26
April 2018
Past Event
Iran’s Entrenched Footprint in Iraq and Syria

Iran’s Entrenched Footprint in Iraq and Syria

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
April 26, 2018
26
April 2018
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Jennifer Cafarella

Senior Intelligence Planner, Institute for the Study of War

Pregent
Michael Pregent

Former Senior Fellow

Dr. Ranj Alaaldin

Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution, Doha

Michael Knights

Lafer Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy

The threat of an Iranian land bridge through Iraq and Syria—measured both in established influence and its physical presence—has become a reality. IRGC-directed militias—belonging to the Fattah party—have operational primacy across Syria and in Iraq, the militias are now integrated into U.S.-funded and -equipped Iraqi security forces. As a result, Iran has successfully established an environment conducive to its objectives throughout the Levant. With no military forces broadly obstructing Iran’s strategic movement in the region, the country’s influence continues to grow unchecked and could prove further destabilizing. With upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon, Hezbollah is poised to make greater gains, while in the Iraqi Parliamentary elections, the IRGC-supported Fattah party will be instrumental in deciding the next Prime Minister and who controls the security and infrastructure ministries.

On April 26, Hudson hosted a panel to discuss Iran’s growing regional influence and assess the capabilities and willingness of U.S. partner forces to disrupt Iran's regional aspirations. The panel consisted of Jennifer Cafarella, a senior intelligence planner at the Institute for the Study of War; Michael Pregent, an adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute; Dr. Ranj Alaaldin, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution in Doha; and Michael Knights, a Lafer Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

To view Mr. Pregent's slides, click here.

Related Events
07
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Understanding China’s Political and Institutional Foundations: A Conversation with Chenggang Xu
Featured Speakers:
Professor Chenggang Xu
Getty Images
07
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Understanding China’s Political and Institutional Foundations: A Conversation with Chenggang Xu

Join Dr. Miles Yu, senior fellow and director of Hudson’s China Center, for a conversation with Professor Xu on why misunderstanding China’s political order may create critical strategic risks for the US amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Professor Chenggang Xu
08
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Relearning Great Power Diplomacy: A Conversation with Wess Mitchell
Featured Speakers:
Wess Mitchell
A detail photo of “A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay” by William Orpen. (Wikimedia Commons)
08
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Relearning Great Power Diplomacy: A Conversation with Wess Mitchell

Join Hudson’s Peter Rough for a discussion with Wess Mitchell on the future of great power diplomacy.

A detail photo of “A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay” by William Orpen. (Wikimedia Commons)
Featured Speakers:
Wess Mitchell
15
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Vanguard of Manufacturing: Fortifying US National Security
Featured Speakers:
John Maslin
Austin Grey
Hon. Peter J. F. Meijer
Patrick Hunt
Julius Krein
Moderator:
Getty Images
15
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Vanguard of Manufacturing: Fortifying US National Security

Join Hudson Institute for a conference on the future of America’s industrial base.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
John Maslin
Austin Grey
Hon. Peter J. F. Meijer
Patrick Hunt
Julius Krein
Moderator:
16
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
CCP Committee Chairman John Moolenaar on the State of US-China Relations
Featured Speakers:
Congressman John Moolenaar
Getty Images
16
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
CCP Committee Chairman John Moolenaar on the State of US-China Relations

Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, will join Hudson Senior Fellow David Feith to discuss how Washington should approach the US-China relationship in an era of rising geopolitical competition.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Congressman John Moolenaar