Middle Orient

The CIA director met the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and reportedly expressed displeasure with Washington being “blindsided” over agreements brokered by China and Russia. CIA Director Bill Burns made an unannounced trip to Saudi Arabia this week where he reportedly aired Washington’s frustrations over Riyadh’s opening to Iran …

After two days of rockets first from Gaza and then from the Lebanese border, tensions seem to have calmed, at least temporary. Israel’s Army Radio reported Friday afternoon that the Israeli military (IDF) cleared residents of the Gaza border area to resume their normal activities after a night of rocket …

The Biden Administration has created a vacuum of leadership on the global stage. If the US further pulls out of Asia, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Ukraine, Latin America — anywhere — the vacuum created will surely be filled by the new axis of China-Russia-Iran. A US pull-out is, most …

Recent leadership appointments by United Arab Emirates President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) have clarified the succession during a time of significant regional challenges.There is debate over whether the appointment of a second UAE vice president, joining Dubai emirate leader and UAE Prime Minister …

The US has told Israel that it is considering advancing a “partial agreement” with Iran based on freezing parts of its nuclear programme in return for lifting some sanctions, Walla news site has reported. The report cited ten Israeli officials, Western diplomats and American experts. According to the sources, President …

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said that his government will “teach America a lesson” in the upcoming Turkish elections next month, taking aim at Washington after its Ambassador visited the leading opposition candidate. Speaking at the opening ceremony of his ally, the Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) youth branch, the …

As China hosts on Thursday the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers in Beijing, the Gulf states have an opportunity to capitalize on its growing role. In a world where superpowers vie for influence, the recent China-mediated reconciliation deal last month restoring diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and Thursday’s …

Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers met in Beijing on Thursday as China’s role expands in the Middle East. Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian described a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Beijing on Thursday as constructive, in their bid to find a path toward reconciliation following …

In the most serious escalation since 2006, Israel has carried out airstrikes inside Lebanon following a barrage of rockets that was launched from southern Lebanon earlier in the day. Israel carried out airstrikes in Lebanon and Gaza on Thursday night following a barrage of rockets that was fired from both …

Summary: By declaring the end of SykesPicot, the Islamic State was positioning itself as a force that was reuniting the region under the banner of Islam—symbolism that could resonate with many across the Arab world. Introduction In 2014, Islamic State fghters stationed at a border crossing between Iraq and Syria …