Middle Orient

Erdogan’s Sunni Noose: Turkey’s Bid to Encircle Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched an ambitious diplomatic offensive aimed at unifying the Sunni world under Ankara’s leadership. The objective is not merely reconciliation with former rivals. It is the construction of a Sunni diplomatic and strategic “wall,” or “noose,” around Israel, replacing the Iranian “Shi’ite crescent” with …

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SDF releases 51 detainees in al-Hasakah, calls for a “phase of forgiveness and rebuilding

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a group of 51 detainees today, Saturday, in al-Hasakah governorate (northeastern Syria), as the provisions of the presidential amnesty issued by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa begin to be implemented across Syria. Although the release is separate from the presidential amnesty, it comes amid political …

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U.S. and Israel Diverge on Key Regional Files

Differences between Israeli and U.S. leaders on key issues in the Middle East, particularly strategy toward Iran, might determine whether the region calms or flares into a broader conflagration. Trump insists that Israel support U.S. diplomacy with Tehran, backed by the threat of force, before the U.S. or Israel further …

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