Armed Militias and Extremist Groups

Amid public pressure, Iraq suspends transfer of IS families to Zummar camp

Iraqi minorities in the Ninevah Plain are complaining about the transfer of Islamic State families to a camp in their area.

Iraq

Defections threaten Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib

The internal differences in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham push its most prominent leaders to defect, and a clash with al-Qaeda’s Guardians of Religion Organization may accelerate the defections.

Syria

Turkey plays extra time in Idlib game with new ‘army’ plan

Turkey is reportedly planning to forge a unified militia army in Idlib, but discord among armed groups and the clout of jihadi factions stand out as major stumbling blocks in the way of the new game plan.

Syria

‘Nobody cares about us’: Syrians stuck at Rukban camp decry lack of testing

Syrians in the Rukban camp near the Jordanian border hope the coronavirus does not reach their isolated area as they have no coronavirus test kits; they also cannot cross the border into Jordan for any other type of medical care unless they have taken such a test and have proven negative.

Jordan

Intel: Lebanon frees jailed US citizen after Washington threatens sanctions

Lebanon released Amer Fakhoury, who is suffering from stage 4 cancer, after Washington threatened to move ahead with sanctions.

Lebanon

Hamas spy story shakes up Arab society, Israeli politics

The Aya Khatib affair has not only divided Israeli Arab society, it is also haunting the political prospects of the Blue and White and its ability to cooperate with the Joint List.

Palestine

Reports: US to reposition troops in Iraq

After two rocket attacks within a week on American troops in Iraq, the United States is preparing to reposition forces there.

Iraq

Historical context: Biden’s 2002 vote on Iraq war

Congress passed a new resolution on the use of force in the Middle East; the United States retaliates against Iran-backed militias in Iraq; and an 18-year-old debate returns.

Iraq

Multiple US troops dead in Iraq after rocket strike

A rocket attack on a US base in Iraq killed two US service members and prompted questions of whether it was a retaliatory act by Iran.

Iraq

What the US-Afghan agreement means for Iran

The US agreement with the Taliban could prove to be an added burden to Iran, which has serious concerns about the deal creating instability in neighboring Afghanistan.

United States

Iran risks confrontation with Turkey over Idlib

While Iran's military command in Syria has issued direct warnings aimed at Turkey, President Hassan Rouhani and the Iranian foreign ministry continue to insist on the role of diplomacy and dialogue.

Lebanon

Power vacuum in Iraq leads to threats from pro-Iran faction

Pro-Iran factions in Iraq worry that they could lose their political sway, having failed to keep one prime minister in power, then failing in their attempt to replace him, as they recognize the next candidate could be selected from outside their political circle with the support of Kurds, Sunnis and Shiite rivals.

Iraq