Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The US midterm election is now over, and the Republican party, the ruling party, has lost by a landslide. US President Donald Trump had said previously that he would wait until after the US election to make a decision to attack Iran. Will Trump decide to attack Iran in retaliation for his massive loss of power in the US Congress? Or, could Trump re-think his options and decide to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran? On November 3, the day before the election, Trump ordered limited strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator There is no clear winner in the Israeli election as of October 29. The Netanyahu bloc received 53 seats, the Opposition Eisenkot bloc received 48 seats, and the Arab bloc received 19. If Eisenkot allies with the Arab bloc, Netanyahu’s extremist gol be out. But, if Benjamin Netanyahu is able to remain in power, there will be significant implications for the future of the Middle East, shaping regional security, relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His continued leadership may influence tensions with Iran, the prospects for peace,…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The unprovoked attack on Iran by Israel and the US on February 28 has been a disaster for Lebanon. While the world is watching the Trump war with Iran unfold in the Persian Gulf, far away Lebanon is under almost daily attacks and further occupation by the Israel Defense Forces. Between 4,057 and 4,386 fatalities have been recorded from Israeli airstrikes and invasions in Lebanon, while over 12,100 people have been wounded. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon. In an interview with journalist Steven Sahiounie, Ogarite Dandash, Lebanese…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Libya’s parliamentary approval of its 2019 maritime agreement with Türkiye has reignited tensions across the Eastern Mediterranean, raising questions about maritime sovereignty, energy resources, alliances, and the future of relations between Ankara, Cairo, Athens, and Tel Aviv. The decision, adopted unanimously by Libya’s House of Representatives on October 20, 2026, reverses the legislature’s previous opposition to the agreement. Türkiye has welcomed the development, while Egypt and Israel have expressed objections, highlighting strategic divisions surrounding maritime boundaries in the region. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine is viewed as an aggressive, revisionist, and…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s newly unveiled national security doctrine has intensified political divisions inside Israel while drawing attention to the shifting geopolitical alignments shaping the Middle East. Presented on October 18, 2026, the document calls for preemptive military strikes, expanded buffer zones, and the preservation of Israel’s military superiority. Yet, rather than establishing a broad consensus on national security, it has provoked fierce criticism from opposition leaders who accuse Netanyahu of substituting political slogans for a coherent strategy. Beyond the domestic controversy, a geopolitical map displayed during Netanyahu’s presentation has raised questions about…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reaffirmed that his presidency will end in 2030, declaring that his departure from office is a settled matter and “not open to debate.” The statement comes amid renewed online campaigns calling for constitutional amendments that could allow him to seek another term, placing Egypt’s political future back in the spotlight at a time of growing regional instability. Yet Sisi’s latest remarks extend far beyond the question of presidential succession. His address at the Egyptian Military Academy’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, October 17, brought together three significant messages: a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel is confronting mounting military, diplomatic, and domestic political pressures as its leaders intensify threats against Hamas, demonstrations against Israeli policies spread across European capitals, and the government considers striking Iran without direct American military participation. According to Haaretz, Netanyahu is pushing through US mediators to secure Saudi Arabia’s permission for Israel to intervene in the conflict in Yemen. Israel seeks to help Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, and the relationship could evolve into a normalization agreement. Israel’s leadership is pursuing an increasingly assertive security agenda while facing growing international criticism, unresolved questions over…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Behind the armed conflict between Riyadh and Yemen’s Houthi movement lies a much broader strategic struggle: the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two regional powers whose competing interests have influenced the political and security landscape of the Middle East for years. Escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran threaten to push the region toward another major confrontation. The conflict in Yemen is increasingly intertwined with broader regional security calculations, maritime competition, energy infrastructure protection, and the strategic interests of the US and Israel. An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Journalist Steven Sahiounie conducted an interview with Iraqi engineer and political affairs analyst, Dr. Dhafer Mayouf Al-Taie, to discuss the latest developments in Iraq, particularly the implications of the U.S. military withdrawal, Iraq’s security sovereignty, the balance of regional influence, and the future of military and intelligence cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Has Iraq entered a new phase of security sovereignty, or will U.S. influence continue in other forms? Dhafer Mayouf Al-Taie (DMA): With the withdrawal of U.S. forces, Iraq has entered a new phase in assuming greater responsibility…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Journalist Steven Sahiounie interviewed Dr. Suheil M. Diab, a Palestinian writer and researcher specializing in Israeli and regional affairs, about Israel’s upcoming elections, the future of its policies toward Gaza and the West Bank, relations with Iran and the Gulf states, and the political prospects surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Could the elections lead to a change in Israeli policy toward Gaza, the West Bank and Iran, or will major security issues continue regardless of the identity of the next government? Dr. Suheil M. Diab (SMD): If the current government…