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Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The Iraqi and Syrian Crises: A Strategic Definition
Political conflict in the Islamic world began between two schools headed by the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan. A bloody fight for power led to a conflict that still persists today in the form of the Sunni-Shia divide and the Turkish-Arab-Iranian conflict. Defining the current
Jun 6, 2018
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Haitham Numan
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Iran, Israel, Syria, and the U.S.: Views From China
Next week, President Rouhani of Iran will visit China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the margins of a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Two weeks ago, coincidentally, I spoke in Shanghai at a mid-sized meeting billed as “the first conference on Syria ever held in
Jun 6, 2018
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David Pollock
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Washington Should Recognize the Russian Strategic Achievement in Syria
Russia is victorious in Syria. It has succeeded in rescuing the Damascus regime, its difficult yet valuable client, from what seemed to be an unavoidable demise. More importantly, it has leveraged the crisis management of the Syrian conflict to create a regional balance between seemingly incompatible powers — Israel, Turkey
May 29, 2018
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Hassan Mneimneh
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The Logic of the Chemical Attack
The battle for the suburbs of Damascus was nearing its end. The regime units — equipped, backed, and supplemented by Russian and Iranian forces — were on the verge of achieving total victory: the defeat of all rebel factions, the expulsion of a population that had demonstrated its lack of
Apr 17, 2018
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Hassan Mneimneh
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
2018 Iraqi Elections: Three Observations Doubts the Effectiveness of the Next Government
In May 2018, Iraqis will again dip their forefingers in that purple ink and choose their representatives for Parliament. Unlike previous elections, this election has a unique taste of importance as it comes right after the declaration of victory against IS (Islamic State) in Iraq. The next parliament will form
Mar 29, 2018
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Ali Adnan Mohammed
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum's Top 104 Articles of 2017
1- How Should the New U.S. President Play the "Kurdish Card" in the Middle East? Frzand Sherko - January 10, 2017 Kurdish researcher Frzand Sherko argues that while the next U.S. administration may no longer want to play a direct role in the Middle East, they can still leverage the
Mar 13, 2018
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Commenting on Firas Elias: Iran Fears Turkey’s Military Operation in Afrin...
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
Feb 28, 2018
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Hassan Mneimneh
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Commenting on Oula Alrifai’s: To Save Syria, Assad Must Step Down
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
Feb 28, 2018
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Thomas Parker
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Why Does Iran Fear Turkey’s Military Operation in Afrin?
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
Feb 27, 2018
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Firas Elias
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The Advantages of Kurdish Autonomy in Syria
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
Feb 21, 2018
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Zara Saleh
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
For Syrian Kurds, Western Sympathy Isn’t Enough
January 8, 2018 Hardly any event attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials passes without mention of the threat the People’s Protection Unit (YPG) poses to Turkey’s national security followed by threats that a military campaign to destroy the YPG is only a matter of time
Jan 8, 2018
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Youssef Sheiko
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
To Save Syria, Assad Must Step Down
At this current juncture there is not a viable path for either Syrian rebel forces nor for the opposition to win the war on their own. Saving Syria requires international cooperation by executing an effective plan to end the crisis. The best way forward is for the United States to
Dec 26, 2017
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Oula A. Alrifai
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The Iranian Zeitgeist: Success in Arab Media
December 11, 2017 Iran resorts to multiple and contradictory narratives in its international outreach. Tehran is offered to the West as a natural ally against (Sunni) terrorism, while for the rest of the world it is a role model of self-sufficiency, if not autarky, in the face of the arrogant
Dec 11, 2017
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Hassan Mneimneh
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Hezbollah and Iran in Syria
November 13, 2017 The sudden and surprising resignation of Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri over the weekend, blaming Iranian interference in his country, compels us to consider this tragic dilemma. Of particular interest—and importance—is the way Iran has used Hezbollah, an intrinsic part of Lebanon’s political fabric, as a means
Nov 13, 2017
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Mounir al-Rabih
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The Growing Power of Water in Syria
September 12, 2017 Syria’s economic and political stability have long been predicated on a grand bargain of water access. Since Hafez al-Assad seized power in 1970, the Syrian government has manipulated public access to water for political ends. The regime uses water to buy and maintain loyalty, intimidate opponents, and
Sep 12, 2017
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Samuel Northrup
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Russia's Energy Goals in Syria
August 30, 2017 When Russia began its military intervention in Syria, it was motivated more by political incentives than economic ones. However, now that victory increasingly favors the Assad regime, Russia has found new opportunity to bolster its foothold in the region. With the opposition forces relatively subdued and prospects
Aug 30, 2017
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Nikita Sogoloff
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Russia and Turkey in Syria
August 25, 2017 In the prolonged search for a solution, the Syrian conflict has influenced Russian-Turkish relations greatly, causing either tension or rapprochement depending on each country’s often conflicting interests. But the major change occurred after Turkey’s failed coup and Russia’s supportive position towards the Turkish regime afterwards. As a
Aug 25, 2017
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Muthna al-Ubaidi
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
America’s Coming Role in Syria
July 20, 2017 Before Congress can reach a conclusion on the administration’s proposed budget, President Donald Trump needs to articulate a strategy for counter-terrorism and the ongoing war in Syria. A new policy should specify its political objectives regarding the Syrian government and other actors in the region. There are
Jul 20, 2017
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Youssef Sadaki
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Syria’s Christians: A Personal Story of a Stolen Legacy
Depending upon whom you talk to, anywhere from six to sixteen ethnic groups constitute the Syrian population, with the main six groups being: Sunni Muslim; Shiite Muslim (Alawite and Ismaili); Christian; Druze; Kurd; Circassian; and the stateless Palestinian refugees and their descendants. The Christians are not foreign to the Syrian
Jun 1, 2017
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Lamis Khalilova
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The American-Turkish Relationship in Syria
The Kurdish question in Syria has long been a point of contention between the United States and Turkey. Throughout former president Barack Obama’s time in office, the primary determinant shaping U.S. strategy against ISIS was a reliance on Kurdish forces. This furtive reliance existed despite Turkish refusal to allow the
May 18, 2017
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Bassam Barabandi
Nidal Betare
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