Lebanon: Extending state authority and reforms are two inevitable conditions

POLITICS

The recent political transformations in the Middle East represent unprecedented turning points, and some consider them a "fundamental phase" for the coming era, similar to what occurred during previous major events in the twentieth century, such as the Balfour Declaration, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the 1948 Naqba, the 1967 War, and other significant historical events that left their impact on the region for decades to come.

In Syria, what compass direction

POLITICS

The ramifications of various events since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria have brought back to the forefront the very old question of Syria's identity, a question that has persisted since its declaration of independence at the beginning of the last century.

Is the conflict between minorities and majority in Syria a real one?

POLITICS

In the past few months, there has been a clear escalation in statements, discussions, and writings about Syria's minorities and majority.

What scenarios about the Iranian Nuclear File?

POLITICS

The Iranian nuclear issue is returning vigorously to the forefront of events in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the escalating direct US-Iranian political confrontation and the ongoing quarrel between the two sides.

Syria between external demands and internal challenges

POLITICS

Bashar al-Assad has departed, leaving Syria in ruins, with a collapsed economy, millions of people displaced, a volatile internal situation, and international sanctions.

Urgent help for displaced Syrians to return home

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

According to the results of a recent survey, nearly one million displaced people living in camps and sites in northwest Syria intend to return to their areas of origin within this year.

Assad's regime remnants: a bitter experience

SECURITY AWARENESS

Three reasons could explain the surge of armed violence perpetrated by some of Assad's remnants on Mediterranean coast in recent days.

In Syria, the hardest is to rebuild the state

POLITICS

Everybody hopes that the new regime in Syria will build an independent, secure and developing state that embraces all components of its people.

Paris Conference on Syria: Turning Words into Action

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

The third international meeting on Syria in Paris, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, was an attempt to coordinate an international response since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Saudi Summit and New World Order

POLITICS

The promised summit in Saudi Arabia between US President Trump and Russian President Putin depends on the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations between the two governments.

On the way to the international peace conference in Middle East

POLITICS

A series of rapid developments in the context of the movements to stop the fighting in Gaza, even through the policy of stages, have been witnessed by the diplomacy of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in recent days.

Is Ahmad al-Sharaa a legitimate president?

POLITICS

As Ahmad al-Sharaa was installed as president of Syria, the country enters a new phase, full of challenges and great hopes.

The real needs of Levant youth

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

The Gaza war, which changed the face of the region and caused, directly or indirectly, destructions in the Strip and the neighboring countries, has ended.

Reading the meanings of electing the new Lebanese president

POLITICS

What Lebanon experienced recently was a pivotal event by all standards. It is more than just electing a president for the republic, but the ending of vacancy at the head of state that was actually indicating a systemic crisis.

Syrian priorities and lessons from political transition

POLITICS

Syrians fear that political debates will undermine the achievement of toppling the Assad regime after 54 years of rule.

Hopes of no return to the difficult years that ravaged maps and peoples

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

A new year is upon the Middle East region, with austere files and very complex equations, unstable maps and peoples.

Syria’s future, between reassurances and challenges

POLITICS

It is a difficult and arduous task for Syrians today to rebuild their state after the fall of the Assad regime, which returned the country to a state of centuries ago.

About groups, individuals and the new Syria

POLITICS

Today, Syria seems more divided and more alienated than ever before.

Legitimate concerns about Syria's future

POLITICS

The atmosphere of euphoria over the demise of the Assad regime is justified, but concerns about the future of Syria are legitimate and should be the focus of attention, discussion, dialogue, and diplomacy in the coming days.

Uncertain future for Syria and the region after the fall of Bashar al-Assad' regime?

SECURITY AWARENESS

A characteristic of the Syrian civil war in the middle of the last decade was the religious extremism of the most effective groups involved in the conflict.

Syria between stability and chaos

SECURITY AWARENESS

What we see in Syria today, the resounding fall of the regime, and people taking to the streets with joyful chants, is a scene similar to what happened 14 years ago in Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Egypt.

Potential consequences of the Bashar al-Assad regime's fall down of the in Syria...

POLITICS

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime means the end of the sphere of influence that Iran has built since the beginning of the ayatollahs' rule.

Lebanon: Between defeat and victory?

POLITICS

It is clear that Lebanon has entered a gloomy and dark phase, and it is not clear how it will emerge from it and at what cost and losses, especially with the Israeli attacks entering their second month, and it seems likely to continue for additional weeks, awaiting the completion of the moment of the American transition after an unprecedented presidential election in terms of polarization, results and political expectations.

Eastern Mediterranean region after Donald Trump’s victory…

POLITICS

The US elections ended with a landslide victory for Republican candidate Donald Trump, who became the 47th President of the United States, receiving 312 electoral college votes compared to 226 votes for his Democratic competitor, Kamala Harris.

Israeli predictable priorities in the war on Lebanon

POLITICS

The Israeli war has witnessed a major escalation in geography, targets and firepower against Lebanon for more than a month.

وضع المسيحيين في محافظة الحسكة السورية

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

شكلت العوامل التي شهدتها الأراضي السورية، هاجسًا أرق أبناء منطقة رأس العين الواقعة في شمال غرب محافظة الحسكة على الحدود التركية السورية، حيث أسهمت ظروف الحرب وظهور ميلشييات مسلحة من الأحزاب الانفصالية وميلشييات أخرى تابعة لإيران ونظام الأسد وتضارب للقوى المسيطرة على المنطقة، تحكم بقوة السلاح، في إفراغ المنطقة من سكانها ومنهم الطائفة المسيحية على وجه الخصوص، بحيث تعددت الأهداف من وراء ذلك.

There are only two paths for Iran for getting out of the crisis

SECURITY AWARENESS

After the recent Israeli attack on Tehran and other cities, Iran will either begin the difficult path of political settlement, or accelerate the path of producing nuclear weapons.

