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Will This Contender for German Chancellor Be a Friend to Russia

Laschet’s personal preferences, if they even exist, will have to contend with a number of other factors shaping German foreign policy. Germany’s ruling party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has chosen a new leader: Armin Laschet, the prime minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This fall, he will most …

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Iraq, coalition partners had been on trail of IS commander a ‘long time’

Iraq announced Jan. 28 that its US-trained Counterterrorism Services in coordination with national intelligence had conducted an operation leading to the killing of the commander of Islamic State remnants in the country, in an “insurgent-infested” valley of the oil-rich, disputed southern Kirkuk province.

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Hamas leaders in West Bank warn of Israeli intimidation ahead of elections

Israeli intelligence warned a prominent Hamas leader in the West Bank against running in the Palestinian elections. The Israeli intelligence summoned Jan. 24 Omar al-Barghouti, a 67-year-old leader in the Hamas movement, from the village of Kober, north of Ramallah, and warned him against running in the upcoming Palestinian elections.

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Islamic State relies on money transfers from sympathizers in Turkey, Iraq: Report

Almost two years since its territorial defeat, the terror group still has access to $100 million in cash reserves, according to the US government. The Islamic State terror group was largely crushed by coordinated international effort in 2019, but its networks appear to still have access to an estimated $100 …

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IntelBrief: Will the Biden Administration Seek to Rejoin the Iran Nuclear Agreement?

The Biden Administration is intent on rejoining the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear agreement, despite calls by many experts to renegotiate. The Administration is replete with officials who supported the initial deal as the optimal means of preventing an Iranian nuclear weapons capability.

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IntelBrief: How will Iran Seek to Consolidate its Gains in Syria??

Iran is attempting to consolidate the gains it achieved by intervening and investing extensively in Syria’s civil conflict. Syria’s Assad regime is facilitating Iran’s plan to develop a secure land-based supply line to Tehran’s main regional ally, Lebanese Hezbollah. Iran has had mixed success in using Syria to circumvent international …

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IntelBrief: Countering Terrorism and Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for the Biden-Harris Administration

President Biden’s executive order to rescind the Muslim Ban was warmly welcomed by African countries. Responses to calls for racial justice domestically will also impact perceptions of the U.S. in Africa. Key cabinet picks like Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Lloyd Austin, and Dana Banks – will play a pivotal role in defining …

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