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A U.S. Test for Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Government
The reduction in the number of U.S. troops in Syria constitutes a test of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government’s ability to maintain security in the country and to handle several sensitive files, foremost among them the risk of a resurgence of the Islamic State group (ISIS). The first of these files concerns ISIS detainees held in…
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Developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea… What Is Egypt Afraid Of?
Given its strategic position overlooking vital maritime routes and its direct connection to Red Sea security, the Horn of Africa represents one of the most influential geopolitical arenas affecting Egypt’s national security. The region’s importance has grown amid rapid political shifts within its states, rising regional pressures, and intensifying international competition to establish military bases…
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Yemen Eyes GCC Entry Through Gulf “Marshall Plan”
Discussion has resurfaced about Yemen’s potential accession to the Gulf Cooperation Council, following official Yemeni statements that have returned the issue to the forefront of regional political debate. Last week, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi renewed his call for the country’s full integration into the Gulf Cooperation Council through what he described as…
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On al-Maliki’s Nomination… U.S. Reveals “Washington’s Priorities” with Iraq
The U.S. State Department told Alhurra that the United States would reassess its relationship with Iraq if the country moved forward with nominating Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister. The State Department’s comments came in response to questions about Washington’s position on the continued nomination of al-Maliki, the tools that could be used to pressure Iraq,…
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“Potential Sanctions”: A New U.S. Message Complicates Calculations in Iraq
Efforts to nominate former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a third term have become more complicated following the arrival of a new “U.S. threat message” detailing potential sanctions against Iraq, if U.S. President Donald Trump’s veto of al-Maliki’s candidacy was ignored. According to an Iraqi government adviser who spoke to Alhurra, Washington has sent…
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Yemeni Deputy FM Tells Alhurra About the Conditions for Yemen’s Accession to the GCC
Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mustafa Ahmed Al-Nu’man, said in an exclusive interview with Alhurra that discussions about Yemen’s accession to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) “are not new.” He explained that the idea has been raised repeatedly since the Council’s establishment and dates back to the period when Yemen was divided into two…
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No Blank Check for Damascus
Will Washington ease sanctions on Syria’s new government? That question framed a hearing this week inside the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the congressional panel that oversees U.S. foreign policy. The message was direct: Sanctions relief is not normalization. It is leverage. A senior State Department official told Alhurra, the U.S.-funded Arabic-language network, “Sanctions relief is not normalization.…
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The Syria Test
The framework Congress is using to evaluate Syria’s transition. The six pillars in this graphic reflect the dominant themes emphasized in the recent congressional hearing, “Syria at a Crossroads: U.S. Policy Challenges Post-Assad.” Lawmakers focused on minority protection as the credibility test, conditional and reversible sanctions relief, counterterrorism vigilance amid ISIS risks, review of the…
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Iran Plays Its Last Card in the Region
The continued recruitment of volunteers by Iraqi militias, and their public display of missile capabilities in preparation for fighting on Iran’s behalf, point to an Iranian plan to activate its armed Iraqi proxies to confront Washington and Israel. Over the past two years, Iran’s regional axis has suffered a near-total collapse. Its principal arm, Lebanon’s…
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Saudi Investments in Syria: Financial and Political Stakes
Syria and Saudi Arabia on Feb. 7, 2026, formally opened a new chapter in their economic relations by signing a series of agreements described as laying the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership between the two countries. The agreements include establishing a joint airline, developing telecommunications infrastructure, building a new airport in northern Syria, and…