January, 2026

• 5 January

  Why the US Should Recognize South Yemen

  

  An independent South Yemen could be a force for stability and offer an end to the country’s decade-long civil war. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia announced that its fighter jets bombed arms shipments unloaded by two United Arab Emirates (UAE) vessels in Yemen. The shipments had been destined for the South …

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• 5 January

  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 …

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• 5 January

  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 …

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• 5 January

  Spotlight on Iran and the

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• 5 January

  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 …

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• 5 January

  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 …

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• 5 January

  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 …

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• 5 January

  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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• 5 January

  Hamas said set to soon elect new leader, with pro-Iran candidate Hayya likely to win

  

  Report says second candidate is terror group’s former head Mashaal, who is said to favor diplomacy on Gaza whereas frontrunner backs ‘armed conflict’ Hamas is expected to elect a new leader within days or a few weeks, Saudi outlet Asharq reported Saturday, citing sources close to the Palestinian terror group’s …

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• 5 January

  Lebanon’s Outlook on Sovereignty, Disarmament, and Peace

  

  On December 23, The Washington Institute held a virtual Policy Forum with H.E. Youssef Raggi, Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. Questioners included David Schenker, the Institute’s Taube Senior Fellow and director of its Rubin Program on Arab Politics; Hanin Ghaddar, the Institute’s Friedmann Senior Fellow; and event moderator …

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