top of page
MECRA RESEARCH BLOG
The MECRA research blog is composed of short articles and may include outside contributions. The views expressed in these blogs and articles are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis editorial stance.
Search
Residents can't return to Sinjar if there is no strong government capable of protecting civilians
A recent agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the region of Sinjar in northwestern Iraq has profound...
MECRA
Nov 9, 202011 min read
As detainees are released from Al-Hol, concerns in Syria's Euphrates river valley
By OMAR ABU LAYLA What follows Autonomous Administration’ releasing thousands of people from al-Hol camp and SDF’ prisons? On October 15,...
MECRA
Oct 25, 20205 min read
Salah al-Din Villagers: Our lives are worse now under Shia militia control than during ISIS Era.
By MECRA RESEARCHER in IRAQ The following is the combined testimony of a number of individuals resident in the vicinity of Farhatiya...
MECRA
Oct 24, 20206 min read
Iran’s efforts at consolidation in Syria’s Deir Ezzor area
OMAR ABU LAYLA *The author is a Syrian expert who focuses on security and governance dynamics in northeast Syria. CEO @DeirEzzor24, which...
MECRA
Oct 16, 20208 min read
Rockets fired at Erbil, Iraq: Residents of Nineveh discuss unprecedented attack; context of Iran
Figure 1: Rocket fire from Sheikh Amir targets Erbil By SETH J. FRANTZMAN, JONATHAN SPYER and MECRA Iraq researchers* On September 30 six...
MECRA
Oct 5, 202022 min read
MECRA
Oct 5, 20200 min read
Iran-US and Iran-Israel tensions September 2020 and onward
For our previous digest of daily incidents from July to September, compiled by Seth J. Frantzman, click this link. We have begun to...
MECRA
Sep 26, 202022 min read
Egypt's armed forces today: A comparison with Israel
As Egypt continues to diversify its sources of arms away from the U.S., the Israeli advantage will continue to lessen if Egypt is successful
MECRA
Sep 26, 202014 min read
Iraq’s Shia Militia Death Squads target Iraqi activists and demonstrators: Three Testimonies
Date: 8th September, 2020 Tahsin Osamah Al-Shahmani, a prominent political activist, was shot dead on August 14, 2020, in the Jeneina...
MECRA
Sep 13, 20207 min read
The last mission: Anti-ISIS Coalition spokesperson Col. Caggins say farewell after success
The last mission: Anti-ISIS Coalition spokesperson Col.Myles B Caggins III says farewell to the region after exceptional success By...
MECRA
Sep 11, 202010 min read
How mass protests are held in Belarus
The main focus of MECRA's reporting is on Middle East issues. However, we were recently approached by a group of Belarusian journalists...
MECRA
Sep 2, 20207 min read
Interview with Zeylan Vajin, Co-chair of PJAK, an Iranian Kurdish political party
The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) is an Iranian Kurdish opposition movement aligned with the Kurdistan Communities Union. It was...
MECRA
Aug 16, 20208 min read
Syrian Democratic Forces faces protests and challenges in Deir Ezzor, Euphrates valley region
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN The Euphrates river valley southeast of Deir Ezzor (دير الزور) city has become restive in the first weeks of August...
MECRA
Aug 11, 202010 min read
Iranian-Kurdish PJAK militant killed by Turkish drone in Kuna Masi
By JONATHAN SPYER Rebwar Gholizadeh, a militant of the Free Life in Kurdistan Party (PJAK), was killed in a Turkish drone strike outside...
MECRA
Jul 26, 20202 min read
Four maps reveal extent of Iran's mysterious fires and explosions
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN More than a dozen explosions and fires affected Iran between the last week of June and mid-July 2020. These...
MECRA
Jul 22, 20203 min read
Iran-US and Iran-Israel tensions July-Sept 2020
For our last installment (June 4 to July 19) see this link. July 19 Zarif's visit to Iraq part of strategic work. Iran-China document....
MECRA
Jul 19, 202015 min read
Mixed reviews of 'Tehran' show among Iranians
‘Tehran’, a drama series produced by Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation (known in Hebrew as ‘Kan’) has received widespread media...
MECRA
Jul 12, 20204 min read
Natanz explosion: Timeline and details on possible scenarios
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN An incident at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility on July 2 led to speculation over whether the incident was as...
MECRA
Jul 3, 20207 min read
What is known about raids on Iranian-backed groups in Baghdad: Documents and background
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN On the night of June 25-26 Iraqi security forces raided an Iranian-backed group. This is an unprecedented incident...
MECRA
Jun 26, 20207 min read
US-Iran tensions June 2020
Our daily updates on US-Iran tensions. For the previous installment see this link. June 4 US-led Coalition meeting. "U.S. Secretary of...
MECRA
Jun 13, 202011 min read
bottom of page