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By: Mukhlis Mukhlis   Background   The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, were established in 2014 following a fatwa issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to combat the rise of ISIS. By 2016, the PMF had evolved into a formalized paramilitary force integrated within Iraq's security framework. The PMF encompasses approximately 67 factions, representing a diverse spectrum of ethnic and sectarian groups, though it is predominantly composed

The Kurdistan Region: A Strategic Anchor for Stability  The False Narrative of Centralization As we navigate the opening months of 2026, the Middle Eastern Area of Operations (AO) is shivering under the weight of a profound geopolitical realignment. Legacy regimes are flickering out across the map, and in the resulting power vacuum, a seductive but hazardous diplomatic ghost has resurfaced in high-level policy circles: the doctrine of the "Benevolent Centralizer." This narrat

By: Mukhlis Mukhlis As we near the end of 2025, Iran is deeply entrenched in a complex crisis marked by serious economic and social upheaval. Much of this turmoil stems from the cumulative effects of international sanctions and a steep decline in oil revenues, which have long been the cornerstone of the Iranian economy. The value of the Iranian rial has plummeted to alarming lows against the U.S. dollar, sparking widespread protests in urban areas and increasing pressure on t