The Washington Institute For Near East Policy

The “Insight” section of a new @WashInstitute map carries brief and #data-driven #analysis on #maritime-related developments in the region. Check out the latest entry on #Iran's threats to shipping in the #PersianGulf and the world's most vital chokepoint: https://lnkd.in/ex6enfND #maritimelaw #maritimesecurity #shipping #trade #security #houthis #yemen #map #interactivemap

What have we learned about the Houthi war machine since the October 7 attacks? The #Houthis will likely emerge from the #Gaza war as a more confident, ambitious, and aggressive terrorist army, writes Institute expert Michael Knights in a new study. In addition, the movement has demonstrated boldness and resilience in the face of the U.S.-U.K. airstrikes. More on the group's current capabilities and strategic intentions: https://lnkd.in/e5pszYJA #middleeast #mideast #unitedstates #unitedkingdom #policy #foreignpolicy

"Friends, I am ashamed—ashamed of how we have allowed the story of the hostages to get lost in the noise of the war that followed their capture; ashamed of how we have permitted their release to be a bargaining chip in some larger political negotiation; ashamed of how we have failed to give them the respect and dignity and our wholehearted demand for Red Cross access and care and medicine that is our normal, usual demand for hostages," said Institute Executive Director Robert Satloff at a “Bring Them Home Now!” rally for hostages in Gaza, held weekly in front of the national headquarters of the American Red Cross in Washington. #middleeast #mideast #israel #gaza #washington #unitedstates #october7

Israel's April 19 limited strike on Iranian air-defense shows that it remains committed to a strategy of deterrency by both denial as well as punishment. Whereas Washington in recent years has come to rely almost exclusively on a risk-averse strategy of deterrence by denial vis-a-vis Iran, writes Washington Institute military & strategy expert Michael Eisenstadt. Broadly, the two forms of deterrence are Denial, that is, convincng an adversary that it will be thwarted; and Punishment, that is, convincing an adversary that it will incur unacceptable costs. For the United States, deterrence by punishment need not include only overt, potentially escalatory, direct military action. Washington, like Tehran, also has "gray zone" options, such as sabotage, stealthy strikes, cyber warfare, and the like. American willingness to demonstrate a higher degree of risk tolerance and to adopt a deterrence strategy of both denial and punishment could help dissuade Iran from attempting a nuclear breakout.

Institute researcher Gabriel Epstein has dug deep into the data released by Hamas' own Ministry of Health. Executive Director Robert Satloff speaks with Epstein about his findings. Here are some key takeaways from his research: https://lnkd.in/eZ2ZhTpA #middleeast #mideast #palestinian #israel #gaza #video #explainer #data

The Hamas-#Israel war has become a source of tension and debate. One of the key #data points in war reporting has been the count of fatalities. In this #video, Institute researcher Gabriel Epstein speaks with Executive Director Robert Satloff about how the group's fatality statistics are inconsistent, imprecise, and manipulated. #middleeast #mideast #youtube #statistics #gaza #methodology

The #Israel-#Iran crisis elicited varying reactions in #Gaza, the #WestBank, and abroad. Devorah Margolin, Ph.D. and Neomi Neumann explain why the latest exchange of attacks highlighted a main challenge in the #Palestinian arena: coalescing around a unified order that can advance a singular Palestinian national interest. #middleeast #mideast #policy #analysis #foreignpolicy #unitedstates

On April 24, CENTCOM said a Coalition vessel engaged one ASBM launched by the #Houthis and which was "likely targeting" Maersk Yorktown over the Gulf of Aden. A #map by @NoamRaydan and @FarzinNadimi traces maritime attacks in the #Mideast since 2019. Check out the map: https://lnkd.in/en4-4Ggf #middleeast #mideast #maritime #maritimesecurity #maritimelaw #centcom

#China's presence in the #MiddleEast has mirror its rise as a global power. Today, #Beijing has in place infrastructure that allows it to have deeper military and security ties in the region. For more on China's #Mideast ambitions and where the perils lie for the U.S., check out Grant Rumley's report published in 2022. #greatpowercompetition #gpc #military #security #internationalrelations #internationalaffairs

Shuttering Iran Air's routes will have little effect if IRGC-linked carrier Mahan Air is allowed to expand its own access to #Europe via subsidiary airlines and service companies in #African and #Asian countries, writes Babak Taghvaee. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eYdikgmz #middleeast #mideast #iran #policy #foreignpolicy