Middle East

Putri Mayang Rembulan The Houthi attack on merchant ships in the Red Sea shows that asymmetric strategies have become one of the most disruptive forces in international security, often more effective than conventional state military power. The operations of these non-state groups not only disrupt global trade routes …

Nyimas Khoirun Nisa In an era where nearly all activity has shifted to the digital space, terrorism has also evolved. Terrorists no longer need territory to establish training camps, ideological teachers, or secret meetings in the middle of the night. All they need now is an internet connection, …

U. S. President Donald Trump announced that the airspace above and around Venezuela should be seen as fully closed. This statement comes as the U. S. increases pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Trump has mentioned the possibility of U. S. military strikes against drug boats in the …

Concerns are mounting over alleged efforts by Joseph Jabely, a senior advisor to Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Force Party in Lebanon, to discredit rival political factions and escalate pressure against them through engagements in Washington D.C. and Chicago. According to sources, Jabely conducted approximately meetings with …

Abdulla Al Junaid Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization should be a pillar of the emerging Middle East security architecture. The United States stands at a pivotal moment in its Middle East policy. As Congress advances legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a foreign …

Leon Hadar A more independent Israeli foreign policy toward Washington would improve both the US and Israeli positions in the Middle East. Has Israel evolved from an independent nation-state into something resembling a province within an American informal empire? The question is uncomfortable for both American and Israeli …

Rany Ballout The Lebanese government may never have a better opportunity to demilitarize Hezbollah than now. Now that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza appears to be holding, does it signify that an Israeli war against Hezbollah is imminent? Recentdevelopments along the Israel-Lebanon border increasingly suggest that a major …

Tariffs, aid reduction, and diplomatic understaffing are eroding US influence, and critical mineral deals alone won’t revive it. Editor’s Note: The Red Cell series is published in collaboration with the Stimson Center. Drawing upon the legacy of the CIA’s Red Cell—established following the September 11 attacks to avoid …

Seth J. Frantzman The Trump administration is playing a key role in winding down conflicts throughout the Middle East. However, high-level engagement is also fraught with risks. The United States is playing an increasingly significant role in several countries in the region. In several cases, the White House …