The Soufan Center

Our features TSC publications, announcements, and media highlights.

📰 Read our latest
https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-dec-2-8

✅ Sign up
https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=7efb3bf7f7

Today’s : Politics, Potential, and False Promises at COP28

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-december-8

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Politics, Potential, and False Promises at COP28 There has been significant media coverage in recent weeks regarding the contradiction between business and climate interests at the ongoing annual UN climate conference.

Prominent “abductor states” in recent years have been utilizing the tactic of state hostage-taking to fulfill geopolitical ends.

Our on 'hostage diplomacy' delves into the practice's geopolitical complexity and human costs.

Read:

Citizens for Leverage: Navigating State Hostage-Taking in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape A number of states today are unlawfully detaining foreign nationals within their criminal justice systems for use as foreign policy leverage. Often referred to as “hostage diplomacy,” or state hostage-taking, this form of coercive diplomacy is not new in international politics, but its growing p...

Today’s : U.S.-EU Content Moderation Divide Crystallizes with Hamas-Israel Conflict

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-december-7

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: U.S.-EU Content Moderation Divide Crystallizes with Hamas-Israel Conflict Since the October 7 assault by Hamas on Israel, disinformation regarding the conflict, including AI-powered imagery, has rapidly spread and created further tensions and confusion.

Today’s : Israel Presses Offensive in Southern Gaza as Hopes for Renewed Truce Fade

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-december-6

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Israel Presses Offensive in Southern Gaza as Hopes for Renewed Truce Fade The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun pushing their offensive into southern Gaza, while still actively fighting against Hamas militants in parts of northern Gaza, including in the Shajaiya neighborhood of Gaza City and the city of Jabalia.

Despite vows to wipe out al Shabaab militants, the Somali government faces significant challenges in the second phase of its offensive.

Dr. Daisy Muibu examines the offensive and the challenges to its success in her recent TSC Insight.

Read it here:
https://thesoufancenter.org/research/operation-black-lion-challenges-that-lay-ahead-of-somalias-second-phase-of-the-offensive/

Today’s : Iran Achieves Mixed Results in Mideast Crisis

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-december-5

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Iran Achieves Mixed Results in Mideast Crisis Global officials have closely watched Iran’s actions and responses to the Israel-Hamas war because of the Islamic Republic’s ability to cause the war to expand into a regional conflagration.

📢 Subscribe to our newsletters:

📥 IntelBrief: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005
📥 WeeklyRoundup: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=7efb3bf7f7
📥 Events: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=f0a51c7cd8
📥 Media: https://soufangroup.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=a6c40b829b
📥 Global Security Forum: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=a3800233ce

📣 We are pleased to welcome Clara Broekaert as a Research Analyst at The Soufan Center. Her work focuses on the intersection of security and technology. Welcome to the team!

Read her bio: https://thesoufancenter.org/team/clara-broekaert/

Today’s : China Uses Middle East Crisis to Raise Its Global Profile

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-december-4

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: China Uses Middle East Crisis to Raise Its Global Profile Historically a marginal player on Middle East issues, China is exploiting the Israel-Hamas war to try to showcase its growing role as a major actor in global affairs, including on crises far from its traditional sphere of influence in East Asia.

Our highlights the complex security & geopolitical issues shaping regional & international affairs.

This week:
🔵 Truce & hostage negotiations in Gaza
🔵 US may re-designate Houthis as terrorist org
🔵 Russia's role in the mideast Crisis

https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-nov-25-dec-1

Our features TSC publications, announcements, and media highlights.

📰 Read our latest
https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-nov-25-dec-1

✅ Sign up
https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=7efb3bf7f7

Today’s : Yemen’s Houthis Could be Targeted for U.S. Terrorism Designation

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-december-1

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Yemen’s Houthis Could be Targeted for U.S. Terrorism Designation The Biden administration is weighing a potential foreign terrorist organization (FTO) re-designation for the Houthi rebel group, Ansarallah, based in Yemen.

