How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?
The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to presenting multiple opinions to […] More
Libya
An Inside Account of the US Evacuation from Libya
Sarah Carlson is the author of a new book, In the Dark of War: A CIA Officer’s Inside Account of the U.S. Evacuation from Libya based in […] More
Libya’s Carpe Diem?
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, US Army (Ret) was the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs from 2008-2009. Prior to that, he was the Deputy […] More
COVID and Navigating the New Middle East Challenges
The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has added a significant layer of uncertainty to an already complicated situation in the Middle East. The Cipher Brief […] More
The Latest
OSINT Global Trendline Report: The Middle East and Africa
The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national and global […] More
Energy Geopolitics in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Battle for Libya
Bottom Line Up Front Just last week, France agreed to send war frigates to the eastern Mediterranean, a decision welcomed by Greece and decried […] More
Understanding Haftar and the Path Ahead in Libya
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that the situation in Libya is a “scandal” and expressed his frustration over countries pushing for […] More
How did Libya get where it is Today?
The Cipher Brief spoke with Ambassador Deborah K. Jones, former U.S. Ambassador to Libya (2013-2015) about the state of play in the country, who wants […] More
Piecing Together a Fragile Libya
Representatives from Libya’s warring parties began talks in Geneva on Monday. The discussions, known as the Libya Military Joint Commission are led by the UN, […] More
Fighting Over Access to Libya’s Energy Supplies
Bottom Line Up Front Fighting in Libya has dragged on for the past eight years following the ouster of the country’s longtime leader, the […] More
Turkey Enters the Conflict in Libya
Bottom Line Up Front Turkey has intervened in Libya’s internecine civil war in an effort to prop up the increasingly beleaguered Government of National […] More
The Islamic State in West Africa Province is Growing in Strength and Sophistication
Bottom Line Up Front It is probable that Islamic State core transferred its technological know-how to its West African province (ISWAP) through direct exchanges […] More
Libya’s Growing Criminal Enterprise
Bottom Line Up Front Throughout Libya’s civil war, widespread allegations have surfaced that strongman Khalifa Haftar operates as a modern-day warlord, using his power […] More
Playing a Dangerous Game: External Support to Civil Wars & Insurgencies
Bottom Line Up Front The United Arab Emirates has dumped weapons into conflict zones throughout the Middle East. Given how unstable the situation in […] More
Libya: Spiraling Further Downward
Bottom Line Up Front On July 5, the U.N. Security Council issued a statement condemning an airstrike on a migrant detention camp in Libya […] More
The Risks of Civil War in Sudan
Bottom Line Up Front Civilian pro-democracy protesters were gunned down on Monday by Sudanese security forces in Khartoum, the country’s capital. According to various […] More
Russia’s Second Chance in Libya
The Cipher Brief’s ‘Academic Incubator’ column features analysis and observations by current and recent students associated with national security-focused academic programs. Earlier this month, the […] More
Sisi Consolidates Power in Egypt
Bottom Line Up Front On April 16, Egypt’s parliament passed amendments to the Constitution that provide President al-Sisi with a path forward to maintain […] More
Libya Devolves Further Into Anarchy
Bottom Line Up Front A serious military escalation is underway in Libya as General Khalifa Haftar and his forces move to take Tripoli. The […] More