FDD News
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Latest Articles
- Beijing Emerges as Iran’s Strategic Anchor Amid Operation Economic Fury and Regional Conflict
Published: May 1, 2026
Section: Asia
China has solidified its role as Iran’s primary economic and military lifeline, providing critical support that allows the regime to withstand intense international pressure. Despi...
- Serbia Emerges as China’s Balkan Beachhead Through Strategic Defense Deals and $20 Billion Investment Surge
Published: Apr 30, 2026
Section: Europe
Under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia has rapidly expanded its military and economic reliance on China, securing nearly $20 billion in investments and advanced...
- Israel Prepares for Major Gaza Offensive as Hamas Rejects Trump Disarmament Plan in Cairo
Published: Apr 30, 2026
Section: Middle East
The Israeli military is intensifying preparations for a return to full-scale warfare in Gaza following Hamas's refusal to disarm under the U.S.-brokered "Board of Peace" framework....
- Trump Administration Sanctions Major Chinese Refinery Hengli Petrochemical in Escalating Campaign Against Iranian Oil Trade
Published: Apr 30, 2026
Section: Middle East
On Friday, April 24, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd., China's second-largest independent refiner, for purchasing bill...
- U.S. Treasury Halts Critical Dollar Shipments to Iraq Over Iranian Militia Attacks and Financial Mismanagement
Published: Apr 29, 2026
Section: Middle East
The United States has partially suspended the physical transport of hundreds of millions of dollars to Baghdad in response to escalating drone and rocket attacks by Iranian-linked...
- Yale Study Implicates Russian Energy Giants in Systematic Abduction and Militarization of Ukrainian Children
Published: Apr 29, 2026
Section: Ukraine War
A landmark report from the Yale School of Public Health has revealed that Russian state-owned energy firms Rosneft and Gazprom are actively financing the deportation and "patriotic...
- U.S. Secures Historic Extradition of Alleged Chinese State-Backed Hacker After Multi-Year Global Manhunt
Published: Apr 29, 2026
Section: US & Canada
In a significant breakthrough for international cyber law enforcement, 34-year-old Chinese national Xu Zewei was extradited from Italy to the United States on April 27, 2026. Xu fa...
- First domestic trial of Assad-era officials opens in Damascus as critics warn of selective transitional justice
Published: Apr 28, 2026
Section: Middle East
Syria has launched its first public trial against figures from the former Bashar al-Assad regime, with the prosecution of Atef Najib, the intelligence chief blamed for igniting the...
- U.S. urged to adopt European "anti-circumvention" strategies as EU launches massive Russia sanctions expansion
Published: Apr 28, 2026
Section: Europe
The European Union has implemented its largest sanctions package against Moscow in two years, featuring a historic "anti-circumvention tool" that restricts dual-use exports to Kyrg...
- New Syrian Leadership Partners with Israel to Neutralize Hezbollah Plots Against Jewish Targets
Published: Apr 28, 2026
Section: Israel
Following the collapse of the Assad regime, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has aligned with Israel’s security objectives by ordering the disarmament of Hezbollah. Recent operatio...
- Israel Defense Ministry Urged to Seek F-47 Partnership to Safeguard Military Edge Amid Saudi F-35 Deal
Published: Apr 28, 2026
Section: Israel
Major General (Ret.) Amir Eshel has warned that a pending multi-billion-dollar U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia, including 50 F-35 stealth fighters, could erode Israel’s long-standin...
- White House Urged to Maintain Strategic Pressure as Iranian Regime Faces Economic and Infrastructure Collapse
Published: Apr 28, 2026
Section: FDD
President Donald Trump faces mounting domestic pressure to end military operations against Tehran despite evidence that U.S. led blockades are pushing the Iranian regime toward a h...