In this episode, we examine Iraq’s uncertain future after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran’s deepening influence and the role of Iran-backed militias, and ask whether Baghdad can assert its sovereignty amid…
Saudi Arabia has spent the past few years trying to reshape its role in West Asia, moving away from confrontation with Iran, and seeking an end to the war in Yemen. However, the Iran war has changed…
The UAE has emerged as one of the most influential powers in West Asia, using diplomacy, trade, investment and strategic partnerships to extend its influence far beyond the Gulf. But its relationships…
Israel has fought multiple wars and military campaigns since October 7, in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, while expanding its military and intelligence operations across the region. But military reach does…
Yemen is no longer just the site of a devastating civil war. The Houthis have emerged as a powerful regional actor, capable of threatening Saudi Arabia, Israel and one of the world’s most important…
Jordan rarely dominates the headlines, yet it sits at the heart of some of West Asia's biggest geopolitical faultlines. Bordering Israel and the occupied West Bank, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the…
The war on Iran may be over, but its consequences are only beginning to reshape the Persian Gulf. For decades, Gulf monarchies have balanced security partnerships with the United States, pragmatic…
Since October 7, West Asia has witnessed a cascade of crises, from the war in Gaza, attacks on Red Sea shipping, to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and direct military confrontation between…
The Iran-Israel-U.S. war may have ended with a ceasefire, but many of the questions that drove the conflict remain unresolved. After months of direct confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the…
The October 7 attacks triggered a wave of changes across West Asia, transforming conflicts, alliances, and the balance of power in the region. What began as a war in Gaza soon expanded into a wider…
