Turkey

March 20, 2025 | |

Turkey Cracks Down on Demonstrators Protesting Arrest of Istanbul Mayor

Arrests of Demonstrators: Turkish authorities arrested more than 100 protesters after thousands of Turkish citizens demonstrated throughout March 19 and March 20 against the politically...

March 20, 2025 | Natalie Ecanow, Sinan Ciddi

Following Launch of October 7 Task Force, Turkey and Qatar Should Feel the Heat

The U.S. Justice Department just launched an October 7 joint task force. Now, all eyes should be on Turkey and Qatar. 

March 20, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Profiles of commanders in the new Syrian army’s regional divisions

On January 29, Syria’s new leadership announced the dissolution of the Assad regime’s Syrian Arab Army and launched a unification process to integrate various armed militias into a single national...

March 19, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey Arrests Presidential Candidate Ekrem Imamoglu

It was, according to Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, a “coup against our next president.” In the early hours of March 19, Turkish police arrested Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of...

March 17, 2025 | Peter Doran |

Why NATO Should Move Nuclear Weapons to Poland

Expanding the nuclear-sharing program to Warsaw would send a clear message to Putin: any attack on Poland would be a catastrophic mistake.

March 17, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi, Natalie Ecanow

Qatar Slated to Provide Gas to Syria With U.S. Approval

The new Syrian government is set to receive a power boost from Qatar — literally. A Trump administration official confirmed on March 13 that Washington approved a deal whereby Qatar will supply natural...

March 17, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

Iran’s ties to Western organized crime networks

The US has long labeled Iran as “the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism,” yet Tehran’s ambitions extend beyond backing Shia and Sunni Islamist groups in the Middle East.

March 15, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, Sophia Epley

Is Turkey Playing Both Sides of Sudan’s Civil War?

Ankara’s involvement in Sudan indicates its foreign policy is bereft of any values and willing to ignore sanctions intended to deter continued bloodshed.

March 13, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Massacres in Syria Expose New President’s Struggle to Govern

Hundreds of fighters and hundreds more civilians are dead following the bloodiest clashes yet between the new Syrian government and militias loyal to the fallen regime of Bashar al-Assad. On March 6,...

March 11, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

What Does Israel Want With Syria?

As Syria faces continued conflict, Israel may be planning a wider confrontation with the new government.

March 11, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi |

Why did Syria’s Kurds sign a deal with the new regime?

On March 10, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) signed an agreement with Syria’s interim government, integrating the SDF’s 100,000-strong, predominantly Kurdish force into the new Syrian...

March 11, 2025 | Reuel Marc Gerecht |

Our Foes Would Fill Doran’s Mideast Vacuum

Michael Doran might be jumping the gun in claiming that Donald Trump is channeling Ronald Reagan in the Middle East (Letters, March 10). We don’t know yet whether the president...

March 7, 2025 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Fierce clashes erupt between Assad loyalists and government forces in western Syria

On March 6, Syria witnessed the most intense and bloodiest clashes between the new Syrian government and loyalists to dictator Bashar al Assad since the Assad regime’s downfall on December 8. These battles...

March 6, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

After 2 years, Iraq claims to be searching for kidnapped researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov

On March 5, Iraqi National Security Adviser Qassem al Araji told the Associated Press that “Iraqi authorities are working under the prime minister’s direction” to find Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University researcher who was kidnapped two years ago in Iraq.

March 5, 2025 | Reuel Marc Gerecht |

Israel Can’t Substitute for the U.S. in the Middle East

The Jewish state can protect its neighborhood, but the Persian Gulf needs a superpower’s attention.

March 5, 2025 | Sinan Ciddi, Sophia Epley

Turkey’s Balancing Act in the Ukraine Conflict—Again

Turkey has once again positioned itself at the center of diplomatic efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict. Following high-profile visits to Ankara by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and...

March 5, 2025 | Janatan Sayeh |

Iran’s loss is Turkey’s gain

Recent diplomatic tensions between Turkey and Iran reflect a broader shift in the Middle East: Turkey has filled the vacuum left by Tehran, much to the Islamic Republic’s discontent.

March 5, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Can Hamas ever be defeated?

The questions about Gaza’s future are still unanswered

March 5, 2025 | Seth J. Frantzman |

How will the US-backed SDF be affected by PKK leader’s disarmament call?

On February 27, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan called for the group to disarm and end its conflict with Turkey, according to a message he released from prison.

March 3, 2025 | |

Israel SitRep: March 3, 2025

Today’s Issue: | One Killed, Four Wounded in Terror Attack in Haifa; Perpetrator Was Druze With Dual Israeli-German Citizenship | Halevi in Leaked Remarks: Hamas ‘Defeated Militarily and Tactically’...