Policy Analysis

February 28, 2018 This piece by Firas Elias presents a best-case scenario for the Turkish operation in Afrin. It suggests that Ankara’s action may deny Iran access to the Mediterranean, disrupt or even reverse the Damascus regime’s gains in the crucial hinterland of Aleppo, and pit IS against Iranian proxies

Four experts discuss how the recent Kuwait reconstruction conference will affect efforts to rebuild Iraq's war-torn areas ahead of the May elections.

February 28, 2018 No Help from Moscow Ms. Alrifai’s thoughtful article calls for U.S.-Russian coordination to force President Assad to give up power. Unfortunately, I doubt very much that the Russians would be interested in such an outcome for many reasons. First, the Soviets or Russians have been allied with

U.S. pressure to end the war may have spurred Riyadh to reorganize its Defense Ministry and shake up its military leadership.

February 27, 2018 The latest Iranian reaction to the Turkish military operation against the Kurds in Syria’s northwest province of Afrin highlights the political complexity of the Syrian case. Though Turkey and Iran have previously demonstrated a high level of political agreement regarding the Kurdish issue in northern Syria, including

The UN has publicly identified the Iranian companies involved in smuggling ballistic missiles into Yemen, so Europe should quit stalling and follow Washington's example by sanctioning these firms.

February 26, 2018 The Kurdish factor has become a key element in the Middle East after the war against the Islamic State. However, this new interest in the fate of the Kurds is mainly focused on the Kurds of Iraq, while giving more political visibility to the Kurds of Turkey

By keeping bilateral military operations a secret, the two governments risk perpetuating fundamental misconceptions among Egypt's military ranks.

Without the creation of a new military concept by Israel to counter Hamas, a much bloodier conflict is likely in the future.

By portraying itself as a neutral broker when Israel, Iran, and other parties clash over Syria, the Kremlin seeks to further its own interests in the Middle East.

Washington should adopt a quiet but well-planned approach to Baghdad's demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration of militias, learning when to be flexible and when to stand firm.

As the fight against the Islamic State shifts from retaking territory to preventing regrowth, a jihadism scholar and the former deputy head of AFRICOM discuss what Washington should learn from the group's activities in Libya.

February 21, 2018 Despite the current tactical moves by the Assad regime’s remaining forces to “protect” the Kurds in Syria’s northwestern Afrin province, the regime continues to threaten Syrian Kurds and hint at a restoration of the status quo: a reversal of the federation and self-administration of their areas and

While the occasion of a Palestinian leader addressing the council was novel, the speech itself was classic Abbas: balancing his domestic need to appear defiant, but avoiding irretrievable diplomatic damage.

By focusing on Tehran's struggle to reach an acceptable legal definition of terrorism, Washington can avoid further politicizing the traditionally technocratic effort to bring Iranian banks in line with international norms.

While Assad may nominally hold reclaimed areas in the south, he will never truly control them so long as Tehran tells its militia proxies to secure that corridor for its own purposes.

مدیسون ریندر تحصیلات خود را در رشتة اصلی مطالعات خاورمیانه و شمال افریقا، و دروس فرعی در رشتة تجارت، در دانشگاه نورت ویسترن ایالات متحده در سال ۱۳۹۶ خورشیدی به پایان رساند. او فعلا به عنوان کارآموز در موسسة واشنگتن مشغول به کار است.

Given the risks posed by Iran's expanding presence in Syria, Secretary Tillerson should add Israel to his travel itinerary as a signal of support and deterrence.

Erdogan will not declare Islamic law overnight, but his steady empowerment of the country's religious directorate is a disturbing omen.

The gaps between Washington and Europe's positions on the JCPOA remain wide, but the potential price of failure will hopefully provide enough motivation to bridge them.