Middle East

Does Iran have a Secret Weapon?

2019-05-21

There is considerable turmoil and confusion in the Gulf region. Several oil tankers have been damaged and the prime suspect according to some U.S. pundits is sabotage by Iran...

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The Middle East’s Authoritarians Have Come for Conservationists

2019-04-01

Environmental activists pushing for clean water, restrictions on poaching, and action on climate change have faced prison—or worse.

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Drunk with power: How Trump is destroying the Middle East

2019-03-28

If you want to know who will pay the price of a re-energised Trump, the answer is the Palestinians

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Trump signs order recognising Israeli sovereignty over Syria's Golan Heights

2019-03-26

US presidents contentious move seen as a boost for Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israeli elections next month

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Leaving Syria

2019-01-15

The main argument is that it is a mistake to think that ISIS has been defeated just because the last town that it held has been liberated...

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The U.S. Isn’t Really Leaving Syria and Afghanistan

2019-01-09

Even if American troops come home in a timely fashion, they will likely return before long

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Israel’s Secret War Against Iran Is Widening

2018-09-23

Israel has fully joined the battle in Syria—but it’s not clear it can achieve any of its goals there.

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In Search of a New Patron, the KRG Turns Back to Moscow

2018-06-18

As the Iraqi Kurds reach out to Russia, the Kremlins sway over their politics and energy resources is growing.

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Whither the Kurds?

2018-06-14

As Kurds contemplate the future, they have the advantage in contrast to the Palestinians, that the transition calls into question the future political structure of Syria and Iraq

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Will Iran Agree to Be Kept Away From the Golan Border in Syria?

2018-06-08

A regular survey of experts on matters relating to Middle Eastern and North African politics and security.

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Riyalpolitik and the Art of Influence in Trump’s Washington

2018-06-07

Americas Arab allies have always wanted to buy direct access to U.S. foreign policy, and they finally found a seller.

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What Book on the Broader Middle East, New or Old, Do You Recommend As Summer Reading?

2018-06-03

A regular survey of experts on matters relating to Middle Eastern and North African politics and security.

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Congress rebels against Trump’s Middle East war secrecy

2018-05-28

I would say since the Trump administration came in, we have seen a gradual increase in limitations on congressional delegations, especially Iraq and Afghanistan and understandably Syria

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The battle for the Iranian nuclear deal: China approaches a watershed

2018-05-24

Fault lines in the Middle East have hardened because of Israel, Saudi and United Arab Emirates assertiveness, emboldened by both a US administration that is more partisan in its Middle East policy

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Mullahs rig the price of moolah in Iran

2018-04-21

Iran looks ascendant in the Middle East, but its regime is messing up its own economy

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A Saudi Silicon Valley? No easy feat, experts say

2018-04-06

In a country where dissenting social media users are jailed and bloggers are flogged, creating Silicon Valley-like environment may be difficult

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Russia Is in the Middle East to Stay

2018-04-02

Here is what the United States should do about it.

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The Fuzzy Math of Funding Iraq's Reconstruction

2018-02-20

The country is not getting all the money it is asking for, which is probably just as well.

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IS THE F-35 FIGHTER THE NEXT TARGET OF SYRIAN AIR DEFENCE?

2018-02-20

Israelis claimed that Israeli jets were scrambled in response to an Iranian drone launched into Israeli airspace

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How a Saudi nuclear reactor could accelerate an arms race

2018-02-10

The kingdoms nuclear ambitions make little economic sense

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Iranians Are Mad as Hell About Their Foreign Policy

2018-01-03

The adventures of Tehran abroad have triggered anger at home

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