For more than a generation, no region has drawn as much national security attention and angst than has the Middle East. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen, and operations throughout the region raise thorny questions of domestic and international law. Numerous regional conflicts inevitably raise concerns about compliance with the law of armed conflict, and debates over policy have become inextricably linked with debates over the law.
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Even if the number of attacks on the U.S. homeland remains low, the Islamic State and its subsequent chaos will threaten U.S. interests in the Middle East for years to come.
Last month, President Trump visited Saudi Arabia and his administration announced that he had concluded a $110 billion arms deal with the kingdom. Only problem is that there is no deal. It’s fake news.
In light of press reports that President Trump may have revealed sensitive counterterrorism information originating from the Israeli government to Russian officials, it’s useful to take a step back and run through what foreign liaison relationships do and why they are important to U.S. counterterrorism.
A summary of Donald Trump's executive order instituting a suspension of entry to the U.S. and issuances of visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen (earlier designated as “areas of concern” under the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act).
Russia is trying to lock down its gains in Syria, Iraqi forces are consolidating control of eastern Mosul, and Netanyahu faces legal trouble just as his political stars align.
Turkey’s pivot to Russia has brought support for its campaign against the Islamic State, rebels and regime forces are fighting over water access for Damascus, the fortunes for the Libyan National Army are rising, and former Iranian President Rafsanjani leaves behind a complicated legacy.
Oman has tried to position itself as the Middle East's honest broker, but Saudi Arabia is pulling it toward the Gulf consensus.
The narratives emerging from the New Year's Eve attack in Istanbul underscore the vulnerability of Turkey's secularists.
The Israelis and Palestinians can agree on most of a final status agreement. What's holding them back is more than just settlements and incitements to violence.
What are the big questions in the Middle East going into the new year?