More from MEF
Middle East Forum Online
The Arrest of Bilal Abdul Kareem in Syria
Arrest, Dissent, and Due Process Test Syria’s Post-Assad Political Order
December 29, 2025
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Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi
Middle East Forum Online
How Pakistan and Libya Just Killed the UN Embargo
A Landmark Arms Deal in Benghazi Signals the End of Meaningful Enforcement and the Emergence of Parallel Global Defense Supply Chains
December 29, 2025
 · 
Amine Ayoub
Middle East Forum Online
Why October 7 Didn’t Ignite the West Bank
Despite Hamas’s Expectation of a Mass Uprising, a Mix of Deterrence, Politics, and Fatigue Kept Violence Contained
December 29, 2025
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Jonathan Spyer
The Grand Mosque in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Year in Review: Iraqi Kurdistan Mired in Dysfunction
Without a Unified Command Structure or Genuine Coordination with Baghdad, the Region Remains Exposed
December 29, 2025
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Kamal Chomani
Iranian authorities face an increasingly precarious balancing act domestically as economic crises worsen.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Year in Review: Iran Faces Paralysis at Home and Pressure Abroad
Iranian Dissidents Have Voiced Optimism That Sustained External Pressure and Growing Public Discontent Might Bring Political Change
December 29, 2025
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Mardo Soghom
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) in a file photo on Capitol Hill.
Middle East Forum Observer
Recognizing Somaliland Would Be Trump’s Ultimate Response to Ilhan Omar
Trump Criticized the Widespread Somali Fraud Scheme Affecting Minnesota’s Social Services, but Somali Culture Is Not Somaliland’s
December 28, 2025
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Michael Rubin
A file photo of the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, typically a center of activity.
Middle East Forum Observer
Tehran Bazaar Protests Erupt as Rial Plunges to Record Low
Economic and Military Pressure Is Increasingly Pushing the Country Toward Serious Internal Upheaval, Which Is Necessary for Change
December 28, 2025
 · 
Mardo Soghom
A water canal in the city of Mukalla, southern Yemen.
Middle East Forum Observer
After Somaliland, Israel Should Recognize South Yemen
Israel and the United States Should Not Only Recognize but Also Establish Full Diplomatic Relations with Both Countries
December 28, 2025
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Michael Rubin
Iranian intelligence has launched a full court blitz against Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.
Reports
The Invisible Front: Iran’s Unprecedented Espionage Offensive Against Israel
How Tehran Weaponized Financial Desperation to Build a Network of Disposable Spies
December 28, 2025
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Gregg Roman
Rich in history and culture, Cyprus is a connector between European institutions and Middle Eastern partners.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Year in Review: Cyprus and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean
Both Countries Undertook Initiatives in Security, Energy Resilience, and External Relations—Ties That Will Be Tested in the Coming Year
December 28, 2025
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Nicoletta Kouroushi