MECRA
Exclusive videos: Iranian attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in Iran
On November 14 Iran carried out drone and missile attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq. MECRA co-director Jonathan Spyer...
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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
- Sep 9, 2022
- 31 min
Iran tensions September 2022 and onward
Our daily updates of Iran tensions in the region. IranThe daily updates are compiled by Seth J. Frantzman, Executive Director of MECRA....
MECRA
- Sep 8, 2022
- 9 min
‘Sadr will not allow a new government to be established by the Coordination Framework at any cost'
Analysis of Iraq’s current situation, and interviews with two Iraqis close to the Sadrist movement Last week, Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada...
MECRA
- Apr 4, 2022
- 4 min
Chinese investments in Iraq involve cooperation with Iran-backed Militias
A number of articles in recent months have focused on the issue of large scale Chinese investments in Iraq. According to a February 2nd...
MECRA
- Feb 7, 2022
- 4 min
Iranian TV Platform and Prisons Hacked by Opposition Group
On February 1, the regular programming of the Iranian state TV channel, Islamic Republic Broadcasting, was interrupted. The ‘Edaalate...
MECRA
- Jan 23, 2022
- 13 min
A closer look at BBC Persian's full interview with Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali
Translation by: MECRA. Introduction Qais al-Khazali, 47, is the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq organization - one of the Iraqi Shia...
MECRA
- Oct 13, 2021
- 9 min
Iraqi Voices on US withdrawal from Iraq – including interview with Shia MIlitia Spokesman
The three interviews below, conducted by MECRA, represent three different Iraqi responses to the prospect of US withdrawal from the...
MECRA
- Sep 1, 2021
- 7 min
Increased worries in northeast Syria following US Afghanistan withdrawal
Text and Photos By WLADIMIR VAN WILGENBURG HASAKAH PROVINCE, Syria - During an embedded Coalition patrol near oil facilities close to the...
MECRA
- May 29, 2021
- 6 min
Demonstrators speak of suppression, killing, kidnapping and arrests in Baghdad
Large demonstrations took place on Tahrir Square, Baghdad, on Tuesday, 25/5. At least one demonstrator was shot dead and many more...
MECRA
- Mar 29, 2021
- 7 min
Christians in the Ninawa Plain fear the presence of Pro-Iran Militias
By MECRA researcher in IRAQ Place: Baghdad Date: March 23, 2021 Since the expulsion of ISIS from the Ninawa Plains of Iraq in 2017, local...
MECRA
- Feb 25, 2021
- 1 min
On patrol with US forces in Syria
On February 20 a MECRA researcher flew to Syria to witness a patrol with US-led Coalition forces. The US has maintained several...
MECRA
- Feb 25, 2021
- 1 min
Impact of rockets on Coalition facilities at Erbil International Airport
During a trip to eastern Syria and the Erbil International Airport on February 20 our expert photographed the area impacted by rockets...
MECRA
- Dec 12, 2020
- 7 min
Iraqi proxy militias threaten Saudi investment in Iraq
Time: 08:30 pm (Local time, Baghdad) Place: Baghdad, Iraq IRAQI-SAUDI agreement On November 8, 2020, the Iraqi-Saudi Committee met in...
MECRA
- Dec 12, 2020
- 8 min
Profile of IRGC general and current Iranian presidential candidate Hossein Dehghan
Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan, former defense minister, fourth commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Lebanon,...
MECRA
- Nov 9, 2020
- 11 min
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
- Oct 5, 2020
- 22 min
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
- Jul 19, 2020
- 15 min
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 3, 2020
- 7 min
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
- Apr 26, 2020
- 11 min
The Egyptian-Israeli Peace and the Military Balance
One of the most common complaints Egyptians have with the treaty is that it blocks full Egyptian sovereignty of the Sinai
MECRA
- Apr 24, 2020
- 4 min
A ‘Happy’ app which makes millions of Iranian students sad
“There are large families with four or five students, and it is not possible for all of them to get a smartphone in Iran."
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