Ceasefire in Middle East… a race against time

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

Israel has retreated from its goals in Gaza, without officially announcing it, after taking the complete control of the Northern Strip and “cleansing” it of its residents, expelling them towards the south and making a security buffer zone that prevents “surprises” that threaten Israeli security, as happened on October 7 of last year. But the retreat in Gaza is accompanied by an escalation and expansion of the war on the Lebanese northern front, to completely get rid of the growing danger posed by Hezbollah, within the framework of the increasing confrontation with Iran.

Syria, at the mercy of regional powers?

POLITICS

In the past few months, Syria's occurrence in Arab and foreign media has increased, with analyses, reports, articles and statements made by officials in regional and major countries, who have spoken about the conflict in and around Syria. The main reason for Syria's prominence in the media is political and field developments related to the war waged by Israel against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which has been expanded to Lebanon, against "Hezbollah. Amid the development of the Israeli war, regional repercussions of the war have emerged in Israeli-Iranian strikes, on the one hand, and in the escalation and diversity of Israeli attacks in Syria against targets belonging to Iran and its Shiite militias there, and targets belonging to the Assad regime, on the other hand.

After Gaza war, the Lebanon war... and what's after?

POLITICS

A year has already passed since the launching of the Israeli war in Gaza. This war was included in an Israeli strategy of attrition open in time and in space, to achieve the security and military control over the Strip and the complete elimination of Hamas. But a year long war has prompted Israel to reduce its goals or envisage them in stages, without abandoning them, starting with the establishment of a completely safe zone in the north of the Strip, free of any Palestinian presence.

Division among Arabs over Hezbollah

POLITICS

The assassination of the Hezbollah leader by the Israeli army in the southern suburbs of Beirut has caused a major division in the Arab arena, between those who exulted over his death recalling his brutal military intervention in Syria, and those who backed all of his positions, specifically his resistance against Israel, and considered him an untouchable political reference.

War in the Middle East: What after Hassan Nasrallah’s elimination ?

POLITICS

Next to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the world is waiting to see the reaction of Tehran, the ally and founder of the Lebanese Shiite movement. What after?

Security Council is concerned about consequences of regional outburst on Syrian conflict, amid deteriorating humanitarian situation

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

In an unprecedented unanimity, the members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at the risks of spillover and escalation of regional tensions in Syria, particularly as a result of the war in Gaza and the clashes on both sides of the border between Israel and Lebanon, which could draw the country into an even more serious conflict.

Turkish attacks in Syria may be qualified as war crimes

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has released a new report accusing the Turkish state for continuing to target civilian areas in northern and eastern Syria. These attacks may amount to war crimes, according to the UN investigators.

Western sanctions strengthen Russian-Iranian cooperation: Moscow and Tehran prepare to sign a strategic agreement

POLITICS

The announcement of a new package of Western sanctions against Moscow and Tehran coincided with the announcement for concluding a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which is expected to be signed during the BRICS summit to be held soon in the Russian city of Kazan.

Türkiye-Syria: Will the page of enmity be turned?

POLITICS

Relations have remained frosty since Ankara and Damascus severed diplomatic ties in 2011, following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. But the president Erdogan’s recent statement that he could invite Bashar Assad to Türkiye “at any time” has drawn mixed reactions from Syrians.

Iran’s retaliation is possible, but not a real war…

POLITICS

Conventional wisdom says that the current war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, now in its tenth month, is about to intensify significantly after Israel confirmed responsibility for the targeted killing near Beirut of Fouad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah military commander.

Four scenarios for the after Gaza war

POLITICS

The Palestinian issue, after many years of absence from the agenda of regional priorities (due to the presence of many conflicts in the region), has returned to the forefront of hot regional issues, open to all possibilities.

Why Europe is talking about Syria again

POLITICS

In Brussels, Syria has returned to the forefront of European political debate.

Conflict zones, like Syria, are territories conducive to financing terrorist groups and criminal gangs

SECURITY AWARENESS

Terrorist groups consider conflict zones as a suitable terrain to increase their illicit activities and guarantee the economic resources that allow them to exist.

What is behind the last shown flexibility of Hamas?

POLITICS

What happened to Hamas as it provides remarkable flexibility in the recent negotiations taking place in Doha? And, what is new in Israel's position, which made several parties express their optimism about the possibility of stopping the war?

Syrians are first of all concerned about their suffering and lack of safety

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

Examining the map of the Syrians' spread out reveals the four basic concerns that the majority of them are suffering:

The problem of power in the Iranian regime

POLITICS

The death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi opened the door once again to discussing the nature of the Iranian political system and the possibilities of reforming it.

Could a “Gaza truce” be imminent?

POLITICS

US President Joe Biden's initiative for a truce in Gaza has accumulated positive reactions on more than one level and it received an initial response from the Hamas movement.

Brussels meeting to support the future of Syria

Participants in the recent eighth ministerial conference organized by the European Union in Brussels to support the future of Syria unanimously warned against the consequences of “forgetting Syria” and its millions of internally displaced people and refugees to neighboring countries. Moreover, EU pledged more than two billion euro ($2.17 billion) to support Syrian refugees in the region, and rejected any talk about the possible return of refugees to their homeland, as the conditions for voluntary and safe return are not prepared.

Is international terrorism still threatening the world?

SECURITY AWARENESS

After the brutal attack on the Crocus Town Hall in the suburbs of Moscow some time ago, the world once again remembered Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization.

What are the weapons that Israel imports and who are its most prominent suppliers?

SECURITY AWARENESS

Israel is a major arms exporter, but its army also relies heavily on imported weapons, particularly aircraft, guided bombs, and missiles.

In Gaza, an impossible victory and the missing solution

politics

Many believe that the world has changed after October 7, 2023, as Palestine has returned to the forefront, and a solution has become required, because its absence would be disastrous for the region and perhaps for the world.

