Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

NatSecEDGE

Welcome! Log in to stay connected and make the most of your experience.

Input clean

Saudi Arabia Cuts Billions in Aid to Lebanon, Opening Door for Iran

Saudi Arabia has stopped providing billions of dollars in aid to Lebanon, presumably as punishment for Hezbollah supporting Iran in Syria. The New York Times reports that Saudi Arabia also announced a travel warning against Saudi citizens visiting Lebanon and declared Hezbollah to be a terrorist group, in addition to cutting aid. This course of action is viewed as impulsive or foolish by observers, and few expect it to result in Lebanon loosening its ties to Iran. Rather, the more probable outcome is that it will allow Iran to gain more influence in the region. 

Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member.
watch now

Related Articles

Rogg's History of Intelligence: Insightful, But Incomplete

BOOK REVIEW: The Spy and the State: The History of American IntelligenceBy Jeffrey P. Rogg / Oxford University PressReviewed by: Jason U. [...] More

Report for Wednesday, May 28, 2025

8:21 America/New_York Wednesday, May 28 [...] More

Airborne, All The Way

BOOK REVIEW: NOTHING BUT COURAGE The 82nd Airborne’s Daring D-Day Mission and Their Heroic Charge Across the La Fiere BridgeBy: James Donovan / [...] More
As U.S. Commitment Wanes, Europe Faces  Questions About its Own Defense

As U.S. Commitment Wanes, Europe Faces Questions About its Own Defense

EXPERT INTERVIEW – In the early weeks of the second Trump administration, questions were raised about Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, as the [...] More

Ukraine is a Crucible of Innovation, Not a Perfect Blueprint

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – Ukrainian technology expositions are abuzz with enterprise and excitement. I have watched unmanned systems glide through [...] More
A Short Diary from Ukraine’s War: One American’s Story from Kyiv

A Short Diary from Ukraine’s War: One American’s Story from Kyiv

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — I arrived to Kyiv in January 2025, at a time when the war with Russia was almost three years old. My purpose was professional [...] More

A U.S. President Pursuing Peace

OPINION — It’s gratifying seeing President Donald Trump personally pursuing peace and reconciliation in a world ravaged by war and conflict. His [...] More

Open Source Report for Friday, May 23, 2025

Friday, May 23, 2025. 7:30 AM EST The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here’s a [...] More