Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, Journalist and Political Commentator Specializing in Middle East and U.S. Affairs Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his far-right government, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have repeatedly expressed pride in their government’s policies and military campaign in Gaza, and the brutal crackdown in the Occupied West Bank. The war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 73,200 of Palestinians, and the injuries of 173,700. On August 26, a letter signed by 45 U.S. Senators of the Democratic party urged Netanyahu to intercede to stop the deadly violence carried…

Steven Sahiounie, Journalist and Political Commentator Tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv have reached one of their most dangerous points in years. Although political and military disagreements between the two countries are not new, recent developments in Syria, combined with Turkey’s continued support for Palestine and Gaza, have brought the relationship to a critical juncture. The latest escalation followed Israeli airstrikes targeting the Abu al-Duhur air base in Idlib, Syria. Israel justified the attack by claiming that Syria was preparing to allow Turkish forces to deploy at the facility. Turkey strongly rejected the allegation, with its Defense Ministry stating that…

Steven Sahiounie, Journalist and Political Commentator The escalating war between the United States and Iran has entered a potentially dangerous new phase, as US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if Muscat interferes with Washington’s negotiations with Tehran. The threat is particularly significant because Oman has long been regarded as one of Washington’s closest partners in the Gulf and has traditionally played the role of a neutral mediator between the United States and Iran. Trump’s latest warning came as Oman and Iran were reportedly moving toward an understanding over the reopening and management of the Strait of Hormuz,…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Libya’s conflict and instability today is caused by the U.S.-NATO attack in 2011 for regime change. U.S. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton destroyed Libya’s political and security structures and contributed to the country’s subsequent fragmentation. Since the killing of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has remained trapped in a cycle of internal conflict, political division and institutional fragmentation. The country has also increasingly become an arena for international and regional competition, driven by its strategic geographic position close to Europe and, above all, its enormous natural resources, particularly oil…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The State of Israel refuses to honor the ceasefire with Lebanon, even though it is an American-brokered agreement which U.S. President Donald Trump has personally supported. The international community, along with the Arab world, have remained silent in the face of war crimes and atrocities carried out by the Israeli military in Lebanon continuously. The more striking development is the existence of a Lebanese, Arab, and international political camp seeking to strip those defending Lebanon against the Israeli killing machine of their weapons while, at the same time, attempting to restrict the role of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On August 7, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca. The Arab Gulf had previously depended on the U.S. military to defend and protect the various oil-rich nations, but that defense was proven a mirage in the desert; a security illusion. The U.S. and Israel launched an unprovoked attack on Iran, which has resulted in damages, deaths and injuries to the Gulf countries, and according to the BBC investigation using satellite imagry, has resulted in the wholesale destruction of American military facilities. Many analysts say the aftermath of the…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Israeli government has once again delayed committing to a framework that could advance a broader ceasefire and political settlement in the Gaza Strip, underscoring a long-standing pattern of rejecting or revising agreements under domestic political pressure. While international mediators continue efforts to secure a durable end to the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made clear that his government has not approved the latest U.S.-backed proposal, despite reported assurances that any Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would only begin after the complete disarmament of Hamas. The latest developments come as Gaza continues…

By Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The United States has begun a gradual reduction of its military presence in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, including the reported withdrawal of some Patriot air-defense systems, troops, and heavy equipment, according to Kurdish officials and multiple media reports. The move comes amid a sharp increase in drone and missile attacks across the autonomous region and growing concerns that the reduction of American military capabilities could leave U.S. facilities and strategic sites more vulnerable to attack. The reported drawdown is believed to be part of broader security arrangements between Washington, Baghdad, and the…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator  The sudden arrival of more than 50,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has become one of the largest border crises in Spain’s modern history. While Madrid attributes the mass crossing to misinformation spread by human trafficking networks following a Spanish Supreme Court ruling, the timing of the crisis has fueled political debate throughout Europe and beyond. The migration emergency unfolded as Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s strongest critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Madrid has recognized the State of Palestine, suspended military exports to Israel, supported international legal accountability,…

By Steven Sahiounie, Journalist and Political Commentator While the world remains focused on the escalating confrontation between the United States and Iran, another crisis is deepening in the occupied Palestinian territories. Across the West Bank, Israeli military raids, mass arrests, settlement expansion, and attacks by extremist settlers are creating an increasingly volatile reality that threatens to push the region toward another major explosion. The question is whether the escalation is simply a continuation of Israel’s decades-long settlement policy or whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government is deliberately exploiting the current regional turmoil to strengthen its political position and consolidate…