Last week, demonstrations broke out across the Middle East against the French president who stated he would protect the right to caricature the Prophet Mohammad. In Syria, dozens of Turkish-backed fighters were killed by a Russian airstrike, while Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) increased its shelling of regime forces. In Iraq, Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters…
Last week in the Middle East, the United States (US) threatened to close its embassy in Baghdad in response to continuous attacks by militias in Iraq on US and global coalition targets. Fatah and Hamas have agreed to hold joint elections in the West Bank and Gaza. Lebanon is once again facing a political vacuum…
Last week in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain signed normalization agreements with Israel in Washington, DC, setting off a wave of protests in Bahrain, Palestine, and Iran. A new round of sanctions on Iran was announced by the United States (US). In Syria, a car bomb explosion in Afrin city…
Last week in the Middle East, the Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes in Yemen for the first time since July, as Houthi forces continued their operations in Marib governorate. Bahrain announced its willingness to follow in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in normalizing relations with Israel; both are set to sign historic agreements…
Across the Middle East, events related to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to dominate the news cycle, with restrictions now implemented in most countries aimed at preventing and containing the spread of the coronavirus. Aside from coronavirus-related protests, the key development in the region last week was increased Islamic State (IS) activity in Yemen, Iraq, and…
Following a major decrease in battles across the region at the end of February, clashes increased by a small margin in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. Remote violence and explosions continued to decline across all countries with the exception of Iraq, where IED attacks by unidentified groups and the Islamic State (IS) have been on the…
Last week in the Middle East key developments include: continued fighting in Yemen; a new prime minister-designate and reduced coalition activity in Iraq; relative calm in Syria’s Greater Idleb area; and prison riots in Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon over the threat of coronavirus. In Yemen, pro-Houthi forces clashed with anti-Houthi forces repeatedly in Ad Dali,…
At the height of the Arab Spring in February 2011, a mass protest movement took to the streets in Bahrain calling for democratic reforms, human rights protections, and an end to corruption. Nine years ago this month, the Bahraini government, backed by a contingent of Saudi and Emirati security forces, declared a state of emergency…
Last week in the Middle East, key developments include: major fighting in Yemen; a lack of political leadership in Iraq amid ongoing demonstrations, and rising Islamic State (IS) activity; a ceasefire agreement between Turkey and Russia in Syria; inconclusive Israeli elections; and a spike in protests around the region. In Yemen, Houthi forces continued their…
Last week in the Middle East, key developments include: unrest around a major outbreak of the coronavirus in Iran and a majority win by the principlist camp in the Iranian parliamentary elections; a series of bombings in Baghdad amidst ongoing demonstrations in Iraq; and major fighting in Syria and Yemen. Last week in Iran, the…