Middle Orient

Sadr calls for forming majority government as the Iraqi President Barham Salih hosted a meeting with the prime minister and the judiciary head to discuss the current political deadlock and present initiatives for it. Amidst the political deadlock following Iraq’s elections on Oct. 10, Iraqi President Barham Salih hosted a …

Erdogan’s push for lower interest rates despite Turkey’s tumbling currency and soaring inflation is an economic gamble that he is unlikely to win. Turkey’s central bank cut its policy rate by 100 basis points to 15% Thursday, ignoring alarm over the country’s nosediving currency and soaring inflation. The third rate …

Azerbaijan’s blockading of free passage from Iran to Armenia and its taxation of every Iranian truck making the trip north to Armenia via the roadblocks Azerbaijan set up has prompted a wave of furious protest in Iran. For weeks, Iranian media reflected the rage in the country over these moves …

After suffering grievously under ISIS, and during the battles to defeat it, Raqqa is being rebuilt. The calm is tenuous, however. The U.S. and partners should work toward long-term stability in Syria’s north east, through investment and talks about sustainable governance and security arrangements. Principal Findings What’s new? Two years after …

Tasnim news agency reported the blast “caused small tremors” but no casualties. State media outlets reported that an oil pipeline in southern Iran exploded on Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of explosions and fires reported across the Islamic Republic this year. The Iranian semi-official news outlet Tasnim reported …

The recent summit of Turkic-speaking states has fueled Ankara’s ambitions to lead a Turkic regional economic and security complex, but major geopolitical, economic and institutional hurdles remain. The eighth summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, known as the Turkic Council, held in Istanbul last week was a …

The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq said its constituents were lured into emigrating by criminal smugglers. Hundreds of people returned to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from Belarus today after attempting to cross into the European Union. More than 400 migrants arrived at Erbil International Airport from the Belarusian capital …

SOHR activists have reported new 50 airstrikes by Russian fighter jets have targeted positions in Ghanem al-Ali region, Deir Ezzur Desert, al-Beshri Mountains and Atheria district in the Syrian Desert. On the other hand, three Russian helicopters participated in scouting operation and the areal shelling of the region. Meanwhile, regime …

Idlib province: SOHR sources have reported that Turkish forces have erected soil barriers on the outskirts of Saraqeb city to the east of Idlib city, as Turkish forces are preparing for establishing a new military post in that position which is near regime positions in Saraqeb. SOHR sources have confirmed …

In 2019, disillusioned with their political system, thousands of Iraqis protested and called for an end to rampant corruption siphoning their country’s oil wealth, for better public services and change in the government. The protest triggered a new election in October 2021, the result of which has given a new …