The Paradox of Ending Militias in the Middle East

In the Middle East, militias are a complex and long-standing issue. Depending on a variety of factors, militias may rise and collapse. However, it is difficult to see the Middle East without militias. Why?

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit: was it more than a Trumpian showbiz?

Apart from its grandiose display, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit produced several far-reaching outcomes. Chief among them, as Israel faced growing international isolation, the summit reinforced its regional standing. After October 7, Israel sought not only to remake Gaza but also to reshape the broader Middle Eastern order by force; through the summit, it tried to use the ceasefire to consolidate these gains. Meanwhile, other regional powers are either losing grounds, normalizing, or challenging the new order. Amid these shifting dynamics stands one country uncertain about how to navigate the emerging landscape: Iraq.