The New Arab

June 20, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian-backed militias threaten US amid rising tensions in Iraq over Iran-Israel conflict

The Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq has threatened to target “US interests” in the Middle East if the US intervenes in the Israel-Iran conflict, according to several regional Arabic reports. The...

June 9, 2025 | David Daoud |

Lebanon Is Conceding to Hezbollah’s Post-War Reconstruction Demands

Hezbollah has rejected calls to disarm, and now, Lebanon is conceding its best — if not only — leverage. On June 3, Lebanese television station Al Jadeedrevealed that President Joseph Aoun appointed...

April 22, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria detains two members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The transitional Syrian government’s security forces detained two members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), according to numerous media reports. As of April 22, the Syrian government has not released...

April 15, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syrian government, SDF, and other factions move to end tensions over strategic dam

The transitional Syrian government and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reached an agreement regarding the handover of the strategic Tishrin Dam from SDF’s control to Damascus’s control....

April 8, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah militia denies report it will disarm

Kataib Hezbollah has denied a recent Reuters report that stated it was considering disarming, according to numerous reports quoting the group’s statement. Kataib Hezbollah is one of the Iranian-backed...

April 3, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Turkey reportedly plans to take control of airbases in Syria

Media reports indicate that Turkish forces are planning on deploying to the Tiyas Airbase, also known as the T4, and the Palmyra military airport in Syria’s Homs province—two sites recently...

March 9, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israeli defense chief assesses military readiness along Israel’s border with Syria

The new chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited northern Israel on March 9 and met with IDF commanders along the border with Syria. According...

February 27, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel strikes southern Syria amid continued demands for demilitarization

On the evening of February 25, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Syria. The strikes came two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for south Syria...

February 25, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Netanyahu calls for the demilitarization of southern Syria

On February 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for southern Syria to remain demilitarized in the wake of the collapse of the Bashar al Assad regime. “We will not allow forces from the...

February 13, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US pushes countries to repatriate nationals in Syria’s displaced-persons camps

The US is urging countries to repatriate their nationals who reside in displaced-persons camps in eastern Syria. The potential change comes at a critical juncture in Syria after the fall of the Bashar...

February 3, 2025 | |

‘Not Accurate’: Jordan Denies Reports of Ordering Deportation of Notorious Terrorist Ahlam Tamimi

Parliament Speaker Denies Deportation Claims: Jordanian Parliament Speaker Ahmed al-Safadi denied February 2 reports that Jordan had demanded Hamas immediately transfer convicted...

January 8, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran-Backed Militias Face Crisis After Assad’s Fall in Syria

Four years ago, in January 2020, a US drone carried out a strike in Iraq near Baghdad International Airport, killing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force leader Qasem...

December 29, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Pro-Iran militias in Iraq may move away from Syria border

The point of the report is that the Iraqis want to show that the militias who played a role in Syria will now not just be in Iraq, but will be moved away from the border.

August 29, 2024 | |

Israel, Hamas Agree to Reduce Clashes in Gaza to Enable Polio Vaccine Rollout

Israel agreed to implement temporary humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza to facilitate an upcoming polio vaccination campaign in the enclave. Citing a senior State Department...

July 31, 2024 | |

Israel SitRep: July 31, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Tehran; Iranian Officials ‘in Utter Shock’ | Defense Minister on Elimination of Fuad Shukr: ‘No Place Out of Reach for Our Forces’...

July 19, 2024 | Haisam Hassanein |

Sisi’s New Cabinet Reflects Continuity Over Change

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi accepted the credentials of a new cabinet on July 3, stating that its main priorities will be the economy, investments, and social services. However, some of the...

June 30, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Why is the Arab League reaching out to Hezbollah?

There is a lot of speculation that this means that the Arab League no longer views Hezbollah as a terrorist group.

May 15, 2024 | |

Hezbollah Launches 60 Rockets at Israel 

Hezbollah launched more than 60 rockets at Israel on May 15, causing no casualties. The rockets targeted an Israeli air traffic control base area near Mount Meron in the north,...

February 8, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Hamas stronghold in Gaza’s Rafah is key to its survival – analysis

For Hamas, holding on to Rafah is a key to continuing to rule Gaza.

September 27, 2023 | Jonathan Schanzer |

No Incentives for Terrorism: U.S. Implementation of the Taylor Force Act and Efforts to Stop ‘Pay to Slay’