Policy Analysis

How -- and if -- Hamas and Fatah overcome formidable security, institutional, and political roadblocks should dictate the international response to their unity deal and joint government.

The regime's air defenses have been weakened by the war, leaving room for low-risk air operations that could achieve important military and humanitarian objectives with reasonable investment of resources.

Even if a permanent deal isn't achievable right now, Washington can still foster a process that contributes to peacemaking.

As the negotiations with Iran enter a critical stage, Washington needs to develop bipartisan consensus about the parameters of an acceptable agreement.

Long considered a bulwark against instability since its establishment in 1981, the Gulf Cooperation Council -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman -- is now exhibiting an alarming degree of discord.

Woodside's decision shows how Israel will need to cement its foreign partnerships, investments, and export routes in order to take full advantage of its growing gas surplus.

Meet the man crazy enough to run for president against the new strongman in Cairo.

A detailed survey of how many fighters have joined the Syrian jihad, where they come from, how their efforts compare to past jihads in Afghanistan and Iraq, and what European governments are doing about the issue.

The votes are in, but Baghdad will need to resuscitate the revenue-sharing deal with the Kurds in order to steady the already-troubled government formation process.

A presentation on Saudi royal succession and evolving military relations, including key figures in the Pakistani defense and nuclear establishments, made by Simon Henderson to Harvard University's Belfer Center in May 2014.

Long-simmering tensions between non-Islamist and Islamist forces have boiled over into military actions centered around Benghazi and Tripoli, entrenching the country's rival alliances and bringing them ever closer to civil war.

Given the Brotherhood's persistent and dangerous delusion, the existential struggle that has defined Egyptian politics since Morsi's removal will likely worsen.

Governments across the Middle East and far beyond are already changing their policies to address the problem of jihadist returnees from Syria, highlighting the scope and seriousness of the threat.

The Bahraini government will need to distinguish better between protestors and terrorists if it wants Washington and other foreign partners to believe its claims of Iranian support for local militants.

A Moroccan statesman discusses efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism in one of the most stable parts of the region.

In light of the inability of diplomacy and sanctions to staunch the Syrian bloodletting, the Obama administration is reviewing its policy alternatives in Syria. This paper, and the associated briefing, provides an overview of U.S. military options, evaluating the pros and cons of each.

The Syrian conflict is rattling the world of the Druze, an ethnic group that straddles national lines.

Recent developments indicate a credible, previously unseen rebel threat to Damascus.