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2013 YEAR IN REVIEW Al-Monitor's Year in Review highlights the events and trends that have shaped the Middle East in 2013.

Al-Monitor has taken a long view of the region and uncovered trends while covering the news. Instead of chasing the news, Al-Monitor monitored developments for months and offered clear analyses when crises emerged.

Sunni Turkey and Shiite Iran battle over Syria

01/04/2013

Before the regional nature of the conflict in Syria became clear, Al-Monitor focused on the danger of a sectarian proxy war developing in the region.

Link: http://almon.co/4l7

Syrian refugees flood Lebanon

01/14/2013

Al-Monitor reports gave a sense of the grave challenges facing Lebanon as it struggled to deal with an influx of refugees from Syria.

Link: http://almon.co/4ts

Salafists vow to create Islamic state in Syria

01/16/2013

In a rare interview, an Ahrar al-Sham fighter told Al-Monitor that the goal of his Salafist group is to establish an Islamic state in Syria.

Link: http://almon.co/4vy

Kurdish issue in Turkey hinges on Syria

01/17/2013

Ahead of Turkey’s cease-fire with the PKK, Al-Monitor's Denise Natali said that solving the Kurdish Issue could be complicated by Syria and Iran.

Link: http://almon.co/4y1

2/14

Al-Qaeda establishes new footholds

01/24/2013

As optimism about the Arab Spring faded, Bruce Riedel wrote that al-Qaeda had re-emerged as a new and deadlier threat.

Link: http://almon.co/55o

Terrorist attack at US Embassy in Turkey

02/03/2013

Turkey Pulse columnist Tulin Daloglu was one of the first reporters at the scene of the embassy bombing in Ankara.

Link: http://almon.co/5e6

Trouble in Tunisia

02/12/2013

On location in Tunisia, Ali Hashem noted the growing resistance of the population to Islamist rule after the assassination of an activist.

Link: http://almon.co/5s2

Hezbollah's role in Syria

02/20/2013

Clashes between Hezbollah and Salafists over Shiite villages in Syria foreshadowed the role Hezbollah would play there.

Link: http://almon.co/62q

Iraq sees spike in terrorism from Syria

02/25/2013

Iraq's national security adviser Faleh al-Fayad told Al-Monitor, "Foreign factors have increased the country’s exposure to terrorist attacks."

Link: http://almon.co/67f

Four trends in Syria

03/03/2013

The key issues in Syria include its minority populations, relationship with Turkey, and the role of Russia and Iran.

Link: http://almon.co/41e

3/14

Turkey's weak Syria policy

03/08/2013

Opponents of Turkey’s Prime Minister criticized his abandonment of diplomacy with Syria.

Link: http://almon.co/6ji

Kerry: no military solution in Syria

03/10/2013

Stating that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can't "shoot his way out" of the

civil war, US Secretary of State John Kerry called for negotiations.

Link: http://almon.co/6ks

Iran shapes sectarian conflict with Sunni rivals

03/10/2013

Al-Monitor analyzed Iran's use of proxies in Gaza and Syria in its conflict with

Sunni powers.

Link: http://almon.co/3va

Cease-fire with Kurds in Turkey

03/21/2013

Imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan asked “armed [PKK] members to

move out of Turkey’s borders,” as Kurds marked the beginning of a new year.

Link: http://almon.co/6vv

Istanbul talks with Iran lay groundwork

03/26/2013

Reporting from Istanbul, on the “most substantive” talks to date, Laura Rozen chronicled steps that would lead to the Nov. 23 deal in Geneva.

Link: http://almon.co/73o

Al-Monitor now available in Arabic, Hebrew and Turkish

03/31/2013

Al-Monitor began providing original content from the Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Turkey Pulses in their native languages.

4/14

Sinai next frontier for Egyptian Salafists

04/01/2013

In a sign of trouble to come, an Egyptian Salafist claimed, "Yes, we consider

Sinai the next frontier of conflict with the Zionists and Americans."

Link: http://almon.co/73i

Almaty nuclear talks a sign of engagement

04/06/2013

Laura Rozen reported from Almaty on progress in nuclear negotiations,

laying the groundwork for increased US-Iran contacts leading to Geneva.

