Content

Report

Dec 11, 2024

Even in authoritarian countries, democracy advocates are worth investing in

By Fernanda Buril, Nate Grubman, and Patrick Quirk

Case studies in four different regions suggest that using foreign assistance to support actors and organizations advocating for democracy worldwide is an effective strategy, even if the payoff is not immediately apparent.  

Democratic Transitions Elections

MENASource

Dec 5, 2024

A ceasefire happened in Lebanon, but Israel seems to have missed the memo

By Nicholas Blanford

Within hours of the 4 a.m. ceasefire coming into force, Israeli troops inside Lebanon opened fire at vehicles as tens of thousands of Lebanese who had earlier fled the fighting attempted to return to their homes.

Conflict Israel

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2024

Experts react: Israel and Lebanon have struck a ceasefire deal. Is the Israel-Hezbollah war really over?

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the deal, which US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday and already faces questions about its durability.

Conflict Iran

In the News

Nov 21, 2024

Citrinowicz quoted in Bloomberg: Israel Has a New Operational Freedom After Crippling Hezbollah

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Israel

In the News

Nov 20, 2024

Samaan quoted in the Washington Post on whether Lebanon’s army can secure the south

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Israel

MENASource

Nov 5, 2024

Naim Qassem is finally the bride

By David Daoud

Hezbollah will not moderate or shift its primary loyalties to Lebanon under its new soft-spoken secretary-general.

Conflict Lebanon

MENASource

Oct 22, 2024

Israel versus Hezbollah: Not a full-scale war—yet

By Nicholas Blanford

The Israeli army appears to have absorbed some of the lessons of its troubled 2006 experience fighting against Hezbollah.

Conflict Lebanon

Fast Thinking

Oct 17, 2024

After Sinwar’s death, what’s next for Iran’s Axis of Resistance?

By Atlantic Council

Israel's killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar raises big questions about the future of Iran's proxy groups. Our experts answer them.

Conflict Israel

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Michael Groen shares his thoughts on Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel and the possibility of an Israeli response on Bloomberg Businessweek

On October 2, [Retired/Former] US Marine Corps Lieutenant General Michael Groen, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, spoke with the Bloomberg Businessweek podcast regarding Iran’s missile attack against Israel and Israel’s possible response.

Israel Lebanon

In the News

Oct 11, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos on NBC about the future of Iran’s ‘axis of resistence’

On September 30, Marc Polymeropoulos, nonresident senior fellow at at Forward Defense, was quoted by NBC in an article analyzing the future of Iran’s ‘axis of resistance’ after Israel’s significant blows to Hamas and Hezbollah. In his words, “The one concern we should have is a return to the old kind of terrorist game, soft […]

Intelligence Israel

Experts