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Sara Harmouch

PhD Candidate, School of Public Affairs, American University
Sara Harmouch, a Lebanese national and doctoral candidate at American University’s School of Public Affairs, specializes in counterterrorism and violent extremism. She has firsthand experience with the impacts of terrorism and militancy through her upbringing and extensive fieldwork conducted across the Middle East and North Africa region. Harmouch consults for the U.S. government and the private sector and has recently briefed NATO on religious militant groups. Her research focuses on asymmetric warfare, militant groups, political violence, and threats to democracies. Her work has been featured in War on The Rocks, The Long War Journal, Lawfare, Voice of America, Orion Policy Institute, Irregular Warfare Initiative, Globe Post, and American Intelligence Journal, among others. Follow her on Twitter: @sara_harmouch

Abu Mohammed al-Golani may become the face of post-Assad Syria – but who is he and why does he have $10M US bounty on his head?

Dec 10, 2024 05:00 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The fall of President Bashar al-Assad has left a critical question: After a half-century of brutal dynastic rule has come to an end, who speaks for Syrians now? One group staking a major claim for that role is Hayat...

What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham? And how did the Islamist group evolve into a key player in Syria’s civil war?

Dec 03, 2024 15:36 pm UTC| Insights & Views

A major offensive has seen rebel groups in Syria retake the countrys second city, Aleppo and demonstrated the growing prominence of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the 13-year-long civil war. The surprise...

How Moscow terror attack fits ISIS-K strategy to widen agenda, take fight to its perceived enemies

Mar 25, 2024 05:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

Russia is reeling from the worst terror strike on its soil in a generation following an attack on March 22, 2024, that killed at least 137 concertgoers in Moscow. The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State group....

Global Geopolitics Series

US raids in Iraq and Syria: How retaliatory airstrikes affect network of Iran-backed militias

Feb 05, 2024 07:18 am UTC| Insights & Views

U.S. bombers struck dozens of sites across Iraq and Syria on Feb. 2, 2024, to avenge a drone attack that killed three American service members just days earlier. The retaliatory strikes were the first following a deadly...

Economy

Chinese EV Stocks Surge as EU Signals Path to Avoid Import Tariffs

Shares of major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers climbed sharply on Tuesday after the European Commission outlined conditions that could allow China-based automakers to avoid import tariffs in the European...

Asian Currencies Weaken as Yen Slides to One-Year Low Amid Oil Price Surge and U.S. Political Risks

Most Asian currencies declined on Tuesday, led by a sharp fall in the Japanese yen, as rising oil prices linked to unrest in Iran and renewed U.S. political and trade uncertainty dampened investor sentiment across the...

Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell

The Trump administrations decision to launch a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has triggered strong criticism from former central bank leaders, Republican lawmakers, and global financial...

Asian Stocks Rise as Tech Rally and Japan Election Speculation Lift Markets

Asian stock markets advanced on Tuesday, led by strong gains in technology shares as optimism around artificial intelligence continued to drive investor sentiment. Japans Nikkei 225 index was the standout performer,...

Oil Prices Climb for Fourth Session as Iran Unrest and Supply Risks Fuel Market Fears

Oil prices continued to rise during Asian trading on Tuesday, extending gains for a fourth consecutive session as mounting geopolitical tensions and global supply disruption risks lifted market sentiment. Brent crude and...

Politics

Trump Administration Weighs Diplomacy and Military Options as Iran Nuclear Tensions Rise

Senior officials in President Donald Trumps administration are reportedly debating how best to respond to escalating tensions with Iran, as questions grow over Tehrans nuclear program and the possibility of U.S. military...

NYC Nurses Strike Shuts Down 10 Private Hospitals as 15,000 Demand Safer Staffing and Benefits

Thousands of New York City nurses walked off the job on Monday, launching a major nurses strike across 10 private hospitals to demand better staffing levels, stronger healthcare benefits, and protection from workplace...

AbbVie Commits $100 Billion to U.S. Investment in Drug Pricing Deal With Trump Administration

AbbVie has announced a major agreement with the U.S. government that could reshape drug pricing and pharmaceutical investment in the country. The company said it has entered into a three-year deal with President Donald...

Trump Warns of New Tariffs as Iran Protests Escalate and U.S.-Iran Tensions Rise

Tehran said it is keeping communication channels open with Washington as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs how to respond to Irans violent crackdown on nationwide protests, one of the most serious challenges to clerical...

Trump Pushes Tech Giants to Absorb AI Data Center Power Costs, Citing Microsoft Changes

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday evening that his administration is working closely with major American technology companies to prevent the rising electricity costs of AI data centers from increasing household...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

Nvidia Denies Upfront Payment Requirement for H200 AI Chips Amid China Export Scrutiny

Nvidia has denied claims that it requires full upfront payments for its H200 artificial intelligence chips, pushing back against reports suggesting unusually strict sales terms for Chinese customers. In a statement issued...

SK Hynix to Invest $13 Billion in Advanced Chip Packaging Plant as AI Memory Demand Surges

SK Hynix Inc, a key supplier to Nvidia and one of the worlds largest memory chipmakers, announced plans to invest 19 trillion won (approximately $13 billion) to build a cutting-edge chip packaging plant in South Korea,...

Starlink Internet Remains Active in Iran Despite Nationwide Blackout

Some Iranians continue to access the internet through Elon Musks Starlink satellite service despite a sweeping nationwide communications blackout, highlighting how satellite internet is increasingly used to bypass...

BESI Reports Strong Q4-25 Orders Surge Driven by Data Center and Hybrid Bonding Demand

BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Euronext: BESI), a leading Dutch semiconductor assembly equipment manufacturer, reported robust preliminary orders for the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring strengthening demand across...

Trump Considers Starlink to Restore Internet Access in Iran Amid Protests

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is considering discussions with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk about restoring internet access in Iran, where authorities have imposed widespread blackouts amid...