MEF Dispatch: Who Is Mouaz Moustafa?; Next Moves in Syria; Defeating the Houthis

Who Is Mouaz Moustafa?; Next Moves in Syria; Defeating the Houthis

By Winfield Myers ● Jul 17, 2025

Smart Brevity® count: 7.5 mins...1946 words

We begin with a special report by Gregg Roman on D.C. operator and Palestinian-American activist Mouaz Moustafa, CEO of the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF). Despite his pro-democracy statements, Moustafa’s social media history reveals support for designated terrorist organizations. While claiming to uphold the rights of all Syrians, Moustafa and his organization prioritize the Islamist policies of the new Syrian regime over concern for Syria’s endangered minority communities—violence against which Moustafa downplays. It’s time for Washington to wake up to the dangers of believing SETF’s propaganda.

In a second article, Roman argues the U.S. should reimpose sanctions on Syria for the regime’s wanton slaughter of Druze and other minorities. Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh analyzes Israel’s strategy of stabilizing its border with Syria, especially its security cooperation with Syrian Druze communities and its territorial buffer along the Golan Heights.

Sirwan Kajjo warns against a U.S. abandonment of the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, while Eric Navarro and Michael Rubin each recommend new strategies to defeat the Houthis. Vahid Beheshti warns the West to take Iran’s new fatwas seriously.

ICYMI: July 16, 2025 | Israel Insider with Ashley Perry

What will happen next in Gaza? Is the war coming to an end? Is another temporary ceasefire imminent? Might the long declared IDF military surge to conquer the Gaza Strip be about to begin?

Ashley Perry is an advisor to the Middle East Forum’s Israel office. He served as adviser to Israel's minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister in 2009-15, and has also worked with Israel's Ministers of Intelligence, Agriculture and Rural Development, Energy, Water and Infrastructure, Defense, Tourism, Internal Security, and Immigrant Absorption and as an advisor to The Negev Forum. Originally from the U.K., he moved to Israel in 2001. He holds a B.A. from University College London and an M.A. from Reichman University (IDC Herzliya).

To watch the full podcast episode, click here.

The Curious Case of Mouaz Moustafa

The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) and its leader, Mouaz Moustafa, actively reshape U.S. policy towards Syria, prioritizing Islamist interests over democratic ideals.

Why it matters: Moustafa's social media support for groups with terrorist histories and his selective outrage over sectarian violence damage SETF's credibility.

Moustafa once condemned Assad's regime but now backs Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist leader, revealing a troubling political bias.

The intrigue: SETF pushes for U.S. sanctions relief for Syria's new government, contradicting its initial mission to champion Syrian independence and democracy.

The stakes are too high, and the danger signs too ominous, to accept at face value the narrative that a former al-Qaeda affiliate has transformed into a democratic reformer simply because it serves convenient political interests.

Reality check: The pattern is clear: SETF, an organization that began as a temporary emergency response, has evolved into a permanent advocacy operation that applies vastly different standards based on political alignment rather than consistent principles.

As Syria enters this new chapter under al-Sharaa’s leadership—marked by ongoing sectarian violence that SETF continues to minimize—American policymakers would be wise to examine more closely the motivations and associations of those who claim to speak for the Syrian people.

To read the full article, click here.

Syria Squandered Its Chance. Reimpose Sanctions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump attempted a new diplomatic initiative by waiving Caesar Act sanctions on May 23, 2025, aiming to encourage responsible governance in Syria.

Why it matters: Yet, interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa squandered this opportunity, escalating sectarian violence, including the massacre of over 200 Druze civilians.

These atrocities suggest the Syrian government saw American generosity as a weakness rather than a chance for reform, undermining U.S. credibility as a human rights defender.

The big picture: The violence, documented by Amnesty International and others, highlights the unchanged extremist ideologies of Syria's leaders, many of whom are former terrorist commanders.

Sectarian violence drives regional instability, fueling refugee crises in Jordan and Lebanon and bolstering extremist recruitment.

What's next: Secretary Rubio can revoke the waiver, reimposing sanctions as a strong response to the massacres and demonstrating U.S. policy's adaptability. These actions should be taken while maintaining diplomatic channels for future engagement contingent on measurable improvements in minority protection.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury should designate officials responsible for the massacres as Specially Designated Nationals. Congress should examine how future waivers can include stronger accountability mechanisms. The time to act is now.

To read the full article, click here.

Announcing MEF’s Internship Program

Apply for the Middle East Forum’s internship program to gain hands-on policy and research experience. Contribute to MEF’s advocacy while building skills for a career in think tanks or government.

Sessions: Fall (Sep–Dec), Winter (Jan–Apr), Summer (May–Aug)

Commitment: 10 hrs/week, hybrid (on-site/remote)

Eligibility: Undergrad/grad students in history, political science, Middle east studies, public policy, or related fields; strong research, writing, and analytical skills

Program: Virtual orientation, project work, workshops, networking, and a capstone project

Benefits: Professional development budget, D.C. policy conference tickets, MEF event access

To apply: Send cover letter & resume to internship@meforum.org

To learn more, click here.

Seeking Stabilizers: Israel’s Regional Strategy Through the Southern Syria Lens

In the wake of Syria’s prolonged conflict and regional shifts after the October 7 Hamas attacks, Israel intensifies focus on the Druze communities in southern Syria.

Why it matters: With Iran and Hezbollah's influence waning, Israel recalibrates its approach, offering aid and security to Druze villages, reinforcing Golan Heights as a territorial buffer.

This strategy highlights the Druze as not only a humanitarian concern but as pivotal partners in Israel's evolving security doctrine.

The big picture: Israel's historical engagement with the Druze, dating back to early 20th-century strategic interests, shapes this renewed, pragmatic engagement. Within Israel itself, the Druze community continues to play a unique role as both an integrated minority with a long record of military service and a population watching regional trends with acute awareness.

Balancing compassion with security, Israel's actions underscore its commitment to regional stability amid shifting Middle East dynamics.

What's next: As Syria’s landscape transforms post-Assad, Israel's strategic foresight will be key in navigating these complexities and maintaining regional stability.

Israel will likely persist in seeking stability along its borders, also through maintaining territorial buffers and strengthening ties with minority communities, tools that have long served as part of its broader strategy to navigate regional instability while safeguarding national security.

To read the full article, click here.

It Would Be a Mistake for the United States to Force the Dissolution of Syrian Kurdish Forces

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) face a critical impasse with Damascus, as talks over Kurdish force integration stall, leaving their future uncertain in a volatile region.

Why it matters: U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack's involvement has complicated the situation, signaling a shift in U.S. support away from the SDF that emboldens Syria to pressure the SDF.

This deadlock not only threatens Kurdish autonomy but also exposes them to potential aggression from Damascus, undermining regional stability.

The big picture: The U.S. risks repeating past mistakes by failing to support its Kurdish allies fully, reminiscent of the Peshmerga integration debacle in Iraq.

With U.S. support, the SDF has, over the last decade, built a defense structure that includes highly trained special operations forces, counterterrorism units and local police forces. Maintaining the SDF's unity is crucial for Syrian defense, especially as the Pentagon dedicates $130 million to their fight against Islamic State remnants.

What's next: America must decisively back the SDF to prevent Damascus from exploiting this stalemate, ensuring Kurdish forces remain a formidable counter to extremist threats.

In a context where Washington and Damascus accommodate jihadists and extremist elements but marginalize moderate and liberal actors, it is imperative that common sense prevail.

To read the full article, click here.

To Defeat the Houthis, Saturate Yemen’s Air Space with Drones

On July 6 and 7, 2025, Houthi forces sank two Greek-managed ships, Magic Seas and Eternity C, with drone boats and missiles, killing at least four crew members. A subsequent missile aimed at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport underscores persistent proxy threats.

Why it matters: Despite Iran's weakening influence, the Houthis demonstrate resilience, requiring a strategic shift beyond conventional airstrikes.

The U.S. must consider Ukraine's drone warfare success, using swarms of low-cost drones to counter and cripple high-value targets.

The big picture: The Houthis hide in caves and bunkers and limit use of equipment that might emit detectable signals. But they still must surface and move to operate. When they do, swarms of loitering drones can eliminate them.

This strategy minimizes risks to U.S. forces while maximizing strategic efficiency, shifting the cost equation in favor of the U.S.

What's next: Strategic success no longer comes in shock-and-awe packages. It comes through smart, sustained operations that deny the enemy space to operate. Attrition, when applied consistently and aggressively, produces strategic collapse.

The United States and Israel possess the industrial base and technological know-how to deploy this strategy. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent drone announcement signals the United States now has the will.

To read the full article, click here.

To Fight the Houthis, Work with the South Yemen and Somaliland Coast Guards

In Yemen and Somalia, the State Department’s policies are getting hundreds of people killed just so U.S. diplomats can promote the niceties that the two countries are unified and should remain so.

Why it matters: There cannot be a solution to the Houthi problem until the United States works separately with Somaliland and South Yemen, or South Arabia as many in the region prefer to call their land.

The United States' focus on maintaining fictitious unity impedes progress against the Houthis, who continue to disrupt Red Sea shipping.

The big picture: Somaliland and South Yemen have proven their capability to manage security with limited resources, yet lack international recognition and support.

The United States could go further by basing its own patrols in South Yemen’s capital Aden and Somaliland’s commercial capital Berbera, two port cities that would welcome a skeleton U.S. air and sea presence to secure shipping.

What's next: As someone who prides himself in breaking diplomatic constraints, it is time for President Donald Trump to embrace a simple and inexpensive solution and order Secretary of State Marco Rubio to draw up plans to help train and fund the Somaliland and South Yemeni coast guards.

Delaying will only enable the Houthis and their terror partners to continue to arm and threaten hundreds of billions of dollars of international cargo.

To read the full article, click here.

The West Must Respond to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s New Fatwas

Iran's ayatollahs issue dangerous fatwas that extend beyond religious decrees, posing a significant international security threat.

Why it matters: Such fatwas constitute an international license for assassination and terror, activating sleeper cells composed of indoctrinated radicals worldwide.

Threats now loom over global leaders, including Trump, Netanyahu, and anyone who offends the Islamic Republic or calls for its end.

The big picture: The inherent nature of the clerical system ensures this threat will endure. The Islamic Republic’s fundamental character remains violent and unchangeable.

Ignoring fatwas as religious rhetoric would be naïve. They are incitement to terrorism.

What's next: The international community should respond decisively by targeting clerics with sanctions and increasing intelligence cooperation to disrupt radicalization networks.

It is crucial to increase vigilance monitoring financial flows from Tehran used to support ideological training and radicalization efforts abroad in the wake of such decrees.

To read the full article, click here.

Thank you for your support and for subscribing to the Dispatch. If you enjoyed it, please forward it to a friend, and please let us know what you thought of this issue. You’ll hear from us again soon.

Sincerely,

Winfield Myers
Managing Editor, Middle East Forum
Director, Campus Watch

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