On this week’s episode, Director of MEI’s Syria and Countering Terrorism & Extremism Programs Charles Lister and MEI Editor-In-Chief Alistair Taylor talk about US policy toward Syria. The deadly Jan. 28 drone attack on a US military outpost in northeastern Jordan, near the borders with Syria and Iraq, has drawn renewed attention to the US military presence in the area. This comes against a backdrop of regional conflict and escalation.
The road to war with Iran is paved with good intentions and serious miscalculations
Forty-five years after Iran’s February 1979 revolution, American officials continue to struggle to understand this nation of almost 90 million. Rather than trying to solve a crisis that threatens to draw the US into direct conflict with Iran, the Biden administration appears more intent to manage it.
Growing unrest in Syria’s Suwayda as Jordanian airstrikes and civilian deaths increase
As the civilian death toll continues to rise, Jordan has come under growing criticism for its airstrikes in southern Syria’s Suwayda Governorate, aimed at combatting drug trafficking and smuggling operations.
Moving to a post-Khamenei era: The role of the Assembly of Experts
On March 1, 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran will hold elections for the sixth term of the Assembly of Experts. The major responsibility of this 88-member body is to designate the future supreme leader after the current leader’s death or when he becomes incapable of fulfilling the position’s responsibilities. What role might the Assembly play in a future succession process?
MEI Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Rabdan Academy
(Washington, D.C.) – The Middle East Institute (MEI) is proud to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rabdan Academy, a UAE-based higher education institution specializing in a range of defense and security issues. The MoU outlines plans for the two organizations to explore avenues of cooperation and collaboration on research & analysis, training, and events.
On this week’s episode, President and CEO of the Middle East Institute Paul Salem and Director of MEI’s Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program Randa Slim speak to MEI’s Editor-in-Chief Alistair Taylor about growing concerns over the potential for large-scale regional escalation as the Gaza war continues.
*Note: This episode was recorded before drone attacks that killed US soldiers in Jordan on 1/28.*
What does Israel want to see come out of US mediation efforts on Israel-Lebanon?
The weeks ahead are crucial for Israel and Lebanon and will likely indicate whether a broader confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah can be avoided diplomatically or if it is inevitable. Israeli officials have called on Lebanon and the world to deliver a solution; but in practice, Israeli eyes are set on Washington, DC.
Partisan press: The dominance of party-backed media in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region
The media landscape in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region is dominated by outlets affiliated with political parties. As a result, media coverage largely promotes the interests of politically motivated patrons, rather than performing a public service mission of providing impartial and high-quality information.
