Middle Orient

When the Houthis launched attacks along Yemen’s western coast on 3 September, internationally recognised government-aligned forces were unprepared for what was the largest offensive since the ceasefire signed in 2022. Their response revealed a series of operational failures that allowed the Houthis to advance across 5,000 square kilometres, seizing the …

Analysis: Gulf states are shipping millions of barrels of oil through Hormuz, but that doesn’t change Iran’s ability to inflict pain on the global economy As Iran and the US take tentative steps towards a deal to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, there may be signs that Tehran’s biggest source …

Khan Younis, Gaza Strip – A year after a US-brokered ceasefire halted Israel’s full-scale war on Gaza, the Palestinian technocrats appointed to govern the territory remain in Cairo, waiting for Israel to allow them to enter. Palestinian analysts say the delay is a symptom of a deeper problem over Gaza’s …

Growing ties between the Houthis and al-Shabaab could turn Red Sea instability into a more dangerous security threat for Africa. The United States-Israel February attack on Iran led to the Iran-backed Houthi militia of Yemen seizing territory at the entrance to the Red Sea, with grave potential consequences for Africa …

America’s last troops have left Iraq, but anyone looking for a US withdrawal from the Middle East is looking in the wrong place. The end of the Iraq modelOn September 30, the United States completed the withdrawal of its forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base, formally ending the mission …

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From David Ben-Gurion—the architect of a state whose foundations remain a subject of debate—to Benjamin Netanyahu, a master of maintaining constant tension, the “periphery doctrine” has remained a cornerstone of Israeli foreign policy. Its essence lies in forging alliances with states that surround hostile neighbors. Israeli authorities operate on the …

To prevent the type of jihadist resurgence seen after past U.S. military departures, Washington will need to sustain counterterrorism support and close any political, security, and detention gaps that IS could exploit. On September 30, the last U.S. forces left Erbil Air Base in Iraq, ending the coalition mission against …

Key Takeaways Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government seized mountainous terrain that overlooks the Red Sea coastal plain on October 8, which could set favorable conditions for government-aligned forces to continue their counteroffensive and advance northward on the coastal plain.The Houthis are still capable of threatening Yemeni government …

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