Middle Orient

Syria Today – Damascus Tehran Ties Under Test; Rare Moments of Joy in al-Hol

Asharq al-Awsat has published a long report on the possibility of deterioration in the Syrian-Iranian relationship. It appears, according to the report, that the war on Gaza has impacted Iran’s military deployment in Syria. Local sources said Tehran has started to put in place plans for the relocation of Iranian …

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Who is Behind the Postponement of Arab Liaison Committee Meeting on Syria?

Al-Modon reported, citing a reliable source, that Jordan played an important role in the postponement of the Arab Liaison Committee on Syria Al-Modon reported, citing a reliable source, that Jordan played an important role in the postponement of the Arab Liaison Committee on Syria, originally scheduled for Wednesday. The source …

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U.S. Repatriates Citizens from Syria and Urges Other Countries to Follow Suit

The United States government has repatriated twelve people from detention camps in northeastern Syria, including ten individuals from the same family, in what was the largest single repatriation of U.S. citizens since the collapse of the Islamic State’s so-called caliphate in March 2019.The United States is now urging countries to …

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Weaponizing Antisemitism

All of us—and we are legion across the world must keep our eyes on the genocide in Gaza, as well as on the vicious pogroms underway in the West Bank. A recent statement by James Elder of UNICEF reports that in Rafah, “The European hospital is crammed with severely injured …

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110,000 Flee Rafah As Israeli-Hamas Fighting Continues

The United Nations says about 110,000 people have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah as of Friday amid fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, along with Israeli bombardments that have stepped up in and around the city. Meanwhile, cease-fire talks brokered by Qatar and Egypt have apparently stalled. …

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Iran Update, May 11, 2024

Key Takeaways: Northern Gaza Strip: The IDF issued evacuation orders for civilians around Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, due to Hamas reconstituting militarily there.Southern Gaza Strip: The IDF issued expanded its evacuation orders for civilians around Rafah, extending the evacuation zone to two refugee camps and nearby neighborhoods.West Bank: CTP-ISW did …

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Iran Update, May 10, 2024

Palestinian militias conducted at least 17 attacks targeting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Zaytoun on May 10, suggesting that Hamas was able either to preserve or reconstitute military capability in Zaytoun despite IDF operations there.[i] The IDF launched a re-clearing operation into Zaytoun neighborhood, southern Gaza City, on May …

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Israel strikes eastern Rafah as ceasefire talks end with no deal

Israeli forces bombarded areas of Rafah on Thursday, Palestinian residents said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed U.S. President Joe Biden’s threat to withhold weapons from Israel if it assaults the southern Gaza city. A senior Israeli official said late on Thursday that the latest round of indirect negotiations in …

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Iran’s new nuclear policy between deterrence and pragmatism

The recent escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran has sparked concerns about a potential shift in Tehran’s strategy toward full weaponization of its nuclear program. On April 14, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed seven Iranians, including Quds …

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Why did China host unity talks between Fatah and Hamas?

Last month, China hosted closed-door meetings in Beijing between representatives of the Palestinian political parties Fatah and Hamas to push towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation and a united Palestinian leadership. While details of the meetings have been kept under wraps, leaks indicate that Azzam al-Ahmad headed Fatah’s delegation and Mousa Abu Marzook …

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