During a speech at the Royal United Services Institute, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the country has one year to expel al-Shabaab militants.

Our recent TSC Insight by Dr. Daisy Muibu examines the challenges to the second phase of Somalia's offensive against al-Shabaab.

Read:

Operation Black Lion: Challenges That Lay Ahead of Somalia’s Second Phase of the Offensive Following a series of clan uprisings against al-Shabaab in the central regions of the country, in August 2022 the federal government of Somalia, working alongside clan militias known collectively as the Macawiisley, launched an offensive against the group. Much of this fighting has been concentrated...

Today’s : An Extended Truce in Gaza

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-30

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: An Extended Truce in Gaza Beyond ensuring the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza, the ongoing truce between Hamas and Israel serves as a proof of concept that could see it extended further, with the possibility of new categories of prisoners and hostages released, though there is good reason to be skeptical that the o...

More hostages are expected to be released today due to the negotiated temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Our on 'hostage diplomacy' delves into the practice's geopolitical complexity and human costs.

Read:

Citizens for Leverage: Navigating State Hostage-Taking in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape A number of states today are unlawfully detaining foreign nationals within their criminal justice systems for use as foreign policy leverage. Often referred to as “hostage diplomacy,” or state hostage-taking, this form of coercive diplomacy is not new in international politics, but its growing p...

Today’s : Pre-Conflict Trends in Middle East Likely to Endure After Israel-Hamas War

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-29

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Pre-Conflict Trends in Middle East Likely to Endure After Israel-Hamas War Many global diplomats and strategists have assessed that the Israel-Hamas war might produce profound and lasting changes to the region, including derailing the trend toward de-escalation that prevailed prior to the war.

Today’s : What is Russia’s Role in the Mideast Crisis?

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-28

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: What is Russia’s Role in the Mideast Crisis? Russia’s response to the Israel-Hamas war has not yet had many meaningful effects on the conflict or on international policy responses to the fighting.

📬 Subscribe to The Soufan Center's Media newsletter

Get media advisories, press releases, and news announcements on all of The Soufan Center’s products, experts, and events, straight to your inbox.

Sign up here ➡️ https://soufangroup.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=a6c40b829b

Today’s : How Does the European Union View the Israel-Hamas Conflict?

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-27

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: How Does the European Union View the Israel-Hamas Conflict? Over the last month and a half, protests both in support of Israel and Palestine have engulfed European cities.

Our highlights the complex security & geopolitical issues shaping regional & international affairs.

This week:
🔵 Hostage deal reached in Gaza
🔵 Differences within Iran's "Axis of Resistance"
🔵 Jordan's risks from Israel-Hamas war

https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-nov-18-24

Our features TSC publications, announcements, and media highlights.

📰 Read our latest
https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-nov-18-24

✅ Sign up
https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=7efb3bf7f7

📬 Subscribe to The Soufan Center Newsletter

Get TSC’s digest of announcements straight to your inbox to include a every Saturday with IntelBriefs, publications, events, media coverage, and organizational updates.

Sign up here ➡️ https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=7efb3bf7f7

From our team at The Soufan Center, we wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving.

Our will resume on Monday, November 27th.

This week's examines some key moments in the history of the Gaza Strip.

Today’s : Israeli Cabinet Approves Hostage Deal and Temporary Cease-Fire in Gaza

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-22

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Israeli Cabinet Approves Hostage Deal and Temporary Cease-Fire in Gaza After weeks of painstaking negotiations, a deal between Israel and Hamas was approved by the Israeli cabinet in the early hours of Wednesday morning Israeli time, with reports suggesting the pending release of no less than 50 Israeli hostages over four days.

With negotiations underway to secure the release of hostages in Gaza, we are revisiting our report on hostage-taking, which outlines the current geopolitical landscape and offers recommendations to state actors.

