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…
Developments in the Middle East region last week included a surge in conflict along the Gaza border, territorial gains by both sides in Yemen, as well as gains by Turkish and rebel forces in Syria. Meanwhile, May Day demonstrations erupted across the region by workers demanding a state response to economic hardship and poor working…
Key trends in the Middle East last week included regional backlash to Israeli actions and policies, ongoing labour demonstrations across multiple countries, and Kurdish conflict in southeastern Turkey. Massive flooding also continues to affect citizens of both Iran and Iraq and an ineffective state response is likely to be the catalyst for further conflict. In…
Throughout the Middle East region last week, overall instances of battles remained about the same as the week prior, while events involving only remote violence and explosives continued to increase as part of an upward trend since the beginning of 2019. Reported fatalities rose slightly in number after a heavy drop in early March. Demonstrations,…
Conflict continued at a similar level throughout the Middle East region last week relative to the week prior. In Syria and Yemen, long-planned offensives began and moved forward at a slow pace. In Turkey and Iraq, fighting continued against Kurdish rebel groups in both Iraqi Kurdistan and the Turkish southeast. In Palestine and Bahrain, demonstrations…
Iraqi Kurdistan and adjacent Kurdish regions were the site of increased activity last week as both Iran and Turkey continued to attack alleged enclaves of Kurdish rebels in the governorates of Erbil and Dahuk. In both Iraq and Iran, demonstrations were held by Kurds against these and other actions. Meanwhile, unrelated demonstrations continued throughout the…
General unrest and demonstrations increased last week throughout the Middle East region as a result of ongoing economic and security issues. This includes in Yemen as well, where armed conflict continues following failed peace talks. The Hamas-Israeli ceasefire has also seemingly failed, with airstrikes occurring once again along the Gaza border. Meanwhile, in Syria, the…
The beginning of August marked a significant downturn in reported fatalities throughout the Middle East region, due in part to the effect of stalemates, diplomatic negotiations, and an end to the Syrian regime’s offensive in southeast Syria. Meanwhile, demonstrations continued in the region at a high rate throughout the month, however their numbers dipped during…
Last week, violence continued in Gaza and the West Bank, but also in the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee as Israeli forces sparred with Syrian armed groups from across the border. Within Syria itself, Islamic State (IS) militants launched several attacks in As-Sweida governorate, which were in turn met with a regime counteroffensive. This…
Last week, the escalating conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas finally ended with a seemingly stable ceasefire on July 21, though not before several people were reportedly killed along the Gazan border. In Iraq, anti-regime demonstrations escalated further, leading security forces to crack down harder on the increasingly violent and widespread agitation (for more on…