Link: http://almon.co/21jc

Obama and Netanyahu at odds

04/11/2013

As strained relations between the leaders surfaced, Ben Caspit imagined a

tense conversation between the two heads of state on Iran.

Link: http://almon.co/7el

Threats to freedom of expression in Turkey

04/21/2013

Following the conviction of pianist Fazil Say for Twitter comments, Orhan Cengiz saw growing alarm among pro-democracy groups in Turkey.

Kadri Gursel later forecasted the ruling AKP’s attempts to “impose its political culture on the entire population” in Turkey’s New 'Sunni Islam' Taboo, April 21, 2013.

Link: http://almon.co/7hw

Iran Pulse Launched

05/01/2013

Al-Monitor expanded its coverage on Iran, providing regular reporting and inside analysis from the country.

5/14

Nasrallah: we won't let Syria fall

05/05/2013

A month before Hezbollah’s capture of Al-Qusair, Lebanon Pulse columnist

Ali Hashem confirmed that the group was active in the strategic border town.

Link: http://almon.co/7zq

Iran and US share red-lines on chemical weapons

05/05/2013

Al-Monitor Editor-in-Chief Andrew Parasiliti wrote that Iran and the US could

work together to facilitate a deal on Syrian chemical weapons.

Link: http://almon.co/83b

US-Russia diplomacy on Syria makes a comeback

05/12/2013

Increased diplomatic efforts by the US, Russia and Iran signaled that a

political solution to the Syria conflict may be achievable.

Link: http://almon.co/8aq

Iran supplies all Gaza weapons

05/14/2013

Reporting in-depth on Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Asmaa al-Ghoul quoted the

group's spokesman: “All of the weapons in Gaza are provided by Iran."

Link: http://almon.co/8cd

Iran key to success at Geneva II

05/19/2013

As a major regional player, Iran will help determine the success of the

Geneva II talks on Syria, provided that the US invites them to the table.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Mohammad Khazaee, Iran’s ambassador to

the UN, welcomed the Geneva II conference on Syria, May 24, 2013.

Link: http://almon.co/8ib

6/14

Nasrallah declares war on Salafists

05/26/2013

Less than 24 hours after Hassan Nasrallah officially declared war on Salafist

groups in Syria, a Hezbollah stronghold was struck by rockets.

Lebanon Pulse columnist Jean Aziz described the aftermath of the rocket

attacks.

Link: http://almon.co/8qr

Erdogan defies Gezi protests

06/01/2013

Turkey Pulse contributor Yavuz Baydar covered protests in Gezi Park and the

heavy-handed government response.

Link: http://almon.co/8xq

Syrian opposition divided over Geneva II

06/09/2013

Divided and faced with setbacks on the military front, the Syrian opposition

could not come to an agreement on attending Geneva II.

Link: http://almon.co/9w9

Iran elects centrist Rouhani

06/15/2013

Arash Karami reported that newly elected President Hassan Rouhani could

make meaningful reforms at home and was open to working with Western

powers.

Washington correspondent Barbara Slavin wrote that the election had

revived chances for progress in nuclear negotiations, highlighting Rouhani’s

diplomatic track record and experience as a negotiator.

Link: http://almon.co/21jd

Millions of Egyptians demand Morsi's downfall

06/30/2013

Millions of Egyptians flooded the streets protesting President Mohammed

Morsi, who would be ousted from power three days later.

Link: http://almon.co/a80h

7/14

Violence surges in the Sinai

06/30/2013

Divided after President Mohammed Morsi's ouster, the Sinai, an increasingly

violent region, was placed under curfew following deadly clashes.

Link: http://almon.co/a823

Crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood

07/06/2013

Formerly accused of suppressing protests, the Muslim Brotherhood faced a

severe crackdown culminating in the Rabia al-Adawiya bloodshed.

Link: http://almon.co/a7uq

Bomb shakes Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon

07/09/2013

In another sign that spillover from the Syrian crisis would have regional

implications Hezbollah supporters were targeted in Lebanon.

Link: http://almon.co/aw1

Window for nuclear talks progress in Iran

07/12/2013

Citing positive signs in the month since President Hassan Rouhani's election, senior US officials said they hope for movement on nuclear talks.

