Hamas continues to return hostage remains as Gaza ceasefire holds

Hamas continued to hand over the remains of Israeli hostages between November 1 and November 5 as part of the ceasefire agreement that has largely held for almost a month. The remains of the last two American hostages held captive in Gaza were returned and identified. As of November 5, seven deceased hostages remained in the territory. The transfers took place as negotiations are reportedly underway regarding Hamas members who are trapped in tunnels in Rafah. Read more →

PKK announcement of withdrawal from Turkey has ramifications for Iraq, Syria

On October 26, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced that it was withdrawing its fighters from Turkey as part of a peace process with the Turkish government. Media reports indicate that the PKK may be moving to northern Iraq, leading to questions about how the withdrawal may affect the Kurdish regions of eastern Syria and northern Iraq. Read more →

Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows signs of renewed activity in the West Bank

Mounting evidence suggests that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is becoming more active in the West Bank following extensive Israeli military operations in the territory that began earlier this year. Claims of attacks by PIJ, the killing of its members in counter-terrorism operations, and other evidence point to the group attempting a resurgence. Read more →

Islamic State flag waving on the wind

Analysis: Islamic State redoubles call for jihad in Sudan, urges foreign fighters to migrate

For the second time this year, the Islamic State explicitly called for its supporters and other Muslims to take up arms in Sudan under its name. Simultaneously, it urged foreign fighters, particularly from North Africa, to travel to the country to partake in this jihad. Read more →

RSF seizes El Fasher, forcing Sudanese Armed Forces withdrawal

After 18 months under siege, El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur State, has fallen to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The victory leaves the RSF in control of the entire Darfur region and raises alarms over ethnic cleansing and Sudan’s potential partition. Read more →

Report: Iran rebuilding its ballistic missile program

With the help of China, Tehran is importing a chemical precursor for its medium-range ballistic missiles despite recently imposed United Nations sanctions, CNN reported. The report assesses that Tehran “appears to be stepping up the rebuilding of its ballistic missile program” following the 12-day war with Israel in June. Read more →

Israeli soldier killed in Gaza attack, IDF responds with airstrikes

An Israeli soldier was killed in Gaza in an attack on October 28, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out strikes across the territory in response. “The targets struck included key terrorists, observation posts, weapons production warehouses, launch posts, underground tunnels, and mortar shell firing posts,” the IDF said. In addition, Israel released drone footage that appeared to show Hamas staging the discovery of the remains of hostage Ofir Tzarfati. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement through the slow return of the remains of hostages and continued attacks. Read more →

Israel links 8 eliminated Hamas fighters to October 7 attack

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed four members of Hamas who took part in kidnapping Israelis from the Nova Music Festival on October 7. Among these Hamas members killed was Arafat Dib, whose family established a GoFundMe page to raise funds in the wake of his death. The IDF also highlighted four other Hamas members whom it killed for their roles in infiltrating Israeli territory. Read more →

UAE ‘likely’ building airstrip on strategic island in Red Sea

Satellite imagery shows an airstrip under construction on Zuqar Island, a strategic location in the Red Sea that is under the control of the National Resistance Forces (NRF), an anti-Houthi partner of the UAE. The UAE has reportedly been behind the development of a series of airstrips across strategic locations in and around the Red and Arabian Seas. Read more →

Iranian-backed Iraqi militias in spotlight after Secretary of State Rubio’s call with Prime Minister Sudani

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al Sudani on October 21, discussing the “urgency in disarming Iran-backed militias that undermine Iraq’s sovereignty.” Sudani told the US to “avoid unilateral decisions in Iraq.” The call followed increased US sanctions on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and individuals linked to them. Separately, Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qasim al Araji visited Iran and met with the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while IRGC-Qods Force Commander Esmail Qaani visited Iraq to discuss upcoming elections with Shiite political parties. Read more →

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