Middle East/North Africa
Implications of Iran’s ballistic missile tests
UN Security Council Resolution 1929 (2010) Paragraph 9 states, “Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology,
The pressure is building on the Golan Heights
With Israel’s continued efforts to source economical oil from the region and an ongoing civil war in nearby Syria, the Golan Heights is once again in the spotlight, leaving the
Is Libya becoming the next Syria?
Recent US airstrikes in Libya and Tunisia underline a growing concern that ISIS is deepening its reach across northern Africa. Increasingly, Libya is becoming the main target of the group,
Zaman seizure threatens press and economic freedom
It is no secret that Turkey has seen a worrying decline in Press freedom in the last several years. The seizure of Zaman (one of the more critical media outlets
Understanding Russia’s Syria pull-out
By GRI Analyst Nicolas Jenny and Senior Analyst Madeleine Moreau. Russia’s announcement this week that it “achieved its goals” in Syria came as a shock to the international community, as
The impact of the independence of Kurdistan
In this second of two articles on Kurdistan, GRI examines the likely repercussions of an independent Iraqi Kurdistan. The previous article made the case that this is a good time
Ankara bombing raises questions over Turkey’s stability
The March 13th bombing in Ankara is the third terrorist attack that hit the capital in a six-month period. The blast is a strong indicator for both the elevated terrorist
Why the timing is ideal for Iraq’s Kurds to declare independence
In this first of two related articles, GRI examines why it is a good time for the Iraqi Kurdish population to declare independence. The next article will examine the regional
Militant violence negatively impacts business in the West Bank, Israel unaffected
The current wave of militant violence across Israel and the West Bank mainly negatively affects business in the West Bank, while major strategic projects remain generally unhindered in Israel. A
Iraq reimagined: An alternative history of Saddam Hussein and the Arab Spring
This piece imagines an Iraq where Saddam Hussein was still in power in 2016. What if President Bush had allowed his red line to be crossed? How would Saddam’s response
