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Monday Briefing: Iran and Israel come to blows
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Iran and Israel come to blows

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Charles Lister, Gerald Feierstein, W. Robert Pearson, and Marvin G. Weinbaum provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the escalating deterrence between Israel and Iran, Pompeo’s pressure to resolve the Gulf crisis, Turkey’s increasing isolation, and the Pashtun protests in Pakistan.

    The battles in, above and around Syria
    Middle East Institute
  • Podcast
  • The battles in, above and around Syria

    Amb. Robert Ford and Charles Lister join host Paul Salem to discuss last week’s U.S. airstrikes in Syria in response to the Assad government’s ongoing use of chemical weapons, what the Trump administration is signaling about America’s plans there, and the escalating standoff between Israeli and Iranian forces in the country.

    April 19, 2018

    Monday Briefing: Syria strikes underline Assad’s vulnerability
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Syria strikes underline Assad’s vulnerability

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Charles Lister, Gonul Tol, Paul Salem, Alex Vatanka, and Marvin G. Weinbaum provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the Syria strikes, Turkey’s Assad paradox, the Arab League summit, EU’s view of the Iran nuclear deal, and clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

    Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group to Trump: “We’re waiting for you in Syria”
  • Analysis
  • Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group to Trump: “We’re waiting for you in Syria”

    The leader of an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group has warned that his forces are ready to fight American troops in Syria, Arab media reported. Akram al-Kaabi, the secretary-general of Harakat al-Nujaba, made the comments in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement about imminent missile strikes to punish the regime of Bashar al-Assad for the latest chemical attack in Homs Governorate. Kaabi lashed out at Trump’s remarks on Syria and accused the US president of trying to undo the recent gains of the Assad regime and its allies.

    April 13, 2018

    Turkey’s precarious position in Syria
  • Analysis
  • Turkey’s precarious position in Syria

    Just last week, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Ankara for talks to end the Syrian civil war. The summit of the three leaders was a strong display of unity against a backdrop of rising tensions between them and the United States. The underlying message was that the three countries were calling the shots in Syria, and that President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would be pulling out soon was right on the spot.

    Monday Briefing: Assad’s chemical warfare
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Assad’s chemical warfare

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Robert S. Ford, Gerald Feierstein, Randa Slim, and Alex Vatanka provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the chemical attack on Douma, Sheikh Tamim’s Tuesday meeting with Trump, Lebanese parliamentary elections, Moroccan and Algerian tension over Western Sahara, and Iran and India’s strategic partnership.

    Monday Briefing: Gaza bloodshed presages wider troubles
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Gaza bloodshed presages wider troubles

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Paul Salem, Bilal Y. Saab, Marvin G. Weinbaum, and Charles Lister provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the latest violence in Gaza, Gulf Shield-1 military drills, the Taliban’s resistance to peace, and the approaching Syria summit in Ankara.

    April 2, 2018

    Trump's about-face in Syria
    Middle East Institute
  • Analysis
  • Trump's about-face in Syria

    Trump announces “mission aborted” in Syria – Paul Salem

    In a speech on Thursday, President Donald Trump reversed his administration’s policy on Syria, declaring “we’re coming out of Syria very soon. Let the other people take care of it now.”

    Monday Briefing: Bracing for Bolton
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Bracing for Bolton

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Paul Salem, Bilal Y. Saab, Gerald Feierstein, Gonul Tol, and Ibrahim al-Assil provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the appointment of John Bolton to national security advisor, the Houthi missile attack on Riyadh, Egypt’s regressive referendum, the Yemeni war’s third anniversary, EU-Turkey diplomacy, and the worsening crisis in Ghouta.

    March 26, 2018

    Monday Briefing: Mohammed bin Salman’s American charm offensive
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Mohammed bin Salman’s American charm offensive

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Gerald Feierstein, Paul Salem, Charles Lister, Jean-François Seznec, and Jonathan M. Winer provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the shaping of U.S.-Saudi relations, Pompeo’s appointment to secretary of state, Turkey’s capture of Afrin, the future of Saudi energy, and Egypt’s efforts to unite the Libyan military.

    March 19, 2018

    Journalism at war: the evolution of independent reporting in Syria
  • Video
  • Journalism at war: the evolution of independent reporting in Syria

    Prior to the outbreak of protests in Daraa in 2011, media in Syria was state-controlled and heavily regulated. However, in the face of escalating conflict with the Assad regime, independent media outlets emerged that gave voice to Syrian journalists and civil society activists sharing information domestically and to an international audience.

    March 19, 2018

    Tillerson's departure and the future of US policy in the Middle East
  • Analysis
  • Tillerson's departure and the future of US policy in the Middle East

    Rex Tillerson’s unhappy tenure at State Department ends with a whimper – Gerald Feierstein        

    Rex Tillerson was never an easy fit for the Trump administration. His management of the State Department was a source of constant frustration for the career staff as well as Capitol Hill. On policy issues, Tillerson hewed more closely than Trump to establishment Republican positions. Allied with Secretary of Defense Mattis and National Security Advisor McMaster, Tillerson often acted as an anchor against the president’s more aggressive impulses.

    Monday Briefing: Senate moves to end US engagement in Yemen conflict
  • Analysis
  • Monday Briefing: Senate moves to end US engagement in Yemen conflict

    In this week’s Monday Briefing, MEI experts Gerald Feierstein, Alex Vatanka, Nathan Stock, and Randa Slim provide analysis on recent and upcoming events including the Senate’s decision to pull out of Yemen, enduring Iran-Pakistan political strain, Egypt’s role in Palestinian reconciliation, and America’s dissolving influence in Syria.