In the most fatal attack against US troops in Syria so far this decade, an Islamic State (IS) gunman shot dead two US soldiers and a civilian American interpreter on 13 December. The deadly attack transpired amidst expanding US-Syrian military cooperation and Syria joining the US-led anti-IS coalition. It raises …
Read More »The key trends set to shape the Middle East in 2026
With the new year less than two weeks away, a range of geopolitical and security trends demand close attention. From the potential resumption of war between Israel and Iran to evolving dynamics in multiple hotspots, a host of unresolved variables is poised to shape the Middle East’s trajectory in 2026. …
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Post-deadline scenarios
Damascus and the SDF: Rescheduling March 10 or Escalation?
With the deadline for the March 10 agreement expiring at the end of 2025, its provisions remain on hold. Neither side has implemented any of them, and both have traded accusations over delays and obstruction in recent months, without reaching concrete steps to move the agreement forward Despite repeated meetings …
Read More »Iran Update, January 2, 2026
Toplines The rate and geographic scope of protests in Iran increased on January 1 and 2. ISW-CTP recorded 56 protests on January 1 and 70 protests on January 2, compared to 31 protests on December 31.[1] Protests took place in 17 out of Iran’s 31 provinces between December 28 and …
Read More »Israeli army deploys ultra-Orthodox Haredi brigade in southern Syria
The Israeli army announced today, Thursday 1 January, the deployment of forces from the “Hasmonean Brigade” in the security zone in southern Syria, marking the first time the brigade has been stationed in the area. The Israeli army said the brigade’s infantry forces carried out field activities after a series …
Read More »Spotlight on Iran and the
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Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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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