Turkey's Military Purge The impending dismissal of another 3,000 Turkish soldiers suspected of disloyalty is raising concerns about military readiness.
Gaza's Hospital Blackout Severe electricity shortages in Gaza leave residents with as little as six hours of power a day, threatening essential services at Shifa hospital, especially for patients who depend on kidney dialysis.
Snail Farms in Lebanon Snails have long-been a vibrant culinary tradition in Lebanese cuisine. But snail farming is also attracting the interest of local entrepreneurs, who see it as a profitable and growing business that requires little land or labor.
Lebanon Election: Will a New Voting Law Change Political Outcomes? Lebanon is preparing to vote in parliamentary elections for the first time in a decade. The election is also introducing a new proportional electoral system. Can a new voting law change outcomes in a political system long-run by a sectarian elite?
Russia's Mercenary Collision in Syria A February 7 coalition airstrike in Deir Ez-Zor, Syria, killed dozens of Russian mercenaries. The incident also exposed the role of mercenary groups – or private military contractors – like the Russian-based Wagner Group used in the Syrian war. The airstrike also set a new low in the threshold for direct military collision between Washington and Moscow – a possibility both sides appeared to play down.
Politics and Diplomacy The Dueling Ayatollahs It's a rivalry rooted in esoteric religious debate, but this clash - between the two most dominant figures of Shiite religious authority - promises major consequences, both for Iran's clerical establishment, as well as their influence over Shiites around the globe. The most immediate impact is being felt in next-door Iraq - as it charts its own political path in the shadow of its neighbor.
Afrin: How the Fight in Northern Syria is Testing US-Turkey Ties Turkey’s incursion against the Syrian Kurdish militant group the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, has opened a new phase in the seven-year conflict. To Ankara, the YPG are terrorists; for the United States, able partners in the fight against IS. The dispute could expand the risk of confrontation between two NATO allies.
Iran's Kurdish Jihadist Problem From the early days of Iran’s Islamic revolution, the country’s leaders saw Sunni Kurdish Islamist groups as useful allies of convenience against their enemies. But a long history of support has created the space for Salafi-jihadi ideology to take root, with far-reaching security consequences for Tehran.
Politics and Diplomacy The Pentagon’s Weapons Pipeline A little-known fund at the US Department of Defense is used to bolster security and military capabilities for Middle East allies.
Politics and Diplomacy The Crown Prince Visit: Saudi Ambitions and US Interests Mohammed Bin Salman’s first official visit to the US as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince will be defined by politics. For US President Donald Trump, it’s a chance to get the Kingdom's growing ambitions in line with Washington’s foreign policy interests on a host of issues, including the war in Yemen, the Saudi-led Qatar boycott, and how to deal with Iran.
Syrians in Lebanon mourn children killed in strike blamed on Israel by Mahmoud Zayyat | AFP | Jul 17, 2024
Deadly strikes pound Gaza as Israel PM vows to ramp up pressure Agence France-Presse | AFP | Jul 17, 2024