ISIS Prisoners
The ongoing conflict between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) risks unleashing tens of thousands of ISIS-linked detainees, reviving a threat that the United States and the SDF...
Policy Briefs
Fate of prisons holding Islamic State fighters uncertain as Syrian government fights Syrian Democratic Forces
Syrian government forces advancing into eastern Syria and combating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are increasingly taking over areas where Islamic State (IS) members have been held in prisons and...
Op-eds
US airstrike kills Al Qaeda leader in Syria
The US military killed an Al Qaeda leader who was involved in the December 13, 2025, attack that killed two US soldiers and a civilian contractor in Syria. US Central Command (CENTCOM) maintains that the...
Op-eds
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdraw from Aleppo province after clashes with Syrian government
In the wake of intense fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi ordered the withdrawal of his personnel from contested areas...
Op-eds
Trump’s hesitation on Iran: Why a prompt strike, even if only symbolic, is crucial
The world, including Israel, went to sleep a few days ago with the understanding and expectation of a significant American strike on Iran, following the brutal suppression of protests, the indiscriminate...
Op-eds
The Islamic Republic Kills, Europe Does Nothing
The EU and European nations — purely symbolically — called Iranian ambassadors on January 13 to account for the Islamic Republic’s mass killing of as many as 12,000 unarmed demonstrators, even as...
Policy Briefs
Damascus Poised To Attack Kurdish-Held Towns in Northern Syria
Syrian Troops Ready Offensive on Kurdish-Held Areas: Syrian government troops are preparing to launch an offensive against Kurdish-held towns in the north and east of the country...
Flash Briefs
Lebanon’s Own Laws Require Disarming Muslim Brotherhood Branch Designated by U.S. as Terror Group
The United States took aim at Islamic Group (IG), the Muslim Brotherhood’s Lebanese branch on January 13. The U.S. State Department designated IG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and designated...
Policy Briefs
Don’t make the mistake Obama did, Mr. President, enforce your Iran ‘red line’
The last time a US president drew a “red line” and refused to enforce it, thousands of Syrians paid the price. Barack Obama’s 2012 failure to enforce his red line against the use of chemical...
Op-eds
‘Help Is on Its Way’: Trump Urges Iranians To Maintain Protest Momentum After Thousands Killed in Demonstrations
Trump Backs Iranian Protests: President Donald Trump issued a new statement of support for Iranian protestors on January 13, urging the demonstrators to “Keep protesting” and...
Flash Briefs
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland sends warning to Turkey, Iran, Syria
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has sent shockwaves through the region and chills down the spines of authoritarian leaders