After the Moscow attack: What could be ISIS’s next move?!

SECURITY AWARENESS

The Moscow attack was not a surprise to observers: the possibilities of escalation in actions of terrorist organizations were expected since 2021 summer, after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

After thirteen years of conflict, Syria seems to be a failed state

POLITICS

March 15 is conventionally considered the anniversary of the Syrian revolt outburst.

The difficult return of Syrian refugees to their mother-country

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

Faced with a swarm of economic, security and authoritarian challenges in neighboring countries, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who fled the civil war have returned home, despite the grim security and safety situation that awaits them.

Gaza and the regional security dilemma

POLITICS

Regional security in the Middle East is a real dilemma that has been searching for a solution since 1967 until today, and it requires a serious discussion because the scale of a crisis that has reached the point of danger, especially after the war waged by Israel against the people of Gaza.

Can Syria stay away from the silent war between Israel and Iran?

POLITICS

Syrians increasingly fear that Israel's repeated airstrikes and incursions could drag the country into the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, prolonging Syria's decade of existence as a surrogate battle-field.

How will the war in Gaza come to an end?

Politics

Until now, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to consider any political agreement to conclude hostilities in Gaza, or to discuss a more general Israeli-Palestinian peace process

After Gaza, destruction of UNRWA?

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is 74 years old. It was established after the first war, in 1948, in Palestine.

Gaza War: Syria’s bizarre passivity

POLITICS

Since the Syrian army and its allies defeated rebel groups and regained control of more than two-thirds of the territory, Israel has carried out hundreds of air raids in an attempt to prevent or slow-down deliveries of Iranian weapons to Lebanese Hezbollah.

Syria’s civilians are increasingly forgotten as humanitarian aid dries out

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

The millions of civilians in need of humanitarian aid in Syria are affected because the declining of the international help this year, after the World Food Program (WFP) has ended its mandate for the country as of 2024.

The Gaza war and global interests

POLITICS

The Palestinian question is supranational, including the entire Middle East and even beyond. This is why it is necessary to understand the specific interests of each country, before believing their official declarations.

Increasing criticism against the Syrian government for its failure to manage economic crises

SECURITY AWARENESS

Since the Syrian People's Assembly approved the general budget for the year 2024, at the end of last December, the government has been subjected to a flood of sharp criticism, while it proceeds with its decisions aimed, as it says, at reducing the deficit, which this year reached an unprecedented amount.

Will 2024 witness the end of wars?

SECURITY AWARENESS

The war in Ukraine is approaching its third year without any political horizon to stop it, and the crisis has reached the point of no return.

What happened to ISIS in 2023?

SECURITY AWARENESS

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, which once held a vast swath of territory stretching from northeastern Syria to northern Iraq, has shown signs of a significant decline in its attacks in 2023.

Potential scenarios for the Gaza war

POLITICS

The war is currently raging in Gaza between the Israeli army and the Hamas movement places the region before the following alternative: either the ongoing negotiations in Qatar and Oman succeed in defusing the crisis, or they fail and, in this case, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu risks precipitating the entire region into a total war.

UN estimations about the aid needs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

According to a statement of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Operations (OCHA), the United Nations estimate the humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank at $1.2 billion until the end of 2023.

Israel’s expansion in Gaza – How far?

SECURITY AWARENESS

Since the attack on Israeli civilians carried out by Hamas during a music festival, Israel has expanded its military operations more and more into Gaza, raising concerns regarding both the impact on Palestinians and the impact it will have internationally.

Hamas and the tricks of the “surprise attack”

SECURITY AWARENESS

It may be too early to build a complete picture of the reasons that led to the recent attack launched by the Hamas group against Israeli villages near Gaza.

The war between Israel and Hamas: what reactions could the conflict provoke in Moscow and Kyiv?

Politics

First of all, this could be a fortunate thing for Moscow, as the focal point of international attention has shifted from Ukraine to Israel.

Syria, a field of military intervention for Russia

POLITICS

Russia, which invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, is militarily present in Syria, where since 2015 it has been intervening alongside the forces of Bashar al-Assad's regime and has been able to test its armament and tactics.

Allegations about the opportunity of the Syrian refugees’ return to their homeland

REFUGEE CRISIS

There is no dispute about the importance of the Syrian refugee issue, which naturally occupies wide concerns at the Syrian, regional and international levels.

Syrian Democratic Forces ends operations in Deir Ez-Zor province

SECURITY AWARENESS

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced recently the end of their main military operations in Deir Ez-Zor province, which led to the killing of 25 of their members, 29 Arab militants and 9 civilians.

Northwestern Syria is witnessing a campaign of extensive reforms and services

POLITICS

Agroup of Non-Governmental Organizations and local humanitarian organizations, in cooperation with the service authorities in the opposition-held areas in northwestern Syria, have begun implementing a number of service projects, and a large-scale renovate campaign for roads, drinking water networks, and sewage channels, with the aim to improve the services and facilitate the lives of more than 6 million people, with the beginning of this summer season.

Concerns about the suspension of humanitarian aid in Idlib camps

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

The World Food Program said in a recent statement that the "unprecedented funding crisis in Syria" forced it to reduce its aid to about 2.5 million people in Idlib camps, after it was providing it to about 5.5 million people who depend on the assistance provided by the UN agency for their basic food needs.

With the reinsertion of Bashar al-Assad on the international scene, what is the future for Syria?

POLITICS

May 2023 was the moment of the reintegration of Bashar al-Assad's regime into the Arab League after a decade of exclusion.

Tension rises in Syria

POLITICS

The civil war in Syria continues to worsen, with the opening of a new front in the north-west of the country, which opposes not the rebels to the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, but the armed groups of opposition. According to a Syrian NGO, recent fights opposed rebels of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to the jihadists from Al-Qaeda who were trying to get their weapons.

