Al Majalla’s cover story last week asks: Is Iraq heading toward fragmentation? Our writers share their respective takes. Ayad Al-Anbar asserts that Iraq is not in danger of Balkanisation, saying “Washington's preferred course appears to be preserving an order administered by vying factions, rather than embarking on the uncertain and potentially perilous task of replacing it.” For his part, James Jeffrey argues that An emboldened Iran could trigger an IS comeback. And Shelly Kittleson speaks with Iraqi Sunnis seeking government checks on paramilitary forces. And Alex Vatanka profiles Iran’s new defence minister. He explains why his background in missile warfare matters at this critical juncture in the US-Iran war.

Saud Al-Masaud explains How Yemeni forces can protect their battlefield gains, while Amr Emam looks at Cairo’s pledge to back Riyadh in its fight with the Houthis. And Sharif Mohammad examines How the Egyptian economy weathered regional turmoil. For his part, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, writes for Al Majalla about the importance of Energy security and resilience in an uncertain world.

Meanwhile, Brian Katulis explains why Benjamin Netanyahu is damaged goods in the West after key Western voices appear to be throwing him under the bus ahead of the upcoming Israeli election. And Ibrahim Hamidi examines Israel's elections, the 70th anniversary of the Suez War, and the US midterm elections, which have had or will almost certainly have far-reaching consequences. For his part, Waddah Abu Jamea looks at protests in France and how the Palestinian flag is being used to champion a different agenda, without the consent of the Palestinians.

Ahmed Maher interviews Ukraine’s former foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who talks about Trump’s drift towards Moscow, while Con Coughlin looks at Trump’s most recent failed bid to end the Ukraine war. And last but not least, Mimoza Al-Arrawi explores Memory Keepers, an art exhibition by Finnish-Lebanese artist Yasmina Nysten, that explores the elusive nature of memory.