Peace In The Region During Ramadan Is Unlikely By Rania Kisar Executive Summary: During the weekend, we witnessed a very significant event that reminds us of the Iran-Iraq Tanker War between 1985-1988. Iran seized an Iraqi oil tanker that was headed to Turkey. The clerical government announced that this attack was carried out following a […]

Armenia pledges readiness for full normalization with Turkey, signaling a potential breakthrough amidst regional tensions. Deputy Speaker Rubinyan champions efforts like resumed flights and border opening initiatives for diplomats, awaiting further Turkish cooperation. This advancement could catalyze positive shifts in the South Caucasus, notably impacting the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace dialogue. Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project underscores

In a defiant interview with Russia’s Solovyov Channel, Bashar ASSad dismissively predicted Donald Trump’s return as U.S. President, trivializing the role of American presidents as mere “executives” under the influence of powerful lobbies and financiers. ASSad’s comments, laced with arrogance, overlooked the significant security challenges facing his regime, from Israeli strikes against Iranian militias in

Nasrallah’s Grandson Reportedly Killed in Israeli Airstrike On March 1, 2024, Israeli airstrikes targeted towns in southern Lebanon, including Aita al-Shaab and Ramiya, where Hezbollah reported casualties, Hussein Ali Hamdan, and his wife, Manar Ahmad Abadi. Hezbollah retaliated by attacking Israeli military locations, such as the Ramim barracks and Ma’yan Baruch settlement, and claimed to

Iran’s Dual Challenges: Declining Voter Engagement and Bold Economic Strategies Echoing the disruptive “Tanker War” of 1985-1988, Iran’s recent seizure of an oil tanker in the Sea of Oman signals a troubling resurgence of maritime tensions reminiscent of its past conflict with Iraq. This incident, targeting a vessel carrying Iraqi oil to Turkey, stirs historical

The Biden administration’s engagement with Israeli Centrist leader Benny Gantz, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s explicit disapproval, marks a significant moment in U.S.-Israel relations. Netanyahu’s rebuke, highlighted by his remark, “There is only one prime minister,” underscores the tensions arising from Gantz’s unauthorized visit to the U.S. Despite lacking Netanyahu’s consent, Gantz proceeded with his

Is Israel-Hezbollah War Imminent?; Yemeni Government Proposes Plan to Neuter Houthis; Iran Proxies Strike U.S. Bases   As worldwide attention fixates on the seesaw negotiations for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, the “war in the north” between Israel and Hezbollah appears to be on the verge of exploding into a full conflict,

★ ISRAEL & PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES Gaza Operations Continue; New Palestinian Government in the Offing? The recent narrative on the Israel-Hamas conflict highlights the complexity and persistent challenges in achieving peace. Last week’s developments saw the Israeli army conducting targeted attacks in Rafah, despite ongoing talks of a ceasefire and a full ground incursion. Contrasting reports

★ ISRAEL & Hezbollah Israel Begins Extensive Operations in Lebanon & Syria During last week, Israel conducted 43 operations against Hezbollah and related targets in Lebanon and Syria. The operations ranged from airstrikes on buildings and infrastructure to intercepting missiles aimed at Israeli UAVs. The extensive number of operations conducted by Israel indicates a high

★ The Houthis Yemeni Government Volunteers to Deter the Houthis Although the Houthi movement claims its months-long offensive against international shipping is motivated by the Gaza conflict, the Houthis’ track record shows they constituted a threat to vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden long before October 7th. In 2022, the Houthis reportedly

★ IRAN Iran’s Global Arms Trafficking Is Increasing Recent events indicate the Iranian regime has stepped up its weapons developments and its arms trafficking in conflicts in several regions. Accused by western powers of being a global arms supplier, Iran denies selling ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict. Despite these denials,

Iran’s Dominance: Funding Hezbollah, Summoning Assad, and Forcing Iraq’s Hand By: Rania Kisar ======================= ★ LEBANON Iranian FM’s Visit: Boosting Hezbollah with Financial Aid via Tehran Flights During a period of Israeli strikes that exceeded the usual skirmishes in Lebanon and Syria, the Foreign Minister of Iran’s visit was a necessary and calculated strategy to

Military Actions and Diplomatic Stalemates: A Comprehensive Overview of Recent Events in the MENA Region By: Rania Kisar Brief Analysis: The recent developments in Israel present a bleak outlook for an imminent ceasefire, as negotiations have reached an impasse. Hamas continues to assert demands that Israel is unable and unwilling to meet, perpetuating the cycle

SYRIA The Assad Axis Assad’s Fighters Abandon Posts Following American Strikes Shortly after the American strikes in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, a confrontation erupted among Iranian militia factions, leading to injuries within the ranks of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. North Press reported that the discord involved machine gun exchanges among Iraqi, Lebanese, and Syrian factions. They

Lebanon Hezbollah Front Israeli Strikes Target Over 3,450 Hezbollah Sites In Syria and Lebanon The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains a major source of volatility, with repercussions that may lead to the full degradation of Hezbollah. While both parties have shown they are prepared to engage in prolonged military conflict, the results of the