Iran’s Maritime Mirage
Iran is doing enough damage in the Middle East through unconventional methods without requiring a robust navy. That is why an idea floated by a […] More
Middle East
A Changing of the Guard: U.S. Counterterrorism Policy
Though January will see a major transition in American power, the global threat of terrorism will remain. As the Obama Administration enters its final weeks […] More
A Problem Larger than Terrorism
As the calendar approaches January 21st and President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, the Cipher Brief sat down with Patrick Skinner of the Soufan […] More
The Post-Caliphate Counterterrorism Challenge
The Cipher Brief spoke with network member and former Acting Director of the CIA, John McLaughlin, about the current U.S. counterterrorism strategy, as well as […] More
Doubts about the Durability of the Latest Syrian Ceasefire
The Cipher Brief spoke with Network Member Rob Richer, former Associate Deputy Director for Operations at the CIA, about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of […] More
Al Qaeda: Quietly and Patiently Rebuilding
As ISIS incurs the firepower of the international community, al Qaeda has quietly rebuilt its resources, rebranded itself, and “rehabilitated its image” explains terrorism expert […] More
The Syrian Ceasefire: Faulty Foundation, Low Optimism
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that a nationwide ceasefire in Syria would begin at midnight on Thursday night. This is the third such […] More
Why Putin Is Winning in Syria
After the fall of Aleppo, few would deny the influence that Russian President Vladimir Putin now wields in Syria and the Middle East – but […] More
Two-State Solution “In Serious Jeopardy,” Kerry Says
A two-state solution is the only way to secure Israeli-Palestinian peace, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday as he defended the Obama administration’s […] More
Egypt-Israeli Cooperation: At the Top Only
In a surprising move last week, Egypt postponed a UN Security Council vote on a resolution it had proposed demanding an end to Israeli settlement […] More
At the Crossroads Between East and West: Turkey and the World in 2016
Editor’s Note: Over the coming days, The Cipher Brief presents some of our most incisive coverage on key issues of 2016 and a look ahead […] More
Will Turkey and Russia Make Up?
After the assassination of Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, by an off-duty Turkish police officer, relations between Ankara and Moscow have remained surprisingly resilient. […] More
"A Gift from God:" The Bungled Coup and the U.S.
The attempted military coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is perhaps the most important political event in Turkey of the past 16 years, and […] More
Aleppo: Russian Barbarism and American Dereliction
The “complete meltdown of humanity” in Aleppo, as recently described by the United Nations, is an indictment of Russian/Syrian/Iranian barbarism, Arab indifference, and American dereliction […] More
ISIS Is Producing Weapons Like an Industrial State
Islamic State (ISIS) has engaged in weapon manufacturing on an industrial scale, with output running into the tens of thousands, according to a new report […] More
An Extremely Vulnerable Turkey
One day after Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was killed in Ankara, foreign ministers from the two countries met in Moscow to discuss the crisis in […] More
A Cipher Brief Update: Will the Turkey-Russia Thaw Endure?
Police in Turkey have detained six people following the killing of Russian Ambassador Andrey Karlov. State media reports that the attacker’s mother, father, sister and […] More
Egyptian and Israeli Cold Peace Has Never Been Warmer
Although relations between Egypt and Israel have often been referred to as a “cold peace,” the emergence of mutual security threats over the past few […] More