Orientul Mijlociu

Israel, Jewish Groups Discuss Airlifting Ukraine’s Jews if Russia Invades

As threat of Russian invasion looms, top officials examine possibility of emergency evacuation for up to 75,000 Ukrainians thought to be eligible for Israeli citizenship under Law of Return

With a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine looming, a briefing held Sunday by top officials in the Israeli government and Jewish organizations discussed the level of threat to Jewish communities in Ukraine and the possibility that Israel will facilitate an evacuation program.

Syrian Kurdish Forces Tighten Prison Siege, Iraq Zones in on ISIS Hideouts After Deadly Attacks

Though little has remained of the Islamic State, which once ruled a third of both Syria and Iraq, two major offensives that left scores dead put forces in both countries on high alert

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) troops aided by U.S. troops tightened their siege of a prison housing Islamic State suspects after inmates took over the facility, residents and officials said on Sunday, in what local officials described as one of the Islamist group’s most serious attacks in months.

After Abu Dhabi, Is Israel’s Red Sea Port of Eilat Next Target for Houthi Drone Strike?

Drone and missile attack on UAE oil facilities and airport sends a message about the war in Yemen, and an equally strong signal to the U.S. and Israel about Iran’s determination

More than 24 hours after the fact, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemned the drone and missile attack on the oil facilities and international airport in Abu Dhabi. Three people were killed in the attack, which occurred in broad daylight on Monday morning and also caused massive property damage.

Iran, Russian and China Begin Naval Drill ‘To Strengthen Security in the Region’

The third trilateral drill, held in the Indian Ocean, is launched as Iran seeks to boost military cooperation, stronger ties with Beijing and Moscow amid tensions with Washington

Iran, Russia and China on Friday began a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting marine security, state media reported.

Iran’s state TV said 11 of its vessels were joined by three Russian ships including a destroyer, and two Chinese vessels. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard will also participate with smaller ships and helicopters.

Still Reeling From Last War With Russia, Ukrainian Jews Are Staying in Place for Now

Jewish community leaders in eastern Ukraine say there is no sense of panic, despite the deteriorating security situation with Russia, and that previous experiences are helping them now

Sitting in his synagogue office in central Kyiv, Rabbi Pinchas Vishedski is keeping watch on Ukraine’s rapidly deteriorating security situation, as 100,000 Russian forces mass on the border and U.S. President Joe Biden predicts an imminent invasion.

EU-MENA relations: Outlook for 2022

Going into 2022, many of the main issues that dominated the European Union’s (EU) relations with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), from the ongoing talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, as well as the uncontrolled influx of migrants from the region and Turkey’s long-stalled membership bid, remain on the agenda. Is the new year likely to see a resolution of any of these issues or any other significant changes in relations between the EU and the countries of the region?

How involved was Iran in the Houthi attack on the UAE?

Three days have passed since the Houthi attack on the UAE, yet there’s still a lot we don’t know about what really happened. That’s not uncommon. When the Iranians attacked Saudi oil processing facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais in the fall of 2019, it took several weeks to figure out who truly was behind the attack, where they launched it from, what weapons they used, how those weapons performed, and why Saudi air and missile defenses failed to respond.

As the Houthis expand their regional aggression, will the US double down on a failing strategy?

The State Department announced, on Jan. 19, that Tim Lenderking, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen, is departing for a round of consultations in the Gulf and London. He’ll be joining U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, who has already arrived in the region. According to the announcement, Lenderking is being dispatched “to press the parties to de-escalate militarily and seize the new year to participate fully in an inclusive UN-led peace process.”

Russia Reviews South Syria Strategy

Russia is trying to decrease the influence of the eighth brigade in south Syria, in order to bolster the government’s presence there, according to North Press.

Russia is trying its best to strengthen the Syrian government to reassert its control over south Syria, most notably the Daraa governorate, the birthplace of the protests against the Syrian government.