Why Does Turkey Want S-400 Missiles?

by Bulent Aras Turkey’s decision to buy S-400 missiles from Russia has generated considerable debate in the country about the impact on Turkish-American and Turkey-NATO relations, Turkey’s change of international orientation, and possible harm to Turkish defense sector and economy.… Continue Reading

Will Haftar’s External Supporters Change Course?

by Giorgio Cafiero On April 4, General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive on Tripoli, catching off guard the western militias loyal to the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). In the last three months, the violence… Continue Reading

The Not So “Nice” Map of Israel 

by Aaron Southlea On his recent visit to Israel, Jared Kushner presented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a State Department map showing the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel. President Donald Trump left a short message on the map,… Continue Reading

Fate of Saudi Religious Scholars on Death Row

by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen and Giorgio Cafiero Last month, the London-based Middle East Eye reported that three Saudi religious scholars—Sheikh Salman al-Awdah, Awad al-Qarni, and Ali al-Omari—were going to receive the death penalty after the end of Ramadan. The report… Continue Reading

The Real Plight of Idlib’s Civilians

by Helena Cobban In the northwest Syrian province of Idlib, three million civilians find themselves at the vortex of large-scale battles as the Syrian government and its allies seek to retake the area from the rebel forces that have controlled… Continue Reading