November, 2025

• 18 November

  Iraq’s Election: Outcomes and Next Steps

  

  Sudani did very well at the ballot box, but the peculiarities of Iraq’s long government formation process and the final distribution of parliamentary seats may leave the main Iran-backed coalition in the driver’s seat. At first blush, the results of Iraq’s November 11 parliamentary election were encouraging, including for U.S. …

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• 18 November

  Voyage au bout de l’enfer macroniste

  Alors que je commençais ce texte consacré à la Macronie et son irrésistible fuite en avant dans la négation du réel, voilà que j’apprends que notre farfelu président veut vendre cent Rafale à l’Ukraine. Ce serait drôle si ce n’était pas aussi grave. Mais il s’agit là d’une véritable démonstration …

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• 18 November

  US Weighs 10,000-Person Base Near Gaza as White House Denies Plan

  

  The US military is evaluating a US Navy inquiry about a possible temporary base near Gaza that could house 10,000 people, a document that has triggered public denials from the White House and US Central Command. The internal request for information, reviewed by Bloomberg, asked pre-approved contractors for cost estimates …

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• 18 November

  “Syrian Defense Ministry” Begins Issuing Military IDs

  

  The Syrian Ministry of Defense has begun issuing military identification cards for members of the Syrian Army as part of efforts to strengthen discipline, institutional belonging, and organizational identity. In a statement published Thursday, October 9, the ministry said the new military ID is a unified card for all personnel …

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• 18 November

  Israeli Defence Minister Vows Perpetual Vigil on Mount Hermon and Southern Syria

  

  In a declaration of steadfast resolve, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Katz has asserted that Israeli forces will remain firmly entrenched atop Mount Hermon and continue their vigilant oversight of what he described as a “security zone” in southern Syria. Katz emphasised that this position is non-negotiable, characterising it as a …

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• 18 November

  Iran ramps up anti-West rhetoric, expands influence in Iraq and Lebanon – analysis

  

  Iran is strengthening ties with allies in Iraq and Lebanon while accusing the US and Israel of coercive diplomacy in its latest regional push. Iran continues to do outreach to its friends in Iraq and Lebanon while also slamming Israel and making it seem like talks with the West are …

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• 18 November

  A Case of Revenge: How Donald Trump’s Administration is Filing Criminal Cases Against His Critics

  

  The Donald Trump administration has launched several criminal cases against prominent critics of the president and carried out purges within the federal prosecutor’s office and the FBI. Trump himself has repeatedly demanded prosecutions of his opponents and promises even more investigations against those he blames for his own lawsuits and …

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• 18 November

  Homs Bar Association Sounds the Alarm: Province on the Brink of Vigilante Chaos – The Syrian Observer

  

  The statement, released on 5 November 2025, squarely blamed the Ministry of Interior and security agencies for the current instability. The Homs Bar Association has issued a stark warning over the province’s deteriorating security and legal environment, warning that Homs risks becoming a hotbed of lawlessness, violence and vigilante justice. …

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• 17 November

  Strategic Targets: Analyzing Facility Selection in Global Terrorist Attacks

  

  Terrorist organizations are rarely random or senseless in their acts of violence. Rather, their attacks are often strategically planned to reflect their ideological goals, operational capabilities, and political objectives. While some groups are selective in targeting military and law enforcement personnel, others adopt a more indiscriminate approach, directing violence toward …

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• 17 November

  Why Did Iraq’s Militias Sit Out the Iran–Israel War and Why it Matters

  

  High stakes: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani confronted KH on 9 August, breaking a longstanding pattern of political caution. Image: Tasnim News Agency / Wikimedia Commons Fears over leadership decapitation, calls for restraint from the Iraqi government, and discouragement from Iran were behind the militias’ decision not to get …

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