Policy Analysis

In this interview with the French newspaper L'Opinion, Washington Institute fellow Fabrice Balanche discusses the status of Syrian refugees inside and outside the country, as well as the Russian intervention and other recent developments. Download the PDF to read the full interview in French, or visit the L'Opinion website.

Defending the Assad regime has given Tehran multiple options for expanding its influence and projecting power in the region and beyond.

Having stoked tensions in Jerusalem, Mahmoud Abbas and his government now find it hard to reassert their authority.

Although broader public relations between Israel and the Gulf states have yet to take off, many of their economic, intelligence, and diplomatic ties are already at cruising altitude.

A new offensive near the key city indicates that ISIS may be racing Assad and his allies for control of northern Syria.

The Nobel Committee rightfully recognized the strong civil society institutions that mediated Tunisia's difficult political transition at a time when other regional states were falling into chaos.

The kingdom's energy security dilemmas need to be considered in the context of its diverse geopolitical challenges, including external security threats from ISIS and domestic resentment toward Israeli actions in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Comparing the recent rhetoric, actions, and outreach styles of Muslim Brothers and Salafis provides insight into their current reversals of fortune.

As the death toll in the Ankara bombing rises, watching Turkey has become like watching a disaster unfold in slow motion.

The Kurdish forces fielded by the YPG remain at the vanguard of the anti-ISIS fight in Syria, so providing them with GPS technology, faster airstrike coordination, and other assistance would greatly further U.S. interests.

A safe haven along Syria's border with Turkey could involve several partners and send a clear message to Russia and Iran.

Moscow's intervention is intended to support the regime, is backed by a small but potent force, and appears set for the long haul.

Recent polling results suggest that King Abdullah's low-profile policy toward Syria is well calculated to keep him out of trouble.

Violence in the Holy City has unnerved the king, but the prospect of additional Syrian refugees constitutes a much greater threat to the kingdom's stability.

The missile strikes on targets in Syria showed unprecedented cooperation between Russia and Iran, but they also serve as a wakeup call to Tehran about Moscow's expanding military profile in the Caspian.

The Iranian president has taken steps to limit his vulnerability to a plodding recovery, but over time a failure of sanctions relief to bring about dramatic economic improvements could harm his political outlook.

The new governing board has fewer young members, fewer women, and more old-guard members with close ties to President Erdogan, who is betting that this alignment will help the party regain its legislative majority next month.

Israel may feel abandoned by Washington, but Moscow is not the antidote.

Putin's latest Middle Eastern moves are aimed not so much at expanding his front line of tensions with the West, but rather at making a deal by proving that he has acquired a lot of cards in the region.

The PYD will not hesitate to cooperate with Damascus and Moscow in the north if Turkey and the United States continue prohibiting the unification of Kurdish enclaves.