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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.
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MECRA
Mar 24, 20204 min read
#KhameneiVirus That’s the most popular hashtag trending on twitter among Farsi social media
By MECRA STAFF Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader recently refused the US offer to help Iran fight coronavirus. Nevertheless, due...
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MECRA
Mar 23, 202017 min read
US-Iran and Iran-Israel tensions March 22 and beyond
Read our previous installment March 12-21, 2020 of the daily updates of US-Iran tensions at this link. March 22 A look at the satellite...
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MECRA
Mar 21, 20209 min read
Coronavirus in the Middle East: Daily updates part IV: From March 21
Coronavirus threatens the Middle East
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MECRA
Mar 17, 202011 min read
Who is Adnan Zarfi (Zurufi), the new Iraqi PM designate: Sources, background and current events
Compiled by Seth J. Frantzman Who is Adnan al-Zarfi (Zurufi عدنان الزرفي), the man tasked with forming yet another Iraqi government on...
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MECRA
Mar 13, 20201 min read
Mapping the US retaliation for the Camp Taji attack March 11-13
March 11 7:35pm (Baghdad time): Rockets strike Camp Taji, Iraq. 8:26pm (Baghdad time) Iraqi security forces release images of the truck...
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MECRA
Mar 12, 202013 min read
US-Iran and Iran-Israel tensions daily updates March 12 and beyond
Coronavirus threatens the Middle East
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MECRA
Mar 11, 20205 min read
An attack on US-led Coalition at Camp Taji, March 11, 2020: Escalation and questions of deterrence
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A rocket attack on Camp Taji Iraq on march 11 has killed Americans and has led to tensions in Iraq. CENTCOM says...
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MECRA
Mar 11, 202012 min read
From March 11 coronavirus updates Middle East
View the previous live updates of the Middle East Coronavirus Daily Update (MECDU): First installment: February 15-25 Second Installment:...
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MECRA
Mar 10, 20205 min read
Shamkhani's Iraq visit: Shoring up Tehran's role
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani (علی شمخانی) made a high...
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MECRA
Mar 6, 202015 min read
Coronavirus updates Middle East Feb 26 and after
This is part of a live-blog that The Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis began on February 20. See our FIRST LIVE BLOG and the...
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MECRA
Mar 6, 202016 min read
US-Iran and Israel-Iran tensions timeline 2020 January to March
This timeline is the second part of a timeline that goes back to 2017, see the first part here. It seeks to include details about rising...
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MECRA
Feb 28, 20205 min read
How did Turkey, Russia and the Syrian regime get to the Feb. 27 crises in Idlib
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Turkey suffered unprecedented losses in Idlib on Thursday February 27, 2020 with dozens of soldiers killed and...
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MECRA
Feb 27, 20202 min read
Iranian officials warned their country about the coronavirus, now they're also sick
Iranian officials warned their country about coronavirus, now they’re sick By SETH J. FRANTZMAN “After lying about the plane crash for...
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MECRA
Feb 25, 20206 min read
Coronavirus Middle East LIVE-UPDATES Feb. 25
For the first installment the Middle East Coronavirus Daily Update (MECDU) of our daily updates on coronavirus in the Middle East see...
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MECRA
Feb 21, 20203 min read
Who is Abu Fadak, Abdul-Aziz al-Muhammadawi, the man who will replace Muhandis?
On February 21 reports indicated that Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a US airstrike on January 3, would finally be replaced in...
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MECRA
Feb 21, 202013 min read
Coronavirus in the Middle East - LIVE UPDATES
Middle East Coronavirus Daily Update (MECDU) * This live blog is being updated daily as best we can. Seth J. Frantzman and other members...
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MECRA
Feb 21, 20203 min read
US-Russia tensions in eastern Syria
US-Russia tensions appear to be increasing in eastern Syria after several incidents. A new video shows two vehicles almost collide. We...
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MECRA
Feb 16, 20206 min read
Escalation: Nujaba's Kaabi and the February 16 rocket attack on US forces in Iraq
A rocket attack directed at a Coalition base near the US embassy on the night of February 15-16 raises concerns about recent threats to...
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MECRA
Feb 12, 20205 min read
Analysis: How Serious Are Talks Between Assad and Syrian Kurds?
By MECRA staff Co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Ilham Ahmed this week said the Syrian regime has agreed to begin political...
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MECRA
Feb 12, 20208 min read
Incident at Khirbet Amo: A US patrol in Syria, pro-regime protesters and a death
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A US patrol in eastern Syria near Qamishli faced off against stone-throwing locals and at least two gunmen in an...
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