Anthony Blinken returns to the White House, dropping the title of “Deputy” from his secretary of state role, now helming the State Department. Blinken also intends to bring on members from Obama’s administration to handle new efforts in Syria. During…
Category: Middle East
Russian PMCs in Yemen: Kremlin-Style ‘Security Export’ in Action?
On September 6, Russian military correspondent Semen Pegov posted information on his Telegram-channel WarGonzo (WG) about “members of one Russian Private Military Company [PMC] being currently deployed in Yemen.” He ascribed this information to data received from “three anonymous sources…
Saudi counterterrorism chiefs conduct Paris charm offensive
Riyadh is often accused of being too tolerant of jihadist groups and is looking to change that image by becoming an exemplary actor in the fight against Islamist extremism. At the end of March, Mohammed Bin Nayef, the kingdom’s crown…
AQAP’s success increases the likelihood of it mounting an attack against the West
Key Points AQAP is actively engaged in the Yemeni civil war alongside local Sunni tribes, embedding itself in local resistance forces fighting the Houthi Movement. By exploiting a persistent security vacuum and the absence of effective state institutions, AQAP is…
Egypt redefines national security and diplomatic priorities to align with containing jihadism and unrest risks
Key Points Diplomatic and economic relations with Saudi Arabia will decline further in 2017 as Egypt reassesses its domestic security requirements under its weak financial position. Cairo’s regional policy is likely to be motivated by a Russian-Iranian confrontation with Salafist-jihadist…
A temporary reprieve for OPEC
OPEC has agreed to reduce current production levels in the first such move since the 2008 global financial crisis. The deal marks a major reversal of the “free-for-all” market-share strategy that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states have adopted…
Perspectives for Israeli Gas in Southern Gas Corridor Hampered by Economic Limitations
Jamestown: Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Dan Stav, announced, on November 6, that his country was “considering the possibility to transport its natural gas to Europe via the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline [TANAP] through Turkey.” Earlier, on October 14, Turkish…
Why Islamic State Is Clinging on to the Syrian City of Manbij
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) officially launched its operation to take the city of Manbij on May 31. It is one of the most strategic and difficult operations the SDF – an alliance that includes Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG)…
Turkey economy: Coup attempt and its aftermath accentuate economic risks
In the four days of trading since the failed military coup the Turkish lira has weakened significantly and share prices have tumbled. The Central Bank of Turkey and the Treasury have been in the front line to reassure investors that the…
After the abortive coup, the Turkish intelligence service MIT is in Erdogan’s sights
Some 150 agents have been sacked from the the Milli Istihbarat Teskilati (MIT), Turkey’s intelligence service, in a post-abortive coup purge that could even see MIT chief Hakan Fidan’s head also roll. The service has been accused of failing to anticipate and prevent…