Cipher Brief Expert View: Iran Sends a Message with Missiles in Syria
The conflict in Syria saw a series of firsts today, as the Pentagon confirmed that a U.S. fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane near […] More
Middle East
Is ISIS Leader Baghdadi Dead? It May Not Matter
Russia’s Defense Ministry released a statement Friday that it is investigating whether it had killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, along with several other senior […] More
Iran Nuke Deal Finances Tehran’s Ambitions to Dominate Mideast
As we approach the two-year anniversary of the signing of the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 world powers—the U.S., UK, France, Russia, […] More
Will China Play Peacemaker with Its Oil Suppliers Saudi Arabia and Iran?
China, for some time, has performed a delicate balancing act in the Middle East. As a major importer of oil from two archrivals, Saudi Arabia […] More
China Looking to Expand Saudi Trade Via Renewable Energy, Petrochemicals
Saudi-China bilateral relations took a notable upswing this March after Saudi King Salman and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed landmark economic deals worth approximately $65 […] More
China Courts Iran to Sell Goods, Diversify Oil Sources
As a major importer of oil from both Saudi Arabia and Iran, and with expanding economic interests in the Middle East, China has a stake […] More
Why Regional Dynamics Open the Door for Jordan-Israel Cooperation
Jordan finds itself at a precarious strategic position. The Hashemite Kingdom is located at the heart of a degenerating region and has absorbed millions of […] More
Qatar Controversy: U.S. Creates Vacuum with Mixed Messaging
Today’s diplomatic chaos pitting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Egypt, and other Sunni states against Qatar, can be partly blamed on Trump’s […] More
Here’s a Middle East Deal Only Washington Can Broker
Rather than take a hard look at past failures and where to go from here, Middle East “experts” are using the Six-Day War’s 50th anniversary […] More
Russia Must Bring Assad, “Pragmatic” Opposition to Table to Set Safe Zones
Early last month, Russia put forward a “de-escalation” plan for Syria under which major opposition-held territories in western parts of the country, including northwestern Idlib […] More
ISIS Attack in Tehran Stokes Cross-Gulf Tensions, Weakens Iran’s Reformers
The terrorist attacks on the Iranian Parliament building and the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, marked the first time […] More
Bold Attack in Tehran: ISIS Penetrates Revolutionary Guard Wall
On Wednesday morning, assailants entered the Iranian Parliament building and the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini – founder of the Islamic Republic – armed with assault […] More
Natural Security Series: How Drought Set the Stage for War in Syria
The U.S. withdrawal from the COP21 Paris Agreement has given new life to the debate around the consequences of climate change. The Trump Administration has […] More
Cipher Brief Expert View: Qatar’s Rift with Arab States Brewing for Years
Monday morning, several Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Yemen, Libya’s eastern-based government, and the Maldives, announced their […] More
Pressure in UK Building for Crackdown on Suspected ISIS Sympathizers
The investigation into London’s Saturday attack is moving quickly with police arresting at least a dozen people in connection to the incident. It came less […] More
Military Victory in Mosul Likely to Lift P.M. Abadi’s Reelection Campaign
After almost eight months of fighting, the battle to liberate Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, from ISIS is nearing its end. The Iraqi army has taken […] More
The Hardest Fight Comes After Mosul Falls
After eight months of grinding conflict, Iraqi commanders are now confident that the battle to retake Mosul from ISIS is in its final phase. Pushing […] More
Iran Looks to Expand Influence in Iraq When Mosul Falls
The battle for the strategic Iraqi city of Mosul has reached its final stage as Iraqi forces close in on the Islamic State’s last stronghold […] More