#Congress cleared a major hurdle to lifting sanctions against #Syria this week by passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act (#NDAA), including a lifting of the 2019 #CaesarAct. The bill is heading to President Trump’s desk, where he is expected to sign it.

I'm very pleased to showcase the New Lines Institute's Captagon Trade Project's new and improved interactive dashboard, showcasing a mapping tool and several graphs. Many thanks to my colleague Karam Shaar for developing this. newlinesinstitute.org/initiative/s...

I was recently interviewed by the New Arab about the stalled deal between the Syrian government and the Kurdish #SDF. Some sources claim that ties between the #PKK and the SDF are stoking fears that a final deal could fall through.

I spoke with the New Arab about Syria’s path towards unification, explaining that ISIS presents a common enemy for al-Sharaa’s coalition and its chief rival, the Kurdish SDF. They may see increased trust through active coordination in their fight against ISIS.

Coalition forces in #Syria are reeling after a deadly attack on US forces in the country, which claimed the lives of two US soldiers and one civilian interpreter last week. Syrian officials announced a a US-led operation, targeting #ISIS sleeper cells.

The Southern Transition Council (#STC), a #UAE-backed Yemeni rebel cell, has continued its surge into new provinces in the country. Their latest march into the #Abyan province has provoked fears of a revitalized civil war, in contrast to the current “relative calm”.

The US-brokered peace in the Democratic Republic of #Congo faltered this week, as fighting claimed the lives of over 400 people. The peace agreement was signed by the presidents of the #DRC and #Rwanda, who backed the #M23 rebels fighting the Congolese government.

The US plans to deploy troops to #Gaza early next year as part of an International Stabilization Force (#ISF), though their role in the region remains unclear. The ISF will reportedly not engage #Hamas.

I spoke on a New Lines Middle East Center panel this week, discussing the state of #Syria 1 year post-#Assad. The panel, which included Resident Senior Fellow Faysal Itani and Non-Resident Senior Fellow Elizabeth Tsurkov, was moderated by Resident Senior Fellow Murad Batal.

According to New Lines’ Crime-Conflict Nexus Portfolio researcher Robert Kremzner, #Russia has been active in “undertaking hostile actions against other nations that are below the threshold of war, and thus not that easy to respond to,” dubbed “grey-zone warfare”.

According to the US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, the US and Türkiye are in discussions to bring the latter back into the F-35 fighter jet program. Türkiye was initially removed in 2020, when they accepted Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Southern Yemen’s UAE-backed separatist group, the Southern Transition Council (#STC), has announced broad control over the region, including the key city of #Aden. The announcement comes as head officials of the #Saudi-backed government flee Aden.

I was recently interviewed by the New Arab about the collapse of the #Assad regime and the return of the #Syrian diaspora. Syrians in the diaspora who spoke out against the regime were threatened, and since it’s the fall, many have been able to return home.

I’ll be speaking as on a New Lines Institute panel next week, discussing the state of #Syria one year post-#Assad. The panel, which includes fellows Faysal Itani and Elizabeth Tsurkov, will be moderated by Murad Batal Shishani. Join us on December 9 at 11 a.m. ET. us02web.zoom.us/j/81975720458

“The Syrian regime collapsed on day 628 of the 903 days I spent in captivity. From my cell on a militia base in Iraq, I watched the news coverage for hours and wept with joy” writes Elizabeth Tsurkov, in her powerful piece for the New Lines Magazine.

Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) among youth is on the rise in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Online platforms for video games and social media have enabled violent ideologies to spread through impressionable youth.

My colleagues Andrew Loftesnes and Robert Kremzner just published an exigent analysis of Russia’s usage of gray zone tactics in their war against Ukraine, as part of the New Lines Institute’s Crime-Conflict Nexus Portfolio.

As #Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s new government begins to settle in, the world is starting to see what it looks like post-honeymoon period. The cracks are starting to show, writes Gareth Browne, in governance, the economy, and even the social contract.

I spoke to Asharq News recently developments between #Israel and #Syria this week. The US has a vested interest in sustaining a deconfliction agreement between the two countries, especially as Israel continues apply pressure in southern Syria.

The US is moving to open its largest diplomatic facility in the Middle East, a Consulate General located in Erbil, #Iraq. The facility carries with it a message of US support for the Kurdish people in Iraq, as the city serves as the capital of Iraqi #Kurdistan.

I was interviewed by Nada al-Taher from the National about the recent surge in #captagon trafficking in #Yemen. Trafficking of the drug has found a home in the country due to its instability and proximity to hubs of consumption and production.

The US continues to increase pressure on #Venezuelan President Nicolas #Maduro. Previously laid out incentives for Maduro to step down have been retracted, with Trump now rejecting requests for amnesty and safe passage.

The US is seeking a non-aggression pact between #Israel and #Syria, as the latter turns into a close friend of the US. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that any pact would need to guarantee a demilitarized zone from #Damascus to Jabal al-Sheikh.

I'm pleased to announce that I've joined the Board of Directors for the Middle East Policy Council, an organization I've greatly admired throughout my career. mepc.org/our-leadersh...

