Northeast Syria’s political geography turns every option into a trap
As the stated deadline of the Damascus–SDF March 10 agreement for the integration of the SDF into the Syrian army…
A Prime Minister or a Tea-Server? Inside Iraq’s Post-Election Shia Power Struggle
With the Federal Court’s ratification of the election results, Iraqi parliament is set to convene tomorrow for its inaugural session,…
Iraq’s Consensus System Faces a Floor Vote It Wasn’t Built For
As Iraq approaches the constitutional timeline for forming a new government, disputes inside the main blocs are sharpening and beginning…
Written by
Arivan
As the SDF Integration Deadline Nears, the Leaks Tell the Real Story
As the year-end deadline for SDF integration into the HTS-led Syrian army looms, a war of leaks is sweeping the media. This comes amid reports of an expected, US-pushed visit…
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Written by
Arivan
A New Account of Israel–SDF Ties Raises the Stakes for Syria’s Northeast
The Washington Post reports that the SDF “maintains ties to Israel,” and that Druze figures linked to Israel’s security establishment funneled money to Druze militants in Sweida via the SDF…
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Written by
Arivan
Mapped, Exposed, Targetable: How Strike Risk Is Forcing a Managed Militia Transition
In an unusual statement, the head of Iraq’s top judicial body, Faiq Zaidan, has said Shia militia leaders have accepted to hand over their weapons to the “state” and transition…
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Written by
Arivan
Damascus Tests the SDF With a “Three Divisions” Offer
The Syrian government and the SDF are accelerating talks ahead of the end-of-2025 deadline set out in the March 10 Damascus–SDF agreement, but the chances of a last-minute, full integration…
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Written by
Arivan
Syria’s Kurds Are Stronger Than Ever. That May Not Be Enough.
Trump’s newly released National Security Strategy offers the clearest lens for understanding why northeast Syria’s political options are foreclosing. The document is not a Syria policy memo, but it establishes…
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Written by
Arivan
US House Repeal of Caesar Sanctions Is a Major Win for Ahmed al-Sharaa – Here Is Why
The US House of Representatives has passed a repeal of the Caesar sanctions on Syria as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Despite earlier reports that any…
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Written by
Arivan
A Pipeline Uday Hussein Built to Evade Sanctions Now Bankrolls Syria’s Kurds
The SDF-led administration in northeast Syria has increased its oil sales to Kurdistan Region buyers, rising from roughly 5,000–7,000 barrels per day in August to nearly 20,000 per day. The…
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