Skip to main content
TWI logo The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
logo
wordmark
Homepage

Main navigation

  • Analysis
  • Experts
  • About
  • Support
  • Maps & Multimedia
Trending:
  • Democracy & Reform
  • Terrorism
  • Lebanon
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Syria

Regions & Countries

  • Egypt
  • Gulf States
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Middle East
  • North Africa
  • Palestinians
  • Syria
  • Turkey

Issues

  • Arab & Islamic Politics
  • Arab-Israeli Relations
  • Democracy & Reform
  • Energy & Economics
  • Great Power Competition
  • Gulf & Energy Policy
  • Military & Security
  • Peace Process
  • Proliferation
  • Terrorism
  • U.S. Policy
TWI English
TWI Arabic: اللغة العربية Fikra Forum

Breadcrumb

  • Policy Analysis

Military & Security

Policy Analysis on Military & Security

Filter by:

Syria's acting president Sharaa greets U.S. President Trump in Riyadh in May 2025 - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Setting Expectations with Syria on Countering the Islamic State
After an encouraging Trump-Sharaa meeting, Washington and its partners must now facilitate the complex work of creating timelines and implementing new security arrangements to constrain the jihadist group.
May 27, 2025
◆
  • Devorah Margolin
President Donald Trump meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel - source: Reuters
Articles & Testimony
Will Trump Dump Netanyahu? Here's When Israel Will Find Out
A ten-year memorandum of understanding lapses during the president’s term, and he will have to decide whether negotiating a new deal serves American interests.
May 26, 2025
◆
  • Dennis Ross
An IDF display of weapons seized from a Hezbollah cache in southern Lebanon - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Disarming Palestinian Factions in Lebanon Means Disarming Hezbollah
Given their deep historical and present-day coordination, Beirut needs to change its mindset of treating these groups separately and formulate a unified strategy for disarming them all—and the sooner the better.
May 21, 2025
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
  • Ehud Yaari
A masked Hamas fighter brandishes a rifle in Gaza - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Deporting Hamas’s Top Brass: A Path to Ending the War in Gaza
Although Hamas is still unwilling to discuss full disarmament, granting safe passage to hundreds of commanders could have similar effects on the ground while enabling the parties to end the fighting and reach a viable “day after” agreement.
May 20, 2025
◆
  • Ehud Yaari
Flight deck crew issues commands to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet prior to launch from the carrier USS Harry S. Truman - source: Department of Defense
Articles & Testimony
What the End of the Houthi Campaign Means for U.S. Power
Despite the embarrassing PR, “mowing the grass” by targeting Houthi capabilities and personnel has value if repeated periodically—perhaps by an Israeli-Arab “Red Sea security group” if Washington is no longer willing to take the lead.
May 19, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
KH-linked Iraqi MP Mustafa Sanad
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Terrorist Wing of the Iraqi Government Opposes Sharaa Visit
Two of Prime Minister Sudani's partners in government—the terrorist groups Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq—have stepped up their efforts to bar Syria's new president from a Baghdad summit.
May 15, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qais_AAH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Asaib Ahl al-Haq Accuses Faleh al-Fayyad of Turkish Collusion
The militia continues to battle with the PMF secretary-general, this time highlighting his alleged promotion of Turkish interests in the hope of undermining him.
May 8, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH_protest
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Return of Abu Ali al-Askari
In its first statement since October, a notorious Kataib Hezbollah Telegram account offered a deeper dive into how the "resistance" views a range of new developments in Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
Apr 24, 2025
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sharaa_wanted
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sudani's Invitation to Ahmed al-Sharaa Triggers Militia Backlash
Iraq's self-styled "resistance" had an allergic reaction to the idea of Syria's new president setting foot on Iraqi soil, putting Prime Minister Sudani at odds with some of his terrorist supporters.
Apr 23, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH-Prayers
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah Chief Urges Ongoing Caution with the United States
Abu Hussein has asked the group's fighters to keep showing restraint, seemingly reinforcing Iran's preference for calm as nuclear talks with Washington proceed.
Apr 22, 2025
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Flight deck crew issues commands to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet prior to launch from the carrier USS Harry S. Truman - source: Department of Defense
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Is the Houthi Threat a Checkmate for U.S. Military Logistics?
The Iran-backed militia’s disruption of Red Sea shipping is threatening America’s ability to rapidly deploy and supply its forces in the Middle East and beyond, but a combination of logistical workarounds, military measures, and diplomatic efforts may be the answer.
Apr 21, 2025
◆
  • James E. Shepard
An Iraqi member of a Shia PMF militia
Brief Analysis
The Danger of Letting Iraq’s PMF Authority Law Pass
The Trump administration needs to quietly but firmly signal Baghdad that enshrining the militia umbrella group as a de facto “Iraqi IRGC” would pose an unacceptable threat to U.S. interests.
Apr 8, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
Photo of an F-18 fighter jet launching from a U.S. aircraft carrier.
Video
Brief Analysis
Assessing the U.S. Military Campaign Against the Houthis
Experts discuss how the new campaign differs from previous U.S. strikes in Yemen, what targets are being hit, and whether it can resolve the threat without broader American policy efforts.
Mar 28, 2025
◆
  • Elizabeth Dent
  • Michael Knights
  • Noam Raydan
Abdul-Mahdi_Sanaa
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Abdulmahdi in Yemen: An Emerging Militia Godfather
A former Iraqi prime minister is using his freedom from U.S. sanctions to act as an envoy between designated terrorist groups.
Mar 28, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
The U.S. Navy aircraft carriers Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower on joint operations in the CENTCOM region - source: Department of Defense
Brief Analysis
Two Carriers in the Middle East: Implications for the Houthis, Iran, and U.S. Force Readiness
The decision to order an additional carrier strike group to the region comes amid the Trump administration’s new campaign against the Houthis and public warnings to Iran, though it could affect U.S. force readiness worldwide.
Mar 27, 2025
◆
  • Elizabeth Dent
US and Israeli military planes participate in the 2023 Juniper Oak joint exercise - source: IDF
Video
Brief Analysis
Bombing Iran's Nuclear Program: Implications of Preventive Action
Washington Institute experts discuss what challenges must be addressed in negotiating a new nuclear deal or, failing that, planning a military campaign to degrade or destroy the program.
Mar 25, 2025
◆
  • Dana Stroul
  • Richard Nephew
  • Michael Eisenstadt
  • Holly Dagres
Articles & Testimony
How the Trump Administration Can Limit China’s Arms Exports
Using a combination of bilateral and multilateral tools, Washington can curtail China’s ability to produce and export quality weapons while pressuring governments who consider buying them.
Mar 21, 2025
◆
  • Grant Rumley
A United Nations peacepeeker scans the terrain in southern Lebanon - source: Untied Nations
Brief Analysis
Moving Past “Wait and See” in South Lebanon: The U.S.-French Role
The announcement of "working groups" between Israel and Lebanon comes at a key juncture in the ceasefire, and complementary action by the United States and France can facilitate full implementation.
Mar 18, 2025
◆
  • Souhire Medini
An Iraqi member of a Shia PMF militia
Brief Analysis
Iraq’s PMF Law Is No Substitute for Real Security Reform
The Trump administration should not be duped by the supposed “reforms” that militia leaders are considering in parliament, which threaten to turn the PMF into another Iranian “Revolutionary Guard” and keep U.S.-designated terrorists in key posts.
Mar 17, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
Qais_Sulaimani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Dual Face of Qais al-Khazali: Extremist at Heart, Politician by Necessity
Khazali presents himself as a mainstream political figure, but his internal narrative reveals unwavering loyalty to Iran's "axis of resistance" and a deeply entrenched extremist ideology opposed to the West.
Mar 17, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • …
  • Last page Last »
  • Next page Next ›
Supported by the

