The United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to normalize relations with Israel to gain favor with the United States, no matter the outcome of the November 2020 U.S. presidential election.
Read More »James Carafano: Trump right to back arms embargo on Iran, a dangerous state sponsor of terrorism
President Trump’s move to reimpose full United Nations sanctions on Iran in order to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic scheduled to expire in October is a wise move, despite the opposition of European nations, Russia and China.
Read More »Trump Meets With Iraqi Leader Amid Negotiations Over U.S. Troop Levels
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to the White House is largely focused on negotiations, which started in May, on resetting the United States military mission in Iraq.
Read More »Strengthening and Expanding: ISIS’ Central Syria Campaign
While most international attention has been focused on the “post-caliphate” Islamic State insurgencies in northeast Syria and Iraq, ISIS has steadily carried out an ever-expanding insurgency against the Syrian regime and its allies in central Syria. The insurgency began immediately following the Syrian regime’s capture of this area in late …
Read More »Hezbollah Still Has a Knife at Lebanon’s Throat After Hariri Verdict
A confused tribunal process is a step toward justice in a case that has haunted the country for years. Lebanon’s postwar hopes of becoming a free and prosperous nation died smoldering in a mangled crater of seared flesh and jagged metal on the Beirut waterfront. The devastating bomb blast that …
Read More »Hands off Lebanon: Macron’s Self-serving ‘New Pact’ Must Be Shunned
French President, Emmanuel Macron, is in no position to pontificate to Lebanon about the need for political and economic reforms. Just as thousands of Lebanese took to the streets of Beirut demanding “revenge” against the ruling classes, the French people have relentlessly been doing the same; both peoples have been …
Read More »Beirut’s Shiites Like the Idea of Change, but Like Hezbollah More
In a Shiite stronghold, people agree that the political system is dysfunctional and needs replacing, but not if that means Hezbollah ceding its power.
Read More »What to Watch to Understand the Sino-Iranian Relationship
Beijing and Tehran are in the process of finalizing an ambitious partnership covering a range of security and economic issues. According to reporting by the New York Times, the agreement will include Chinese development of Iranian transportation infrastructure, a 5G network and joint military exercises, among other points of cooperation.
Read More »UAE, Israel agree to normalise relations
Israel and the United Arab Emirates today reached an historic peace deal that will lead to a full normalisation of diplomatic relations, Reuters reported.
Read More »ISIS Determined to Make a Comeback—How Can it Be Stopped?
U.S. officials say repatriation of people who lived or fought with ISIS is a critical challenge that has been exacerbated by COVID-19.
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