
Can Biden Finally Put the Middle East in Check and Pivot Already?
The new administration, like previous ones, has a Middle East quagmire. But it’s trying some nuanced moves to break free.

Biden’s Syria Strikes Fuel New Debate on War Powers
Democrats in Congress signaled they were uneasy with the move and are demanding answers from the White House.

Who Is Hot and Who Is Not in the Middle East
The Biden administration wants to downgrade the region. Here are the countries he can ignore—and the ones he can’t.

Influence Without Entanglement in the Middle East
How China is outflanking the United States—and staying under the radar.

The Axis of Resistance to Israel Is Breaking Up
Syria has turned against Hamas, and Iran’s efforts to mediate aren't working.

State Department Floats Plans to Reshuffle Counter-Islamic State Envoy Office
The proposed move has sparked internal debates over the future of U.S. counterterrorism efforts.

The Middle East’s Progressive Darling Abuses Its Women
What the harrowing saga of a Dubai princess reveals about her country’s international reputation.

Hunger Is a Weapon of War. Food Can Help Prevent It.
As the ongoing conflict in Yemen shows, it’s time to fight starvation not only on humanitarian grounds but as an essential component of military and foreign policy.

Biden Should End U.S. Hypocrisy on Israeli Nukes
For decades, U.S. presidents have pledged not to talk about Israel’s nuclear arsenal despite pushing for nonproliferation in the region. It’s time for Washington to end the double standard.

The Increasingly Violent Conflict Between Shiites and Iran’s Proxies
A killing in Lebanon is a symbol of a growing regional backlash against sectarian politics.

Riyadh Seeks Biden’s Forgiveness
Saudi Arabia has freed activists and announced reforms, but must do more to win the new team’s favor.

Hezbollah Is Vulnerable. Lokman Slim’s Assassination Proves It.
The Biden administration and the French government must draw clear red lines, or the group will escalate its campaign of terror.

Iranians Are Trapped in a Sunni-Shiite Détente
Dissidents seeking refuge in Turkey are getting sacrificed to a newfound friendship between Tehran and Ankara.

The High Stakes of Turkey’s University Protests
The Erdogan regime has gotten used to controlling the country’s social institutions, but university students have had enough.

Stethoscope Diplomacy in the Middle East
Health care initiatives could be the key to rebuilding U.S. influence in the region—and healthier economies and societies for the region’s citizens.

Ben Ali’s Ghost Still Haunts Tunisia
The Arab Spring’s democratic success story is wrestling with the vestiges of an authoritarian past.

The New Palestinian Elections Are All Talk and No Action
Under Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinians have lost trust in the democratic process. Regaining it requires institutional overhaul.

Biden Taps Obama Administration Diplomat as New Iran Envoy
Robert Malley, who has faced sharp criticisms from Republican lawmakers, will be tasked with trying to get Iran back to the negotiating table on its nuclear program.