Iraq in the Crossfire
Iraq was in crisis before Israel and Iran started trading blows. Now, it’s next door to a conflict.
United States Central Command
US strike in northwestern Syria kills Islamic State’s external attack planner
The US military killed an Islamic State (IS) commander in an airstrike in northwestern Syria on June 10. The commander, who was identified as Rakhim Boev, was involved in planning attacks against the US...
Op-eds
Houthis begin rebuilding after airstrikes, rely on extortion to finance projects
The Iran-backed Houthi terrorist regime in northern Yemen is undertaking an expensive rebuilding effort following seven weeks of US airstrikes during Operation Rough Rider and recent strikes...
Op-eds
Houthis Pledge to Keep Targeting Israel Despite Ceasefire With U.S.
Donald Trump declared that Yemen’s Houthi rebels “have capitulated,” while a top Houthi official said Washington’s agreement to a May 6 ceasefire is “an expression of helplessness and failure.”...
Policy Briefs
Amid Syria troop reduction, will Trump repeat Middle East withdrawal mistakes?
Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argue in this op ed that getting out of Syria too quickly could leave the US vulnerable.
Op-eds
Houthis conduct retaliatory strikes, issue threats, sanctions, and boycotts against US and Israel
The Houthis have responded to the ongoing US campaign against the group with attacks targeting the United States and Israel, as well as ostensibly punitive economic measures. US Central Command...
Op-eds
New Sanctions Against the Houthis Take Aim at the Terrorist Group’s Banking Sector
The Trump administration is following through on the promise of a whole-of-government approach to stopping Houthi terrorism. While U.S. Central Command forces have been continuously striking the group...
Policy Briefs
Will U.S. Forces Leave Syria for Good in 2025?
U.S. forces in Syria continue to support their partners in the war against ISIS. This is part of a mission that dates back to 2015, when the U.S. first became involved in Syria. However, recent reports point to an increasing likelihood that the U.S. role in Syria may end within months.
Op-eds
United States to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Syria in Coming Months
Pentagon Confirms Troop Consolidation: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed on April 18 that the United States will consolidate and reduce its forces in Syria, maintaining...
Flash Briefs
Yemeni Factions Hope to Exploit the Current Chaos in Houthi-Controlled Yemen
Amid daily U.S. airstrikes, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels appear increasingly vulnerable to their Yemeni rivals. Those rivals are reportedly planning a ground offensive whose goals include recapturing...
Policy Briefs
‘Degrade the Economic Source of Power’: U.S. Strikes Fuel Port Used by Houthi Rebels in Yemen
Houthis Profit From Illicit Fuel: The U.S. military struck the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen on April 17 to “degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis,”...
Flash Briefs
Yemeni forces planning ground offensive against the Houthis
Anti-Houthi “Yemeni militias are planning a ground offensive against the Houthis,” according to Yemeni and US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. The plans follow over a month...
Op-eds
Time For a New Policy Toward Erdogan
Turkey and Israel held talks last Wednesday aimed at avoiding a confrontation in Syria as Ankara continues to pursue greater influence in a post-Assad Syria, including through...
Op-eds
US targets Houthi military and political leaders in latest campaign
The Trump administration has targeted Houthi military and political leaders since it initiated its campaign against the Iranian-backed militia in Yemen in mid-March. This effort is a departure from the...
Op-eds
Houthi kidnappings increase amidst US airstrikes
The Houthis, the Iran-backed terrorist group ruling northern Yemen, have kidnapped more than 75 people since the US began its large-scale operation against the group, according to SAM, a Geneva-based human rights organization focused on the Middle East.
Op-eds
Instead of Rewarding Qatar With Weapons Sales, Washington Should Use Them as Leverage
Despite enabling terrorist groups, Qatar is poised to purchase nearly $2 billion worth of American arms. The U.S. State Department approved the potential sale on March 26 under the Foreign Military Sales...
Policy Briefs
Trump admin ups the tempo of airstrikes against jihadist groups in Somalia
The Trump administration is significantly increasing the rate of American strikes inside Somalia. In just the first three months of President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has already...
Op-eds
Key targets hit by ongoing US airstrikes against the Houthis
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has conducted consistent airstrikes against the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, since March 15. The operation is in response to the Yemeni...
Op-eds
The Big Question: Will American Airpower Crush the Houthis?
On March 15, the US began a campaign of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. US Central Command said it had “initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes...
Op-eds
Iran urges the Houthis to de-escalate ‘tensions’
Iran has made private requests to Yemen’s Houthis to “cool tensions” in the Red Sea, according to Reuters. The report states that two senior Iranian officials said Iran sent a message to...