The depreciation of the Turkish lira is damaging the living conditions in northern Syria

POLITICS

The recent collapse of the exchange rate of the Turkish lira against the dollar has put Syrians in the areas of Turkish influence and the Syrian opposition, northwestern Syria, in a new economic and living dilemma, in direct confrontation with the high and fluctuating prices of medicines, food, industrial commodities and fuel, with a significant decline in the purchasing and labor movement.

Syrian steps towards normalization

POLITICS

How strange is the cycle of history! Twelve years ago, practically the whole world - excepting Iran and Russia - agreed to overthrow the power of President Bashar Al-Assad.

The Iraqi government is developing a plan to restore stability in Tarmiya and Diyala provinces

POLITICS

At a time when the Iraqi security services are still pursuing ISIS members and cells in places where they are suspected to be present, the government has begun to develop a plan to restore stability to the Tarmiya and Diyala districts, north of Baghdad.

The Autonomous Administration proposes a “peaceful and democratic” solution to the Syrian crisis

POLITICS

In a recent statement, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria announced the launch of an initiative that aims to find a "peaceful and democratic" solution to the Syrian crisis. The Autonomous Administration affirmed its readiness to meet with the Syrian governme

Update on the situation in Syria, after years of conflict

POLITICS

The war in Syria has already been going on for 12 years, March 15, 2011 being considered the date of the start of the conflict.

Is the terror threat still prevalent?

SECURITY AWARENESS

A UN press release dated February 9, 2023 reminds that the threat posed by Daesh in the world has not diminished. Furthermore, officials the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), also told a United Nations Security Council session that this terrorist group "continues to exploit local fragilities and inter-community tensions, notably in Iraq, Syria and parts of the African continent, notably in the recruitment of terrorists”.

The late arrival of aid in Syria, after earthquakes

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

Both the Syrian government and the United Nations failed to bring aid to Syrians after the devastating earthquakes of February 6, an International Commission of Inquiry on Syria denounced recently.

Following the earthquakes, what are the difficulties specific to the two contexts of south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria?

SECURITY AWARENESS

As the earthquakes took place over a very large area affecting Turkey and Syria, the number of dead and injured is exponential.

Humanitarian Crisis in Syria after Deadly Earthquake

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

Aleppo, Syria - A powerful earthquake struck the northern region of Syria on February 10th, leaving behind a trail of destruction and loss of life.

The aftermath of the Syrian earthquake

POLITICS

The devastating earthquake that hit Syria on February 10, 2023, has had a significant impact on the Middle East region, both in terms of the humanitarian crisis and the geopolitical implications.

How the war in Ukraine is changing the world balance

POLITICS

The war that began with the Russian invasion of Ukraine was supported by the US and UK with arms shipments and a continued US and British presence in Kiev alongside Volodimyr Zelensky. The EU has given up on Russian gas and oil, plus Nord Stream 2, sanctioned Russia and sent weapons to Kiev.

Who is the new leader of Al-Qaeda?

SECURITY AWARENESS

Who is the new leader of Al-Qaeda to succeed Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was killed by the United States with a missile fired by a drone, while he was standing on the balcony of a house where he was hiding in the Afghan capital, Kabul, in late July?

The war in Ukraine could expose Algeria to an arms crisis

Russian arms importers face an increased risk of supply shortages as Russian manufacturers scramble to meet the needs of their own military.

How the war in Ukraine affects the Kurds

POLITICS

When representatives for the self-government of northern and eastern Syria met with MEPs in the European Parliament, the war in Ukraine was a constant presence.

Has Al-Qaeda really stopped its Afghanistan operations?

SECURITY AWARENESS

Will Al-Qaeda continue to abide by its decision to stop its Afghanistan operations despite the killing of its leader, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, in an American strike a few weeks ago?

Al Qaeda and ISIS: a continuation of hostility or a tacit alliance?

SECURITY AWARENESS

The scenarios of the future relationship between AQ and ISIS after Ayman Al-Zawahiri have become of concern to many experts, in light of the usual competition between the two terrorist organizations over the past years.

Iran’s role in Ukraine war

SECURITY AWARENESS

During the last three months, an internationalization of the conflict in Ukraine has deepened. Some of its main manifestations are the deployment of Russian forces in Belarus and the growing threat to destabilize the entire Baltic Sea region and the rest of Europe.

Russia in the Middle East: From the Arab Spring to the invasion of Ukraine (2011-2022)

POLITICS

The scenario created by the 2011 revolutions in North Africa and the Arab Levant forced Moscow to rethink its role in the region. In May 2012, with Putin's return to the presidency of the Federation, Russia fully returned to Middle Eastern affairs.

In the context of Ukrainian crisis, are US and Russia betraying Kurds against Turkish threats?

POLITICS

In recent weeks, an Arab official asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the secret of the unique cooperation between President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

What are the recent clashes in the Syrian Deirezzor governorate?

SECURITY AWARENESS

The region witnesses from time to time tensions between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) backed by Washington on the one hand, and pro-Tehran factions of multiple nationalities on the other.

What could be the impact of the Ukrainian war on the Palestinian cause?

POLITICS

What could be the impact of the Ukrainian war on the Palestinian cause?

Arabs have little interest in Ukrainian war, despite economic fallout

POLITICS

According to an exclusive Arab News poll, the majority of people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region don't seem to care much about the war in Ukraine. The survey was conducted among 7,835 people in 14 countries in the MENA region.

Consequences for MENA countries in case of a long-term war in Ukraine

SECURITY AWARENESS

It is very difficult to say with certainty how long the Ukrainian war could last. NATO Secretary-General, US President Joe Biden, and European heads of state have already realized that a Ukrainian victory was unlikely.

