Robert M. Danin

Middle East Matters

Danin analyzes critical developments and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

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Showing posts for "Yemen"

Middle East Matters This Week: Syria at Center Stage as Iran Talks Drag On

by Robert M. Danin
A member of the Free Syrian Army holds his weapon as he sits on a sofa in the middle of a street in Deir al-Zor April 2, 2013 (Ashawi/Courtesy Reuters). A member of the Free Syrian Army holds his weapon as he sits on a sofa in the middle of a street in Deir al-Zor April 2, 2013 (Ashawi/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Developments

Syria. Israel publicly warned Syrian president Bashar Assad to stop transferring advanced weapons to Hezbollah yesterday. In an unusual move, a senior Israeli official contacted the New York Times on Wednesday and was then quoted by the paper saying that “Israel is determined to continue to prevent the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah,” arguing that such a move would destabilize the region. Read more »

Regional Voices: Iran, Syria, Yemen, Israel, and Palestine

by Robert M. Danin
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad talks during a news conference at the end of his visit to Cairo, February 7, 2013 (Waguih/Courtesy Reuters).. Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad talks during a news conference at the end of his visit to Cairo, February 7, 2013 (Waguih/Courtesy Reuters)..

“We don’t need an atomic bomb. … And besides, it is not atomic bombs that threaten the world, but Western morals and culture declining in values.” –Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

“Look, I respect their prowess and their struggle…I respect their ideology, even if I strongly disagree with it, on one condition! They must remain one faction among many other factions of the revolution and one component of Syrian society which has many other components.” –Abu al-Hasan, an Aleppo activist speaking about Jubhat al-Nusra Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Egypt, Syria, and Iran

by Robert M. Danin
Coptic Christians run inside the main cathedral in Cairo as police fire tear gas and Muslims throw rocks and firebombs April 7, 2013 (Waguih/Courtesy Reuters).. Coptic Christians run inside the main cathedral in Cairo as police fire tear gas and Muslims throw rocks and firebombs April 7, 2013 (Waguih/Courtesy Reuters)..

Significant Developments

Egypt. An Egyptian Coptic Christian died today from injuries sustained during sectarian violence over the past week, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. Violence erupted outside Egypt’s main Coptic Christian Cathedral in Cairo on Sunday after street battles between Christians and Muslims in the town of Khosoos left five people dead on Saturday. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Egyptian Elections, Damascus Explosions, and a New Tunisian Government

by Robert M. Danin
Egyptian electoral workers carry ballot box at a center for vote counting during a previous parliamentary election (El-Ghany/Courtesy Reuters). Egyptian electoral workers carry ballot box at a center for vote counting during a previous parliamentary election (El-Ghany/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Developments

Egypt. President Mohammed Morsi issued a decree last night calling for parliamentary elections to begin April 27 and end in late June. The vote will take place in four stages across different regions dues to a shortage of electoral supervisors. The new parliament will then convene for the first time on July 6. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Syria, and More

by Robert M. Danin
A man cries next to a poster with an image of Chokri Belaid, a prominent Tunisian opposition politician who was shot dead, in Tunis February 7, 2013 (Souissi/Courtesy Reuters). A man cries next to a poster with an image of Chokri Belaid, a prominent Tunisian opposition politician who was shot dead, in Tunis February 7, 2013 (Souissi/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Developments

Tunisia. Tunisia’s ruling Islamist party Ennahda rejected its own prime minister’s proposal today to form a new government of technocrats following the assassination yesterday of Chokri Belaid, a prominent opposition politician. Belaid was gunned down outside his Tunis home immediately sparking massive nationwide protests. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Israel Strikes Syria, Egypt Seeks Unity, and Iran Upgrades Enrichment

by Robert M. Danin
A protester opposing Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi holds a homemade gun during clashes with riot police, along Qasr Al Nil bridge in Cairo on January 27, 2013 (Dalsh/Courtesy Reuters). A protester opposing Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi holds a homemade gun during clashes with riot police, along Qasr Al Nil bridge in Cairo on January 27, 2013 (Dalsh/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Developments

Syria. Israel reportedly conducted an airstrike inside Syria on Wednesday for the first time since 2007, igniting protests from the Assad regime as well as Syria’s allies Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. Conflicting reports have emerged about the target; U.S., Israeli, and Lebanese sources have been quoted claiming Israel struck a convoy carrying advanced SA-17 anti-aircraft weapons heading into Lebanon. Read more »

Voices From the Region: Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Yemen

by Robert M. Danin
Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Sadr takes part in Friday prayers participated by Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim worshippers in a gesture of unity at the Abdul Qadir Gilani Mosque in Baghdad on January 4, 2012 (Al-Sudani/Courtesy Reuters). Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Sadr takes part in Friday prayers participated by Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim worshippers in a gesture of unity at the Abdul Qadir Gilani Mosque in Baghdad on January 4, 2012 (Al-Sudani/Courtesy Reuters).

“The Iraqi spring is coming.” – Moqtada al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shiite leader, expressed support for further demonstrations against Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki in a speech in Najaf on Tuesday

“The failure of the international community, in particular the Security Council, to take concrete actions to stop the blood-letting, shames us all…Collectively, we have fiddled at the edges while Syria burns.” – UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Significant Developments in Syria, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Egypt

by Robert M. Danin
A crowd gathers in front of damaged buildings after a car bomb exploded in Damascus hours after the ceasefire went into place on October 26, 2012 (Courtesy Reuters). A crowd gathers in front of damaged buildings after a car bomb exploded in Damascus hours after the ceasefire went into place on October 26, 2012 (Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Syria. A deadly car bomb exploded in Damascus today just hours after the Eid holiday ceasefire, brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi between Syria’s regime and the Free Syrian Army, took effect. Over sixty people have been killed throughout Syria today despite the ceasefire. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Brahimi’s Cease-Fire, Libyan Fighting, Egyptian Constitution Struggles, and More Iran Sanctions

by Robert M. Danin
UN-Arab League peace envoying a news conferenc for Syria Brahimi speaks dure in Beirut on October 17, 2012 (Shaaban/Courtesy Reuters). UN-Arab League peace envoying a news conferenc for Syria Brahimi speaks dure in Beirut on October 17, 2012 (Shaaban/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Syria. Iran and Turkey today endorsed UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi’s call for a cease-fire during the Eid al-Adha holiday that begins October 26. Brahimi proposed the cease-fire on Monday amidst ongoing violence throughout the country, and is scheduled to be in Damascus on Saturday. The Syrian regime has said it is ready to discuss the plan. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Egypt Clashes, Turkey-Syria Escalate, Israel Calls Elections

by Robert M. Danin
A member of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporter of Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi punches an anti-Brotherhood protester at Tahrir Square on October 12, 2012 (Chany/Courtesy Reuters). A member of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporter of Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi punches an anti-Brotherhood protester at Tahrir Square on October 12, 2012 (Chany/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Egypt. Hundreds of people were injured today when supporters and opponents of Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi clashed violently in Tahrir Square for the first time since the president took office in June. Morsi’s critics took to the streets primarily to demand a more representative Constituent Assembly, the body tasked with writing Egypt’s new constitution. They also protested the president’s performance to date. Read more »