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Middle East and North Africa

Special Collection on the Middle East

This complete work consists of several dozen essays spread out over 8 parts tackling the region’s conflicts and historical evolution, relating them to contemporary issues. Divided into distinct regions and critical issues, the Special Collection of the Middle East is your source to better understand this volatile region and to be prepared for what comes next.

In Iran, Israeli Attacks Create the Ultimate Dilemma

Israel attacked Iran last Friday in a large-scale air assault that struck targets across the country. The implications of the attack – long-feared by...

Daily Memo: Georgian Elections, British Military Reforms

Results are in. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vowed not to recognize the results of parliamentary elections held over the weekend that saw the governing...

The Danger of Unfatal Wounds

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“If you must wound someone, it is better to kill him.” I’ve encountered some version of this missive throughout the course of my career. And...

Syria and the Israel-Iran War

As the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to heat up, Syria is the strategic tract of land caught in the middle. For Iran,...

The Rise and Fall of Hezbollah

The rise of Hezbollah began in the early 1980s. Following the success of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sought to export the...

Russia’s Deliberately Unclear Strategy for Iran

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Readers have no doubt noticed that much of my writing over the past two-and-a-half years has focused on Russia. Some of the reasons for...

Gaming Out Israeli and Iranian Retaliation

The Israeli Security Cabinet convened on Oct. 10 to decide how it will retaliate against Iran’s recent missile barrage. There’s reason to believe it's...

In the Middle East Conflict, Opportunities Arise

The conflict between Iran and Israel has set the Middle East down a path toward a slow but significant strategic shift. Iran’s flagging influence...

The Future of Drone Warfare

It’s been said for years that drones are the future of warfare. Their advantages are obvious: They are light and maneuverable and can deliver...

A Simple View of the Arab-Israeli War

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Last week, I wrote an article on the two wars raging in Eurasia. It was “idiosyncratic” in that, unlike other columns circling the mediasphere,...

Iran’s Regional Position Is Crumbling

A day after Iran launched some 200 ballistic missiles at targets across the country, Israeli officials on Oct. 2 announced plans for major retaliation,...

Upheaval in Lebanon

Just days before Hamas’ attack on Israel last October, Hezbollah was bragging about its military capabilities and threatening to take on Israel directly in...

An Idiosyncratic View of Two Wars

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There are two major wars being fought. One, between Ukraine and Russia, has been raging for more than two and a half years but...

The Paradox of Israel’s Hezbollah Campaign

Over the past few days, Israel’s air force has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Nearly 600 Lebanese residents, including 94...

In the Arab-Israeli War, Intentions Matter

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With the situation in northern Israel now escalating, it’s imperative to take stock of the purpose of the Oct. 7 attacks and what it...

The US Election and Its Impact on the Middle East

As the U.S. presidential election draws near, the United States faces several economic, social and political challenges that will play a decisive role in...

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The meltdown of autocratic regimes currently underway in the Arab world has led to the growth of ungoverned spaces. The resulting vacuum is being dominated by armed Islamist non-state actors – in particular Salafist-jihadist militias.

The three non-Arab powers – Turkey, Iran and Israel – are trying to manage the regional commotion according to their national interests.

It was during the Cold War era that a deep ideological chasm in the Middle East began to coagulate. The struggle between those who adopted European secularism and those who crafted an ideology based on religious tradition had its roots in late 19th century Ottoman Empire. Roughly 100 years later, this struggle had polarized the region.

Read Regional Assessment

Read Assessment of Saudi Arabia

Read Assessment of Turkey

From our Forecast...

The Vienna nuclear talks will result in a settlement. The Israeli Air Force will not attack Iran’s nuclear sites.

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Latest Posts

In Iran, Israeli Attacks Create the Ultimate Dilemma

Israel attacked Iran last Friday in a large-scale air assault that struck targets across the country. The implications of the attack – long-feared by...

Daily Memo: Russia, Ukraine Could Seek Limited Deal

Under negotiation. Russia and Ukraine have begun preliminary talks, mediated by Qatar, on stopping attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, according to the Financial...

China’s Next ‘Great Leap Forward’

Following a meeting of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee and State Council, Beijing issued a new directive to develop an advanced industrial workforce...

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