Seth J. Frantzman

According to SANA, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani announced that Syria is beginning “a new phase” in dealing with the country’s chemical weapons legacy.

Pakistan is expanding its Middle East influence, deepening ties with Syria, preparing talks with Iran, and positioning itself as a potential mediator between Tehran and Washington.

The problem is that the 20,000 employees are working in a key energy infrastructure field in a country that is now at the center of the Iran conflict with the US and Israel.

Talk of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords appears to underestimate how much Riyadh and other countries have become concerned about Israeli strikes in places like Syria.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Iraq as Tehran sought to protect its allied militias and signal it would not budge on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran will use the militias to do whatever is necessary to preserve its role in Iraq, while also aiming to weaken its Kurdish rivals in the country.

Rhetoric is one thing. Action is another. The bombing of Syria is not entirely new. Israel carried out thousands of airstrikes before the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

The US has slammed European allies and allies such as South Korea. Threats to Oman show that the White House is willing to threaten partners and friends of the US.

Iran’s drone strike on the Kurdistan Region may showcase new capabilities while warning Erbil and Washington that Tehran is willing to redraw regional red lines.

Two drones launched from Iran targeted offices linked to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and a senior security official, with no casualties reported.