Middle Orient

Toplines Iran is continuing to prepare for a potential military conflict with the United States. Several unspecified Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces units held an exercise on February 24 at the Madinah ol Munawarah Operational Base in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, and on unspecified Persian Gulf islands.[1] Madinah …

The commander of Internal Security in Latakia governorate, Brig. Gen. Abdul Aziz Hilal al-Ahmad, confirmed the killing of the leader of “Saraya al-Jawad,” Bashar Abdullah Abu Raqiya, along with two of the group’s commanders, during a security operation on the Syrian coast. According to a statement published by the Ministry …

Tensions between Washington and Tehran are rising by the day. But while much of the commentary focuses on what might happen inside Iran, more immediate danger likely lies to Israel’s north. Lebanon is shaping up as the second front of a widening confrontation. Israel has stepped up its air campaign …

In keeping with its reputation as Hamas’s most vocal cheerleader on the international stage, Turkey has announced new measures to stifle Israel’s international trade. Specifically, Ankara will refuse to issue certificates for Israel-bound exports that would enable them to avoid certain steep customs duties. Having already declared a trade embargo …

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On February 11th, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met yet again with President Trump on his sixth visit since Trump resumed the presidency. It got me to wondering: why all these private meetings between the two leaders? What are they up to now? This time the meeting was about Iran, trying …

Officials keep channels open even as rhetoric expands targets and consequences, turning uncertainty into a strategic tool while publicly conditioning audiences for escalation Since the public protests that began in Iran in late December 2025, the confrontation between the United States and Iran has unfolded along two parallel and carefully …

The majority of Lebanese oppose peace with Israel, and elected officials who pursue normalization with the Jewish state risk political suicide. Nevertheless, popular rejection of peace does not justify censoring its proponents. The very purpose of open public debate is to allow minority positions to argue their case, sway doubters, …

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Have Been Friends and Allies for Decades, but They Have Picked Different Sides in the Fighting in Yemen Two gasoline Goliaths of the Persian Gulf are facing off, and neither of them is Iran — in fact, both are allies of the United …

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