inCONTEXT: Our Take on the News

Archive

The Chief of the General Staff approves strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon from the IDF Headquarters Underground Operations Center. (Photo:IDF/X)

How October 7th Changed the Middle East Forever

Sean Durns
On the eve of the United Kingdom’s entry into World War I, the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, told a friend: “The lamps...

Biden-Harris Plan to Shut Down Migrant Smuggling Route an Empty Promise

Joel Himelfarb
In early July, the Biden Administration announced to great fanfare that it had reached agreement with the government of Panama on US assistance in...

Philadelphi Tunnel Vision

Ruthie Blum
It beggars belief that Israeli defense chiefs with the highest security clearance have been leaking to the media transcripts of top-secret meetings with Prime...

Bennett Visits Bahrain as Arab Ties Deepen

Michael Johnson
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited Bahrain’s capital Manama on Monday, marking the first such trip by an Israeli leader to the Persian Gulf...

Houthis Show Reach with UAE Attack

Michael Johnson
Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a series of attacks against the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi Monday, escalating tensions between the Iranian-backed group...

Putin Escalates Campaign in Ukraine, Testing Biden

Michael Johnson
Russia continued a military build-up in eastern Ukraine this week, deploying additional forces to areas it illegally occupies and launching offensive military exercises in...

Iranian Diplomat Sentenced in Belgian Terror Plot

Michael Johnson
A court in Belgium convicted an Iranian diplomat for the attempted bombing of a 2018 Iranian opposition group Thursday. Antwerp Criminal Court sentenced Assadollah...

Beijing Facilitates Ousting of Hong Kong Lawmakers

Michael Johnson
Fifteen pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong announced their resignation on Wednesday over the ousting of four pro-democracy members of the territory's Legislative Council (LegCo). Earlier...

Amid Navalny’s Recovery, German Inaction

Michael Johnson
Doctors in Germany released Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny from hospital on Tuesday, following extensive treatment for poisoning. While growing evidence indicates Kremlin involvement...

Khashoggi Murder Trial Starts in Istanbul

Sacha Warnod
Turkish prosecutors began a criminal trial against 20 Saudi citizens in absentia last week for the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi. While the proceedings...

Houthi Missile Fired at Riyadh Intercepted

Sacha Warnod
Houthi rebels conducted drone and ballistic missile strikes on Riyadh on Tuesday, targeting military and government outposts in Saudi Arabian capital, according to the...

Iran Releases U.S. Navy Veteran

Sacha Warnod
Iran released U.S. Navy veteran Michael White on Thursday, after almost two years in prison. Just days earlier, the United States had extradited Sirous...

Russia Sends Air Power to Back Libyan Rebels

Sacha Warnod
Russia delivered fourth generation fighter jets to Libya in order to back its state-sponsored private military contractors (PMC), according to a Tuesday statement from...

Iraq’s Parliament Agrees on New Prime Minister

Sacha Warnod
The Iraqi Parliament swore in Mustafa Al-Kadhimi as the new prime minister May 7, also approving three-quarters of his cabinet. Iraqi politicians hope the...

Germany Belatedly Bans Hezbollah’s Activities

Michael Johnson
The German government designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization Thursday, finally eliminating the distinction between the group’s military and political operations. The move may...