Middle Orient

The response of the Gulf Arab states to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been somewhat revealing of the depth of fissures between the United States and its Gulf allies. The “stress test” United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, hinted at on March 3, was on full …

In the fall of 2012, as Syria plunged into civil war and the Eurozone crisis generated panic across global markets, a parliamentary election in Ukraine signaled trouble ahead to those who were paying attention. The results that trickled out on Oct. 28, 2012, indicated that then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of …

The latest Iran-Saudi talks in Iraq have been the most productive, according to reports. Iraq hosted the fifth round of Iran-Saudi talks in Baghdad last Thursday. After about a year of dialogue, this meeting showed significant progress as the two countries agreed on a general roadmap for normalizing relations. The …

Hamas’ popularity has increased during the recent escalation of violence in Jerusalem, in addition to its role as a political player in the region. As soon as Friday’s prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, where some 150,000 Palestinians took part, was over on April 22, the crowds marched in the courtyards of …

While the United States and Iran seem to have hit a dead end over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, one answer could lie in Iran’s regional policies, including its dialogue with Saudi Arabia. The call to prayer echoes through the labyrinthine alleys of Tehran’s smaller market that lies to the …

Several members of the SDF were killed in two separate attacks by ISIS fighters in northwestern Raqqa governorate, according to al-Modon. On Tuesday, several members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in two separate attacks by ISIS fighters in northwestern Raqqa governorate, in eastern Syria. Local sources told …

Jabhat al-Nusra is trying to raise a fully ideological generation through its school programs, according to al-Watan. Widespread controversy has been sparked by images of a lesson plan, adopted by the so-called Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) Dar al-Waheed al-Sharif schools, where the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra is influential. Accusations have mounted …

Pedersen said the conflict in Syria gives rise to threats to international peace and security, according to North Press. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday “Syria is a hot conflict, not a frozen one,” referring to the recent escalation in separate areas of the country. “Airstrikes …

Major-General Ali Mahmoud Abbas is Syria’s fifth defence minister since the outbreak of the revolution in 2011, according to Syria TV. On Thursday, Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad issued a decree appointing a new defence minister, who replaces the former minister, General Ali Abdullah Ayoub. According to the Syrian regime’s …

The UAE has called for addressing security challenges and de-escalation in Syria to make progress in the country’s political process, according to Hashtag Syria. The UAE has called for addressing security challenges and de-escalation in Syria to make progress in the country’s political process. It noted that progress requires addressing …