Last week in the Middle East, Israeli warplanes struck Damascus International Airport and nearby areas in Syria. Israel was targeting the Syrian regime and Iranian Quds Force command centers in response to an incident involving the discovery of planted IEDs in the southern Golan Heights. Meanwhile, rocket fire from the Gaza strip was met with…
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, two members of Hurras Al Din were killed by a drone strike conducted by the global coalition forces in northern Syria, while three former opposition commanders were killed by unidentified gunmen in the south. In Iraq, the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s branch in Baghdad was set on fire by supporters…
Last week in the Middle East, the Islamic State (IS) carried out several attacks in eastern and central Syria against pro-Assad forces. Fighting continued in Yemen as Houthi forces pushed closer to Marib, while 1,000 Sudanese troops were reportedly sent to Yemen via Saudi Arabia. In Israel, anti-Netanyahu demonstrations continued despite new coronavirus restrictions, while…
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…
Last month in the Middle East, a blast in Beirut left Lebanon reeling from the overwhelming human and financial cost of the explosion. Armed clashes intensified in both the Marib district and in Al Bayda in Yemen, and in the Greater Idleb area in Syria. A historic deal establishing full diplomatic ties between the United…
Last week in the Middle East, it was generally quiet as event counts were low across many countries with a few notable exceptions. In Yemen, clashes between Houthi and anti-Houthi forces decreased along with Saudi-led airstrikes. In Syria, Israeli airstrikes led to heightened regional tensions between Israel, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon. Meanwhile, demonstrations in Iraq…
Last week in the Middle East, violence against civilians increased in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, and clashes with the Islamic State (IS) were reported in the same three countries. Odd explosions took place in Iran and Turkey; while they are officially under investigation, both have been claimed by groups. Meanwhile, protests increased in Lebanon and…