Middle Orient

ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency in October 2023

Following is the October 2023 installment of “ISIS Redux: The Central Syria Insurgency,” a monthly chronicle of attacks by the terrorist group ISIS in central Syria. ISIS carried out at least 19 confirmed attacks in October in the Homs, Hama, Raqqa, and Deir Ez Zor governorates. These attacks killed at …

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The post-October 7 US strategy in the Middle East is coming into focus

What lasting effect have Hamas’s October 7 attacks and Israel’s ongoing response in Gaza had on US strategy in the Middle East? The answer to this question is emerging, and recent days provided two windows into the Biden administration’s approach to the conflict and to Middle East and global security …

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Iranian-backed militia threatens to expand attacks if US airstrikes continue

An Iranian-backed extremist group threatened Wednesday to expand attacks on U.S. targets after U.S. aircraft killed multiple militants in airstrikes in Iraq following the first use of short-range ballistic missiles against American forces at al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad. U.S. fighter jets struck a Kataib Hezbollah operations center …

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Houthi Red Sea Ship Seizure Sparks Global Outrage

Yemen’s government, the EU, the UK and several other Western countries condemned the Houthi assault on the Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea this week, accusing the militia of endangering international maritime traffic. Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani called the Houthi hijacking a “full-fledged crime of piracy” and “state …

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Turkey’s Recent Escalation With The PKK And YPG Poses Enormous Risk – Analysis

With rising tensions between Turkey and Kurdish groups in Iraq and Syria, critical energy infrastructure is increasingly at risk of attack. While both sides experimented with attacking energy infrastructure such as pipelines in the past, the Turkish foreign minister’s recent declaration suggests that this will now become a regular feature …

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US Embarks On Proxy War Against Iran – OpEd

A massive US naval deployment in a wide arc of the so-called Greater Middle East is under way — stretching from Crete in the Eastern Mediterranean, into the Red Sea and the Bab el Mandeb and into the Gulf of Aden and all the way into the Gulf of Oman. …

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Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Critical For BRICS – OpEd

Long before South African President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired a video summit with BRICS leaders (Brazil, Russia, India and China) with participation of new members on November 21 to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict, there have been some differences in perceptions and approaches among them, so it was not surprising that the …

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Regime Change In Gaza: Trajectories For A Post-Hamas Future – Analysis

The deadly October 7 Hamas operation was designed to use shock and terror to force a change in the status and future of Gaza’s Palestinian population. In this regard, the operation has been successful—life in Gaza will never be the same. According to Israeli authorities, part of these changes will …

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US Strikes Iranian-Backed Militants Following Missile Attack

A U.S. military AC-130J Ghostrider attacked an Iran-backed militant group after the group used a ballistic missile to attack U.S. and coalition forces on Al-Asad Airbase, Iraq, the deputy pentagon press secretary said Tuesday. The ballistic missile attack resulted in non-serious injuries to U.S. and coalition forces, as well as …

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Operation Iron Swords
Updated to 1 p.m., November 21, 2023

OverviewThe southern arena: The IDF integrated ground maneuver continued in Gaza City and thenorth of the Gaza Strip; a number of attacks were also carried out in the central and southernGaza Strip. The centers of activity included the neighborhoods of Zeitoun, Jabaliya, Beit Lahiaand Rafah. Hamas’ use of civilian residences …

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