Iran’s Kurdish Opposition Has United. Can the Coalition Hold?
The parties agree on opposing the Islamic Republic. They are less clear on what acting together actually requires.
Middle East Uncovered
Clear-eyed analysis, grounded reporting, and historically informed commentary on the political, cultural, and societal shifts shaping the Middle East today.
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The Fight for Afghanistan Isn’t Over
As armed opposition groups intensify attacks amid Taliban divisions, Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat explains in an exclusive interview why his forces have begun combat operations—and what comes next.
Al-Qaeda Wanted a War Between Islam and the West. It Failed.
In 2005, a Jordanian journalist documented al-Qaeda’s seven-stage plan for global jihad. It depended on provoking the world into a wider religious war. Two decades later, that war never came.
What It's Like To Be a Conservator In Cairo
As a 12-year-old boy, Eid Mertah was in awe of the ancient Egyptians. Now a conservator at the Egyptian Museum, he preserves pieces with stories to tell.
Five Years Into the Taliban’s War on Women
Under armed occupation, gender apartheid has become the governing order in Afghanistan—and the world is increasingly learning to live with it.
What I Experienced Inside Afghanistan As It Fell
Five years ago, I was living in Afghanistan when it fell to the Taliban. Here's what happened.
The Woman Drawing Gaza From Inside a Tent
Palestinian cartoonist Safaa Odah has documented the war, her displacement, and everyday life as she experiences them. Her work now travels to places she cannot.
Lebanon Breaks With the Region on the Death Penalty
The historic vote follows decades of advocacy and removes an irreversible punishment from a flawed justice system plagued by political interference and lengthy trials.
If Disarming Hamas Is the Goal, Why Is Netanyahu Rejecting a Deal to Do It?
The new US-backed framework appears to address one of Israel’s central security demands. But with elections just two months away, political considerations may be getting in the way.
Hasan Al-Habib on Iraq, Family, and Laughing Through Pain
The Iraqi-British comedian opens up about his complicated relationship with Iraq, a painful family history, and how comedy became a way to confront it all.
The Stray Dogs of War
From Benghazi to Gaza and Baghdad, wars have left behind growing populations of stray dogs. In Libya's second-largest city, residents are divided over how to tackle a problem that has claimed lives.
Iran's Baháʼís Survived Because the World Was Watching
The Islamic Republic has spent decades trying to stamp out Iran's largest non-Muslim minority. Advocates say global scrutiny has kept that campaign from becoming something even darker.