Hezbollah’s tight grip on
#Lebanon
continues.
@DrSamirGeagea
explained what the Lebanese Forces party is doing to oppose the group's presidential candidate.
📺Watch the full video:
Most-read analysis f/
@WashInstitute
's archives in 2019, no3: Reza Pahlavi speaks on
#Iran
40 years after the Islamic Revolution & his hope for the Iranian future.
It is important to expand the definition of apartheid to include gender in all international laws,
@AlinejadMasih
told
@robsatloff
.
📺Watch the full event:
Finding consensus with Hezbollah is difficult on a broad range of issues, said
@DrSamirGeagea
.
📺Watch as he explains how a new president could limit Hezbollah’s domestic hegemony:
Last year,
@DrSamirGeagea
, the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, spoke with
@robsatloff
about the ongoing political crisis, the role of U.S. sanctions, and how a new president could limit Hezbollah’s domestic hegemon.
Watch the full event with
#Arabic
subtitles:
The U.S. has provided
#Lebanon
with substantial security, economic, and humanitarian assistance. Despite these efforts, however, the situation continues to deteriorate.
📺Here's what
@DrSamirGeagea
said about the country's ongoing crisis:
📺Last year, the death of Mahsa Amini, while in the custody of Iran’s so-called Morality Police sparked an unprecedented wave of protests. How did the mass protests change Iran? Tune in on Sept 7 at 1PM ET for a fascinating conversation w/
@AlinejadMasih
.
📺In September 2022, the death of a young Kurdish Iranian woman,
#MahsaAmini
, sparked an unprecedented wave of protests. Join us on Thursday, September 7 at 1PM ET for a conversation featuring
#Iranian
journalist and activist
@AlinejadMasih
.
ICYMI:
@DrSamirGeagea
discusses how a new president could limit Hezbollah’s domestic hegemony, among other topics. Read a rapporteur’s summary of his opening remarks and subsequent Q&A session with
@robsatloff
,
@haningdr
, and
@davidschenker1
.
.
@WashInstitute
extends its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. David Pollock, who passed away yesterday after a long illness. A world-renowned expert in public opinion polling in the Mideast, Dr. Pollock was the Institute's Bernstein Fellow & longtime director of
When discussing Lebanon's presidential vacancy and the prospects for reform and change,
@DrSamirGeagea
explained that it is important for the country's next president to "take the poison of Hezbollah from inside the state."
📺Watch the full conversation:
"U.S. operations in northeast Syria are rich in lessons about how close relations are built and maintained with a partner force," write
@Mikeknightsiraq
and
@vvanwilgenburg
in the new book "Accidental Allies".
Download the book here:
In a must-read report, Gabriel Epstein tracks Gaza fatality reporting since the war began to reveal how Hamas statistics are inconsistent, imprecise, and manipulated to downplay the number of men and militants killed. He makes clear that without a better sense of the breakdown of
Hezbollah and its
#Iraqi
partners operate a vast network that uses
#Lebanon
’s uncontrolled exchange market to access and launder Iraqi dollars.
@haningdr
and
@tinderella1844
describe the “fake Iraqi tourists” scheme.
📌Read the full report:
Most-read analysis f/
@WashInstitute
's archives in 2019, no 3: Reza Pahlavi speaks on
#Iran
40 years after the Islamic Revolution & his hope for the Iranian future.
Must-watch webcast w/
@PahlaviReza
on
#Iran
's future 40 years after the Islamic Revolution later today. Stream live starting at 12:30p EST at this link, on Facebook Live, on
@CSPAN
, or on our new Persian-language Instagram
@washinstitutefa
.
The
#Houthi
-
#IRGC
relationship is a decades spanning, highly intentional shared effort to clone the Lebanese
#Hezbollah
model in
#Yemen
, writes
@Mikeknightsiraq
.
Here's more on why this relationship was never a marriage of necessity:
The
#Iranian
External Operations Map and Timeline,
@Levitt_Matt
's new project, will be the largest unclassified and complimentary information source on the Islamic Republic’s efforts to carry out assassinations, abductions, kidnappings, surveillance activities, and intimidation
The Iranian External Operations Map is
@Levitt_Matt
’s latest project. The forthcoming map offers one of the largest open-source collections of information on
#Iranian
external operations available to the public. The map will go live on August 7.
"Iran’s missile and unmanned system capabilities are now an existential threat to the Gulf states and a direct threat to Israel," writes Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
On the occasion of receiving
@WashInstitute
's Scholar-Statesman Award,
#AbuDhabi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discusses his country's motivation for making peace with
#Israel
with
@robsatloff
(English and Arabic with subtitles).
#TWISSA2021
In their new book “Accidental Allies”,
@Mikeknightsiraq
and
@vvanwilgenburg
examine America’s military and political partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Download a copy of the book:
📺Over the past year, IS gained territory in places like Mali, Somalia, and Mozambique.
@azelin
explains that the group is demonstrating its ability to grow, as it aspires to not only control territory in places like
#Iraq
and
#Syria
.
"Either Erdogan will lose, giving Turkey a chance of restoring full democracy, or he will win and likely remain in power for the rest of his life," writes
@SonerCagaptay
.
The
#Houthi
-
#IRGC
relationship was never a marriage of convenience, but rather a highly intentional shared effort to replicate the
#Hezbollah
model inside
#Yemen
, writes
@Mikeknightsiraq
.
The graphic below illustrates the extraordinary effort put into creating a clone of
With great sadness,
@WashInstitute
extends its deepest condolences to the family of Ambassador
@Martin_Indyk
, the organization’s founding executive director, who passed away today.
Hezbollah buys grassroots support in Lebanon where & when it can, but turns to intimidation & murder when a vocal opponent can’t be bought.
@Levitt_Matt
speaks w/
@MonikaBorgmann
,
@JobyWarrick
&
@davidschenker1
about the highly-secretive Unit 121.
🎧:
.
@GabrielEpsteinX
has dug deep into the data released by Hamas' own Ministry of Health.
@robsatloff
speaks with Epstein about his findings.
📺Here are some key takeaways from his research:
There are many reasons why we should treat Gaza Ministry of Health and the Government Media Office fatality numbers—both Hamas-run institutions— with skepticism, writes Gabriel Epstein. An in-depth look at the casualty counting process shows that international media and NGOs may
"Lebanon has never seen a collapse of this magnitude—even during the civil war. And the dreadful part is that this is not the worst scenario," writes
@haningdr
.
During the
#Gaza
war, the
#Houthis
have once again demonstrated their ability to exert control over shipping routes. A new mapping project by
@FarzinNadimi
and
@NoamRaydan
tracks major attacks by the Houthis in strategic
#Mideast
waterways from 2019-2024.
In the newly published book “Accidental Allies”, military expert
@Mikeknightsiraq
and journalist
@vvanwilgenburg
offer a chronological and historical review of the U.S.-YPG/SDF partnership.
Download the book:
"On this occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of independence for the United Arab Emirates, a quick look back and forward is cause for both celebration and reflection," writes
@David_Pollock_
in QPosts.
Hamas is following Hezbollah’s playbook to a tee: first, secure a Hezbollah-style victory simply by surviving, then take hold of the postwar governance structure while maintaining its independent fighting force, writes
@Levitt_Matt
.
The Lebanese Hezbollah Select Worldwide Activity map by
@Levitt_Matt
is the first-ever publicly available database to date of
#Hezbollah
’s activities. Join us for the website's virtual launch on Monday, August 3 at 1PM EDT at or via Facebook Live.
Today
@WashInstitute
launched the Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity Interactive Map. This new tool provides a novel, accessible way to understand the group’s global reach & activities.
@azelin
is the director of the project. 1/15
In this illuminating book—copublished by
@WashInstitute
and
@ibtauris
—French diplomat
@diplocharlie
examines thirty years of transatlantic cooperation in the
#MiddleEast
and proposes a more manageable and effective path forward.
Download the book:
While
#Iraq
may look calm, the country is entering a dangerous time. As
@Mikeknightsiraq
warns,
#Washington
's complacent attitude could have dire consequences.
The current protests in
#Iran
are posing a serious security and political challenge to the Islamic Republic.
@khalaji_mehdi
examines the distinct features of the current movement. 1/4
.
@AmbDennisRoss
told
@CNN
's
@amanpour
that
"this is the lowest ebb between Israelis and Palestinians that I've seen. It is worse than the Second Intifada."
Watch the full interview⤵️
📺IS fighters and affiliates detained in NE
#Syria
remain a regional threat. The international community must act more assertively before the situation devolves further, says
@DevorahMargolin
.
IS-K has grown weaker in
#Afghanistan
during the past year—while paradoxically expanding its external operations capacity.
@azelin
explains why Afghanistan under the Taliban remains a top vector for jihadist operations abroad.
Recent events in Somalia, Mozambique, and Mali show that Islamic State is racking up territorial gains in Africa. This can set the stage for new foreign fighter mobilizations, resource extraction, and external operations against the West, writes
@azelin
.
Hezbollah and its
#Iraqi
partners operate a vast network that uses
#Lebanon
’s uncontrolled exchange market to access and launder Iraqi dollars. In a new study,
@haningdr
and
@tinderella1844
describe the “fake Iraqi tourists” scheme.
Read more:
The attacks on Hezbollah's communication devices did 3 things, according to
@Levitt_Matt
:
1. Disrupted Hezbollah's military communications system
2. Took out of commission some of Hezbollah's core commanders and fighters
3. Maximized anxiety within Hezbollah
"The Israeli strike on Hezbollah pagers and then a day later on their handheld radios was an absolute tactical mastermind stroke," said
@Levitt_Matt
.
Watch the full video for more ⬇️
The challenge posed by jihadist groups has grown more complex. Today, policy solutions go beyond military strategy or sanctions. A new publication edited by
@DevorahMargolin
and
@azelin
draws from a workshop where experts addressed the jihadist landscape.
The
#Taliban
's international profile has risen substantially over the past year, writes
@azelin
. This map demonstrates the Taliban's diplomatic efforts and shows which countries have participated in diplomatic meetings with the group.
Read more:
How is
#Lebanese
environmental NGO Green Without Borders providing cover for
#Hezbollah
's operational activities?
@Levitt_Matt
& Samantha Stern tell the story of GWB and explain why the mandate for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon must be reworked.
"More broadly, Ankara aims to establish a north-south axis of Turkish influence stretching across Iraq to the Persian Gulf, perhaps impeding Tehran’s long-sought “land bridge” to the Mediterranean," write
@SonerCagaptay
,
@SelnUys
, and
@BilalWahab
.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the Institute’s Bernstein Fellow, Dr. David Pollock, who passed away yesterday. Dr. Pollock was the longtime director of
@FikraForum
.
A memorial service will be livestreamed on Friday, January, 12 at 9:00 AM at:
#Yemenis
need an end to violence and a functioning government. Ideally, this could be achieved through dialogue, but real-world complexities have thwarted this scenario,
@Ndawsari
told
@mikeknightsiraq
.
📺 Watch the full webcast:
"Even so, Turkey will likely drift further into Russia’s orbit under Erdogan regardless of whether or not Washington approves the F-16 sale," write
@SonerCagaptay
and
@RumleyGM
.
Scholars have devoted little attention to a key area: Iran’s defense spending.
@hrome2
offers the most detailed public accounting yet of Tehran’s recent defense spending, illustrated by charts showing trends and comparisons with regional rivals.
The Islamic State has been able to diversify, with IS-K spearheading external operations while other provinces establish territorial control in
#Africa
. Meanwhile, supporters continue to plot attacks as well, write
@azelin
and
@IlanaWinter24
.
"From a great power competition perspective, Iraq falling under the control of anti-U.S. forces should be an issue of great significant and growing interest," write
@Mikeknightsiraq
,
@HamdiAMalik
, and Crispin Smith for
@CTCWP
.
"The Israeli strike on Hezbollah pagers and then a day later on their handheld radios was an absolute tactical mastermind stroke," said
@Levitt_Matt
.
Watch the full video for more ⬇️
Here's a visual tracker of northern border attacks by
#Hezbollah
, the
#IDF
, and
#Palestinian
groups since the
#Gaza
war erupted on October 7, 2023. The map will be updated with new entries daily.
View this video preview of the Lebanese Hezbollah Select Worldwide Activity online mapping tool, the first public, interactive map & timeline of
#Hezbollah
-related activities. The website goes live 8/3.
Join us for a live webcast on Monday, January 11 at 11 a.m. ET with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
@InstituteGC
to discuss the geopolitical challenges and opportunities facing the new Biden administration. Watch at:
On September 23, President Muhammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan of the
#UAE
arrives in# Washington for a landmark U.S. trip. The visit represents an historic event for the U.S.-UAE relationship even before it starts, write
@shendersongulf
and
@LizyDent
.
The Sounion is not the first tanker laden with
#Iraqi
crude
#oil
the
#Houthis
have attacked. The Delta Blue and the Delta Atlantica, which are both connected to Delta Tankers and attacked in the past weeks in the southern
#RedSea
, were both carrying Iraqi crude destined for the
Two days before 9/11,
#Tunisian
operatives helped carry out the killing of Afghan Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud.
@azelin
explained why this story still matters for individuals trying to understand the evolution of jihadist networks.
“Under Soleimani and al-Muhandis, Kata’ib Hezbollah became the vanguard of a militia network that came very close to complete domination of Iraq’s government in the late summer of 2019,” writes
@Mikeknightsiraq
in an analysis published by
@CTCWP
.
While core IS “provinces” in
#Iraq
and
#Syria
remain degraded, the group has been able to diversify at the periphery.
@azelin
explains why IS-K plots should be considered the organization’s biggest global threat today.
Read more:
Hezbollah is exploiting the
#Lebanese
national crisis and specifically has profited in areas ranging from real estate to solar energy, pharmaceuticals, and the illicit Captagon trade. But as
@haningdr
and
@tinderella1844
explain, the group's constituency is crumbling because⤵️1/4
TODAY: The Lebanese Hezbollah Select Worldwide Activity map, a project by
@Levitt_Matt
, is a first-of-its-kind interactive map & timeline chronicling
#Hezbollah
's activities worldwide. Join us for the site's virtual launch at 1PM EDT at or Facebook Live.
#Turkey
’s president seems to be focused on boosting his popularity with voters, but converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque again will likely cause irreversible harm to the country’s international brand, writes
@SonerCagaptay
.
Last year,
@WashInstitute
launched the Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity Map - a project directed by
@azelin
- as a way to better track and understand the global jihadist organization’s status.
Check out the map:
The Islamic State is different than it was 5 years ago, and so far the group has been able to adapt. Assessing these shifts is critical for policymakers because the way the threat manifests now is not the same as how it was years ago, writes
@azelin
.
IS claims that HTS killed its latest leader Abu al-Husayn al-Husayni al-Qurashi. In this
@CTCWP
study,
@azelin
explains how HTS tries to differentiate itself from other jihadist organizations by engaging in 'counterterrorism’ operations against IS.
.
@Mikeknightsiraq
,
@HamdiAMalik
and Crispin Smith take a close look at the new trends of Iran-backed militias in Iraq and explain how international partners can respond to these changes.
Iranian external operations are a tool for power projection and lethal statecraft. Why does
#Iran
continue with its external operations? Because right now, it is paying no meaningful price, said
@Norman_Roule
.
📺Watch the full event:
Urgent affairs of state prevented the crown prince from traveling to the U.S. for the event, so
@robsatloff
presented the medal to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a special ceremony in
#AbuDhabi
in October.
#TWISSA2021