Middle Orient

In theory, Turkey is a NATO ally. In theory, also, Turkey is in negotiations with the European Union for full membership. In reality, both are illusions. In April, the European Council on Foreign Relations surveyed more than 17,000 people in 12 European countries. The survey found that: “Turkey is the …

Ahead of next year’s legislative elections, international accountability and public engagement will be key to countering endemic corruption. A year after the horrific Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, the legal pursuit of justice and accountability is proving pointless. Little to no progress has been made, due to how …

What can help allay perceptions of marginalization and tension in the district? Iraq is a country beset by a host of political, security, economic and social challenges, including addressing the human legacy of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) rampage through the country just a few years ago. Almost four years after …

Angry villagers in Chouya accuse terror group of endangering lives by firing from near civilian areas; Lebanon army arrives, confiscates launcher, arrests 4 suspects Druze residents in a southern Lebanese village halted the Hezbollah crew with its rocket launchers that had fired into Israel on Friday, and detained its members …

IDF carries out artillery strikes in response to 19-rocket barrage by terror group, heaviest since 2006 war; Hezbollah releases video of rocket fire Israel is preparing a wide range of military and covert responses to a barrage of 19 rockets fired at Israel on Friday by the Hezbollah terror group, …

Military says 10 projectiles were intercepted by air defenses, 6 struck open areas and 3 landed in Lebanon; terror group says attack was in response to recent Israeli airstrikes Nineteen rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon on Friday morning, sending residents in a number of towns in the …

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said on August 5 that his country is prepared to “take military action against Iran.” Israel, the United States, and Britain have accused Iran of involvement in a July 29 attack in the Gulf of Oman on the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned tanker managed …

Ebrahim Raisi took his oath before parliament on August 5 to complete his inauguration making him Iran’s new president. He comes to office facing an economy battered by U.S. sanctions, a growing health crisis, fast-rising regional tensions, and difficult negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. A …

The pro-regime National Defense Forces have deployed in the city of Suweida, officially to fight terrorism, without convincing locals, according to North Press. The city of Suweida has witnessed an intensive deployment of elements of the pro-regime National Defense Forces (NDF) in the city of Suweida and the establishment of …

The Albanian Ambassador to Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan Mark Gharib expressed appreciation for the efforts conducted by Syria to help in the repatriation of Albanian nationals, including 5 women and 14 children, from the al-Hol Camp in the province of al-Hassakeh. Gharib, in a statement to journalists at the Damascus …