Policy Analysis

The United States needs to restore emphasis on its values in order to combat critical media narratives and a growing appreciation for China.

Usbat al-Thaireen (UT) is the earliest known facade group employed by Kataib Hezbollah to thinly veil its culpability in anti-coalition kinetic operations. The groups went inactive in November 2020, probably transforming into the Qasim al-Jabbarin facade, potentially providing an important case study of a facade group's complete life-cycle.

The talks, which resumed in April in secret sessions, have made progress toward an agreement. But many are concerned that delays and unreasonable demands have turned the talks into theater among regional parties vying for power.

A closer look at the general’s service in Syria, his political and military connections, and his potential influence on how the Qods Force carries out future operations abroad.

Join us for a webcast as experts explore how the Biden administration can mitigate the historical ebb and flow of foreign fighter mobilization. Watch live starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

Watch an expert conversation as leading observers examine the development projects that are pivotal to American plans to bring the decade-long Syrian conflict to an end.

A former NAVCENT commander joins a panel of distinguished diplomats and experts to discuss why Washington should approach the region’s disparate economic, political, and security issues in a more integrated fashion.

Tehran still regards the full withdrawal of U.S. forces as its ultimate goal, and its Iraqi proxies are more than happy to use escalation for that purpose whenever they can.

Watch an expert conversation on the pitfalls and potential areas of cooperation between Washington and Ankara in the coming years.

From pop stars to porn stars to bitcoins, the rise of online gambling sites in Iran is raising eyebrows—as well as questions about whether the IRGC and other regime organs are benefitting from the scandalous new industry.

By devoting resources to areas of concentrated recruitment, the Biden administration can reduce the scope of future Middle East conflicts along with the likelihood that U.S. troops will once again be drawn into them.

Washington’s conspicuous silence over the nuclear sabotage at Natanz no doubt stems from the fact that Israel has bought more time for negotiations.

The United States has repeatedly failed to understand the unique requirements of gray zone deterrence. A U.S. strategy would not only facilitate more successful diplomacy with Tehran but also enhance efforts to counter other actors such as China and Russia.

Although both sides have sought to keep their tit-for-tat maritime attacks under control, they pose a substantial risk of miscalculation and escalation that could jeopardize international shipping.

Iran-backed armed groups hate being exposed as criminals in the eyes of a populace that cares deeply about rule of law, so they have turned Iraq’s legal sector into a battlespace.

Israel was silent the last time there was a mysterious explosion at Natanz, but this time Iran is not only being embarrassed, it is being humiliated.

A remarkable panel of Arab educators, activists, and civic leaders share their experiences with breaking regional taboos and formulating effective ways to teach youths about genocide.

Moroccan responses to normalization with Israel are split along two opposing narratives, although popular resistance to normalization is unlikely to cause any real change.

Sabereen News is the main media network for all the muqawama (resistance) factions in Iraq, but quietly it keeps a unique connection to Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

Whoever winds up spearheading the reconstruction effort, Washington should stay on top of them to ensure that international prerequisites for reform and monitoring are enforced—and to keep China from exploiting Lebanon’s struggles.