Link: http://almon.co/21je

Saudi Arabia's domestic worker crisis

07/17/2013

Madawi Al-Rasheed highlighted the vulnerability of the more than 1 million maids in Saudi Arabia who are often victims of abuse and human trafficking.

Link: http://almon.co/b5o

8/14

Egypt turns away from Turkey towards Gulf

07/18/2013

After President Mohammed Morsi's ouster, Egypt found renewed allies in the Gulf and a chilly reception in Turkey, while the US pursued a third path.

Link: http://almon.co/b6s

US reconsiders Middle East policy

07/31/2013

Vali Nasr wrote for Al-Monitor that the US has shifted from a policy of trying to promote democracy to one geared to combatting Islamic extremism.

Link: http://almon.co/blk

Are kidnapped bishops still alive?

08/06/2013

Worries grew that a pair of kidnapped Syrian bishops may have been killed as minorities fear the consequences of Syria's civil war.

Link: http://almon.co/btf

Iranian reformists back in public sphere

08/08/2013

Hassan Rouhani's election has brought Iran's reformists back in from the cold after a four-year crackdown.

Link: http://almon.co/bve

Brotherhood tactics provoke more bloodshed

08/14/2013

The Muslim Brotherhood's tactics, including mass protests, storming police stations and a willingness to sacrifice its members, caused mass casualties.

Link: http://almon.co/c1h

9/14

Options for sanctions relief key to nuclear talks

08/19/2013

Anticipating opposition in Congress to any deal reached with Iran, Kenneth Katzman charted the leeway Obama has to issue sanctions relief.

Link: http://almon.co/c8e

Jihadists besiege Syrian Christian village

09/05/2013

In an event that stoked fears of minorities in Syria, jihadist Salafists laid siege to the historic Christian village of Maaloula.

Link: http://almon.co/d8b

Turkey transfers arms to Syrian groups

09/13/2013

A court case documenting weapon transfers received attention from a public increasingly wary of Turkey's involvement in Syria.

Link: http://almon.co/exy

Chemical weapons framework a breakthrough

09/14/2013

A US-Russia framework agreement to eliminate Syria's chemical arsenal accomplishes more than a strike would and allows for future diplomacy.

Link: http://almon.co/f37

Zarif backs US-Russia plan for Syria

09/16/2013

In support of the US-Russia accord, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, if there is a chance for peace in Syria, “we have to grab it.”

Link: http://almon.co/f9c

Israel sees new regional dynamics in US-Iran talks

09/30/2013

Worried that a thaw in relations between the US and Israel will change its regional security considerations, Israel must adapt.

Link: http://almon.co/hjm

10/14

Zarif open to Geneva II

09/30/2013

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country is open to participating in the Geneva II talks.

Link: http://almon.co/gys

ISIS announces plans establish emirate in Syria

10/03/2013

Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has begun to carve out an emirate in occupied territory in Syria.

Meanwhile, more moderate Islamists broke ties with the Syrian National Coalition, Sept. 30, 2013.

Link: http://almon.co/hkb

Syria conflict fuels terrorism in Iraq

10/07/2013

Speaking exclusively to Al-Monitor, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki linked the rise of extremists in Syria to a spike in violence in Iraq.

Link: http://almon.co/hod

Saudi Arabia flexes muscles in region

10/17/2013

The rejection of a seat on the UN Security Council is only the latest sign of a more assertive Saudi policy to shape the region.

Link: http://almon.co/ilp

Disappointment for Saudis over US inaction on Syria

10/22/2013

Saudi Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief, said Saudis were angered by the US’ Syria policy and skeptical of Iran.

Link: http://almon.co/k1b

11/14

Power outages and sewage flood in Gaza

10/24/2013

Palestine Pulse contributor Rasha Abu Jalal reported from the Gaza Strip about the ongoing electricity shortages, which became a full-blown public works crisis.

On Nov. 28, Rasha Abu Jalal continued her reporting about sewage flooding that came after a sewage treatment plant stopped operating.

Link: http://almon.co/lyo

Have Gulf cities eclipsed traditional capitals?

11/03/2013

Sparking debate, Sultan Al-Qassemi wrote that Gulf cities are the new Arab cultural hubs. Abbas al-Lawati and Abdulkhaleq Abdulla responded.