Read the full report here: https://thesoufancenter.org/research/citizens-for-leverage-navigating-state-hostage-taking-in-a-shifting-geopolitical-landscape/

Today’s : Differences Affect Iranian ‘Axis of Resistance” Response to Mideast Crisis

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-21

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Differences Affect Iranian ‘Axis of Resistance’ Response to Mideast Crisis The actions and responses of Iran’s “axis of resistance” to Israel’s war to remove one axis member, Hamas, from power reflect differing perceptions and calculations among Tehran and its protégé movements.

The inability of the Somalian government to hold areas freed from al-Shabaab is a "recurring issue."

In our recent TSC Insight, Dr. Daisy Muibu examines Somalia's second phase in its offensive against al-Shabaab.

https://thesoufancenter.org/research/operation-black-lion-challenges-that-lay-ahead-of-somalias-second-phase-of-the-offensive/

Today’s : Jordan Faces Risks from Israel-Hamas War

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-20

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Jordan Faces Risks from Israel-Hamas War The policies of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well as its stability, are pivotal to calming regional tensions after Israel’s operations in Gaza end.

Our highlights the complex security & geopolitical issues shaping regional & international affairs.

This week:
🔵 West Bank violence spirals
🔵 Egypt's future role in Gaza
🔵 Iranian proxy pressure on U.S. forces in Syria & Iraq

https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-nov-11-17

Our features TSC publications, announcements, and media highlights.

📰 Read our latest
https://mailchi.mp/thesoufancenter/soufan-center-weekly-nov-11-17

✅ Sign up
https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=7efb3bf7f7

In our recent TSC Insight, Dr. Daisy Muibu examines the limitations of Somalia’s military campaign against al-Shabaab.

Read the Insight here: https://thesoufancenter.org/research/operation-black-lion-challenges-that-lay-ahead-of-somalias-second-phase-of-the-offensive/

Today’s : Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic Incidents on the Rise as Gaza Conflict Continues

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-17

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic Incidents on the Rise as Gaza Conflict Continues Reports of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents, including violence, are on the rise in Europe and the United States since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in early October.

Today’s : Northern Front Remains Tense as Israel and Hezbollah Calibrate Responses

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-16

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Northern Front Remains Tense as Israel and Hezbollah Calibrate Responses Tensions along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon remain high, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Lebanese Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on a regular basis since the conflict kicked off between Israel and Hamas in early October.

"Despite losing key territory, al-Shabaab remains capable of conducting attacks and projecting power into the areas it has lost."

Dr. Daisy Muibu's TSC Insight discusses the challenges of countering al-Shabaab in Somalia.

https://thesoufancenter.org/research/operation-black-lion-challenges-that-lay-ahead-of-somalias-second-phase-of-the-offensive/

Today’s : Escalating West Bank Violence Could Have Major Implications for the Region

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-15

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Iran-Backed Militias Pressure U.S. Forces in Iraq and Syria By targeting U.S. forces deployed in Iraq and Syria, Iran-backed militias seek to advance Tehran’s objectives of pressuring American leaders to remove U.S. ground forces from countries near Iran’s borders.

Today’s : Iran-Backed Militias Pressure U.S. Forces in Iraq and Syria

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-14

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: Iran-Backed Militias Pressure U.S. Forces in Iraq and Syria By targeting U.S. forces deployed in Iraq and Syria, Iran-backed militias seek to advance Tehran’s objectives of pressuring American leaders to remove U.S. ground forces from countries near Iran’s borders.

📬 Subscribe to The Soufan Center's Events newsletter

Get announcements and information on The Soufan Center’s upcoming in-person and virtual events, straight to your inbox.

Sign up here ➡️ https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=f0a51c7cd8

Today’s : What is Egypt’s Role in the Future of Gaza?

https://thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2023-november-13

📱Subscribe: https://thesoufancenter.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3fe77a4916f69c37ee2ac1cbe&id=b21f1ae005

IntelBrief: What is Egypt’s Role in the Future of Gaza? Over the past two decades, as the perceived threat from Iran to the Arab states has supplanted concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Egypt’s regional clout has been overshadowed by that of the Gulf Arab monarchies, which now wield significant influence not just in the region, but globall...