Pakistan goes to the polls this week. Here’s what to watch. Christopher Clary, Sarah Khan, Zoha Waseem, Yasser Kureshi, and Asfandyar Mir - February 7, 2024 Four experts on Pakistani politics share their insights on the leading parties and candidates, voter turnout, and election integrity.
Iraqis voted a year ago but still don’t have a government Hamzeh Hadad - October 10, 2022 Iraq’s democracy depends on consensus — yet parties in the minority in parliament don’t want to take the opposition role
Pakistan is seeking flood assistance — but not from foreign NGOs Rafeel Wasif and Aseem Prakash - September 12, 2022 For more than a decade, Pakistan has banned some international aid groups
How the Ukraine crisis could make the Syrian civil war worse Tiina Hyyppä and Aaron Pilkington - May 23, 2022 Shifting Russian troops away from Syria risks opening up new threats
Can Lebanon’s new opposition win? Sami Atallah and Christiana Parreira - May 12, 2022 The same parties have ruled since 2005 — and they’re counting on old alliances to remain in power
Groups like the Taliban have seized power elsewhere. Will the Taliban face similar difficulties governing? Raphael Lefevre - August 24, 2021 The research shows how hard it is to go from armed rebellion to leadership
5 ways the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will hurt Pakistan Fahd Humayun - August 16, 2021 Pakistan’s relationship with its own religious groups — and with Washington — just got more complicated
Catholic clerics struggle to avoid partisan politics. Evangelical leaders dive right in. Why the difference? L. Felipe Mantilla - July 20, 2021 It’s all about hierarchy and its absence.
Why Gulf nations are normalizing ties with Israel Jonathan Hoffman - September 24, 2020 Bahrain is the latest Arab nation to recognize Israel
Iraq is trying yet again to form a government. Why is it so hard? Renad Mansour - April 15, 2020 Mustafa al-Kadhimi has emerged as the compromise prime minister designate
Keeping Syrian refugees in neighboring countries isn’t working. Here’s why. Reva Dhingra - March 9, 2020 With millions of displaced Syrians, other countries are overwhelmed — and offering little protection or aid
Will Soleimani’s death change Iran’s relationship with the Revolutionary Guard? Dina Esfandiary - January 8, 2020 Soleimani’s heavy-handed approach of using armed militias and proxies turned local opinion against Iran.
Trump threatens ‘sanctions like they’ve never seen’ if Iraq evicts U.S. forces. Can Iraq do it? Stacie L. Pettyjohn - January 6, 2020 It’s likely that Iraq will expel U.S. forces.
Does Trump need Congress’s approval to go to war with Iran? Andrew Rudalevige - January 4, 2020 That depends on whether Congress wants to try to stop him.
Iraqi protesters are mostly Shiite. And this identity is shaping how they protest. Marsin Alshamary - December 13, 2019 They are using religious symbolism to oppose the government.
Saudi Arabia held secret talks with Iran to ease regional tensions. Are they holding back the U.S.? Peter Henne - December 13, 2019 Arab Gulf countries are restraining the United States from war with Iran.
What radicalized ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? Samuel Helfont - November 11, 2019 Iraq’s post-2003 chaos is actually to blame, not Saddam Hussein.
Worried about an Islamic State comeback? Here’s why that’s unlikely. Daniel Byman - October 28, 2019 Yes, Trump pulled U.S. troops out of northern Syria, but many other factors will probably keep ISIS down.
Lebanese are protesting in all regions of the country, not just Beirut. Here’s why that matters. Kelly Stedem and Christiana Parreira - October 23, 2019 That’s never happened before.
No, a downed drone does not give Trump the authority to start a war. He still needs congressional authorization. Andrew Rudalevige - June 22, 2019 Two articles of the Constitution and two statutes offer guidance.
