Cease-Fire Holds After Day of Intense Israel-Hamas Fighting

ARON HELLER / The Associated Press Jul 15, 2018 The Israeli military lifts its restrictions along the Gaza border, indicating it has accepted an Egypt-mediated cease-fire that ends a 24-hour round of fighting with Hamas. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Has Israel Become a Middle Eastern Dictatorship?

Juan Cole / Informed Comment Apr 2, 2018 The Israeli army snipers who were ordered to shoot unarmed Palestinian protesters at the Gaza border were acting according to the contemporary script of Middle Eastern despots. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Israeli Embassy Plan Is Another Way Trump Puts U.S. at Risk

Juan Cole / Informed Comment Dec 6, 2017 Moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is not a “recognition of reality" but rather a deadly provocation that could get Americans blown up. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Why Russia and the Assad Regime Want All of Aleppo Before Donald Trump Is Sworn In

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 30, 2016 Russia and Bashar al-Assad are not willing to risk Donald Trump changing his mind, what with all the hawks milling around him and on his new cabinet. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

War Within War: Iraq’s Prime Minister Says ‘We Don’t Want to Fight Turkey, but We’re Ready’

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 6, 2016 Iraq was alarmed by the announcement by Turk military authorities that they are sending some 30 armored vehicles, tanks and artillery to the Turkish-Iraqi border. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Another Saudi War Crime in Yemen as 43 Prisoners Die in Airstrike

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Nov 1, 2016 It isn’t that hard, Riyadh. If you think taking the shot will possibly kill noncombatants, especially a lot of noncombatants, you can’t take it. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Why Donald Trump Is Wrong to Bet Against the U.S. Military-Backed Mosul Campaign

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 26, 2016 The Republican presidential candidate's pronouncement that the campaign is bound to fail is an affront to the Iraqi and U.S. troops risking their lives against Islamic State. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

As Islamic State Loses Territory, Will Weak States Gain Strength? (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Oct 18, 2016 Political scientist Khalid Rif says that the organization's forced withdrawal from the town of Dabiq in northern Syria has a religious symbolism that could be fatal to its esprit de corps. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

R.I.P., Shimon Peres: The Last Great Israeli Leader to Believe in a Two-State Solution

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 28, 2016 Make no mistake, the late Shimon Peres was a hard-line Israeli nationalist, but he also was a dedicated socialist and at one point headed Socialist International. That stance helped him appreciate the need for human rights for all human beings. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Number of U.S. Troops in Iraq Is Approaching 6,000 (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 25, 2016 Five hundred more troops will be sent to help with the massive Mosul campaign. They will not engage in fighting at the front but will help call in airstrikes on Islamic State targets and provide tactical advice and training. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

With Defeat Looming, Islamic State Haunts Syria With Six Bombings (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 6, 2016 The group is still acting like a military organization, but it has always mixed military with terrorist tactics On Monday, it slid toward the terrorist end of the spectrum, setting off six coordinated bombings that left more than four dozen people dead The group is still acting like a military organization, but it has always mixed military with terrorist tactics. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

America’s Shameful Record on Syrian Refugees

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 4, 2016 The U.S. government played a role in the collapse of Syria. So surely we have helped out with the resultant massive refugee flow, right? Wrong. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )