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IntelBrief: How will Iran Seek to Consolidate its Gains in Syria??

Iran is attempting to consolidate the gains it achieved by intervening and investing extensively in Syria’s civil conflict. Syria’s Assad regime is facilitating Iran’s plan to develop a secure land-based supply line to Tehran’s main regional ally, Lebanese Hezbollah. Iran has had mixed success in using Syria to circumvent international …

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IntelBrief: Countering Terrorism and Insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities for the Biden-Harris Administration

President Biden’s executive order to rescind the Muslim Ban was warmly welcomed by African countries. Responses to calls for racial justice domestically will also impact perceptions of the U.S. in Africa. Key cabinet picks like Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Lloyd Austin, and Dana Banks – will play a pivotal role in defining …

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Two car bombs kill at least 11 in Syria’s Northern Aleppo

Turkey, which is allied with some rebel groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is in control of the area where the explosion occurred. A car bomb exploded leaving at least five people dead and more than 25 injured in Northern Aleppo, Syria’s al-Watan newspaper reported on Sunday.

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Airstrikes in Syria pinpoint Iranian influence

Once again it appears that pro-Iranian militias, such as the Fatimiyoun which are recruited from Afghan Shi’ites, were impacted by the airstrikes. Airstrikes have targeted an area of “pro-Iranian militia” influence in the vicinity of Al-Bukamal on the Euphrates River in the Deirez-Zor Governorate of eastern Syria near the border …

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Israel not expecting Palestinian peace push from Biden administration

“The US will urge Israel’s government and the Palestinian Authority to avoid unilateral steps that make the two-state solution more difficult.” The Biden administration is not expected to try to push a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians, according to a high-level Israeli government source.

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PA arrests Hamas supporters ahead of elections

On January 15, PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the parliamentary election would be held on May 22. Despite the talk about holding new general elections, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas are continuing to crack down on each other’s supporters in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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Iran hosts Afghan Taliban leader as peace talks stalled

Iran supports an inclusive Afghan government that would include all ethnic groups and sects, Zarif was quoted as saying. Iran has hosted the political leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban during the past week, offering Tehran’s own help as a mediator in peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government that …

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Taliban visit Iran, hope to sideline US

Tehran wants to undermine US role in Kabul, promote Taliban as either rulers of Afghanistan or equals to gov’t The Taliban rode high during US president Donald Trump’s administration because they knew he wanted to leave Afghanistan. They hoped for a trip to Camp David and acted like the rulers …

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Will the Biden Administration Seek to Rejoin the Iran Nuclear Agreement?

The Biden Administration is intent on rejoining the 2015 multilateral Iran nuclear agreement, despite calls by many experts to renegotiate. The Administration is replete with officials who supported the initial deal as the optimal means of preventing an Iranian nuclear weapons capability.

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