Middle Orient

Iran, Turkey and Qatar condemn France over religious 'desecration'

Why would small groups in Gaza, such as Islamic Jihad, suddenly care about a cartoon in France when they have more pressing issues? This is a sort of regional competition over who “defends Muslims.” Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have all come out with statements over the …

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Why is Iran suddenly interested in Palestinian Islamic Jihad again?

For almost a year, Palestinian Islamic Jihad was largely absent from Iran’s media and political push. Now, Iran is back, talking about it in the media a day after Ankara’s press highlighted the group. PIJ claimed it was “mobilizing” in Gaza over the weekend, so the articles do not appear …

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IDF launches 'Lethal Arrow' drill simulating war with Hezbollah

The IDF launched a large-scale multi-front exercise on Sunday morning, simulating war with Hezbollah. Dubbed “Lethal Arrow,” the multi-day general staff drill will see the participation of thousands of troops from various branches of the military including the Air Force, Navy and the Ground Forces, as well as from the …

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The US: An Inspirational Leader in the Middle East

By taking a robust approach to some of the region’s more intractable issues… such as relocating the American embassy to Jerusalem, the US has produced a number of profound changes to the regional landscape, the consequences of which are likely to be felt for many years to come.

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Sudan Becomes Fifth Arab State to Agree to Normalise Relations With Israel

Sudan has become the third Arab country to agree to normalise relations with Israel in the run-up to the US vote. Israel and Sudan agreed Friday to normalise relations in a deal brokered with the help of the United States, making Sudan the third Arab country to end hostilities with …

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Iran Gaining in Battle for Iraq

Iran has made significant gains in its efforts to reduce U.S. influence in Iraq and drive out U.S. forces. Secretary of State Pompeo’s threats to close the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad will not prompt Prime Minister al-Kadhimi to rein in Iran-backed militias.

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