Geopolitical considerations on the conflict in Ukraine

POLITICS

The Ukrainian crisis changed the post Cold War status quo in Europe. Russia, considering the support of Western partners for regime change in Kiev as a betrayal, defended its vital interests, while the West saw this as pure and simple aggression by a superpower.

What is the Russian priority in Syria today?

POLITICS

The recent Moscow's announcement about its intention to expand the list of Russian airports that will be linked to Syrian airports raised questions about the implications of the move in light of the repercussions of the Western blockade imposed on Russia...

After the Russian threat to stop its delivery across the border with Turkey, displaced people in northern Syria fear the halt of humanitarian aid

Activists, local humanitarian organizations and camp managers for the displaced people in northwestern Syria have warned that the mechanism for bringing humanitarian aid to Syrians through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing point with Turkey, under pressure from Russia, has stopped.

Are sanctions really creating difficulties for Russia?

POLITICS

Are sanctions really hitting Russia and isolating Putin? A really satisfactory answer, perhaps, we will have it in a few months, but in the meantime things are not going exactly in the direction desired by the West.

Russia and the prospect of a Turkish operation in Northern Syria

POLITICS

Did the Turkish president get a green light from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to launch his military operation in northern Syria?

War in Ukraine: Negative fallouts on the Middle East and North Africa

POLITICS

The consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are particularly severe in the Middle East and North Africa, and not just because of the importance of Gulf oil producers, as the war has disrupted global energy markets.

Measures in Egypt to overcome the food crisis due to the Ukrainian war

POLITICS

The Egyptian government is seeking to overcome the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which contributed to a significant rise in inflation rates.

The war in Ukraine and its repercussions in the Middle East

SECURITY AWARENESS

In the Middle East, the effects of the Ukrainian conflict have already trickled down to US client regimes, many of which also enjoying good relations with Russia.

Illusions of the West and the ending of Ukrainian crisis

POLITICS

Sixth month of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and monotony is already beginning to reach the newsrooms of Western media.

Ukrainian crisis and the Middle East

POLITICS

The multilateral context means that, for better or for worse, conflicts take a global character and develop in a sort of domino effect which affects more or less all continents.

Impact of the war in Ukraine in the Middle East and North Africa

Politics

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is set to impact the whole world, with repercussions reaching beyond Europe and "conflict zones", especially in the Middle East and North Africa, in the short and long term.

May the Ukrainian conflict redefine relations between the West and the rest of the world, mainly the MENA countries?

Politics

This war has already had effects between Moscow and the West, defined here as the United States and its European and Asian allies, Japan and South Korea.

How the Arab World reacted to Ukrainian crisis

POLITICS

The complex reactions of the Arab states to the invasion of Ukraine concern Russia far less than the West.

THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND MENA REGION

Politics

The shockwaves of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and the consequent sanctions imposed on Moscow are being felt around the world, including in the MENA region.

THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND FOOD INSECURITY IN MIDDLE EAST

Politics

ven before the start of Russian military operations in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the international community, and in particular European countries, heavily dependent on Russian gas supplies, were anxious by the major impact that this crisis could have on deliveries and hydrocarbon prices.

IMPACTS OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

Politics

The substantial invasion of Ukraine by Russia (February 24, 2022) surprised the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, placing them in a very uncomfortable situation.

Russia is destabilizing the security situation in the Badia desert

Security awareness

Russian and Syrian regime warplanes carried out intense air raids in the last days, targeting sites believed to be for ISIS in the Syrian area of Badia, east of Homs, Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor.

Iran is growing its presence in Syria

Politics

Iran is accelerating to enhance its role in Syria, by deploying large numbers of local and foreign militias loyal to it, and military mechanisms.

Syrian "solutions" to Ukrainian war

Politics

Diplomats close to Moscow in Damascus are discussing several scenarios that could cast a prospective over the Ukrainian crisis.

Syrian fighters prepared to join both sides of Ukrainian war

SECURITY AWARENESS

These exercises come after representatives of the pro-Russian military forces returned from a reconnaissance tour in Russia.

Kurdish warnings of ISIS revival 3 years after its defeat

SECURITY AWARENESS

Recently, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) warned that ISIS is trying, after 3 years of eliminating its established areas, to reorganize its ranks. Moreover, they drew attention to the repercussions of the international community's "failure" to provide the necessary support to prevent this.

Overshadowed by Ukraine, a political crisis risks degenerating in Libya

POLITICS

At a time when all eyes are on Ukraine, mediators are working to prevent a difficult political deadlock from escalating into a new war in Libya, where Russia plays a leading role.

Saudi position on Ukrainian crisis

POLITICS

After the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, the Arab world is in an atmosphere of intense polarization, between the West on one side, and Russia and behind it China, on the one hand.

Ukrainian front, attraction for foreign fighters, especially Arabs

SECURITY AWARENESS

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian defence minister to facilitate the enlistment and deployment of foreign "volunteer fighters" on the Ukrainian front

Libya at a brink of a new civil war

POLITICS

After the recent step taken by the Libyan Chamber of Deputies in Tobruk to install a new government chaired by Fathi Bachagha, and the refusal of Abdelhamid Dbeibeh, head of the Tripoli Union Government to step down, the country faces the multidimensional, political, geographic and economic split, or a third civil war.

The involvement of Syrian fighters in Ukraine

POLITICS

With the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several sources reported the preparedness for the Syrian fighters to be sent to participate in the armed conflict there.

Arab states and UN resolution against Russia

POLITICS

Last week, a number of Middle Eastern countries, who are traditionally friendly with the United States and the European Union, didn't want to straight away or openly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine war and Syria

POLITICS

The Ukrainian crisis in Europe could radically modify the dynamics on the ground in Syria, while Assad regime's atrocities slip further from public attention.

The war in Ukraine highlights internal divisions in some Middle Eastern countries

POLITICS

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has revived deep divisions in the Middle East. As American influence has declined, Moscow has made powerful friends, from Shiite militias in Iraq to the Hezbollah group in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen.

