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Iran: IRGC Claims to Have Developed a Hypersonic Missile

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Military & Security

Situation ReportNov 10, 2022 | 16:47 GMT

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's aerospace force, said Iran has developed a hypersonic missile able to "breach all systems of anti-missile defense" that cannot easily be countered by any currently available weapon, Reuters reported Nov. 10.

Iran

Military & Security

AssessmentsFeb 18, 2020 | 20:15 GMT

This photo shows Iran's successful test launch of its Qiam-1 ballistic missile

What’s Driving Iran to Build a Better Missile

Greater attention will be given to Iran's missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs from now on. The September drone attacks on the Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the January missile attack on two military bases in Iraq that left 109 U.S. military members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries highlighted Iran's increased willingness to use its missile and UAV arsenal for tactical and strategic objectives.

GuidanceAug 17, 2019 | 18:08 GMT

A supermarket cashier counts Argentine pesos in Buenos Aires on Aug. 15, 2019.

The Weekly Rundown: Market Turbulence, Hong Kong Protests and Eyeing Greenland

Read this week's review of the world's most pressing geopolitical events and insight into what the coming week will bring.

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

AssessmentsAug 8, 2018 | 08:00 GMT

Palestinians from the armed wing of the Hamas movement, display Qassam home-made rockets during an anti-Israel military parade in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 21, 2016.

The Missile Arsenal at the Heart of the Israeli-Iranian Rivalry

Following a string of recent successes, Syria's government is in a dominant position as the Syrian Civil War transitions to a new phase, while the two largest outside powers involved in the conflict – the United States and Russia – are beginning to look toward the exit as their primary foes lose ground. But even as the war appears to be winding down for some, it's beginning to ramp up for one key player: Israel. The increased Israeli activity in Syria stems from Israel’s priorities in the Levant, which differ greatly from those of the United States and Russia, as Israel views events in Syria and Lebanon primarily through the lens of its enmity with Iran. Tehran’s presence and influence in Syria has increased in parallel with the advances of its ally in Damascus, providing great cause for concern in Israel. And with foes like Iran and Hezbollah well-placed to

Rebalancing Power in the Middle East

Partner PerspectivesMar 30, 2018 | 09:00 GMT

In the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, supporters of the Houthi insurgency gather March 26 at a rally commemorating the anniversary of Saudi Arabia's intervention in Yemen's civil war.

What You Need to Know About the Latest Houthi Attack on Riyadh

As Yemen's Houthi rebels intensify their attacks on Saudi Arabia, the chances for peace are narrowing -- while the conflict's risk of expanding steadily rises.

Syria Rebuilding its Chemical Weapons Program with North Korean Assistance

FellowsMar 22, 2018 | 19:29 GMT

The origins of Syria’s chemical weapons program likely spans back to the 1970’s through the assistance of external sources.

SnapshotsJul 24, 2017 | 22:04 GMT

Yemen: Houthis Claim an Extension of Their Missile Threat

Houthi rebels in Yemen claim to have hit at an oil refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, about 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the border with Yemen, with a ballistic missile. If true, the Houthi claim raises several questions regarding the group's missile capabilities. Saudi Arabia, in the meantime, blamed the July 22 explosion at the facility on an overheated electrical transformer. Outside the Houthis, no other parties have confirmed the missile strike, but if a missile fired from Yemen indeed traveled that far into Saudi territory, it would indicate a much greater capability than the Houthis had previously demonstrated.

Rebalancing Power in the Middle East

AssessmentsJul 10, 2017 | 15:53 GMT

Missiles Remain a Potent Houthi Weapon

Throughout the war in Yemen, forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the onetime ruling General People's Congress party have launched ballistic missiles at targets within Yemen and in Saudi Arabia. The Houthi-Saleh alliance uses them to strike back at the Saudi-led coalition, whose air capabilities give it a significant advantage in the conflict. Just this month, Houthi sources claimed to have launched several Zelzal-2 missiles at Saudi military bases near Yemen. Despite the military effort that Saudi-led coalition forces, backed by the United States and United Kingdom, have mounted against them, Houthi and Saleh loyalists continue to use ballistic missiles and, they claim, are even improving the capabilities of the missiles. This improvement, which is happening with possible external support, could constitute a step toward indigenous missile development capabilities.

North Korea: Annual Parade Showcases New Military Hardware

SnapshotsApr 15, 2017 | 16:10 GMT

North Korea's 2017 Day of the Sun military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of the nation's founder Kim Il Sung showcased new military hardware as shown on broadcasts by state-owned Korean Central Television. Leader Kim Jong-un attended the ceremony. The parade was the focus of greater international attention this year: Signs suggest that North Korea is preparing for another nuclear test and that such a test might provoke a U.S. response.

