Sharaa gets warm UN welcome. But can he break the ice in Congress? Facing a legitimacy crisis both at home and abroad, the new Syrian administration may find that the road to full acceptance and sanctions relief will be a long one

While the international community has largely been open to moving on from Syrian sanctions, #Syria still faces significant obstacles in #Congress. My latest:

#Israel has drawn condemnation this week as it seized boats carrying aid to #Gaza, led by activist Greta Thunberg. The flotilla, comprised of more than 40 boats carrying over 400 people, was intercepted 70 miles off shore, in a zone policed by Israeli forces.

Trump signs an executive order vowing to defend Qatar in the wake of Israel's strike President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pledging to defend Qatar, including using U.S. military action if necessary.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order this week vowing to use all measures to defend #Qatar. The news comes in the wake of #Israel’s September strike on #Hamas leadership in Doha, which prompted Gulf countries to question US defense assurances.

US reducing military mission in Iraq, citing success in fighting ISIS The U.S. military has begun pulling its forces from Iraq following an agreement signed with the Iraqi government a year ago, officials have confirmed, citing successes in fighting ISIS in the count…

The US has begun winding down its military presence in #Iraq, largely thanks to widespread success in the fight against #ISIS. The US will shift its priorities to fighting ISIS in #Syria, and its troops in Iraq to Kurdish areas of the country.

Israel has killed more than 100 civilians in Lebanon since ceasefire, UN says An Israeli drone strike on south Lebanon has killed one person and wounded five. Wednesday's strike came as the U.N. rights chief Volker Türk said that Israeli strikes on its northern neighbor have killed...

According to a recent statement by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, #Israel has killed more than 100 civilians in #Lebanon since their November ceasefire with #Hezbollah. The deaths allegedly come as collateral damage of strikes directed at Hezbollah leadership.

The Return of ISIS The group is rebuilding in Syria—just as U.S. forces prepare to leave.

#Syria's government faces a litany of challenges in its first year, among them the resurgence of #ISIS. Plans for US withdrawal from the country only exacerbate this threat. My recent article with Colin P. Clarke for Foreign Affairs Magazine:

I spoke with #BBC News Sunday night about interim #Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s historic address before the #UNGA last week.

Erdogan secures nuclear energy deal with 'valued friend' Trump The Turkish president walked away with a prize after skipping the less hospitable Biden years in Washington

#Turkey and the #US signed a #nuclear energy agreement on Thursday, marking a significant improvement in relations between the two countries under the #Trump administration. The agreement came with several other US-led initiatives in Turkey.

Satellite photos analyzed by AP have revealed undeclared #missile tests conducted by #Iran. The test comes as the #UN prepares to reimpose sanctions on Iran for its #nuclear program. While officials did not announce the test, an Iranian lawmaker claimed that the military had tested an #ICBM.

Security talks between #Israel and #Syria hit a last-minute roadblock, sources say, with much of the disagreement relating to a humanitarian corridor for Syria’s #Druze community in the south of the country.

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Torn by pull from international rivals, #Iraq’s government faces a complicated future. There is a growing coalition seeking to rebuild relations with the US, with certain factions going as far as to hire American lobbying firms to represent their interests.

Why Did the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan Fail? - New Lines Institute In this episode of the Contours Podcast, host Robert Kremzner sits down with John Nagl and Jonathan Schroden, experts in irregular warfare and the American experience in Afghanistan. Together, they go...

As part of the New Lines Institute’s Contours Podcast, host Robert Kremzner sat down with irregular warfare experts John Nagl and Jonathan Schroden to talk about the past, present, and future of the US in Afghanistan.

Illicit drug flows in the Levant have transitioned into a new phase, as #Hezbollah has lost considerable influence and capacity, as well as a key partner, the #Assad regime, in neighboring #Syria. My latest for Al Majalla Magazine:

en.majalla.com/node/327540/...

The Return of ISIS The group is rebuilding in Syria—just as U.S. forces prepare to leave.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and #HTS face a litany of challenges in their first year of governance, including the resurgence of the Islamic State. Colin P. Clarke and I address this dilemma in our most recent article for Foreign Affairs magazine.

At least 11 children killed in el-Fasher drone strike, UN says The U.N. children's agency reports that a drone strike hit a mosque four days ago in el-Fasher, North Darfur, killing at least 11 children.

A drone strike on a mosque in el-Fasher, #Sudan killed at least 11 children last week, with many more wounded. The strike, allegedly launched by the Rapid Support Forces, came early Friday morning during prayers, and has already drawn international condemnation.

Syria’s new president takes center stage at UNGA as concerns linger over terrorist past Former al Qaeda member Ahmed al-Sharaa leads Syria's fragile transition after toppling Assad, facing sectarian violence and questions about his democratic intentions.

I was recently interviewed by Fox News about the complex political dynamics faced by #Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. I shared that it was political gridlock created by such dynamics that led to the outbreak of violence in Southern Syria earlier this year.