Arab students strive to leave Ukraine

REFUGEE CRISIS

More than 10,000 Arab students took up studies in Ukraine, attracted to the former Soviet republic by a low cost of living and, for many, the lure of relative safety compared with their own troubled homelands.

Arab League avoids taking sides in Ukraine crisis

Politics

These days, in Cairo, Arab League recalled "the importance of respecting the principles of international law", while pleading for "restraint" and a "diplomatic solution".

Repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis on the "nuclear negotiations" in Vienna

Politics

The Iranian media analysts are oscillating between mistrust and certainty about the Russian position and the repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis on Vienna's path to revive the nuclear agreement on the Iranian program, while the negotiation process is approaching the moment of crossing the finish line.

Consequences for Syria of the Russian war in Ukraine

SECURITY AWARENESS

It is no exaggeration to say that Syria will be among the most affected by the Russian attack on Ukraine and its military and political consequences.

Retreat of France from Sahel

Security Awareness

During a recent press conference, the French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed the withdrawal of French forces from Mali and a general reorganization of the vectors involved in the fight against terrorist networks.

US reward for IS-K leader’s capture

SECURITY AWARENESS

The United States has offered a $ 10 million reward for any information that could "identify or locate" the leader of the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) group, Sanaullah Ghafari.

Taliban look for Western aid

POLITICS

A British official related that a Taliban delegation is in Qatar to ask again the international community, which does not recognize the regime, to provide the financial aid needed by Afghanistan in crisis.

EU presence in Sahel

POLITICS

This week, the European authorities are making several decisions regarding their military presence in Africa and especially in the sub-Saharan region.

Impact of Daesh’s leader death

SECURITY AWARENESS

The impact of the death of Abu Ibrahim Hashimi Al Qurashi (born Amir Muhammad Said Abdul Rahman Al Mawla)...

Islamic State in Northern Syria

SECURITY AWARENESS

After January 20, when Islamic State in Syria and Levant (Deash) - in an attempt to free prisoners belonging to the group who had mutinied - launched its biggest assault in years.

Turkey and Russia in Libya

Security awareness

Turkey and Russia have proved to be the main external kingmakers in Libya and their presence has provoked major divisions among Western states. Moscow will take advantage of these divisions as Russia continues its “return” to African countries that were once under strong Soviet influence, including Libya.

Prospects of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq

Security awareness

While it is no doubt that IS is trying to consolidate its position, the group still poses a strategic threat on an international or even regional level.

Normalising ties with Syria?

Politics

Since July 2021, a number of Arab states has gradually made moves to normalise relations with Bashar Al Assad regime, through meetings, agreements and economic understandings.

A decade of violence in Syria

Politics

Year 2021 marked a major increase in efforts to bring back normalisation of ties between Al Assad’s government in Damascus and countries that once called for his demise.

Iran and the West in 2022

Politics

Experts say that even both Iran and the US appear attracted in reviving the nuclear deal, deep distrust and decades-long animosity mean both sides are unlikely to return to normal their relationship in the near future.

After electoral committees dissolved, elections unlikely in Libya

Politics

Last week, the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) ordered the dissolution of the electoral committees in Libya. It means that Libya's presidential election is unlikely to take place as planned.

New Iraqi Parliament

Politics

Following the election of a speaker - by tradition a Sunni Arab - parliament will then have 30 days to choose a president, who is traditionally a Kurd.

Kurds may offer a solution in Iraqi crisis

Politics

Since the early 1990s, Iraq’s Kurdish region has been ruled by a power-sharing consensus between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), both of which command Peshmergah military forces loyal to them. In recent years, however, the PUK has been losing ground to KDP and newly emerged parties, which has undermined this arrangement. In fact, the October election twisted even further the balance of power in KDP’s advantage.

Libya: Marshal Haftar, candidate for presidency

POLITICS

On Wednesday, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, chief of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), has temporarily retired himself from his military functions, for launching his candidacy in expected presidential elections, due to take place next December.

Iraq: What's next, after total US pull-out?

Security awareness

By the end of December, all United States military involved in operations in Iraq (which were officially terminated on December 9) will be pulled out. Whatever forces do stay behind will be charged exclusively with safeguarding American key objectives, such as the US Embassy in Baghdad, or with the training of local security forces.

Syria's readmission to the Arab League

Politics

In March next year, Algeria will host the regular Arab Summit meeting with the most important item on the agenda being the readmission of Syria to the Arab League. The Syrian membership in the League was suspended at the Arab Summit in Doha in 2012.

Lebanon crisis overview

Politics

In the last couple of years, Lebanon has been characterized by turmoil: from financial problems to Covid-19 pandemic, all these factors immersed the country in protocol and economic crisis.

Risk of escalation in Iraq?

Politics

Lately, Iraqi National Electoral Commission confirmed the victory of Moqtada Sadr Movement on the expenses of the pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance which have continuously claimed the fraud and asked justice to cancel the ballot. With a participation rate of 44%, the Sadrist party won 73 seats in the incoming parliament of the country, namely a quarter of the Parliament's seats. On the other side, Fatah Alliance got only 17 seats against 48 in the previous parliament.

Israeli-Moroccan security agreements

Security awareness

After a recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Israel and Morocco, the two countries will cooperate with intelligence and common exercises on sensitive security issues. Israel does not share many of the threats facing Morocco whose main challenge has come from separatist Polissario Front movement seeking to establish an independent state in Western Sahara, which Rabat claims as its own, and from neighbouring Algeria, which supports PF.

Morocco and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations

Politics

Recently, king Mohammed VI of Morocco asserted that, after normalising relations with Israel, the kingdom is ready to use its special ties with all parties involved in Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in order to favour the resumption of peace process.

