Strikes, Escalation, and a Break in Power: Iran at the Heart of a Major International Confrontation
Since February 28, 2026, Iran has been plunged into the most severe strategic crisis of its contemporary history. A series of events — unprecedented military strikes, massive civilian casualties, the death of a Supreme Leader, and a rapid regional escalation — have transformed long-standing tensions into an open confrontation of international scale. The United States […]
Interview with Marie Ladier-Fouladi: Understanding the Factors Behind the Escalation of Protests in Iran
[Lyna Ouandjeli and Héloïse Liebenberg] Good afternoon, and thank you very much for agreeing to speak with us. Today, we would like to explore in greater depth the situation in Iran, which has experienced significant waves of demonstrations since late December and January. These protests have been met with force by the regime. They began […]
From the Decline of the Militia Order to the Uncertain Construction of the State: The Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Hashd Facing Their Destiny
Before 7 October 2023, the Middle East was characterised by a geopolitical distribution between a Shiite power, Iran, and a Sunni power, Saudi Arabia. This configuration did not aim to redraw the region’s territorial borders, as had been the case in 1916 with the agreements concluded between the British Mark Sykes and the Frenchman Picot, […]
State Control over Pro-Iranian Armed Groups in Iraq in the Post–7 October Regional Context and the Iraqi Electoral Calendar
In a context of growing regional tensions and internal political reconfiguration in Iraq, the question of dismantling Iraqi militias, particularly the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), has emerged as a major strategic issue and has revived the debate over Iraqi state sovereignty. The regional environment in the aftermath of 7 October, marked by a reconfiguration of […]
Kurds and others in the Sunni Republic of Syria
The past several weeks have been eventful in Syria. In a dramatic turn of events, Kurdish self-rule in the country appears to be nearing its end. This raises pressing questions about the nature of the Kurds and their political aspirations. First, it’s important to identify who currently rules Syria. The ruling elites in Damascus since […]