A Tough Sell on North Korea

ReflectionsApr 5, 2017 | 23:55 GMT

China's support of North Korea is likely to remain steadfast, but among policymakers in Beijing, the idea of replacing Kim Jong Un as its leader has gained adherents.

The United States appears to be preparing for a showdown with China and the United Nations over North Korea. Over the weekend, in an interview with the Financial Times, U.S. President Donald Trump said, "China will either decide to help us with North Korea or they won't," adding, "If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will." This was an unambiguous signal to China ahead of the start of Thursday's summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping. Three weeks after the Trump-Xi meeting in Florida, the U.N. Security Council will hold a special session led by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on North Korea and nuclear nonproliferation. Earlier this week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, announcing Tillerson's upcoming U.N. visit and referencing the U.S.-China summit, said: "The United States has seen China for 25-plus years say that they are concerned about North Korea, but we

Asia-Pacific: Among Great Powers

AssessmentsJan 5, 2017 | 09:16 GMT

How North Korea Would Retaliate

Pyongyang would counterstrike using its considerable artillery, rocket and missile arsenal, but there are limits to these weapons' effectiveness.

Handling a Nuclear North Korea

AssessmentsJan 3, 2017 | 09:01 GMT

Derailing a Nuclear Program by Force

This is the second installment of a five-part series examining the measures that could be taken to inhibit North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The purpose of this series is not to consider political rhetoric or noninvasive means of coercion, such as sanctions. Rather, we are exploring the military options, however remote, that are open to the United States and its allies, and the expected retaliatory response from Pyongyang.

North America Unrivaled

Handling a Nuclear North Korea

GuidanceSep 10, 2016 | 22:40 GMT

Global Intelligence: Week of Sept. 12, 2016

The sidelines of the G-20 brought some interesting developments.

On GeopoliticsJul 26, 2016 | 08:00 GMT

Facing North Korea's Nuclear Reality

After announcing that it would cut communications with the United States, North Korea launched three missiles (two Scuds and a No Dong) last week. In some ways, there is little unexpected in North Korea's actions. Since the early 1990s, the North Korean nuclear and missile programs have been a focus of greater and lesser international attention, and there is no reason to expect a resolution satisfactory to the United States (or North Korea) any time soon. Similarly, the United States followed a familiar script in its reaction to the recent launches, threatening additional sanctions and further isolation. But that doesn't mean nothing has changed. At one time, North Korea treated its nuclear weapons program as a bargaining chip -- a way to raise the stakes with the United States to wheedle concessions and aid. Now, however, nuclear weapons development is no longer something for Pyongyang to trade away for economic

North Korean Nuclear Ambitions Ride on Missile Development

AssessmentsMar 23, 2016 | 09:00 GMT

North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions Ride on Missile Development

Amid the latest series of North Korean missile tests, South Korea's Ministry of Unification has asserted that Pyongyang is ready to carry out its fifth nuclear weapons test detonation and may simply be waiting for a politically advantageous time to do so. But if the North wants to further bolster the credibility of its claims to possess a long-range nuclear deterrent, it will need to do at least two more things: conduct active re-entry tests to verify the viability of a nose cone and conduct a test of a guidance system for re-entry. Pyongyang is not seeking to match current U.S., Russian or Chinese technologies. It is sufficient to demonstrate technologies from the 1950s and 1960s -- technologies that have been amply documented, studied and tested.

Situation ReportNov 2, 2015 | 11:30 GMT

Syria: Israel Allegedly Strikes Missile Base Near Damascus

Israeli warplanes on Nov. 1 bombed a government missile base north of Damascus, near the Lebanese border, according to local pro-rebel media outlets, NOW reported Nov. 2.

Terrorism and Security

Situation ReportAug 26, 2015 | 09:39 GMT

Yemen: Scud Missile Reportedly Fired Into Saudi Arabia

Yemeni military units allied with the country’s Houthi rebels fired a Scud ballistic missile toward the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Aug. 26, Reuters reported, citing Houthi-run media.

Terrorism and Security

Military

In Yemen, Anti-Houthi Operations Confront Forceful Opposition

AssessmentsAug 25, 2015 | 13:03 GMT

This collection of Stratfor coverage on Yemen spans from April 2 to Aug. 25, 2015.

Yemen: Saudis Intercept Houthi Scud Missile

Military & Security

Situation ReportJun 6, 2015 | 14:05 GMT

A Saudi Patriot missile battery intercepted a Scud missile fired across the border near Khamis Mushait by Houthi rebels and allied militants June 6 , BBC reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency.

Terrorism and Security

Military