Crisis Management

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the Biden record in the Middle East—and what comes next

At an Atlantic Council event, the US secretary of state delivered remarks on the Middle East and the future of US leadership.

US intervention against Mexican cartels carries major risks. Here’s how to mitigate them.

By Doug Livermore

Cartels have a significant capability to retaliate, but there are ways that the United States can prepare for such risks.

The Netzarim Corridor: Tragedy, death, and an obstacle to a lasting ceasefire

By Ahmed F. Alkhatib

The incoming Trump administration will have to wrestle with tactical-level details—especially what happens with the Netzarim Corridor and civilians’ return to the north—if it wants to play a role in mediating a ceasefire and ending the war.

A mercenary client collapses

By Alia Brahimi

Host Alia Brahimi sits down with acclaimed author and former CIA analyst, David McCloskey, to discuss the spectacular collapse of a major mercenary client in Syria.

What role will the Gulf states play in shaping the new Syria?

By Joze Pelayo

Assad’s fall provides an opportunity for the Gulf states to wield significant influence over Syria’s future while adapting to Turkey’s rising prominence.

A US blueprint for Syria’s fragile transition

By Sana Sekkarie

As long as HTS is willing to evolve and accept constructive criticism, the US should engage with the group. Ignoring Syria’s new leaders will not make them go away.

2024: A year in the Middle East

By Leila Ouhri, Kate Springs, and Yaseen Rashed

2024 was a year of consequence for the Middle East and North Africa, with metastasizing conflict, human tragedies, and major elections across the region.

What the fall of the Assad regime really means for China

By Jonathan Fulton

Assad’s fall makes the Middle East more complicated for Beijing but does not threaten China’s most important relationships in the region.

The fall of the Assad regime is just the beginning of Syria’s quest for stability

By Amir Asmar

Sectarian divisions and external actors threaten to render the fall of the Assad regime a new phase in Syria’s civil war rather than its conclusion.