Middle East & North Africa
Op-ed: When Strategy Trumps Strength: The Effects of Unrestrained Aggression in US Foreign Policy
Iran does not have to win, it merely has to survive. While the U.S. and Israel initiated the war with Iran anticipating a quick victory, Tehran has demonstrated that, despite its weakened odds, its ability to strategize over the long-term is more important than mere strength and capabilities. The U.S. is on a path to setting a dangerous precedent, one where blatantly aggressive foreign policy will result in the abandonment of the U.S. as a reliable global partner.
China Expands Economic and Diplomatic Role in the Middle East
China has increased its presence through investment, energy ties and diplomacy, raising questions about how its role compares to the United States’ longstanding security influence in the region.
Lebanon Confronts Hezbollah as War With Israel Escalates
With the Middle East in crisis, the unstable relationship between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah is exposed, as Hezbollah’s war with Israel raises questions in Beirut.
Gulf Sovereign Wealth Funds Buy Into Egypt as Debt Crisis Deepens
Billions in Gulf investment help stabilize Egypt’s economy, but growing ownership of strategic assets raises questions about political leverage in the Middle East.
Op-ed: The Iran War and Its Implications On the Gulf Countries
The US-Israel-Iran war of 2026 saw Iranian forces repeatedly strike targets in the Gulf countries, even though they did not participate in offensive actions on Iran.
Sudan’s Silent Genocide: El Fasher’s Fall and the World’s Muted Response
On October 26, 2025, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher, the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) final major stronghold in the western Darfur region. The fighting has devastated the country since 2023: displacing more than 14 million people, killing more than 40,000, and pushing more than 24.6 million people to the brink of famine.
Op-Ed: Why does the US continue Aiding Israel Amid Human Rights Violations?
Upon receiving her presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris said she and President Joe Biden were working “around the clock” to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Harris has since made dozens of statements claiming that the administration has been “dedicate[d] to ending this war and bringing the hostages home.”
These statements are misleading.
Afghan Women Face Bleak Future as Taliban Bans Midwife and Nursing Training
A new decree from the Taliban is set to ban women from pursuing education in midwifery and nursing, with some students having already been barred from classes.
Peace in the Middle East: A Fantasy or Possibility?
The endless cycle of conflict in the Middle East demands a shift from moral debates to pragmatic solutions — a practical, incentive-driven framework may be the only path forward.
Op-Ed: Hidden Atrocities: The Silence on Palestinian Detainees in Israel
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories – has been documenting, researching and publishing data, testimonies, video evidence and reports on human rights violations in Israel-occupied territories since its founding in 1989. In August 2024, the organization released an 118-page report accusing the Israeli government of carrying out systematic abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah Announces Naim Qassem as New Leader
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah recently announced the election of 71-year-old Naim Qassem — Hezbollah’s long-time deputy secretary general — as the group’s new chief leader last week.
US-Led Coalition in Iraq to Enter Transition Period in Fall of 2025
Discussions of a transition period for the anti-ISIS US-led coalition in Iraq have been underway. If given the green light, this anticipated transitional period would introduce reductions in the 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq between September 2025 and the winter of 2026.
Leaked Documents Reveal Israel's Intentions for Retaliation Against Iran Amid Rising Tensions
US investigators are inspecting how a pair of highly classified intelligence documents leaked online. The two documents that surfaced on the messaging platform Telegram last Friday purportedly detail a US assessment of Israel's plans to strike Iran.
Israel and UN at Odds After Peacekeepers Targeted
Israel has targeted United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon in recent attacks, injuring several and forcing entry into UN bases.
Opinion: Iran’s Response to Israel was Expected, Preventable, Retaliatory
On Tuesday, October 1, Iran launched around 180 missiles into Israel. These strikes are a direct response to escalations between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah, one of Iran’s regional proxies. Iran stated that the missile attacks were a result of a string of recent killings by Israel, particularly Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this July.
Analysis: Israel Marks One Year Since Oct. 7 Hamas Attack — Larger Implications
On the one-year anniversary of the attacks on October 7, 2023, the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to shape political dynamics and international advocacy.
Turkish Government Detains Kurdistan Workers’ Party Protesters — Ongoing Tensions
On Oct. 13, Turkish authorities detained 269 individuals suspected to be members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) across Diyarbakır province in Türkiye.
Growing Conflict Across the Middle East Causes Global Uncertainty in Oil Markets
Speculation of attacks on Iranian oil supplies have caused global oil prices to spike. Fears of disrupted supply have led to sharp price fluctuations, raising concerns of a direct impact on supply and consumer prices.
Israel Assassinates Hezbollah Leader, Iran Responds — Conflict Spreads
Tensions have skyrocketed after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike last week. Hezbollah and its allies vow retaliation, raising fears of a wider conflict as sides exchange strikes, threatening regional stability.