Sectarian tensions are flaring again in Syria after a series of clashes first erupted in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, a diverse area home to Druze, Christian, and Muslim communities. Reports indicate that 14 people were killed in fights between armed groups in the town, while at least 16 others were killed in Ashrafiyet Sahnaya.
The Israeli military has struck more than 1,800 targets since renewing operations in Gaza on March 18, 2025. “We are continuing with the operational pressure and tightening the ring around Hamas as needed, and if we see no progress in the return of the hostages, we will expand our activities,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on April 24.
Israel continued operations in Lebanon between April 21 and April 27, 2025. These activities included targeted killings and the destruction of a Hezbollah precision-guided munitions storage facility in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Pro-Iranian militia leaders and politicians in Iraq have objected to a possible visit by Syria’s new transitional President Ahmad al Sharaa. The latest statements, including accusations the Syrian leader committed crimes in Iraq in the early 2000s, came after Sharaa met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani in Doha, Qatar, on April 17.
The Houthis have responded to the large-scale operation conducted by US forces with largely unsuccessful attacks against the US Navy and Israel. The group has also issued sanctions against American companies and ordered a boycott of US and Israeli products.
The “Change Movement” in Egypt called for supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan to resist the Jordanian state after authorities banned the group on April 23.
The “Resistance Front” claimed credit for the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. The group is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Al Qaeda-allied and Pakistani military- and government-supported terror organization that is entrenched inside Pakistan.
The Coordination Framework, Iraq’s ruling bloc of Shiite political parties, has announced that its members will run on separate lists in Iraq’s November 2025 election and reform the alliance following the vote. Elements of the bloc have disagreed strongly over key issues since the current government’s formation in 2022.
Security forces of the new Syrian transitional government in Damascus detained two Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members, according to various media reports. The two arrested PIJ members are Khaled Khaled, who is in charge of the group’s operations in Syria, and Yasser al Zafari, who is described as heading PIJ’s organizational committee. Saraya al Quds, the military wing of PIJ, called for the men to be released.
Abdullah Haji Zada, an 18-year-old legal permanent resident living in Oklahoma, pled guilty to conspiring to receive firearms intended for an election-day terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State. Six other individuals have been detained for their connection to the Islamic State since Zada’s arrest, underscoring a persistent threat to the US.
Israel’s efforts against Hamas have included severing the Islamist organization’s funding lifelines in addition to sustained military pressure. A recent report indicates that Hezbollah is showing financial strain.
An Iranian delegation led by the regime’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics attended the 13th International Defense Exhibition (IQDEX) in Baghdad on April 20, showcasing Iran’s latest drones, missiles, and anti-air defense systems. The attendance reflects a pattern of Iran positioning itself as a regional arms exporter and military patron.
Israel continued operations in Lebanon between April 14 and April 20, 2025. This week witnessed an uptick in Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, including several assassinations of the group’s operatives and commanders.
One IDF soldier was killed and three soldiers wounded in northern Gaza, the IDF said on April 19. Israeli forces in northern and southern Gaza continue to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, and Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal for a hostage deal and demanded an end to the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would not “surrender” to Hamas as part of a new hostage deal.
Israel killed Hezbollah Unit 4400’s new deputy commander, Hussain Ali Nasr. The Israel Defense Forces alleged that Iran and Unit 4400 continue to oversee weapons smuggling to Hezbollah, including through Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered his first speech thoroughly addressing Hezbollah’s vision for a national defense strategy. He said the group was ready for a dialogue, which remained premature, but would refuse to disarm even after a strategy is set.
From 2015 to 2025, Tehran-Riyadh ties shifted from confrontation to cautious engagement. Prince Khalid bin Salman’s visit to Tehran marks a historic step in de-escalation amid rising regional tensions. Riyadh appears intent on avoiding entanglement in a broader conflict between Iran and the West.
Bill, Behnam, and Janatan dive into the high-stakes complexities of U.S.-Iran relations, unpacking President Trump’s dual-track approach of military readiness and diplomatic outreach to the Islamic Republic. They discuss Iran’s internal reactions to U.S. policy shifts, Saudi Arabia’s cautious recalibration toward Tehran, and intensifying military pressure on the Houthis.
Reports are emerging across Yemeni and global media of an impending ground offensive against the Houthis by a conglomeration of anti-Houthi forces. These potential plans center on the west coast of Yemen, an economic center for the terrorist group.
Sabereen News, a media outlet affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, released an exposé on Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa that includes documents revealing his identity during his time as a prisoner in US and Iraqi custody.
US troops stationed at Tanf Garrison in southern Syria continue to train and support the Syrian Free Army (SFA). As reports emerge that US forces could redeploy from parts of Syria while the Syrian government expands its control, the future of the Tanf Garrison is unclear. The US-backed SFA works with the new Syrian authorities and conducts de-mining and other security operations.
Bill, David, and Ahmad deep dive into the volatile politics of the Middle East, from Jelani’s controversial role in Syria to sectarian tensions in Iraq and Hezbollah under pressure, the balance of power across the region is fragile.
On April 15, the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate (GID) announced that it “foiled plans aimed at targeting national security, sowing chaos, and sabotage within Jordan.” The GID detained 16 suspects, stating it had monitored the activity since 2021.
The transitional Syrian government and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have come to an agreement regarding the strategic Tishrin Dam in central Syria. The dam has been the site of almost four months of clashes between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and the SDF. Under the new agreement, the Syrian government will take control of the site, and the SDF will withdraw to positions further east.
Israel continued operations in Lebanon between April 7 and April 13, 2025, repeating a lower-intensity pattern from the previous week. The Israel Defense Forces targeted 10 areas and killed one mid-level Hezbollah commander and one Hezbollah operative.
Numerous reports have alleged the deaths of Houthi fighters of various military ranks since the Trump administration ramped up military operations in Yemen. However, while some of these claims appear credible, others require further verification.
Al Manar hosted Naim Qassem for his first lengthy interview as Hezbollah’s secretary-general. Qassem threatened to resume attacking Israel if it didn’t withdraw from south Lebanon and explained Hezbollah’s vision for the future, including the group’s intention to retain its arms and freedom of action from the Lebanese state.
Iranian and Armenian special forces conduct their first joint military exercise near the two countries’ shared border, while Azerbaijan mediated talks between Israel and Turkey over Syria.
Many Iraqi Shiites have showcased a deep hatred of Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa and his new government following the fall of dictator Bashar al Assad. Sharaa’s unpopularity can be explained by his history as a jihadist, as well as the Iran-led Axis of Resistance’s defeat in Syria.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued establishing operational control of southern Gaza, sending more forces, including infantry and armor, into the territory during the first week and a half of April. The IDF announced that it eliminated the commander of Hamas’s Sheijaiya Battalion on April 10. Israeli media reported that only 25 percent of Hamas tunnels have been destroyed, and the group’s battalions continue to operate in Khan Younis and Rafah.