Military and Security Studies Program

The Washington Institute's Military and Security Studies Program has established itself as an unrivaled source of reliable, incisive, and forward-looking analysis concerning several of the most critical national-security challenges facing the United States today: The U.S. military role in the Middle East, Iran's nuclear program and its proxy armies, the ongoing conflict is in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, the regional proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction, the security dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and many other security issues on the frontline of the U.S. policymaking agenda.

Sign Up for Email Updates from The Washington Institute

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.

Sign up

Featured experts

Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Eisenstadt
Michael Eisenstadt is the Kahn Senior Fellow and director of The Washington Institute's Military and Security Studies Program.
Michael Knights
Michael Knights
Michael Knights is the Jill and Jay Bernstein Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and cofounder of the Militia Spotlight platform, which offers in-depth analysis of developments related to Iran-backed militias.
Grant Rumley
Grant Rumley
Grant Rumley is the Meisel-Goldberger Senior Fellow and Director of the Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on Great Power Competition and the Middle East at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Elizabeth Dent - source: The Washington Institute
Elizabeth Dent
Elizabeth Dent is a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, where she focuses on U.S. foreign and defense policy toward the Gulf states, Iraq, and Syria.
Background image with TWI branding
logo
wordmark
Homepage

1111 19th Street NW - Suite 500
Washington D.C. 20036
Tel: 202-452-0650
Fax: 202-223-5364

Footer contact links

  • Contact
  • Press Room
  • Subscribe

The Washington Institute seeks to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East and to promote the policies that secure them.

The Institute is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax-deductible.

Footer quick links

  • About TWI
  • Support the Institute
  • Alumni

Social media

  • The Washington Institute on Facebook facebook
  • The Washington Institute on X x
  • The Washington Institute on YouTube youtube
  • The Washington Institute on LinkedIn linkedin

© 2025 All rights reserved.

Footer

  • Employment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rights & Permissions