The Saudis’ growing ties with Muslim Brotherhood-aligned Turkiye, Qatar, and Iran; the Gaza War that broke out after October 7th; and the Ummah’s widespread support for Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestinian branch, contributed to the Kingdom coming to see the group in a new light. One of the pillars of …

If Poles reject his implied demand that they accept Ukrainian ultra-nationalist narratives, question the co-production of arms with Ukraine, and oppose its membership in the EU, then they might “ruin this alliance” like he fears. Zelensky gave a joint interview to the Polish Press Agency, TVP World, and Polish Radio …

IRAN AFFAIRS: A slogan once considered politically unutterable has returned, and sounds of crowds chanting it fill the air as Iranian protests continue to call for the end of the Islamic Republic. As protesters took to the streets of Iran this week, amid chants of anger against Supreme Leader Ayatollah …

After five days of demonstrations, some analysts and observers see support for the son of the deposed Shah, Reza Pahlavi, as the main factor, and others cite economic grievances. Iran’s latest wave of protests did not erupt suddenly or as a unified political movement. What began with merchant strikes and …

REGIONAL AFFAIRS: Any visible Israeli hand risks allowing the regime to reframe an organic uprising as a Zionist plot – but this does not mean that nothing should be done from the outside. When reporters asked US President Donald Trump this week whether he supports the overthrow of Iran’s regime, …

Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned Friday that the United States would bear “full responsibility for the consequences” if it intervenes in ongoing protests inside the country, escalating tensions as demonstrations continue. This follows Trump and Tehran’s top security official hurling warnings early Friday, escalating a crisis already marked by deadly clashes. …

As Israel’s ceasefire violations continue in Gaza & expulsions escalate in the West Bank, Kamel Hawwash explains why he sees little hope for change in 2026. I am regularly asked for my view on what will happen in Palestine in 2026. While it is possible to speculate, it is difficult …

Yemen’s Hadramawt province is launching an operation to “peacefully” take back military sites after a sweeping advance by UAE-backed separatists, its governor said on Friday. Salem Al-Khanbashi made the announcement shortly after he was also appointed to lead the Saudi-supported National Shield forces in resource-rich Hadramawt, bordering Saudi Arabia. “This …

In the most fatal attack against US troops in Syria so far this decade, an Islamic State (IS) gunman shot dead two US soldiers and a civilian American interpreter on 13 December. The deadly attack transpired amidst expanding US-Syrian military cooperation and Syria joining the US-led anti-IS coalition. It raises …

Since the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s government just over a year ago, Syria has become an arena for an increasingly stark contest between Turkey and Israel. Ankara and Tel Aviv’s strategic visions for Syria are fundamentally irreconcilable. Turkey seeks a unified state anchored by an Ankara-friendly central authority and preserved …