Middle Orient

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has entered its twelfth month. Reporting on the conflict understandably focuses on the day-to-day fighting and destruction, but it is important for Americans and U.S. policymakers to understand the larger issues raised by the war and the U.S. role in it. The following Defense Priorities analysis …

What is even more painful and humiliating for the Palestinians, is that EU officials who regularly visit the Gaza Strip intentionally ignore the suffering of the Palestinians living under Hamas. On February 2, fifteen EU Heads of Mission visited the Gaza Strip without saying a single word about any of …

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A late January drone strike on a military production plant in Isfahan, Iran, purportedly conducted by Israel, was likely intended to send a message to Iranian leaders that they are vulnerable to attack.The strike is unlikely to change Iran’s behavior but signals Israel’s intent to escalate if Iran continues to …

Ali Tawfiq Samra was appointed director of the Air Defense Department of the regime’s militias, according to Shaam Network. Media sources close to the Assad regime revealed the appointment of an officer with the rank of Major General named Ali Tawfiq Samra as director of the Air Defense Department of …

Local networks reported that the assassination of Amer al-Nassar took place on Sunday, according to Enab Baladi. Amer al-Nassar, nicknamed “The Colonel,” a militia commander in Daraa, was killed by direct fire while he was in a house in the city of al-Hara, northwest of Daraa.

Speculation is growing about a crisis between Saudi Arabia and Egypt manifested in relations between senior figures in both countries. Tension has come to the surface during the serious economic crisis in Egypt since Russia invaded Ukraine almost a year ago. According to the Central Bank of Egypt in 2019, …

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu issued an angry statement on Friday to US Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry Flake, demanding: “Take your dirty hands of Turkiye.” According to Haberturk newspaper, Soylu added: “Every US ambassador who arrives in Turkiye is hurrying to find out how to make a coup possible in …

Having useful weapons platforms can do wonders for a country. One nation that is currently reaping the benefits of having such systems available for export currently is Turkey. Turkey has been able to produce Drones that have proven to be effective in various conflict zones. The TB2 Drone has been …

Another claimant to victory [for ending the war in Syria] was Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who managed to milk the European Union cow to the tune of $5 billion while seizing control of enough Syrian oilfields and mines to ensure a steady revenue stream in what amounts to international …