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Recent Institute Analysis

Kurdish Collapse in Northeast Syria? Key Things to Watch

Washington Institute experts assess the immediate fallout of the Syrian government’s advance into SDF-held parts of the northeast, including mutual disinformation campaigns, implications for the Islamic State threat, the terms of new agreements with the Kurds, and the calculus of outside actors like the United States, Israel, and Turkey.

Jan 21, 2026

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Andrew J. Tabler
James Jeffrey
Devorah Margolin
Aaron Y. Zelin
Soner Cagaptay
Zohar Palti
Assaf Orion

Protesters trample on an Iranian flag - source: Reuters

Iran’s Regime Has Already Lost Its Most Potent Weapon

As protests grow, regime leaders have no clear options for scaring Iranians off the streets, intimidating foreign powers, or escaping their wider strategic crisis.

Jan 14, 2026

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Michael Singh

Sudan Stands Between War and an Imposed Peace

Three possible scenarios have emerged for the war-torn country in 2026, but current realities suggest that a ceasefire and formal transition to civilian governance are the least likely.

Jan 20, 2026

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Areig Elhag
Ben Fishman

As Hezbollah Nervously Watches Iran, Washington Should Double Down on Disarmament

The possibility that its Iranian patron may be toppled is stoking Hezbollah’s existential fears, giving U.S. officials an opening to step up the pressure on Beirut, accelerate the disarmament process, and stave off looming Israeli escalation.

Jan 16, 2026

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Hanin Ghaddar

A man carries a Somilaland flag in a parade in Hargeisa - source: Reuters

Recognizing Somaliland: Israel’s Return to the Red Sea

Israel’s agreement with Somaliland will boost its security in the Red Sea Basin and may encourage the United States and other countries to follow suit, though political obstacles and complications abound.

Jan 16, 2026

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Ehud Yaari

Institute Expertise on Iran

Patrick Clawson

The Morningstar Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, Patrick Clawson directs the Viterbi Program on Iran and U.S. Policy. He has authored more than 150 articles about the Middle East and international economics and is the author or editor of eighteen books or studies on Iran.

Holly Dagres

A widely cited scholar, Institute Libitzky Family Senior Fellow Holly Dagres has published groundbreaking scholarship on social media use by young Iranians. Curator of The Iranist Substack newsletter, she has been featured in interviews across radio, television, and print, including the Associated Press, BBC News, CNN, NPR, Fox News, and The New York Times.

Michael Eisenstadt

A speialist in Persian Gulf security affairs, Michael Eisenstadt is the Kahn Senior Fellow and director of the Military and Security Studies Program at The Washington Institute. He has published widely on Iranian strategy, irregular warfare, and nuclear proliferation.

Michael Singh

A former senior director for Middle East Affairs at the National Security Council, Michael Singh is the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute. His responsibilities at the NSC included a focus on Iran's nuclear program and its regional activities.

The Washington Institute Congratulates Nickolay Mladenov on His Appointment as High Representative for Gaza

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy congratulates Nickolay Mladenov, the organization’s Segal Distinguished Visiting Fellow, on his appointment as high representative for Gaza and as a member of the Executive Board of the newly established Board of Peace.

Read the full press release.

Who Won the Gaza War? Study

Split screen: (left) Israeli hostage Eitan Abraham Mor after his release by Hamas on October 13, 2025; right: a Hamas militant outside of Gaza City in December.

The Hamas-Israel War: An Early Assessment

Despite rhetoric to the contrary, neither side can claim a decisive win, and an uneasy status quo could persist as long as Trump, the ceasefire guarantors, and Israeli leaders keep a lid on their frustrations.

Dec 23, 2025

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Robert Satloff

Study: Inside Look at the New Syria

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa places his signature at a cabinet meeting in Damascus, October 12, 2025.

Institutions and Governance in the New Syria:

Continuity and Change from the Idlib Model

The transitional leadership can claim several successes, but a shadow government, opaque economic practices, and uneven accountability for former regime crimes could undermine progress.

Dec 4, 2025

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Building Peace Between Israel and Lebanon

Flags of Israel and Lebanon painted on hands outstretched to each other, overlaying map of Israel-Lebanon border and beyond.

Maps & Graphics

A Roadmap for Israel-Lebanon Peace

Pursuing even incremental steps will be difficult in a country long dominated by Iran’s chief regional proxy, but the two countries’ leaders have cracked the door open for future diplomacy.

Oct 28, 2025

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Hanin Ghaddar
Robert Satloff
Ehud Yaari

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Recent Webcasts: Expert Policy Conversations

A photo illustration of a bust of President Trump and an Iranian flag - source: Reuters

Video

Iran Endgame? Protests, Repression, and the Trump Administration

Three experts discuss the rapidly changing situation in Iran, including the status of opposition elements on the ground, the U.S. interests at play in the crisis, and Washington’s policy options for bolstering both.

Jan 16, 2026

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Holly Dagres
Michael Eisenstadt
Richard Nephew

U.S. Syria envoy Ambassador James Jeffrey speaks to reporters at the State Department in Washington, DC, in 2020 - source: Reuters

Video

Crisis Diplomacy in the Middle East: Insights from the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden Teams

Watch video or read a summary of a special book launch event featuring a former secretary of defense and other veteran officials discussing the lessons learned from decades of American diplomacy and military efforts in the Middle East.

Jan 15, 2026

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Lloyd J. Austin III
James Jeffrey
Dana Stroul

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi - source: Republic of Lebanon

Video

Lebanon's Outlook on Sovereignty, Disarmament, and Peace

A Discussion with Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi

Watch video or read a summary of the minister’s observations on a multitude of crucial issues, from Hezbollah disarmament and long-term Israeli peace to relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.

Dec 29, 2025

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Youssef Raggi

Interactive Map: ISIS Global Activity

Under the leadership of jihadism scholar Aaron Zelin, a team of researchers at The Washington Institute has built the Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity Map, an interactive tool that provides a more accessible way to search, track, and understand the organization’s global reach. It represents the most comprehensive public archive of the group’s attack data, media output, government designations, and legal cases — information that is becoming invaluable as IS affiliates disperse into a wider range of jurisdictions and the U.S. government continues shifting resources away from the global counterterrorism fight.

Access the interactive map.