Policy Analysis

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict are being challenged by U.S. partners and adversaries alike, including key Middle East players.

Alliance management in wartime is never easy, but bilateral disagreements over how to address humanitarian and postwar issues risk becoming an enduring feature of the relationship if left unresolved.

Without active and continuous deterrence, ISIS forces may look to take advantage of the deteriorating security and governance situation in areas formerly under their control.

By sharing very specific concerns directly with the United Arab Emirates, the White House and Congress were rewarded with tangible action on a key company’s ties to Beijing—though more such engagement is needed to keep regional partners aware of U.S. risk tolerance.

Nujaba is signaling that it was the key player in nearly twenty strikes on Israel after the "resistance" halted attacks on U.S. bases in February.

With Nujaba seemingly leading on Israel strikes, Kataib Hezbollah is signaling its intended leadership of destabilizing activities in Jordan, an increasingly important base for U.S. forces.

Washington and allies should find ways to increase the cost to Iraqi politicians of normalizing the militias’ role and the subordination of the Iraqi state to Tehran’s rulers.

China is increasingly backing up its narrative of good governance by providing governance training to foreign officials in an attempt to develop the Chinese brand in the Middle East.

تازه‌ترین گزارش آژانس بین‌المللی انرژی اتمی نشان می‌دهد که چرا غرب باید بار دیگر بر برنامه هسته‌ای ایران متمرکز شود. برنامه هسته‌ای ایران در حالی همچنان رو به گسترش است که به نظر می‌رسد اراده جهانی برای پرداختن به آن در حال کاهش است.

Two nascent sea corridors could augment land routes and help Gaza return to or even exceed prewar aid levels—though internal distribution challenges still need to be resolved.

Iraq is in real danger of losing its checks and balances and failing as a constitutional democracy due to the rapid collapse of a separation of powers.

From exploring land border talks to boosting Israel’s arsenal and recasting UNIFIL, Washington should do more to slow what may be an inevitable slide toward war on this front.

While Iranian officials acknowledge the significance of cyber tools and AI for foreign policy, they are acutely aware of the country’s financial and scientific limitations.

The KRG’s autonomy hangs in the balance, caught in a pincer movement between internal political discord and a history of externally imposed limitations. The recent court rulings are merely the latest blow, further restricting the KRG’s ability to govern itself.

Given the discrepancies in official Palestinian counts and their growing reliance on questionable data from media reports, the credibility gaps revealed by a previous Washington Institute study have become yawning chasms.

Now more than ever, it is crucial to effectively include women's issues in peace talks and transitional negotiations, ensuring that their representation is proportionate to their realities and contributions to society.

By finding lasting solutions in coordination with both parties, relations can be mended and the gridlock and animosity that is crippling cooperation between the two parties can be put to an end.

A Kataib Hezbollah hit man was acquitted of all charges despite convincing evidence that he murdered the famous Iraqi commentator and civil society activist.

If the president’s faction takes the city back from the opposition on March 31, he may feel comfortable enough to focus on more positive legacy-building steps, but a loss could see him double down on nativist and populist policies at home and abroad.

A U.S. counterterrorism envoy reviews the progress made after five years of fighting the group and explains Washington’s thinking on where the global coalition goes from here.