![](/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/region-middle-east.jpg)
Latest Articles about Middle East
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2020-10-05T060213Z_493200051_RC26CJ9GVDBI_RTRMADP_3_YEMEN-SECURITY-MARIB-scaled.jpg)
Yemen’s Fate Hinges on The Battle for Marib
In early February, Yemen’s Houthis—also known as Ansar Allah—began a renewed push to capture the oil and gas rich Marib governorate and its capital of the same name (Arab News, February 9). After four weeks of intense and costly fighting, Houthi forces have encircled Marib... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Russian-military-exercises-640x408.png)
Moscow Expanding Ties With Iran to Counter Growing Turkish Influence Around Caspian
Moscow is alarmed by the expansion of Turkish influence in the Caspian region, most immediately by Turkey’s enthusiasm for trans-Caspian natural gas pipelines, something that could undercut Russia’s ability to dominate that market. In response, Russia has expanded its own naval activities in the Caspian... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/South-Caucasus-railway-640x480.jpg)
Iran Seeks to Reroute North-South Transport Corridor to Armenia, Away From Azerbaijan
Iran emerged as a potential loser from the Russia-brokered trilateral truce accords that ended last autumn’s 44-day Second Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan (see EDM January 25). Therefore, Tehran is seeking ways to reposition itself into the new situation in line with its interests.... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Azerbaijan-railway.jpg)
Growing Azerbaijani–Central Asian Ties Likely to Trigger Conflicts With Russia and Iran
Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War (September 29–November 9) has had a transformative effect on the country. It not only changed the attitudes of its population, whose members now feel themselves to be heroes rather than victims (see EDM, January 21), but also bolstered... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Batumi-Port.jpg)
The Second Karabakh War and Georgia’s Threatened Transit Role
The aftermath of the second Armenian-Azerbaijani war in Karabakh (September 29–November 9, 2020) initiated new geopolitical and geo-economic adjustments for the South Caucasus, including possible competition between existing and prospective transit routes in the region. This competition is expected to be entwined with significant political... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AP_19028393024196-640x434.jpg)
Iran’s Resistance Axis Rattled by Divisions: Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s Leader Rejects the Ceasefire in Iraq
On December 20, 2020, 21 Katyusha rockets struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, breaking an Iranian-sponsored ceasefire in Iraq for a second time (U.S. Central Command, December 23, 2020). The Iraqi security forces later arrested a member of the Iraqi political and militant organization Asaib... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/VsxbzG6FOE6EWkAkuykb4Q-640x492.jpg)
Saif al-Adl: The Last Candidate Left to Lead al-Qaeda after Zawahiri
Saif al-Adl is among a handful of remaining top al-Qaeda leaders and has been widely reported to be the one to take control of the international terrorist group if/when current chief Ayman al-Zawahiri dies. He is one of the most experienced al-Qaeda operatives and is... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/South-Caucasus-trucks-EDM-January-25-2021-640x332.jpg)
Nakhchivan Corridor: Implications for Georgia and Iran
The January 11 trilateral meeting, in Moscow, of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev focused on the unblocking and development of regional transport corridors in accordance with the Russia-brokered November 9/10 truce accord that ended the 44-day... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Moscow-pro-Navalny-protests-EDM-January-25-2021-640x360.jpg)
Kremlin Tests Limits of New US Administration
The complexity of the extraordinary crisis inherited by the United States’ new presidential administration is apparent for all its international partners and opponents, so most presume Washington will remain largely preoccupied with domestic affairs for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, US allies are hopeful that Washington... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1287321-640x408.jpg)
Egyptian-Russian Naval Exercises in the Black Sea: Strategic Balancing against Turkey?
In November 2020, Russia and Egypt conducted their first joint naval exercises in the Black Sea. The Bridge of Friendship-2020 naval drills brought the Egyptian Navy to the Black Sea for the first time (PortNews.ru, November 16, 2020). Along with expanding military cooperation with Cairo,... MORE