I spoke with BBC Arabic once again this week about the failed truce agreement in #Sudan, as turmoil in the country continues to heat up.

I was interviewed by the New Arab about the complex relationship between #Israel and the new Syrian government. Israel, who has continuously struck targets in #Syria even after the fall of the #Assad regime, seeks to keep neighboring countries fragmented and weak.

Overnight #Israeli raids on the #Syrian town of Beit Jinn claimed the lives of 13 people Friday morning. The raid, which was the deadliest of its kind in months, came as a result of a confrontation between residents of the village and Israeli troops.

I recently joined BBC Arabic to speak about the failed truce agreement in #Sudan.

US Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll is in #AbuDhabi today to meet with a #Russian delegation about peace with #Ukraine. The talks come as some administration officials fear revisions to the original proposal may send Putin away from the negotiating table.

I was recently spoke with Fox News correspondent William La Jeunesse about the #Trump administration’s strikes on drug boats leaving #Venezuela. Watch the full clip here:

Yemeni security forces seized a boat containing over 600,000 #captagon pills this week. The boat, which was passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait off the coast of #Yemen, was stopped for operating without a license before officials found the illicit substances.

The US-proposed ceasefire in #Sudan is being criticized as the “worst yet” by the top Sudanese General Abdel-Fattah Burhan. Burhan claims that the proposal undermine’s the military’s authority and capabilities while bolstering the rebel Rapid Support Forces (#RSF).

#Israel’s first strikes in #Beirut in months were successful in killing Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai, #Hezbollah's chief of staff, over the weekend. Hezbollah condemned the strike, claiming Israel crossed a “red line” in al-Tabtabai’s assassination.

I spoke with Asharq News this week about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Tuesday visit to the #WhiteHouse. The meeting, which comes as President #Trump approves F-35 sales to #SaudiArabia, was the first visit by the prince in 7 years.

I sat down with Alaraby News to discuss the recent #UNSC Resolution endorsing US President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which passed with abstentions from #China and #Russia.

#Syrian officials conducted a drug raid in the #Badia region this week that resulted in seizures of over 246,000 #captagon pills, along with 105 kilograms of marijuana and other illicit substances. The narcotics were reportedly manufactured according to legal procedures.

I spoke with Al Ghad TV this week about the recently #UNSC-endorsed US plan for the reconstruction of #Gaza. Watch the full interview here:

In one of #Lebanon’s highest profile drug arrests, kingpin Nouh Zaiter was apprehended by the Lebanese Army during a 5 a.m. raid this week. Zaiter led a drug clan that produced and trafficked #captagon, and frequently clashed with Lebanese forces.

I sat down with William Law this week on the Arab Digest podcast to talk about a burgeoning hub of #captagon production and trafficking, #Sudan.

#China is hosting Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in a bid to strengthen ties with the new government. The visit demonstrates al-Shara’s goal of maintaining the country’s previous relationship with China, even following #Assad’s ousting.

President Trump has announced that there may be discussions between the country and #Venezuela, setting the scene for a potential off-ramp from the rapidly escalating situation. “Operation Southern Spear” marks the largest buildup of US forces in the region in decades.

#Hezbollah has reportedly been using a “stablecoin”, #Tether, to finance its operations in recent years. The reports come from a US Treasury delegation to #Lebanon, who urged the Lebanese government to crack down on illicit usage of the #cryptocurrency.

President #Trump announced this week that he will approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to #SaudiArabia. The approval comes just one day before Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where he plans push his #AbrahamAccords to Saudi Arabia.

I was interviewed by SyriaDirect about the Israeli encroachment in #Quneitra in southwestern #Syria. After the fall of the #Assad regime in 2024, #Israel occupied the area, which was a demilitarized zone, and established 6 military bases.

Things are heating up in Venezuela, all in the name of counternarcotics. But will escalation reduce criminality in #Venezuela? In my latest with Rafaella Lipschitz, Will Brundage, & Robert Kremzner, we warn that regime change in #Venezuela would have no effect on the illicit landscape.

I spoke on an excellent panel yesterday with the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme about the future of the #captagon trade in the Middle East and beyond, along with Ian Larson, Nicholas Krohley, and Mohanad Hage Ali. Watch the full discussion here:

I sat down with Asharq news to talk about the recent meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and President Trump. The meeting has already had a great effect on relations, and will likely have greater ripple effects across the region over the coming months. youtu.be/3GyO4dk5nZ4?...

I spoke with Sally Sara for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s meeting with President Trump earlier this week. The meeting, which was the first of its kind, marks a new era for US-#Syria relations. Listen to the full interview here:

Following the Pakistani military’s raids on TTP facilities at the beginning of the week, an affiliate of the group, JuA, carried out a deadly terrorist attack in Islamabad, which killed 12 people and injured 20 more. TTP has denied any connection to the attack.

The #Houthi rebels have indicated that their bombing campaign against #Israel-linked ships in the #RedSea has tentatively come to an end, though they stated the strikes will resume if the shaky #Hamas-Israel ceasefire is abandoned.