Islamic State’s resistance in Libya

SECURITY AWARENESS

After a long period of inactivity, in June 2021, Islamic State’s branch in Libya claimed responsability for two IED attacks in the city of Sebha and Al Haruj Mountains.

Baghdad clashes after election

SECURITY AWARENESS

The failed assassination attempt on Iraqi prime-minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi ramped up tensions in Baghdad, sparked by the refusal of Iran-backed militias to accept last month's parliamentary elections results.

Does Iran seek the stability in Afghanistan?

SECURITY AWARENESS

A new meeting of Afghanistan's neighbours (Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia) has been recently organised in Teheran by Iranian Foreign Ministry, to discuss the current situation in the war-ravaged country.

Saudi Arabia versus Lebanon?

POLITICS

Recently, in Middle East, tensions have occurred between Lebanon and several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, which decided to sever relations with Beirut.

How Taliban switch from fighting to governance…

SECURITY AWARENESS

In August, 2021, Taliban toppled the Afghan government, after a lightning offensive. They immediately took control of Kabul, major towns and regular army bases abandoned by the former government forces.

Have the Syrian extremist groups been biased by Taliban takeover of Afghanistan?

SECURITY AWARENESS

In Syria, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), who has gradually broken with both ISIS and Al Qaeda, has been carefully watching the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, from its stronghold in the north-western Syrian province of Idlib.

Sudan developments

SECURITY AWARENESS

The army took over the power in Sudan and arrested the civil authorities. US, UE, UN, other countries and international bodies condemned the military coup, while the Sudanese population tries to oppose resistance, and a general strike was declared.

Seif Al Islam Gaddafi soon in power?

POLITICS

Ten years after colonel Muammar Gaddafi's death, on October 20, 2011, Libya was plunged into political instability and a decade of violence.

Sahel jihadists and Taliban’s victory in Afghanistan

SECURITY AWARENESS

In the 1990s and early 2000s, a few combatants from Sahel area, as the Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, have been trained and fought in Afghanistan, against Russian aggression.

Muqtada Al Sadr, the kingmaker in Iraq

POLITICS

Muqtada Al Sadr is one of Iraq's most influential political figure and plays a key role in the country's future.

Al Qaeda versus Islamic State in Afghanistan

SECURITY AWARENESS

At the moment, there is a war in Afghanistan between Taliban and Islamic State in Khorasan (ISK), although their ideologies seem to be stunningly similar.

Supporting or not the Talibans

POLITICS

Two months since Taliban have grabbed power, Afghan population is already exhausted.

Lebanon in turmoil

POLITICS

On October 14, the Lebanese recalled the civil war ravaging the country in the 70s and 80

Elections in Iraq

POLITICS

Last week, Iraqis hit the pools for the fifth time since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Would rivalry between Taliban factions lead to a civil war?

SECURITY AWARENESS

Outside Afghanistan, there is temptation to regard the Taliban as a single solid entity or organization moving forward with a common purpose. But in fact it is made up of different factions who could even plunge back Afghanistan into war.

Iran intends to sign a strategic partnership with Russia

POLITICS

Recently, Iran announced its intention to sign a strategic partnership with Russia, similar to the treaty signed on March, 27 this year with China.

After Afghanistan, a new global order?

POLITICS

The West overrated itself: during two decades it has pumped billions of dollars into a underdeveloped country and has done huge human sacrifices. At the end, it failed.

Algeria-Morocco crises

POLITICS

Among numerous crises currently occurring on various meridians of the world, one is growing in Maghreb region, between Algeria and Morocco: on August 24, Algeria severed ties with Morocco and, on September 22, closed its airspace to Moroccan planes.

What’s next in Afghanistan

SECURITY AWARENESS

In Afghanistan, the present is, more than ever, the past. As the Sunni Taliban consolidate their power, the possibility of reviving old sources of sectarian and ethnic disputes increases.

Congress debates about US withdrawal from Syria

POLITICS

On September 21, president Biden told the UN that Unites States, for the first time in three decades, is not at war.

Modest start to withdrawal of foreign fighters in Libya

SECURITY AWARENESS

Officials in Libya have announced a "very modest start" to withdrawal of foreign fighters from the country.

Afghanistan crisis

SECURITY AWARENESS

Despite 20 years of external support, billions in financing, extended training and aerial aid programs from US, the Afghan state collapsed at mid August.

Three mistakes of US in Afghanistan

POLITICS

US did three big mistakes in Afghanistan - one for each decade, starting with 1980, two before 9/11 and the third after invading the country.

What is next for Islamism?

POLITICS

For almost a month, Taliban won in Afghanistan and Ennahda lost in Tunisia. The Taliban is not that similar to the Tunisian Ennahda, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood or the Sudanese Islamic National Front.

A Taliban office in Doha

POLITICS

In 2013, Qatar allowed Taliban to open a bureau in Doha, having support and request from American Administration led by Barack Obama.

ISIS-K is operating in Afghanistan since 2015

SECURITY AWARENESS

After four attacks in a day only, ISIS shows its presence and is about to complicate the fragile situation in Afghanistan.

Muslim Brotherhood defeated in Morocco

POLITICS

Since the Egyptian people overthrew them on 30 June 2013, Muslim Brotherhood registered a train of defeats in Arab World

US-Saudi relationship 20 years after 9/11

POLITICS

Twenty years have passed, but the legacy of 9/11 continues to cast a shadow over US-Saudi bilateral relationship.

Mali intends to hire Russian mercenaries

POLITICS

French minister of defence, Florence Parly, arrived on Sunday in Niger, in a two days visit to Sahel France allies. There, French military operations against Islamist groups are threatened by Mali's negotiations for hiring Russian mercenaries.

What should America learn from its defeat in Afghanistan?

POLITICS

Last month, amid the chaotic and tragic final days of America’s longest war, it looked as if a Democratic Congress would perform honest oversight of a Democratic administration.

