Middle Orient

The Arab word’s a veritable mess. The cosmic leadership deficit, the absence of legitimate institutions, the lack of transparency, disrespect for human rights, abysmal regard for gender equality, and too much conspiratorial thinking make it impossible to come to terms with the magnitude of the problems. In short, this region …

The Islamic State continues to operate in Iraq despite losing its territory there years ago. The Islamic State conducted a deadly attack in Iraq late last night. The shooting occurred in the Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, in the village of Al-Rashad. Twelve civilians were killed and at least 15 …

The Iraqi government is seeking to prevent both further attacks by the terrorist group and outbreaks of sectarian violence. A group of Islamic State militants carried out an attack in the village of al-Rashad in Diyala province early on Oct. 26, killing 15 people and wounding 30. Prior to the …

Recent geopolitical changes in the region are reducing Israel’s ability to act against the Iranian presence in Syria. An unnamed Israeli security source told public broadcaster Kan on Oct. 25 that the air force will soon have to decide whether to act against the Syrian air defense system, in order …

Some 10,000 displaced Syrians living in a squalid camp miles away from the American garrison of al-Tanf had hoped the Biden administration would resolve their plight. The Biden administration touted this summer’s United Nations Security Council deal to avert humanitarian disaster in northwest Syria as proof that Washington and Moscow …

A court in the Netherlands convicted an Iranian refugee Wednesday of preparing and financing terror attacks in his homeland targeting the Iranian government and its supporters. The 42-year-old man was sentenced to four years imprisonment. The man, whose identity was not released in line with Dutch privacy rules, was linked …

Saudi Arabia classified the Lebanon-based Al-Qard Al-Hassan association as a terrorist entity, citing links to activities supporting Lebanon’s Shi’ite group Hezbollah, state media reported on Wednesday. “The association works on managing funds for the terrorist organization (Hezbollah) and its financing, including support for military purposes,” the state news agency said …

Turkey deployed hundreds more troops in northern Syria overnight in preparation for a long-suspended offensive against American-backed Kurdish forces, according to two officials, a move that could help President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shore up flagging domestic support and put pressure on the U.S. and Russia to rein in the Kurdish …

My friend and neighbour Richard was starting a series of online meetings at his office on the south-east edge of Beirut when all hell suddenly broke loose. He spent the next three hours sheltering on the ground floor as the sounds of war raged around the building, triggering a rush …

Representatives of the demonstrations and independent candidates did well in the Iraqi elections, unsettling many existing political elites. A group of independents and representatives from the October Movement plan to form an independent parliamentary bloc to oppose powerful forces and parties in the political arena. Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission …