Middle Orient

Researcher Tells TML ‘Military Control Alone Is Not Enough To Ensure Stability’ in Eastern Aleppo as Syrian Army Replaces SDF Middle East researcher Mazen al-Khalil told The Media Line that “the withdrawal of thousands of fighters without a clear political agreement raises questions about the area’s future” [DAMASCUS] In a …

Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa has escalated his political rhetoric against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in his latest interview with the Kurdish Shams TV channel, excerpts of which were aired by the state-run Syrian al-Ikhbariya. Al-Sharaa’s discourse shifted toward blame and accusations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), accusing …

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi said his efforts to work toward de-escalation and a ceasefire continue, with the help of international parties, calling on “the people to rally around their sons, our fighters, and show courage and faith,” as he put it. In an interview with the Kurdish Hawar News Agency, …

The US-backed, Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capitulated to the Syrian government in a ceasefire agreement on January 18.[i] The government compelled the SDF to agree after a combination of government operations and tribal uprisings caused the SDF to withdraw from nearly half of its territory and most of the …

The US-backed, Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capitulated to the Syrian government in a ceasefire agreement on January 18.[1] The government compelled the SDF to agree after a combination of government operations and tribal uprisings caused the SDF to withdraw from nearly half of its territory and most of the …

Key Takeaways Iranian Information Operation: Elements of the Iranian regime leaked information about purported plans to moderate regime behavior domestically and internationally. A former regime official close to Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani told an English-language diaspora outlet that Larijani is pushing to moderate regime policies and conduct …

The President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, called for an end to the escalation in Syria and a return to dialogue and previous agreements, stressing support for political efforts and strengthening Kurdish rights in a way that serves the unity and stability of the country. The President of …

Since the outbreak of the popular uprising in 2011, Syria has become an open arena for regional and international interventions. With a political solution stalled, the conflict-ridden land has become crowded with conflicting agendas. In this landscape, Turkish-backed factions have emerged as instruments of influence on the Syrian scene, ostensibly …

The Syrian army took control of the west of the Euphrates River, after controlling the city of Tabqa and the Euphrates Dam southwest of Raqqa, after several hours of clashes, at dawn on Sunday, January 18. Enab Baladi’s correspondent, who is accompanying the operations in the vicinity of the city …

Note: CTP-ISW has resumed publishing daily Iran Updates to cover the ongoing protests in Iran. CTP-ISW’s weekend updates will only include analysis on the protests, while our weekday updates will also include analysis on Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Key Takeaways The Iranian Regime’s Securitization: The regime’s plan to limit most …