Recent Posts

Hopes and Uncertainties in Syria

After the fast disintegration of the Assad regime, the difficult reconstruction of the Syrian state is only just beginning. Meanwhile, Europe, Israel, Russia, Türkiye, and the United States have major stakes in Syria’s complex future. Many Western leaders have expressed their relief at the collapse of the dictatorship of Syria’s …

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Anatomy of a Military Fall

Why did Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces fail to act, unlike those in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Sudan? A deluge of well-informed and credible commentary has accompanied the downfall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, explaining how and why his regime collapsed so quickly. But we do not yet have an adequate …

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Hayat Tahrir al Sham’s terror network in Syria

On December 8, 2024, rebel forces deposed the regime of Syria’s longtime dictator, Bashar al Assad, after the insurgents stormed through much of the country, retaking various regional capitals and culminating in the capture of Damascus itself. The majority of this offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), …

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Israel Secures its interests in Syria

Bashar al Assad’s regime fell in the early morning of December 8, withering away in the face of a mere 11-day onslaught by a coalition of opposition armed groups. Israel found itself caught off-guard by the unfolding events in Syria. As matters developed, Israel cast a wary eye towards its …

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Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis

Senior Iranian officials and the Iranian media expressed acceptance of the collapse of theAssad regime in Syria and concern about future developments in the country and Israel’sexploitation of the situation. The Iranian Supreme Leader noted that it was a “joint American-Zionist plan.” However, they stressed that the fall of the …

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Kurdish Oil And U.S. Leverage In Iraq

As the Obama Administration ratchets up its confrontation with radical Islamists in Iraq, an idled tanker loaded with Kurdish oil off the Texas coast may provide a bargaining chip for enhancing US influence in Iraq. The U.S. has been seeking to persuade Iraq’s Shia Muslim-dominated government to open itself to …

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