Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Libya is witnessing one of the most significant political moments since US President Obama took out Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, as regional and international actors intensify efforts to end years of institutional division and pave the way for long-delayed national elections. At the center of these efforts is a US-backed initiative championed by Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump for Arab, Middle Eastern, and African Affairs, aimed at unifying Libya’s rival administrations and state institutions. Regional Powers Back Libyan Unification On June 20, a high-level quadrilateral meeting was held in Cairo,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The US–Israel relationship has been regarded as one of the most durable strategic partnerships in modern international politics. Successive American administrations have provided Israel with extensive military, political, intelligence, diplomatic, and economic support, often shielding it from international criticism and blocking resolutions perceived as hostile to Israeli interests in global institutions. However, recent developments suggest that the traditionally unquestioned nature of this alliance may be entering a new phase. Growing tensions between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, combined with Washington’s evolving approach toward Iran and regional diplomacy, have raised…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and poltical commentator On June 21, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, promised to keep Israeli occupation forces inside Lebanon regardless of US President Donald Trump’s directives. The occupation and continuous attacks on Lebanon by Israel may break the US-Iran agreement for a ceasefire on all fronts. On June 20, Israel instructed their troops to “hold its fire” after bowing to intense pressure from the Oval Office. Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to talk directly in Washington on June 23, with the Israelis pushing for intensified negotiations. “We have achieved tremendous accomplishments, and we will not relinquish them,”…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator As reports emerge of an impending memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, the Middle East may be approaching the conclusion of one of the most consequential conflicts of the twenty-first century. If finalized, the agreement could bring an end not only to direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran but also to interconnected battlefronts stretching from Lebanon to the Persian Gulf. For many observers, this conflict will be remembered as “Netanyahu’s War” — a confrontation that ultimately drew the United States into a costly and controversial military campaign whose stated objectives remain…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel is now exposed for genocide and the illegal occupation of Palestine. Social media has caused a huge change in the American and Western view of Israel. In the years prior to the internet, Israel was called an ally of the West, and the only democracy in the Middle East. After the crushing attack on Gaza, leaving at least 70,000 dead, and hundreds of thousands missing and injured, the images and reports pouring across the screens of Westerners changed their image of Israel. Now, Israel is humiliated and seen as a corrupt Apartheid regime…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The political and strategic confrontation between Turkey and Israel has entered one of its most dangerous phases in decades, raising growing concerns that the war of words between Ankara and Tel Aviv could evolve into a broader regional crisis. Amid mounting tensions over Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, the Eastern Mediterranean, and regional influence, both countries are increasingly viewing one another not merely as political rivals, but as long-term geopolitical threats. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan intensified his rhetoric against Israel recently, warning that Israel’s expanding military operations in the Middle East now constitute a direct…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Global energy markets continue to face mounting uncertainty as tensions between Washington and Tehran show no signs of easing. Governments across the Middle East and beyond are accelerating efforts to develop alternative routes for energy exports and international trade. The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz represents one of the most severe economic shocks in modern history. US President Trump and his partner, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, chose to attack Iran rather than continue diplomatic negotiations in an unprovoked massive attack on Iran costing thousands of civilian lives. Trump appears to be…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanese President Joseph Aoun explicitly labeled Hezbollah an “enemy” of Lebanon. In the context of US-brokered talks and a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, the Lebanese government formally designated the militant group as an enemy of the state and agreed to terms calling for the dismantling of its military presence. Israel has carried out a brutal invasion and occupation of almost one-third of Lebanon, with no intention to ever leave, and conducts continuous airstrikes in the country, including locations far from the south, and which have no connection to Hezbollah. Many people ask: who is the…

By: Muhammad Asif Noor, Journalist and researcher For seven decades, the U.S. Treasury bond served as the world’s security blanket. Central banks globally held American government debt the way previous generations held gold. A most reliable store of sovereign wealth in an uncertain world. That consensus cracked over three years of geopolitical tremors. On June 2, 2026, the European Central Bank made it public. The ECB’s annual report on the international role of the euro confirmed that gold ended 2025 as the world’s largest official reserve asset by market value, accounting for 27% of global reserves. U.S. Treasuries fell to…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel is fighting three wars simultaneously: the war on Gaza, with daily civilian killings; the war on Iran, along with its partner the US; the war on Lebanon, supposedly targeting Hezbollah, but indiscriminately killing Lebanese citizens not connected to Hezbollah. Over 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon, and nearly 10,000 have been wounded, by Israeli strikes since fighting escalated in the region. On June 1, Israeli prime minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated they had ordered massive airstrikes on Beirut “following the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s repeated and ongoing violations of the…