Middle Orient

It was reported last week that Russian troops had retreated in Bakhmut due to a “severe shortage of credible combat units.” Moscow rushed to deny the news. While Westerners are rejoicing in every Russian setback, they should be careful what they wish for. The last thing the West needs is …

A photo Beijing released on March 6th of Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a seismic shock in Washington. There was the Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party standing between Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, and Saudi National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban. They were awkwardly …

The Palestinian Authority (PA) wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and punish them for speaking out against, or combatting, terrorism. Instead of demanding that ICC punish the terrorists — who are intentionally firing rockets at Israeli civilians — the PA is asking the …

A return to a parliamentary democracy system—the opposition’s most important electoral promise—is highly unlikely if Erdogan remains in power. This would be bad news for Turkey’s Western allies. After a dynamic and unfair campaign, the interim results of Turkey’s dual election send the two main presidential contenders to a second …

A Saudi national in al-Qassim was executed for forming and orchestrating a terrorist group and for being in contact with other extremist groups in the region with the aim of carrying out attacks within the Kingdom, the Ministry of Interior said. Yasser bin Mohammed al-Asmari was executed on Monday after …

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence forces have disbanded a terror network affiliated with Daesh Khorasan (Daesh-K) in Iran’s southern province of Fars. The IRGC Intelligence Department, in cooperation with Fajr Intelligence Organization of Fars Province, spotted and busted the operational and media network of Daesh-K, an offshoot of …

​​​​​​​Today, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the arrest of a leader of ISIS mercenaries and the dismantling of a terrorist cell in the southern countryside of Hasaka. The Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces stated that: “Our SDF Special Units conducted, last Monday, a meticulously executed security operation, dismantling …

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani issued an open invitation on Monday to international energy companies, asking them to develop 13 of the country’s untapped oil and gas fields and exploration blocks, a move that underscores Iraq’s push to bolster its fossil fuel industry. These prospective areas are scattered across …

In a stirring performance at the United Nations on Monday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas contested the legitimacy of Jewish ties to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. His claims, delivered with theatrical gusto, came during the 75th Nakba Day commemoration, an event full of historical poignancy for Palestinians. “Israel went digging …

The isolation of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad by his regional neighbors after leading his nation into a brutal decade-long civil war appears to be coming to an end while rehabilitation efforts seem to be moving forward. Having already been asked to attend the meeting of the Arab League in Jeddah, …