January, 2026

• 5 January

  Separatist Group Jaish Al-Adl Rebrands As Wider Iranian Opposition

  

  The Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl says it has joined forces with several smaller Baluch paramilitary groups to form a new coalition targeting Iran’s clerical establishment.​ In a video statement released on social media platforms, an unidentified spokesman said the new group would be called the Popular Resistance Front and …

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• 5 January

  Iran Protests Intensify Amid Rial Free Fall, Mounting Regional Tensions

  

  Iranians took to the streets for a fourth day to voice their anger over the state of the reeling economy, with the currency in a free fall and the threat of a new round of military strikes hanging over the country. Demonstrations were reported in several cities, with many markets …

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• 5 January

  Si tu veux faire carrière, prêche la guerre

  

  J’ai toujours pensé que le monde se divisait en deux camps, qui recoupent grosso modo les deux camps de la lutte des classes, le camp des bellicistes et celui des pacifistes. Il est facile de comprendre pourquoi ces deux camps se recoupent : ceux qui veulent faire la guerre ne …

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• 5 January

  Iranian Influence Operation Targeting Israeli Arabs Exposed

  

  Iran’s probing of Israeli society for vulnerabilities is expanding beyond the Jewish population. Israeli NGO “FakeReporter” uncovered a multipronged influence operation targeting Israel’s Arab population on December 19. The suspected Iranian operation, which operated in Arabic, shared politically contentious content intended to stoke tensions in Israel’s Arab community. Through a …

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• 5 January

  Hamas said set to soon elect new leader, with pro-Iran candidate Hayya likely to win

  

  Report says second candidate is terror group’s former head Mashaal, who is said to favor diplomacy on Gaza whereas frontrunner backs ‘armed conflict’ Hamas is expected to elect a new leader within days or a few weeks, Saudi outlet Asharq reported Saturday, citing sources close to the Palestinian terror group’s …

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• 5 January

  Lebanon’s Outlook on Sovereignty, Disarmament, and Peace

  

  On December 23, The Washington Institute held a virtual Policy Forum with H.E. Youssef Raggi, Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. Questioners included David Schenker, the Institute’s Taube Senior Fellow and director of its Rubin Program on Arab Politics; Hanin Ghaddar, the Institute’s Friedmann Senior Fellow; and event moderator …

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• 5 January

  Türkiye to Open an UNRWA Office in Ankara as the Agency Confronts Operating Crises

  

  Türkiye has been providing financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) since its founding in 1949. The country is now preparing to host the agency’s fifth liaison office, in the capital of Ankara, in early 2026, a senior UNRWA …

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• 5 January

  Netanyahu Makes Israel First Nation in the World to Recognize Somaliland

  

  Israel has formally recognized the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the first country to do so and triggering strong reactions across the Horn of Africa. The move marks a diplomatic breakthrough for Somaliland, which has sought international recognition since breaking away from Somalia more …

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• 5 January

  Iran’s Failing Eastward Pivot? The Limits and Risks of Russia-China Alignment

  

  Since the June war, Tehran has hastily doubled down on Russian and Chinese partnerships to weather sanctions and deter future attacks, but Moscow and Beijing are hesitant to invest deeply in return—and Washington should make sure they stay that way. When Iranian leaders assisted Russia’s war on Ukraine by providing …

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• 5 January

  Syrian Internal Security imposes curfew in Latakia city

  

  Latakia’s Internal Security Command announced a curfew in Latakia city (on Syria’s Mediterranean coast), starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, and lasting until 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 31 December 2025. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the Internal Security Command said the curfew does not …

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