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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
- Feb 21, 2020
- 3 min
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...
MECRA
- Feb 16, 2020
- 6 min
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...
MECRA
- Feb 12, 2020
- 5 min
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...
MECRA
- Feb 12, 2020
- 8 min
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...
MECRA
- Feb 10, 2020
- 4 min
Iraq's protesters: "No one cares about us but we continue our revolution"
Iraq’s protests: “No one cares about us, but we will not stop our revolution” What follows is an interview with a protester in Iraq...
MECRA
- Feb 7, 2020
- 12 min
From Badr to Sadr: Iraq's crucial moment January 27 to February 7
From Badr to Sadr: Iraqi protests January 27 to February 7 By MECRA STAFF The period of review from January 27 to February 7 may be a...
MECRA
- Feb 1, 2020
- 5 min
Who is Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, Iraq's possible next Prime Minister
Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi may be Iraq's next Prime Minister. His selection by President Barham Salih comes just over two months since Prime...
MECRA
- Feb 1, 2020
- 8 min
Iran's responses to 'Deal of the Century'
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN During Friday prayers on January 31 Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani condemned US President Donald Trump's "Deal of the...
MECRA
- Jan 25, 2020
- 4 min
Analysis: Will Turkey's increased role in Libya reduce or inflame conflict?
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Greece’s foreign minister flew to Abu Dhabi, Libya, Egypt and Cyprus in the wake of Turkey threatening to send...
MECRA
- Jan 24, 2020
- 3 min
January 24: Photos and commentary from Iraq's "Million person protest"
Photos by KAREEM BOTANE Photos by KAREEM BOTANE text by MECRA Protesters gathered in Baghdad on January 24 for what Muqtada al-Sadr and...
MECRA
- Jan 24, 2020
- 3 min
Iraq's iconic four-months of protests continue: Week 17 interviews with participants
Exclusive interview with the coordinator of logistics for the demonstrations: Discussion about the militia interventions at Tahrir square...
MECRA
- Jan 21, 2020
- 4 min
Who is Iran's new deputy IRGC Quds Force commander: Mohammad Hejazi
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN and MECRA STAFF Iran has appointed a new deputy commander for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force in...
MECRA
- Jan 6, 2020
- 8 min
An interview with a senior officer of a special unit of Hashd al Shaabi (PMU)
This interview was conducted on January 3 in Baghdad, Iraq in the wake of the US srike that killed Qasim Solaimani and Abu Mahdi...
MECRA
- Jan 5, 2020
- 4 min
Reactions in Iran to the death of Qasem Soleimani: The regime and the opposition
The following has been translated from Farsi from an article looking at reactions within Iran to the US airstrike on Qasem Soleimani....
MECRA
- Jan 5, 2020
- 5 min
Analysis: Implications of the Soleimani killing
By ALEX GRINBERG The liquidation of the Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani is an achievement for the US, yet it is not a game changer....
MECRA
- Dec 29, 2019
- 4 min
Developing Story: Sources and related to Turkey's new role in the Mediterranean, sending of Syrians
In late November Turkey signed a deal with the Government of the National Accord in Libya. The GNA controls parts of Libya near Tripoli,...
MECRA
- Dec 28, 2019
- 7 min
What is known about rocket attack that killed a US contractor and wounded several US forces in Iraq
On Friday a salvo of rockets struck the K-1military base northwest of Kirkuk. It is the most significant of more than a dozen similar...
MECRA
- Dec 28, 2019
- 1 min
An attack in Somalia kills up to 90 people, including several Turkish nationals
A source from Somalia wrote the following MECRA this morning; "These are pictures were taken from the terror attack scene or place....
MECRA
- Dec 27, 2019
- 3 min
An interview with a member of the pro-Iran Khorasani militia, captured by protestors in Baghdad
The following interview was conducted with a member of the Khorasani militia, a pro-Iranian militia in Iraq, which forms part of the...
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