Former CENTCOM Commander Michael “Erik” Kurilla Joins The Washington Institute as Its Bernstein Distinguished Fellow

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is pleased to announce that retired U.S. Army general and former head of U.S. Central Command Michael “Erik” Kurilla has joined the organization as its Jill and Jay Bernstein Distinguished Fellow.

 

With more than 35 years of exemplary military service, General Kurilla brings to the Institute unparalleled operational and strategic expertise on Middle Eastern defense issues. 

 

Read more.

Recent Institute Analysis

A Sudanese army soldier stands near a bombed-out vehicle outside Khartoum - source: Reuters
How to Stop Sudan’s Collapse
With President Trump recently pledging to help Saudi Arabia and other regional partners broker a ceasefire, his administration should focus on pressuring the external spoilers who have fueled the fighting.
Nov 21, 2025
  • Ben Fishman
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Interactive Tool: Middle East Maritime Attacks 2019-Present

Tracking Maritime Attacks in the Middle East Since 2019
An interactive map showing the extent to which Houthi forces, their Iranian military patrons, and other actors have been targeting vessels in regional waterways for years, including well before the Hamas-Israel war.
Aug 3, 2024
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Building Peace Between Israel and Lebanon

A Roadmap for Israel-Lebanon Peace
Pursuing even incremental steps will be difficult in a country long dominated by Iran’s chief regional proxy, but the two countries’ leaders have cracked the door open for future diplomacy.
Oct 28, 2025
  • Hanin Ghaddar
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Institute Expertise on Arab-Israeli Relations

In Focus: How Hezbollah Exploits Financial Corruption in Lebanon

Cash Cabal:
How Hezbollah Profits from Lebanon's Financial Crisis
The Lebanese economy requires an urgent overhaul, and the international community must press for deep reforms.
Jun 22, 2023
  • Samara Azzi
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Masters of Middle East Policy promo box

Recent Webcasts: Expert Policy Conversations

Interactive Map: ISIS Global Activity

Under the leadership of jihadism scholar Aaron Zelin, a team of researchers at The Washington Institute has built the Islamic State Select Worldwide Activity Map, aninteractive tool that provides a more accessible way to search, track, and understand the organization’s global reach. It represents the mostcomprehensive public archive of the group’s attack data, media output, government designations, and legal cases — information that is becoming invaluable as IS affiliates disperse into a wider range of jurisdictions and the U.S. government continues shifting resources away from the global counterterrorism fight.

Access the interactive map.

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