Defense and Military Forces – Page 23 – War Watch

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Syria Announces Cease-Fire Extension, Hours After Truce With Kurds Expired
ByAbdi Latif Dahir January 24, 2026January 24, 2026

Syria’s government and Kurdish-led forces in the country’s northeast have clashed as President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to extend his authority across the entire country.

Read More Syria Announces Cease-Fire Extension, Hours After Truce With Kurds Expired
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Iran’s Leadership Stumbles After War and Unrest
ByDeclan Walsh January 24, 2026January 24, 2026

The bloody crackdown offers hints about growing tensions inside the country’s ruling system as the cleric’s rule comes under strain.

Read More Iran’s Leadership Stumbles After War and Unrest
Assad, Bashar al- | Defense and Military Forces | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Politics and Government | Raqqa (Syria) | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | War and Armed Conflicts

Syria Advance on Kurdish-Held Areas as Washington Urges Restraint
ByEuan Ward January 18, 2026January 18, 2026

Government troops drew closer to Raqqa, the largest city overseen by the Kurds, raising U.S. concerns about the renewal of a wider conflict in the region.

Read More Syria Advance on Kurdish-Held Areas as Washington Urges Restraint
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Trump’s Gulf Allies Do Not Want Him to Bomb Iran
ByVivian Nereim January 14, 2026January 14, 2026

While several of the Gulf Arab countries harbor little love for Iran, they worry that the consequences of rising tensions could blow back on them.

Read More Trump’s Gulf Allies Do Not Want Him to Bomb Iran
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Iran’s Leaders May Survive Protests. But Anger Will Likely Persist.
BySteven Erlanger January 14, 2026January 14, 2026

Its security forces have brutally defended the Islamic Republic, but the protests show that many Iranians consider it stagnant and ideologically hollow.

Read More Iran’s Leaders May Survive Protests. But Anger Will Likely Persist.
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U.S. to Name Palestinian Committee to Run Gaza
ByAdam Rasgon and Aaron Boxerman January 13, 2026January 14, 2026

Officials said the body’s leadership could be announced as soon as Wednesday, but U.S. efforts to shape postwar Gaza by disarming Hamas have faced hurdles.

Read More U.S. to Name Palestinian Committee to Run Gaza
Araghchi, Abbas | Defense and Military Forces | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Nuclear weapons | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations

Trump Explores Diplomacy With Iran While Weighing Strikes, Officials Say
ByEdward Wong and Tyler Pager January 12, 2026January 13, 2026

The Pentagon is presenting a wider range of strike options to the president than previously reported. Targets could include Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile sites.

Read More Trump Explores Diplomacy With Iran While Weighing Strikes, Officials Say
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Yemeni Forces, Backed by Saudi Arabia, Reclaim Territory From Separatists
BySaeed Al-Batati and Vivian Nereim January 4, 2026January 4, 2026

An offensive by Yemeni government-allied forces appeared to turn the tide in a conflict that has become a proxy clash between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Read More Yemeni Forces, Backed by Saudi Arabia, Reclaim Territory From Separatists
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Gaza Aid Groups Face Suspensions Under New Israeli Rules
ByEphrat Livni December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

The organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have resisted providing Israel with detailed information about their workers.

Read More Gaza Aid Groups Face Suspensions Under New Israeli Rules
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Zero Hour for the Middle East
ByRoger Cohen, David Guttenfelder, Saher Alghorra, Daniel Berehulak and Nanna Heitmann December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

After more than a decade of wars, from Syria to Gaza, the Middle East is exhausted by conflict. Is it ready to find another way?

Read More Zero Hour for the Middle East