Afghanistan’s future is rather bleak…

SECURITY AWARENESS

Almost 2.500 American soldiers and over 1.000 militaries from allied countries have died during 20 years Afghanistan war.

ISIS-K leaders

SECURITY AWARENESS

Islamic State - Khorasan or ISIS-K is the author of the recent Kabul suicide attack which caused 170 died and 200 wounded, as official Afghan sources have stated.

The lost war against Jihadism?

POLITICS

In 2001, declared enemy of the West was Al Qaida, behind Osama Bin Laden figure leader.

What’s next for Afghanistan and the region?

SECURITY AWARENESS

The manner in which the last Taliban's assault has been conducted suggests that it was prepared by individuals with a rich military background.

Iranian president Raisi and his Arab “protectorates”

POLITICS

It is understandable that foreign dignitaries and officials would attend the swearing-in ceremony of a UN member state’s president.

How Afghanistan will impact America’s role in the world

POLITICS

The May 2021 deadline to decide whether to fully withdraw American troops out of Afghanistan, as agreed in the Doha peace deal, looms large as President Biden’s first major foreign policy challenge.

Egyptian army vs. Islamic State

SECURITY AWARENESS

Eight Egyptian army soldiers have been killed and wounded in recent anti-terrorism operations in the in the northern Sinai.

The security situation in Lebanon

SECURITY AWARENESS

The tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border are mounting.

Talks for de-escalating Gaza tensions

POLITICS

After days of low-intensity shelling and rocket fire between Israel and Gaza, Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Sissi met and focused on de-escalating tensions between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza Strip.

Tunisia’s political crisis

POLITICS

In a statement late on 25th of July, the Presindet of Tunisa, Kais Saied invoked the constitution to dismiss the Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and decree a freeze of the parliament for a period of 30 days, saying he would govern alongside a new premier. P

Libya’s new interim government is facing an arduous task

POLITICS

The parliamentary and presidential elections planned for the end of the year give the long-suffering people of Libya reason to be hopeful about their country's future.

Tunisia’s Ennahdha is at a crossroads

POLITICS

It is too early to announce the end of Tunisia's democratization, or the end of its Islamist party, Ennahdha.

Iran supreme leader Khamenei formally tasks ultraconservative Raisi as president

POLITICS

Iran's supreme leader officially endorsed his hardliner protéjé as the nation's next president on Tuesday, two days ahead of Ebrahim Raisi's inauguration.

How is Syria Affected by the US Withdrawal from Afghanistan?

SECURITY AWARENESS

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan will cast its shadow over many "theaters" in the world, even if the size of the impact differs in each of them.

Africa became hardest hit by terrorism this year

SECURITY AWARENESS

Africa became the region hardest hit by terrorism in the first half of 2021.

10 years after the Arab Spring

POLITICS

A decade ago, we were in the throes of what observers in the West termed the "Arab Spring" - a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions.

Biden`s policy in the Middle East

POLITICS

Biden`s administration is sustaining a different Middle East policy from Trump. Biden is considered to be the spiritual successor to Obama, his former commander-in-chief, but his style, approach and worldview differ in significant ways.

Shia militia as a state actor

POLITICS

In everyday politics and business in Iraq, the PMF can no longer be distinguished from Iraqi state actors.

Israel-Palestine, the underneath of the conflict

SECURITY AWARENESS

Since the ceasefire entered into effect on 21 May, no major incidents have been reported. During the conflict, one Palestinian was killed in East Jerusalem, four in the West Bank, 66 in Gaza Strip and two Israeli children in Israel.

Iraq the American-Iranian battlefield

POLITICS

The ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran has reached a new level of escalation following the events in Baghdad.

Humanitarian aid for Palestine

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

After 11 days of bombardment by Israel in May this year, Palestinian residents in the besieged enclave of Gaza face massive rebuilding challenges amid a ceasefire and an uncertain future.

In Gaza, peace is long-awaited

POLITICS

Someone in the region once told that, after the last bullet is fired, at least one more generation should pass before there will be peace between the Israeli and Palestinians.

Reconciliation in Libya, possible and suitable

POLITICS

At the present time, many international efforts are done for the stabilization of the situation in Libya, where practically two camps compete for the power, in the context of an endless civil war.

The EU supports the management of migration in Ceuta

REFUGEE CRISIS

The border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, for a quarter of a century, has been the site of numerous illegal entries. But never before has there been such a massive influx of migrants swimming.

The flow of MENA refugees and their impact on Europe

REFUGEE CRISIS

Certain countries from Middle East and North Africa- Syria, Irak, Lebanon, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morroco, are mainly the origin coutries of migrants that travel to Europe.

Libya not ready for election?

Politics

Libya's presidential election, meant to help unify the nation after a decade of civil war, is supposed to take place in just over a week, but calls are mounting for a delay. The vote, scheduled for December 24, is to choose Libya's first president since the ouster and killing of dictator Moammar Gaddafi, more than a decade ago.

Cybercriminality in Middle East during Covid-19

SECURITY AWARENESS

In the context of cyber attacks, the region of North Africa and the Middle East is not spared.

When the voice of people is not sufficient: Failure of the Arab Spring

POLITICS

Arab Spring was the moment when, in regions dominated by authoritarian regimes, the people voice has been heard and in the Orient was spoken about democracy more frequently than ever.

Turkey: avoiding USA and EU hostilities

POLITICS

The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned that United States are at risk of losing an ally if it continues to harass Turkey.

Humanitarian aid in the Middle East

HUMANITARIAN ASSESSMENTS

In the past decade, the Middle East region has seen growing instabilities, as is caught-in-between a rising terrorist threat and a complex geopolitical situation.

Iran President-Elect takes hard line and refuses to meet Biden

POLITICS

Iran's president-elect staked out a hard-line position Monday in his first remarks since his landslide election victory.