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...
Turkey
Turkey’s Dangerous Defense Pivot
Is the new Turkish-Saudi-Pakistani defense pact an attempt at an Islamic NATO or a strategic self-sabotage?
Op-eds
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
Op-eds
After Khamanei: What the Fall of Iran’s Regime Would Mean for the Region
The fall of Iran’s Islamist regime would mark one of the most seismic shifts in Middle Eastern geopolitics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought it to power. As massive protests grip the...
Op-eds
UNRWA’s Pivot To Ankara Cements a Future for Hamas in Turkey
A conduit for terrorism has found a new home. On January 8, the Commissioner-General for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini met with...
Policy Briefs
The persistence of Israel’s ‘Periphery Doctrine’
The burgeoning relationship between Somaliland and Israel proves that the Jewish state is not hated and isolated in the region, despite the neighboring cluster of authoritarian states insisting otherwise.
Op-eds
Turkey’s Strategic Support for the Maduro Regime Deserves Attention
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro long had a friend in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition to diplomatic cover, under the Turkish leader, the regime in Caracas received an economic lifeline...
Policy Briefs
Israeli Foreign Minister Follows up Recognition of Somaliland With Historic Visit
Latest Developments Sa’ar in Somaliland: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar traveled to Somaliland on January 6, the first official diplomatic visit since Israel recognized the East African...
Flash Briefs
Turkey’s extensive ties with Venezuela bolstered Maduro’s regime despite sanctions and criminal activity
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was an important external backer of Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, providing diplomatic cover, economic engagement, and access to international markets...
Op-eds
Why Trump bared his teeth and nabbed Venezuela’s Maduro — and it’s not just drugs
The Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on Saturday was a US victory on two fronts: the war on drugs and the great-power competition with China and Russia. For...
Op-eds
Somali intelligence claims death of senior Shabaab leader
On January 1, Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) announced that it and “partner forces” killed senior Shabaab leader Abdullahi Osman, who is better known as Engineer...
Op-eds
Erdogan’s Courtship of Pakistan Stirs Fears of a Nuclear-Armed Turkey
Given the two nations’ uniquely poor records on counterterrorism and regional aggression, the Ankara-Islamabad ties warrant concern.
Op-eds
Updated Hamas ‘Narrative’ Signals Confidence About Keeping Power
Hamas has released an updated version of its apologia for its October 7, 2023, murder of 1,200 people in Israel in a renewed effort to rally Palestinians and Israel’s opponents abroad. The glossy manifesto...
Policy Briefs
Turkey Decries Cyprus–Greece–Israel Security Talks
A new “axis of evil” has arisen in the eastern Mediterranean Sea — at least according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s slavish media. The sharp reaction was brought about by a trilateral...
Policy Briefs
Netanyahu-Trump meeting: What the PM is expected to ask for, what he shouldn’t concede
There is an urgent need to begin and conclude, as soon as possible, discussions on the next MOU between Israel and the US, which will follow the current agreement set to expire in 2028.
Op-eds
Israel rotates military units in Gaza as new phase of ceasefire deal looms
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rotated two brigades out of Gaza in late December, replacing them with new units. The switch occurred as the IDF continues to deal with securing the...
Op-eds
A Deal to Help Bring Syria Together Nears Collapse
In just a little more than a week, Syria could return to the civil strife its people suffered under for 13 years. A March deal to unify the militaries of President Ahmad al-Sharaa and the Kurdish-led Syrian...
Policy Briefs
Israel, Cyprus, Greece Sign Cooperation Agreement at Trilateral Summit in Jerusalem
Latest Developments Boost Trilateral Relations: The leaders of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel agreed to boost trilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean during a summit in Jerusalem on December 22. Against...
Flash Briefs
Syrian Government and Kurdish-Led SDF Agree to De-escalation of Violence Following Aleppo Clashes
Latest Developments Aleppo Fighting Leads to Casualties: Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed on December 22 to reduce tensions after at least two civilians...
Flash Briefs
Libyan parliament speaker claims maritime deal with Turkey invalid but open to renegotiation
On December 15, Aguila Saleh, Libya’s House of Representatives speaker, deemed the 2019 Libya-Turkey maritime deal illegitimate and non-binding in an interview with the Libyan News Agency (LANA)....