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Military & Security

Policy Analysis on Military & Security

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IRI drone
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Anti-Israel Surge by Iraqi Militants: Metrics and Trends
Although relatively few drones or missiles seem to make it to Israel, launches are steadily increasing, potentially inviting overt retaliation inside Iraq.
May 15, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
President Ronald Reagan meets with Senator Joe Biden at the White House in 1987 - source: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Articles & Testimony
On Israel, Biden Is No Reagan
Skewed historical comparisons do not change the fact that the president’s arms restrictions will put Israel in greater danger.
May 10, 2024
◆
  • Michael Singh
Iron Dome rockets intercepting Hamas missiles over Tel Aviv
Brief Analysis
How Sustainable Are Defense and Deterrence Methods in Light of Iran’s Attack?
Despite the success of the allied response on April 13, Iran’s attack calls into question the sustainability of the current approach, suggesting that policymakers should rethink military procurement, force posture, and deterrence in the Middle East.
May 6, 2024
◆
  • Andrew G. Clemmensen
◆ Risks and Opportunities in the Post-April 13 Middle East
Take-off of claimed Saraya al-Ashtar April 27, 2024 drone attack on Israel
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Is Kataib Hezbollah Behind Saraya al-Ashtar's Claimed Attack on Israel?
The connection between exiled Bahraini terrorists and Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah is demonstrably strong and probably explains the strange incident.
May 4, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Amir al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Islamic Resistance in Iraq 200-day attack metrics, April 25, 2024
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq Collates a 200-Day Attack Scoreboard
The infographic deviates from recorded IRI claims in important ways, seemingly exaggerating strikes on Israel while downplaying strikes on Syria and Jordan.
May 3, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Syrian Arab tribal mitiias supported by Iran, 2023
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Understanding the IRGC's Past, Present, and Future Use of Syrian Tribal Militias
Iran's development of Arab tribal militias in eastern Syria will likely accelerate again, based on the model established in Aleppo and backed by new IRGC-funded social, economic, and administrative "wings."
Apr 30, 2024
◆
  • Abdullah Hayek
◆ Militia Spotlight
Yemen's Houthis in formation.
Articles & Testimony
Assessing the Houthi War Effort Since October 2023
An in-depth look at the movement’s current capabilities, military situation inside Yemen, and strategic intentions amid the Gaza war and beyond.
April 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
LGBT
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Coordination Framework Militias Pass New Anti-LGBTQ Legislation
Although they avoided embarrassing Prime Minister Sudani during his recent Washington visit, they passed abhorrent new legislation as soon as he was back home.
Apr 29, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Amir al-Kaabi
◆ Militia Spotlight
The car carrier Hyperion Ray (IMO 9690559) was struck near Fujairah, UAE, in April 2021. The ship was owned by Israel-based Ray Shipping Ltd when it was attacked. Photo credit: Rick Voice via MarineTraffic.com.
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Pay Attention to Ship Seizures, Not Threats to Close Strait of Hormuz
Low-key actions like seizures can increase regional and global concerns and increase Iran's leverage.
Apr 29, 2024
◆
  • Noam Raydan
  • Farzin Nadimi
◆ Maritime Spotlight
Brief Analysis
Denial or Punishment? The U.S.-Israel Debate About How Best to Deter Iran
Experience shows that a balanced strategy blending deterrence by denial and deterrence by punishment can more effectively contain Iran.
Apr 26, 2024
◆
  • Michael Eisenstadt
◆ Risks and Opportunities in the Post-April 13 Middle East
Articles & Testimony
Will Israel Temper Its War on Iran’s Regional Proxies?
Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and other militias in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq have yielded visible benefits at times, but future operations may elicit a direct Iranian response.
Apr 24, 2024
◆
  • David Schenker
Iran Air passenger plane undergoing maintenance
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
A Better Plan for Sanctioning Iranian Airlines
Targeting Iran Air’s flights to Europe would help, but the regime’s illicit activities on the continent may simply be taken over by the IRGC-linked carrier Mahan Air unless further designations are issued.
Apr 23, 2024
◆
  • Babak Taghvaee
Kharab al-Jir
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Hit Two U.S. Sites in Iraq and Syria
Iran-backed groups have adopted tight message discipline so far, not claiming either of the attacks in order to avoid U.S. retaliation while simultaneously warning Prime Minister Sudani to keep pushing for U.S. withdrawal.
Apr 22, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Alex Almeida
◆ Militia Spotlight
The container ship Jin Shun He (IMO 9144316) docked at the port of NEOM in Oxagon. Photo credit: Photo credit: @NEOMOxagon, posted on X (formerly Twitter), April 15, 2024, https://x.com/NEOMOxagon/status/1779799779230302424. .
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Amid Red Sea Crisis, Saudi Company Launches North Shipping Service
Riyadh’s aim to become a global logistics hub connecting three continents will face challenges if risks to southern Red Sea shipping persist at their current levels.
Apr 20, 2024
◆
  • Noam Raydan
  • Farzin Nadimi
◆ Maritime Spotlight
Articles & Testimony
China’s Military Objectives and Operational Experience in the Middle East
A security expert provides an in-depth assessment of Beijing’s military activities, funding, and strategic intentions in the region, including recommendations to prevent these efforts from harming U.S. alliances and interests.
Apr 19, 2024
◆
  • Grant Rumley
An Iranian man holds a newspaper depicting the April 14 attack on Israel.
Video
Brief Analysis
The Middle East's Perilous Moment: Policy Implications and Escalation Risks
Two former U.S. and Israeli officials join a security expert to examine Iran’s unprecedented attack, Israel’s potential response, and U.S. options to prevent the outbreak of full-scale regional war.
Apr 18, 2024
◆
  • Dana Stroul
  • Zohar Palti
  • Farzin Nadimi
Articles & Testimony
Russian-Iranian Cooperation and Threats to U.S. Interests
A former senior Pentagon official assesses how the growing alliance between the two regimes could create problems on multiple fronts, from exchanging know-how on U.S. defense technology to facilitating nuclear proliferation, sanctions evasion, and domestic oppression.
Apr 17, 2024
◆
  • Dana Stroul
Lions of the Ougaidat Brigade leaders, Syria, 2023 cropped
Maps & Graphics
Articles & Testimony
Profile: Lions of the Ougaidat Brigade
A Syrian Arab tribal militia directly operated by Iran's IRGC and tasked with fighting the Kurdish-led SDF east of the Euphrates.
Apr 15, 2024
◆
  • Abdullah Hayek
  • Kyle Robertson
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Arab Tribal and Clan Forces, Syria 2023
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Arab Tribal and Clan Forces
A newer unit of Arab militiamen in Syria, raised by pro-Assad figure Ibrahim al-Hifl to form an unbroken corridor of Iran-backed tribal fighters between Deir al-Zour and Aleppo.
Apr 15, 2024
◆
  • Abdullah Hayek
  • Kyle Robertson
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Abu Baqr's PMF ID card, February 7, 2024
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah Is Part of Iraq’s PMF
The U.S.-designated terrorist group is the most significant player in the Popular Mobilization Forces, which is supposed to be under the command of Prime Minister Sudani—a fact that U.S. officials sometimes forget.
Apr 15, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight

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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.

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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.
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