Why the Houthi drone strikes targeted Saudi oil facilities Samuel Ramani - May 29, 2019 Yemen’s Houthi rebels are not just Iran’s proxies
How ordinary Iraqis resisted the Islamic State Jonathan Hall, Isak Svensson, Eric Skoog, and Dino Krause - March 21, 2019 New data from Mosul shows the power of the less powerful
Why is Nigeria cracking down on peaceful religious protests? Jason Klocek - February 4, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83417" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Members of the Islamic Movement in
How the Iraqi crackdown on the Islamic State may actually increase support for the Islamic State Mara Revkin and Kristen Kao - January 7, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82203" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man, blindfolded and handcuffed, kneels
Iran’s influence in Iraq is declining. Here’s why. Munqith al-Dagher - November 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_80301" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Demonstrators waved Iranian and pro-Iranian party
After several high-profile murders in Iraq, here’s what headlines missed about their cause. Zahra Ali - October 15, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78816" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this image from Oct. 1,
Does the Russia-Turkey deal on Idlib signal a new era of relations in the Middle East? Peter Henne - October 5, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78547" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left,
Why has the Syrian civil war lasted so long? Théodore McLauchlin - July 27, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76120" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Syrian national flag flies amid
The big gains for women’s rights in the Middle East, explained Feryal Cherif and Benjamin Bishin - July 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75893" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hessah al-Ajaji drives her car on
The U.S. military is trying to manage foreign conflicts — not resolve them. Here’s why. Paul Staniland - July 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75692" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A U.S. soldier assigned to provide
Why Iran’s involvement in Syria may backfire Thomas Juneau - June 12, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74447" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A convoy of Syrian government forces
Why Iraq’s surprising election doesn’t signal major changes Al Ali - May 16, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73384" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Iraqi woman prepares to cast
What Iraq’s election means for its Shiite militias Ranj Alaaldin - May 12, 2018 https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/world/baghdad-residents-vote-in-parliamentary-election/2018/05/12/77c31d4c-55d0-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_video.html Today's parliamentary elections in Iraq are the country’s first since the Islamic
What can we learn from Lebanon’s elections? Amanda Rizkallah - May 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73208" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri gives
What to expect from Iraq’s election on Saturday Renad Mansour - May 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73005" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People cast their ballots at a voting
Did bin Laden’s death help the Islamic State? Tricia Bacon and Elizabeth Arsenault - May 2, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72869" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An undated photo shows al-Qaeda leader
Here’s what happens when diplomats get involved in religious rhetoric Stacey Philbrick Yadav and Ian Hartshorn - April 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72062" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Representative Mike Pompeo, a Republican from
What’s next for jihadists in Yemen? Elisabeth Kendall - February 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69626" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Shiite Houthi rebels attend
In Yemen, 2018 looks like it will be another grim year Peter Salisbury - January 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_67944" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Shiite Houthi rebels attend
What’s behind the Islamist protests in Pakistan? Niloufer Siddiqui - December 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67061" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of different religious groups hold
The new U.S. plan in Afghanistan may add a local militia. That might be a bad idea. Govinda Clayton and Andrew Thomson - December 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66860" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Soldiers of NATO's Resolute Support Mission
Why moderate Muslims come to support extremist groups Barbara Walter - November 29, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66679" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Discarded shoes of victims remain Saturday
Women’s rights are under threat in Iraq Zahra Ali - November 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66419" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqis register their names before voting
Survey research in the Middle East needs to be transparent. Here’s why. David Pollock - November 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66326" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Qatari woman walks in front
The Islamic State is more like a street gang than like other terrorist groups Matthew Phillips and Matthew Valasik - November 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62026" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A member loyal to the Islamic
Why Lebanon’s prime minister resigned Jeffrey Karam - November 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65978" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned
How states can wield ‘official Islam’ to limit radical extremism Michael Robbins and Lawrence Rubin - November 3, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65731" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Worshipers arrive for Friday prayers at
How 9/11 created a feedback loop for international jihadism Martha Crenshaw and Lisa Blaydes - September 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63827" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians pull
A striking positive shift in Sunni opinion in Iraq is underway. Here’s what it means. Munqith al-Dagher and Karl Kaltenthaler - September 14, 2017 Iraqi security forces have made great progress toward defeating the
Three years ago, the Islamic State massacred Yazidis in Iraq. Why? Murat Tezcür - August 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62370" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In 2015, a Yazidi woman, who
Why a controversial Iraqi Shiite cleric visited Saudi Arabia Fanar Haddad - August 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr visited
Trump has no long-term foreign policy vision. Here’s how that’s hurting America. Henry Farrell - July 17, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61019" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A book by Thomas Wright of
Three big lessons of the Qatar crisis Marc Lynch - July 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60977" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin
What the Qatar crisis shows about the Middle East Gregory Gause - June 27, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60415" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man walks past the Qatar
How Iran fights the Islamic State Dina Esfandiary - June 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59835" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Police control the scene around the
The Internet is changing civil wars. Watch out for these five trends. Barbara Walter - June 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59494" align="aligncenter" width="960"] South Sudanese refugees shelter from the
How Trump’s alignment with Saudi Arabia and the UAE is inflaming the Middle East Marc Lynch - June 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59460" align="aligncenter" width="960"]in President Trump speaks with Qatar's Sheikh
Why key Arab countries have cut ties with Qatar — and what Trump had to do with it Michael Stephens - June 7, 2017 The decision by five Arab states to sever ties with
Trump seeks greater collaboration with Saudi Arabia, but will this boost counterterrorism? Stephen Tankel - May 25, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58837" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump meets with Saudi King
Why the words we use about terrorism matter Jacob Olidort - March 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56029" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Islamic State fighter holds a
Trump’s immigration order means bureaucrats have to decide who’s a “real” Christian Elizabeth Hurd - February 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53758" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People protest President Trump's travel ban
Many Syrians are skeptical of peace talks. Here’s why. Dareen Khalifa - February 3, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53522" align="aligncenter" width="960"] From left: Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy
Fighting the Islamic State won’t change the sectarian image of Iraq’s militias Mieczyslaw Boduszynski - December 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_51868" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iraqi rapid response forces gather during
Hold off on the obituaries for Islamist parties in the Middle East Marc Lynch - December 19, 2016 [caption id="attachment_51548" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Tunisian Ennadha Party supporters wave flags
Shiites are participating in the world’s largest pilgrimage today. Here’s how they view the world. Fotini Christia, Elizabeth Dekeyser, and Dean Knox - November 21, 2016 [caption id="attachment_49847" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iranians pray in Tehran during a
This is what can we learn about ISIS from Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army Eleanor Beevor - October 22, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48328" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this Nov. 12, 2006 file
It’s been 15 years since 9/11. How has al-Qaeda changed? Barak Mendelsohn - September 10, 2016 [caption id="attachment_46093" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this Sept. 11, 2001 file
Uzbekistan had the same president for 25 years. What happens now? Pauline Jones - September 6, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45908" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov greets people
A new survey shows that Pakistanis penalize candidates for religious piety Niloufer Siddiqui and Michael Kalin - August 19, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45483" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Leaders of the Pakistani religious movement
This is how Islamist extremists use Western anti-Islam rhetoric to help recruit. Haroro Ingram - August 11, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45169" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A person loyal to the Islamic
How to break the Middle East’s sectarian spiral Bassel Salloukh - August 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45005" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese antigovernment activists march from Bourj
What do ordinary citizens in the Arab world really think about the Islamic State? Mark Tessler, Michael Robbins, and Amaney Jamal - July 27, 2016 What do ordinary Arabs think about the Islamic State? This
The dark side of the popular mobilization that stopped Turkey’s coup Lisel Hintz - July 21, 2016 [caption id="attachment_44239" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters hold Turkish flags during a
