Russian President Vladimir Putin extended an invitation to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani to visit Russia on Wednesday, February 12. During a phone call with Syrian transitional president Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the two leaders exchanged views on the current situation in Syria and the political roadmap for building a new Syria. …
Read More »Iranian Plot to Assassinate Sharaa and Overthrow His Government Uncovered – The Syrian Observer
The Turkish newspaper Türkiye Gazetesi has revealed an Iranian plan to overthrow President Ahmad al-Sharaa and his government through a military coup, orchestrated during a secret meeting in Najaf, Iraq. The Turkish newspaper Türkiye Gazetesi has revealed an Iranian plan to overthrow President Ahmad al-Sharaa and his government through a …
Read More »How Will the Syrian Ministry of Defense Deal with Daraa Factions? – The Syrian Observer
The Syrian caretaker government’s Minister of Defense, Marhaf Abu Qasra, stated last Friday in remarks to the American newspaper The Washington Post that some armed groups are still hesitant about integrating into the new Syrian army, including the “Eighth Brigade” in Daraa, led by Ahmad al-Awda. However, the brigade’s media …
Read More »Power Struggles and Geopolitical Maneuvering: The Eighth Brigade’s Standoff with Syria’s Defense Ministry – The Syrian Observer
The ongoing back-and-forth between the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the leadership of the Eighth Brigade, led by Ahmad al-Awda—verging on an outright dispute—suggests a deep-rooted disagreement that has so far prevented their alignment within the framework of the newly established army. However, the reasons behind this discord are not …
Read More »Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 13, 2025
Note: The data cut-off for this product was 11:45am ET on February 13. ISW will cover subsequent reports in the February 14 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment. Ukraine’s European partners announced new military assistance to Ukraine amid the February 12 Ukraine Defense Contact Group (the Ramstein format) meeting. The United Kingdom …
Read More »Iran Update, February 13, 2025
The newly-appointed Syrian Preparatory Committee provided some details about how it plans to select representatives to attend the National Dialogue Conference. This conference will reportedly facilitate the drafting of a new Syrian constitution, and therefore, the composition of its attendees will influence the trajectory of the post-Assad Syrian state.[1] The …
Read More »Egypt to Propose Alternative Plan for Rebuilding Gaza
Latest Developments Egypt to Present Alternative Plan for Gaza: Egypt will reportedly present a plan later in February to rebuild the Gaza Strip within three to five years without displacing Palestinian civilians. The move will serve as Cairo’s counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for the United States to …
Read More »What Does Putin Hope to Gain From Ukraine Talks With Trump?
The Kremlin’s most basic task right now is to keep Washington in a constructive mindset toward Russia. That in itself is already facilitating the achievement of Putin’s goals in Ukraine. Three weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, he had a much-anticipated phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. …
Read More »Will The EU Seize Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” In The Baltic?
A major incident at sea could instantly spark a New Cold War crisis that brings the Baltic front of this competition to the center of global attention. Politico reported last week that some EU countries might seize Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea on the pretext of complying with …
Read More »The Path to American Authoritarianism
What Comes After Democratic Breakdown Donald Trump’s first election to the presidency in 2016 triggered an energetic defense of democracy from the American establishment. But his return to office has been met with striking indifference. Many of the politicians, pundits, media figures, and business leaders who viewed Trump as a …
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