![](/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/region-middle-east.jpg)
Latest Articles about Middle East
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Zahran_Alloush__Syria__2015.jpg)
Jaysh al-Islam and the Battle for Damascus
On August 16, a Syrian Air Force raid struck a crowded market place in the capital Damascus’ northeastern suburbs of Douma and Harasta; these suburbs are located in the Ghouta region east of the city, a major center of armed opposition activity. The attack killed... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bull.jpg)
Russia’s Reputation Sinks Precipitously in International Opinion Polls
While breaking the norms of international behavior at its own discretion, Russia may fancy itself a champion of change in the world order; but in fact, it is increasingly seen as an arrogant maverick and a sore loser. Russian media reported, with little commentary, the... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Members_of_the_Islamic_State_s_branch_in_Yemen_who_blew_up_mosques_in_Sana_a.jpg)
Wilayat al-Yemen: The Islamic State’s New Front
The protracted and ongoing civil conflict in Yemen has brought to the fore a range of regional threats, both old and new. Most prominently, Yemen’s multisided battle space has already allowed al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and its locally branded affiliate Ansar al-Shari’a to... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Arab_Struggle_Movement_for_the_Liberation_of_Ahwaz.jpg)
Nuclear Agreement Overshadows Arab Unrest in Iranian Khuzestan
The accord recently struck between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany (P5+1) represents a watershed in Middle East diplomacy. The culmination of almost two years of negotiations, the deal outlines a plan to lift most international economic sanctions on Iran... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/tanap___030815_01.jpg)
Southern Gas Corridor’s Advances Cool off Energy Cooperation Between Italy and Russia
The European Union–backed Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project continues to gain traction against the Moscow-led Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline initiative. The game-changer in the Euro-Russian “battle” for pipelines and energy hubs could be the participation of the major oil and gas producers Iran and... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/1438129511_859365_57.jpg)
Investigative Report Suggests Russian Security Services Pushing North Caucasus Militants to Flee to Middle East
Russia’s policy toward the Islamic State (IS) group in the Middle East is controversial. On the one hand, involvement in IS activities officially became a crime in Russia in February 2015 (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, February 27). On the other hand, Russia does not seem to have... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Abu_Sulayman_al-Muhajir.jpg)
Jabhat al-Nusra’s Australia-Born Religious Mouthpiece: Abu Sulayman al-Muhajir
In May 2014, Nagieb Khaja, a Dutch filmmaker and journalist reporting on the ground in Syria for al-Jazeera, began to negotiate with Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) members about conducting an on-camera interview with a JN official. After months of negotiations, JN gave him permission to interview... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bassam_Ayachi.jpg)
Profiles of Three Major Belgian Fighters in Syria and Their Paths to Jihad
Much has been written already about the stunning number of Belgian fighters in Syria and Iraq. With estimates ranging from 380 to nearly 500 individuals, Belgium has the highest per capita figure of all Western countries. The average Belgian fighter is a 25-year-old man of... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/view_new_01.jpg)
Six Suspected Rebels Killed in Kabardino-Balkaria
On July 23, government forces declared a counterterrorist operation regime and launched a special operation in the center of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. According to the Russian National Antiterrorist Committee (NAK), the authorities learned about the presence of six suspected members of a terrorist group in a... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/13e0b58c1df57345.jpp_.jpeg)
Moscow Uses Kadyrov in Kremlin Push for Rapprochement with Saudi Arabia
Chechnya, formally a Russian province, has found a place for itself in relations between Moscow and Riyadh. Indeed, in general, subnational units of the Russian Federation, in particular the Muslim regions, have become much more active in the Middle East. Chechnya’s governor, Ramzan Kadyrov, has... MORE