This is the problem with trying to destroy the Islamic State Colin Clarke and Chad Serena - July 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42441" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A fighter of the Islamic State
Four reasons why killing insurgents in Syria might backfire Joshua Eastin and Emily Gade - June 27, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42715" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Smoke rises after what fighters of
Arab regimes’ sympathy over the Orlando massacre may seem hypocritical. But it’s a start. Samar Habib - June 17, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42276" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Law enforcement officers converge on the scene
Should the U.S. worry about tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in central Asia? Sebastien Peyrouse - May 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40467" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] People gather for the monument unveiling
Beirut’s election was surprisingly competitive. Could it shake up Lebanese politics? Amanda Rizkallah - May 11, 2016 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="842"] A Lebanese woman casts her vote
Here’s why so many people join Boko Haram, despite its notorious violence Hilary Matfess - April 26, 2016 Just over two years ago, the extremist Islamist group Boko
Why Iraqis living under the Islamic State fear their liberators Munqith al-Dagher and Karl Kaltenthaler - April 11, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38930" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A supporter flies the flag of
Here’s what led to the Lahore terrorist bombing — and what to do next Adnan Naseemullah - March 31, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38244" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Relatives of the victims of Sunday's
Why some (but not all) Middle East militaries stand by their leaders Holger Albrecht and Dorothy Ohl - March 29, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38143" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Egyptian security forces and others gather
Why it’s wrong to say that the Arab uprisings failed Marc Lynch - March 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37971" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Egyptians wave their nation's flag in
Putin can’t last forever. Will a post-Putin Russia look like Syria today? Maria Snegovaya - March 16, 2016 Russian politicians often suggest that a post-Putin future would look
Are Russia’s 20 million Muslims seething about Putin bombing Syria? Egor Lazarev and Anna Biryukova - March 7, 2016 [caption id="attachment_36827" align="aligncenter" width="908"] The full moon of July, 29,
What an innovative new survey technique reveals about Bahraini public opinion Peter Loewen, Janice Stein, and Farhaan Ladhani - March 4, 2016 [caption id="attachment_36681" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A Bahraini woman holds a poster
What’s the best path to peace in Libya? Yonatan Lupu and Benjamin Graham - March 3, 2016 [caption id="attachment_36715" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Armed men wave their flags during
How Bahrain’s crushed uprising spawned the Middle East’s sectarianism Justin Gengler - February 13, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35676" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Demonstrators chant and wave Bahraini flags
Did the Arab uprising destroy the Muslim Brotherhood? Steven Brooke - January 26, 2016 [caption id="attachment_34783" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Supporters of Mohamed Morsi and members
What Iran’s textbooks can teach us about sectarianism and ancient hatreds Shervin Malekzadeh - January 25, 2016 [caption id="attachment_34694" align="aligncenter" width="908"] The Iranian flag flies in front
Does Twitter bridge the Sunni-Shiite divide or make it worse? Alexandra Siegel - January 7, 2016 [caption id="attachment_34173" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Iranian protesters set fire to the
Why Saudi Arabia escalated the Middle East’s sectarian conflict Marc Lynch - January 4, 2016 The Jan. 2, 2016, execution of Saudi Shiite cleric and
The Syrian military has thousands of deserters. New research tells us why they left. Kevin Koehler, Holger Albrecht, and Dorothy Ohl - December 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33649" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Syrian civilians who volunteered to join
Here’s why we can only contain the Islamic State, not bomb it back to the Stone Age Stephen Biddle and Jacob Shapiro - December 1, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32401" align="aligncenter" width="908"] U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles
Why France is so deeply entangled in Syria Samuel Ramani - November 19, 2015 On Nov. 14, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad declared that French
Why are Salafi Islamists contesting Egypt’s election? Jacob Olidort - November 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32061" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Members of the Islamist al-Nour party
So are Russia and Iran best buddies now? Um, maybe not. Samuel Ramani - November 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32032" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes
What will it take to get Europeans to welcome Syrian refugees? Here’s part of the answer. Egor Lazarev and Kunaal Sharma - November 4, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31713" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Syrian refugees pass time in Aksaray
When he bombs Syria, Putin is sending these four messages to the world Samuel Ramani - October 21, 2015 On Sept. 30, the Russian Parliament unanimously approved the use
The heinous consequences of Turkey’s polarization Lisel Hintz - October 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30678" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Police in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on October