Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Russia is a potential counterweight to Israel, which has invaded parts of southern Syria after the fall of Assad, and has carried out over 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions across the country. Syria sees the good relationship between Moscow and Tel Aviv as potentially solving some of its issues in the south of Syria. Moscow is signaling a potential redeployment of military forces to southern Syria, a strategic maneuver being actively discussed with both the government in Damascus and with Tel Aviv. The initiative, first floated in Russian media, aims to re-establish Russia…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel has once again been accused of stealing the organs, and eyes of Palestinian bodies in their possession. The newest claims by health officials in Gaza have mirrored past confessions by Israeli forensic experts in Tel Aviv. A high-level health official in Gaza has reported that a specialized committee is working to identify the bodies of 90 Palestinians returned by Israel as part of a recent ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement. The remains, transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, have sparked accusations of war crimes, including torture, field executions, and organ theft, by…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa concluded his first official visit to Moscow since assuming power last year, marking a significant step towards normalizing and recalibrating the relationship between the two nations following the overthrow of the former regime. The high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, described by Russian experts as “pragmatic,” covered a comprehensive range of issues, including security guarantees, military cooperation, economic support, and the future of Russian military bases in Syria. Security and Military Dimensions The Syrian delegation, which included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and Defense Minister Murhaf…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator After a two-year conflict that had dramatically destabilized the Middle East concluded on Monday, following the release of the last living Israeli captives from the Gaza Strip by the Hamas movement and a simultaneous exchange of Palestinian prisoners from Israel. US President Donald Trump declared an end to the war, and hours later, gathered Muslim and European leaders in Egypt to discuss the future of the Gaza Strip and broader regional peace. Analysts remain skeptical of the 20-point Trump peace plan, which is deliberately vague in many areas. The official Israeli policy is…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In a seismic shift that signals a new chapter for a post-Assad Syria, two landmark developments are reshaping the nation’s political and military landscape. The United States Senate has voted to repeal the crippling Cesar sanctions regime, dismantling a key pillar of pressure against the country. Simultaneously, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced that a military delegation is heading to Damascus to begin the formal process of integrating into a new, unified Syrian national army. These parallel moves mark the most significant steps yet toward stabilizing and rebuilding the war-torn country, suggesting a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The 1979 Camp David Accords, long the cornerstone of Middle Eastern stability, are facing their most severe test in decades. A calculated campaign of political and economic pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is pushing the historic “cold peace” with Egypt to a potential breaking point, creating a volatile new dynamic across the region. At the heart of the escalating tension is a confluence of disputes over a multi-billion dollar gas deal, unsubstantiated claims of an Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula, and a fundamental disagreement over the future of Gaza.…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Several rounds of meetings between U.S. and Syrian leaders over the last two days demonstrate a push for integrating eastern Syria with Damascus and an attempt to reconcile the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus-backed forces in the wake of recent clashes. The meetings mark high-level interactions involving the Syrian Presidency, U.S. representatives, and SDF leadership, underlining the gravity in addressing the complexities of the political and security sectors in Syria. On October 6, SDF General Mazloum Abdi met with Special Envoy Ambassador Thomas Barrack and US Central Command Leader Admiral Brad Cooper…

A fragile calm hangs over Lebanon in early October 2025, a year marked by significant political shifts, a persistent economic crisis, and ongoing security tensions along its southern border. While the specter of widespread conflict has somewhat receded following a ceasefire in November 2024, the nation grapples with a complex web of internal and external pressures that continue to shape its trajectory. The political landscape has been dominated by the new government’s efforts to assert state authority, most notably through a plan to disarm Hezbollah. This initiative, backed by a significant $230 million aid package from the United States aimed…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Time is running out for Hamas. U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a 21-point plan for Gaza, but only gave the Palestinian armed resistance group 3-4 days to respond. Israeli planes and tanks pounded residential neighborhoods in Gaza throughout the night. Local health authorities said that at least 35 people across Gaza had been killed by the military on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City. While the world awaits Hamas’ response, a strike on the old city in northwestern Gaza City killed seven people, while six people sheltering in a school in another…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday, despite most of the international delegates walking out in protest of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza. He brazenly stood in New York, defiant of his arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza. His speech included a direct military threat against armed groups inside Iraq, a close U.S. ally. It is clear that Netanyahu is frustrated at not being able to achieve any of his goals in Gaza. His army have failed to rescue the hostages, failed to…