Latest in Middle East and North Africa
The United States finally has a capable partner in the Middle East, but with military competence comes increasing policy independence.
The American drone strike last night that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, is a seismic event in U.S.-Iranian relations—and for the broader Middle East. We put together an emergency podcast, drawing on the resources of both Lawfare and the Brookings Institution and reflecting the depth of the remarkable collaboration between the two.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on Order from Chaos.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on Order from Chaos.
On Thursday, March 21, President Trump introduced yet another sea change to U.S. policy towards the Arab-Israeli conflict—this time by tweet. “After 52 years,” Trump wrote, “it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s [s]overeignty over the Golan Heights.”
As new U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen prepares to assume his position on January 7, it is an opportune time to revisit the Syrian constitutional drafting effort and its role within the larger Syrian peace process. The constitutional committee was a central goal of Pedersen’s predecessor, Staffan de Mistura, who announced his resignation as the U.N.’s Syria Envoy in October.
Editor’s note: This week, Lawfare is running a series of essays on federalist governance in the Middle East. This essay is the sixth in the series. Read the introductory essay here.
Editor’s note: This week, Lawfare is running a series of essays on federalist governance in the Middle East. This essay is the fifth in the series. Read the introductory essay here.
Introduction
The latest round of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is only the most recent exchange that the Israeli military and other observers worry could escalate into war.
Editor’s note: This week, Lawfare is running a series of essays on federalist governance in the Middle East. This essay is the third in the series. Read the introductory essay here, the second essay here, and the third essay here.