Links: http://almon.co/hx4, http://almon.co/ift and http://almon.co/itz

Turkey rebuilds zero problems policy

11/05/2013

High-level contacts with Iraq and Turkey along with an acceptance of the Geneva II framework showed Turkey is looking to rebuild regional ties.

Link: http://almon.co/3727

Syrian opposition divided over Geneva II

11/09/2013

Unable to agree on participating in the Geneva II talks, the Syrian opposition risked Syria's best chance for a political solution.

Link: http://almon.co/69fe

Nuclear deal will facilitate progress on Syria

11/12/2013

Even after the first round of talks ended without a deal, the positive regional implications for a nuclear agreement were clear.

Link: http://almon.co/82qi

12/14

Lebanese Shiites fear Salafist terrorism

11/13/2013

Predicting the tragedy to come in Beirut, columnist Jean Aziz's worries that extremist sectarian violence could visit Lebanon proved accurate.

Link: http://almon.co/8evr

Iran Embassy bombing in Beirut

11/19/2013

In yet another sign of increasing sectarianism and the spillover of violence from Syria, the bombing showed that al-Qaeda was in Lebanon.

Link: http://almon.co/1v01

Russia's growing role in the Middle East

11/22/2013

With a consistent foreign policy and its role as a mediator in the Syria conflict, Russia carries new weight in the region.

Link: http://almon.co/1vuf

Exclusive: Sec. Burns led secret US back channel to Iran

11/24/2013

As uncovered by Laura Rozen, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns played a critical role in the Iran nuclear deal since the Istanbul talks.

Link: http://almon.co/1vws

Nuclear deal reached

11/24/2013

An initial step in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program, the joint plan of action opened up new possibilities for the US and Russia in the Middle East.

Link: http://almon.co/1vw1

13/14

Netanyahu risks isolation over Iran deal

11/25/2013

Netanyahu’s refusal to acknowledge the Iran deal is facing resistance at home from a military keen on guarding Israel's regional role.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, former Israeli Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor said Israel should join ongoing global efforts on Iran rather than attack the first-step agreement.

Link: http://almon.co/1vxe

Iran nuclear accord requires shift in Turkey's foreign policy

11/27/2013

In the aftermath of Iran's nuclear accord, Turkey Pulse columnist Kadri Gursel argued that Turkey needs to adopt a secular foreign policy.

Link: http://almon.co/1vzu

Former diplomats: Iran deal can lead to progress in Middle East

12/06/2013

The interim agreement with Iran could also lead to progress in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, claimed former US and Iranian diplomats.

Link: http://almon.co/1wup

Saudi jihadists flow into Syria

12/08/2013

An increasing number of Saudis are traveling to Syria to participate in jihad, as extremist forces gain ground in the opposition.

The Free Syrian Army faced increased challenges by Saudi-backed fighters, while the US and UK suspended nonlethal aid to the Syrian opposition, fearing equipment could fall into the wrong hands.

Link: http://almon.co/1wr1

Syria war paralyzes Lebanon

12/13/2013

In interviews with Al-Monitor, Lebanese politicians Gen. Michel Aoun and Samy Gemayel highlighted the Syrian conflict's impact on Lebanon.

Links: http://almon.co/1x2j and http://almon.co/1x0v

14/14

Press freedoms under threat in Turkey

12/19/2013

In the midst of the conflict between former allies, the Gulen movement and the ruling AKP, journalists risk jail or their jobs with critical reports.

Link: http://almon.co/1x9n

Erdogan under pressure as corruption scandal unfolds

12/19/2013

Ministers close to Turkey's Premier were caught in a graft probe, opening what many perceived as a new stage in the Gulen-AKP conflict.

Link: http://almon.co/1xbp

Iran and Saudi Arabia remain central to Syria peace conference

12/29/2013

The disintegration of the secular opposition and a military stalemate highlighted the need to engage with Iran and Saudi Arabia on Syria.

Link: http://almon.co/1xd6

Saudi Arabia asserts regional role through Gulf Union

12/29/2013

Saudi Arabia began 2014 with an assertive plan for regional leadership, backed by a standing military force for its planned Gulf Union.

Link: http://almon.co/1xnb