Kyle Orton

Kyle Orton is a Middle East analyst. Follow him on Twitter @KyleWOrton.

Author Articles

A Syrian government soldier holds up a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad and a Syrian national flag while another stands by a Kurdish People's Protection Units flag, atop an electrical pole in Kobane (also known as Ain al-Arab), in the north of Aleppo governorate, October 18. (AFP)
In Syria, PKK mimics Assad’s propaganda and the West falls for it
November 23, 2019
Turkish soldier stand at the border with Syria in Akcakale, Sanliurfa province, south-eastern Turkey, October 9. (AP)
Collapse of US position in Syria began under Obama
October 12, 2019
A rebel fighter stands near the remains of a downed regime warplane near the jihadist-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in southern Idlib, August 14. (AFP)
Foreign influence sinks rebels’ morale to its lowest in Idlib
August 24, 2019
Thorny issue. An Islamic State suspect wearing a red prison suit is led to the Iraqi Criminal Court in Baghdad, May 5. (AP)
The West is relinquishing its judicial responsibility for dealing with ISIS fighters
June 08, 2019
A young boy rides his bicycle in Daraa as a gate ornated with images of Syrian President Bashar Assad (L) and his late father Hafez Assad is seen in the background. (AFP)
Renewed insurgency in Daraa highlights Western failures
April 27, 2019
An orthodox Jewish man looks at Israeli election campaign posters in Jerusalem, March 27. (Reuters)
Security narrative casts shadow on Israeli elections
March 30, 2019
Turkish soldiers in the Kurdish-majority city of Afrin in north-western Syria, last March. (AFP)
Turkey keeps an eye on Assad’s fate with no intention to leave
March 09, 2019
Retired Israeli general Benny Gantz (C) mingles with people during an electoral campaign tour south of Tel Aviv, February 1. (AFP)
Israeli foreign policy unlikely to change under Netanyahu’s challenger
February 02, 2019
Diplomatic shift. Chadian President Idriss Deby (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during a meeting in N’Djamena, January 20. (AFP)
After Chad, Israel seeks to unlock relations with other African countries
January 26, 2019
In midstream. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (R) and new Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces Lieutenant-General Aviv Kochavi (C) during a swearing-in ceremony in Tel Aviv, January 15. (DPA)
Israeli government mulls tactical options against Iran in Syria
January 19, 2019
Fire in the hole. A large Shia black flag bearing the words “Oh, Hussein” flies near the Lebanon-Israel border, December 5. (AFP)
Hezbollah’s tunnels are part of Iran’s strategy
December 08, 2018
Between a rock and a hard place. US forces and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) patrol the Kurdish-held town of Al-Darbasiyah in northeastern Syria, on November 4. (AFP)
US losing control in Syria as Russia-Iran axis gains ground
November 24, 2018
On the wrong track. An Israeli Merkava tank patrols on the border between Israel and Syria, on July 20. (AFP)
In Syria, Israel finds itself dependent on Russian goodwill
August 04, 2018
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, (R) speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Tehran, last November. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
Rumours of an Iran-Russia split over Syria little more than a Western chimaera
May 30, 2018
US Army Major-General Jamie Jarrard (L) and Manbij Military Council Commander Muhammed Abu Adeel shake hands during a visit to a small outpost near Manbij, last February. (AP)
Manbij offers US and Turkey division and resolution
March 03, 2018
American troops look out toward the border with Turkey from a small outpost near the town of Manbij, northern Syria, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (AP Photo)
US Syria goals built upon shaky foundations and uncertain alliances
February 10, 2018