Top US general calls out Houthi-Shabaab ties across Yemen-Somalia strait The Pentagon has opened the aperture on al-Shabaab in recent months, allowing AFRICOM to ramp up strikes on the al-Qaeda offshoot in the Horn of Africa. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Analysis Are Lebanon, Syria ripe for peace with Israel or on cusp of more escalation? While some Israeli leaders hope for normalized ties with Lebanon and Syria, others warn that the uncertainty of the current situation could become permanent or deteriorate. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis Turkey, alarmed by sectarian clashes, steps up Syria role, criticizes Iran As last week’s bloody clashes in Syria have deepened divisions among Turkish experts over the country's future, Turkey’s priorities in Syria remain focused on countering the SDF and combating ISIS. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Exclusive Turkey to host regional summit in April on counter-ISIS operations Technical talks for the formation of a joint regional operation center against ISIS have begun as efforts to create an alternative to US-led coalition Syrian Democratic Forces against the Islamic State take shape. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Armenia joins US-led global coalition against Islamic State By Amberin Zaman In Paris, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Attacks on churches, synagogues in Russia’s Dagestan: What we know The incident follows a major ISIS attack in Moscow in March. Russia
Turkey detains over 30 ISIS suspects as raids continue The detentions come amid a series of attacks by the Islamic State's Khorasan branch in the region. Turkey
Do Lebanon's US Embassy attack, border clashes signal rise in extremism? While armed groups are becoming more active in Lebanon in the wake of regional tensions resulting from the Gaza war, some believe the country is not prone to rise of extremism. Lebanon
US, Turkey sanction ISIS smuggling group linked to Istanbul church attack The Treasury Department said three of the sanctioned individuals were part of a human-smuggling network operating in Turkey. Turkey
Biden’s nominee for Iraq ambassador vows to counter resurgent ISIS The career diplomat emphasized the role of economic development and good governance in combating the terrorist group. By Megan Mineiro In Washington, DC, reporting on US Congress
Iraq recovers over 6,000 stolen historical artifacts, government says An Iraqi official says the Iraqi government’s efforts to get back historical artifacts smuggled out of the country were focused on Mosul, which was overrun by ISIS in 2014. Iraq
ISIS resurgence in Iraq sees fresh attacks, clashes after commander killed The Islamic State is suspected of killing soldiers in eastern Iraq in the latest sign of the group’s persistence. Iraq
Turkey expands ISIS crackdown, detains over 100 in a week Eight more people were detained on Monday in a raid on individuals who were allegedly planning to carry out a bomb attack. Turkey
ISIS takes advantage of Israel-Iran spiral to mount resurgence in Syria Amid the relocation of Iranian-backed forces due to Israeli and US airstrikes and the lack of coordination between the SDF and Damascus, ISIS has intensified its operations, clawing back parts of the vital highway separating Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. Syria
Syria’s Kurds face ISIS threat, US indifference as Turkey destroys critical infrastructure Turkish strikes have left hundreds of thousands without water and electricity, as well as undermining security at prisons and detention centers where tens of thousands of Islamic State fighters and their families are being held. Syria
What’s behind ISIS threat to Champions League soccer matches? The threats follow an ISIS-linked shooting in Belgium in October. The group remains particularly active in Iraq and Syria, though it no longer holds territory there. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
