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US Sanctions Target Syrians Involved in Captagon Trade: Who Does it Include?

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against three Syrian individuals involved in the production and trade of Captagon, which financially supports the Syrian regime and its allies. The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against three Syrian individuals involved in the production and trade of Captagon, which financially supports …

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As World Powers Clash, ISIS Returns for Revenge

The Islamic State militant group is capitalizing on widespread unrest and flaring tensions over major conflicts, including those raging in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, to pave the way for new, deadly attacks across the globe, analysts told Newsweek. The once-sprawling caliphate declared over a decade ago by the Islamic …

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Iran Might Reevaluate its Strategy

The relative failure of Iranian missile strikes has significantly eroded the value of Tehran’s enormous investment in its missile and drone technology and raised serious questions among Iran’s regional allies about the ability of Tehran to come to their defense. The reverberations of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel …

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Hamas After Sinwar: Rethinking the Gaza-Israel Conflict

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks, was killed in an ambush by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Rafah.The death of Sinwar is a significant win for Israel, however, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu now faces a crucial opportunity to negotiate the release of the hostages, …

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Iran Pressures the Gulf States to Help Deter Israel

Iranian leaders view the Arab states of the Persian Gulf as pivotal to their efforts to deter Israel from attacking key targets in Iran. Iran is pressuring the Gulf states to deny Israel access to their airspace for any retaliatory strike on Iran. Iranian officials display no hesitation to threaten …

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Israel Strikes Eastern Lebanon, Raid on Syrian Port City Also Reported

Syria’s military has accused Israel of a targeted strike against its coast city of Latakia, 60 miles to the north of Lebanon. According to Syrian military sources speaking to The Associated Press, two civilians were wounded and a military post was damaged. The attack is the latest example of how …

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Israel Kills Yahya Sinwar, Mastermind of Oct. 7 Attack

Israel has announced the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and mastermind of the October 7, 2023, attack that has since plunged the Middle East into an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday his nation has “settled its account” with Sinwar …

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‘Surrender or starve’: What are Israel’s plans for north Gaza?

Analysis: Israel is trying to depopulate the north to geographically reconfigure Gaza into disconnected enclaves and maintain indefinite control, analysts say. Residents of northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, along with those in the nearby towns of Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, were urgently ordered to evacuate on 6 October as …

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Civil war or Gaza 2.0: Is Netanyahu working to divide Lebanon?

In-depth: As Israel’s war expands, Netanyahu has issued Lebanon a chilling threat: rise against Hezbollah and risk civil war or be destroyed like Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered Lebanon a choice. In an address last week, he called on the Lebanese to “stand up and take your …

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The Future of the Security Sector in Ukraine

Executive Summary The aim of this report is to present practical options for advancing Ukraine’s security sector capabilities to consolidate peace and stability as the country transitions from war to peace; the United States Institute of Peace does not take specific policy positions or advocate for specific forms of assistance. …

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