How Russia and China Support the Houthis
The United States and its allies need a more coordinated anti-Houthi strategy to counter a Russo-Chinese threat to the region.
United States Central Command
Iran’s Civic Movement Regains Momentum, but the Regime’s Repression Apparatus Endures
Amid the Islamic Republic’s neither-war-nor-peace standoff with the United States and Israel, scattered demonstrations against the regime are gradually increasing — from roughly 30 in May to 90 in...
Insights
Afghan United Front leads October surge in claimed anti-Taliban attacks
In October, the anti-Taliban resistance in Afghanistan more than doubled its attacks from September, as the Afghan United Front (AUF) claimed the most attacks and two new groups entered the conflict at...
Op-eds
Florida teenager arrested in an Islamic State-linked bomb plot
On October 26, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jude Sleeper, a 15-year-old student at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, FL, and charged him with making or attempting to make a destructive...
Op-eds
Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes continue amid reported Pakistani outreach to anti-Taliban groups
Taliban and Pakistani forces have clashed at least three times along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border since October 19, amid reports that Pakistani military and intelligence officials have met with Afghan...
Op-eds
The Islamic Republic only survives on war — don’t give Tehran what it craves
“It’s getting to be decision time” on Iran, President Donald Trump said Sunday. “Do I finish it off, which would be very easy to do, or do I make a deal?” he mused in a Fox News interview. On...
Op-eds
Iraq juggles border security and ties with Iran, Syria, and Jordan
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi traveled to Jordan on October 26 for a series of meetings with Jordanian officials. Among the topics discussed was a desire to “increase cooperation and coordination...
Op-eds
Pakistani outreach presents a dilemma for Afghanistan’s anti-Taliban resistance
On October 22, The New York Times gave credence to rumors of potential Pakistani support for the anti-Taliban resistance in Afghanistan. According to a Pakistani intelligence official and a senior resistance...
Op-eds
FBI arrests alleged Islamic State supporter accused of plotting to assassinate Texas congressman
On October 5, the FBI arrested a 17-year-old from McKinney, Texas, who is accused of plotting to assassinate Republican US Representative Keith Self of Texas and carry out a terrorist attack in North Texas...
Op-eds
Pakistan-Taliban border clashes continue amid diplomatic efforts
Since October 12, border clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban have continued in multiple locations, with both sides accusing the other of initiating hostilities. Russian and European Union officials...
Op-eds
Washington’s Counter-Mine Wakeup Call
The Islamic Republic of Iran delivered a wakeup call to the U.S. Navy regarding the service’s ability to clear mines. The still-contested Strait of Hormuz demonstrates that mine clearing under fire is...
Op-eds
Iraq After the US Military Withdrawal: Militia Disarmament Will Decide the Outcome
Iraq is at a new crossroads. On October 8 and 12, Iranian drones targeted Kurdish Iranian opposition groups based in northern Iraq. These are just several of more than 1,000 attacks by Iran on Iraq over...
Op-eds
Taliban-Pakistan border clashes continue after Moscow talks end without agreement
Since October 5, reported fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan has largely consisted of border clashes along Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktia province and Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa...
Op-eds
Islamic State-linked suspects detained or charged in 6 countries since late September
Authorities in Georgia, North Macedonia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Israel detained or indicted 51 Islamic State-linked suspects in eight separate cases between September 25 and October 8. The arrests...
Op-eds
FBI arrests alleged Islamic State supporter accused of plotting Mall of America attack
On October 6, the FBI arrested Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, of Richfield, Minnesota, near his residence after he bought an AK-47-style rifle, magazines, and ammunition from an undercover FBI employee,...
Op-eds
Pakistan launches new strikes as conflict with Taliban persist into third week
Last week, Pakistan conducted another round of airstrikes in Afghanistan and targeted operations against terrorists at home, prompting fresh accusations between Islamabad and the Taliban as the two former...
Op-eds
US charges engineer with supporting Houthis, Louisiana brothers and Florida man with financing Hamas
Federal authorities in September charged defendants in three cases alleging support for the Houthis and Hamas. The cases accuse a Department of Energy engineer of attempting to aid the Houthis and two...
Op-eds
US forces complete departure from Iraq as anti-Islamic State mission in Iraq ends
US forces deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the anti-Islamic State mission, completed their departure from Iraq on September 30. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi held a ceremony to mark...
Op-eds
Anti-Taliban resistance claims attacks across Afghanistan in September
As the Taliban enters its sixth year in power, a resistance against its rule remains active despite lacking a sanctuary or an official state sponsor. Throughout September, eight anti-Taliban resistance...
Op-eds
Fighting between Pakistan and the Taliban persists into second week
The latest round of conflict between Pakistan and the Taliban continued this past week, including airstrikes, cross-border attacks, targeted operations, and a car bombing. The fighting appears likely to...