Israeli army says drone from Yemen strikes Eilat; 20 people wounded Emergency services say two people seriously injured in the southern Israeli city after failure to intercept.

A drone strike launched from #Yemen struck Eilat, #Israel today, injuring 20. The strike is suspected to be of #Houthi origin, with the group seeking “vengeance” for the August assassination of Houthi PM Ahmed al-Rahawi.

I spoke with Alaraby news on Friday to discuss the #Trump administration’s ongoing discussions with the #Taliban regarding the status of the #Bagram Airbase in the Parwan province of #Afghanistan.

Captagon Drug Networks Adapt and Survive in Middle East After Assad’s Fall Syria’s transitional government is cracking down on the production of Captagon — an illicit synthetic stimulant that flourished under the sponsorship of the Bashar al-Assad regime until its fall in...

I recently spoke with the OCCRP about the interim Syrian government’s war on #captagon. After their public show of crackdowns on large scale production facilities early on, they now face the challenge of finding and disrupting small and medium scale production.

The Return of ISIS The group is rebuilding in Syria—just as U.S. forces prepare to leave.

I authored a new article, alongside Colin P. Clarke, for Foreign Affairs magazine. We took a deep dive into the state of #ISIS following the collapse of the #Assad regime in #Syria, and how they stand at odds with the new government ran by Ahmed al-Shara.

Iraqi intelligence thwarts assassination plot against Syrian President Sharaa: Report - Türkiye Today Baghdad provided Damascus with information that foiled a plot to assassinate Sharaa, a senior security source reported to An-Nahar

#Iraqi security agencies obtained intelligence that #HTS defectors planned to assassinate #Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa almost 6 months ago, warning the President and thwarting the attempt through close security collaboration with state forces.

Captagon Drug Networks Adapt and Survive in Middle East After Assad’s Fall Syria’s transitional government is cracking down on the production of Captagon — an illicit synthetic stimulant that flourished under the sponsorship of the Bashar al-Assad regime until its fall in...

I recently spoke with the OCCRP about the interim Syrian government’s war on #captagon. After their public show of crackdowns on large scale production facilities early on, they now face the challenge of finding and disrupting small and medium scale production.

As the world convulses in war and contentiousness, its leaders convene at the UN to figure it out World leaders are gathering at one of the most turbulent and divisive moments in the 80-year history of the United Nations.

As the #UN General Assembly convenes in New York City this week, #Gaza and #Syria are at the top of the agenda. Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to address the assembly in person, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the assembly by video.

#Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited #Washington D.C. on Thursday, marking the first visit to the US by a Syrian foreign minister in over 25 years. Al-Shaibani’s visit is focused on getting remaining economic sanctions lifted by Congress.

Saudi Arabia signs a mutual defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan after Israel's attack on Qatar Saudi Arabia has signed a defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, pledging that any attack on either nation would be considered an attack on both.

#SaudiArabia and #Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement, defining an attack on either nation as an attack on both. While the two have long had strong ties culturally and economically, the Israeli strikes in #Qatar likely pushed Saudi Arabia towards the agreement.

Accused French Islamic State members held in Syria sent to Iraq for trial, officials say Forty-seven French citizens suspected of being Islamic State members have been handed over to Iraq for prosecution

Syrian officials sent 47 French nationals suspected of being Islamic State members to Iraq for prosecution two months ago, Iraqi officials reported Thursday. The individuals had been held in Kurdish-run state prisons in Northeast Syria since their arrest.

The Return of ISIS The group is rebuilding in Syria—just as U.S. forces prepare to leave.

In Foreign Affairs, Colin P. Clarke and I argue #Syria's delicate transition and shift in #ISIS activity justifies a change in the U.S.' draw-down strategy. Washington shouldn't perceive this as a stumbling block, but an opportunity to help set Syria on track.
www.foreignaffairs.com/syria/return...

قطر وواشنطن.. هل تستمر الشراكة بعد هجوم إسرائيل على الدوحة؟ | NOW الشرق لقاءات قطرية-أميركية بنيويورك بعد هجوم الدوحة، تمهيدًا لبحث الشراكة الأمنية مع ترمب، ويواصل نتنياهو تهديداته وسط علاقات قطر وواشنطن المتنامية سياسيًا واقتصاديًا

Last week, I spoke with Asharq news about the recent #Israeli strikes on #Hamas leadership in #Doha, Qatar. Find my full thoughts at the clip below:

Lebanese army officials conducted a raid this week on a facility located in Boubai, seizing over 60 million captagon pills, as well as additives and machines used in the creation of captagon. According to officials, the raid was one of the largest in the country’s history.

Israel's military begins its ground offensive in Gaza City and thousands of residents flee Israel has launched its offensive in Gaza City, threatening to overwhelm a city already in ruins from nearly two years of raids and bombardment.

The #Israeli military has begun its ground offensive in Gaza City, prompting a large scale exodus of residents. Israeli media stated the offensive, which marks a major escalation in the conflict, may last several months.