January, 2026

• 5 January

  Five Takeaways From The US’ “Special Military Operation” In Venezuela

  

  It was astoundingly successful and will likely serve to coerce the rest of the hemisphere into strategically capitulating to the US. The US launched a half-hour-long “special military operation” in Venezuela on Saturday morning that culminated in Delta Force’s capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Several military sites were bombed, US …

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• 5 January

  Iran’s Exponentiating Missile Threat: Will the U.S. and Europe Just Sit and Watch?

  

  These missiles – now part of reportedly the largest missile arsenal in the Middle East – can reach not only regional targets but also the U.S. and Europe, a senior Iranian lawmaker has openly boasted. The regime does not just brag about these weapons; it uses them. This trajectory should …

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• 5 January

  How’d Saudi Arabia End Up On The Same Side As The Muslim Brotherhood In Yemen?

  

  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 …

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• 5 January

  Five Important Details That Most Folks Missed From Zelensky’s Interview With Polish Media

  

  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 …

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• 5 January

  ‘Javid Shah!’ Why Iranians are calling for the return of the Pahlavis and their monarchy

  

  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 …

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• 5 January

  Experts see systemic fractures in Iran protests, not single-leader movement

  

  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 …

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• 5 January

  As Iranians rise up against Islamic regime, US and Israel navigate between solidarity and sabotage

  

  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, …

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• 5 January

  Iran Says US Fully Responsible for Any Protest Intervention

  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. …

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• 5 January

  After two catastrophic years, what awaits Palestine in 2026?

  

  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 …

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• 5 January

  Yemen province launches ‘peaceful’ bid to take back military bases after STC advance

  

  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 …

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