Houthi Attacks and Saudi Arabia’s Security Dilemma
Bringing maritime traffic in the Red Sea under Houthi control was intended to exert pressure not only on Saudi Arabia but also on global actors.
Middle East
Macron’s Syria Policy: Does France want to Play the Role of the US?
French President Emmanuel Macron took his stance in the White House-Pentagon conflict, praising James Mattis, who resigned from his position…
Turkey’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts in 2018
With the recent U.S. decision to pull out of Syria and stop supporting the PKK’s Syrian offshoot PYD, it seems…
How will the Legacy of 2018 shape Politics in the Middle East in 2019?
The legacy of 2018 will be clearly visible during the following year. There would be serious consequences as a result…
Turkey’s Syria Strategy after the US Withdrawal
Trump’s decision brought many opportunities to repair especially the U.S.’s wrong strategy of working with a terrorist organization to fight…
Syria After the US Withdrawal
If the U.S., one way or another, wants to dictate the terms of filling in the vacuum it will leave,…
Enough is Enough in Eastern Syria
The U.S., sooner or later, has to find a way to do business in Eastern Syria without the PKK. This…
What is Turkey’s Military Agenda in Northern Syria?
Turkey’s strategic objective is clear: to de-territorialize the YPG/PYD alongside its Syrian border, fix relations with the U.S. in Syria…
Can the US have its Cake and Eat it too in Syria?
The U.S. balancing act between supporting the PYD and providing reassurances to Turkey to be able to cooperate on the…
How Iran is Investing in Shi’ism in the Name of Soft Power
Iran not only transformed into a purely ideological and sectarian state, it has also become the global religious and spiritual…
Another Step in Pushing the PKK Out of Iraq?
If the PUK works with Turkey in the latter’s campaign to terminate the PKK in Iraq, in return, the PUK…
Combatting Criminal Gangs in Northern Syria
While some media outlets reported efforts in Syria as “internal fighting among Turkey-backed groups,” in reality, there was a “clean…
Making Sense of Turkey’s New Counter-Terrorism Strategy
Turkey is revolutionizing its counter-terrorism strategy not only against the PKK in Turkey but also against other terrorist organizations in…
What are the Regional Effects of Heavier Sanctions against Iran?
The possibility that Tehran might give up hope of a political resolution due to reasons such as the crippling economy…
The Dynamics Behind the Istanbul Summit
The Istanbul Summit is much more critical in terms of exposing the vital position of Turkey and Russia in the…
The End of Civil Society in Egypt: Authoritarianism Triumphs
It’s clear that the current regime in Egypt – far from any form of democratization – dragged the country into…
Has Turkey’s Syria Policy Changed?
Turkey’s policy of keeping and enlarging its military presence in Syria has two aims: Sustaining Turkey’s national security against YPG…
The Khashoggi Affair Ushers in a New Era in the Region
Mohammad bin Salman’s political ambitions might lead him to future disasters like the Yemen, Hariri and Khashoggi ones. However, if…
Does Quadruple Talk in Istanbul Signal Peace for Syria?
One way to prevent a regime coalition offensive in Idlib would be if the U.S. stepped in. If the U.S.…
