Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanon is facing multiple serious challenges spanning politics, security, energy resources, and an Israeli occupation with almost daily attacks across the country. In July, water levels dropped to a historic low at Lebanon’s largest reservoir on the Litani River. Experts have said it’s the country’s worst drought on record, threatening agriculture, electricity production, and domestic water supplies. Lebanon’s hydroelectric plants tied to the reservoir were shut down, causing electricity rationing. A study found climate change has contributed to more frequent dry seasons and higher temperatures, exacerbating soil moisture loss and reducing the recharging of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator For the first time since 1967, a Syrian President has arrived in New York to participate in the UN General assembly. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivered his address on September 24. On September 24, Syria’s President, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, addressed the UN General Assembly. He called on the U.S. Congress to lift the “Caesar Sanctions” in order to allow Syrians to rebuild the country. He stressed the importance of signing a security deal with Israel, which benefits both countries. He called for the economic development and unification of all regions of Syria. He repeatedly called…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The dust in Doha had barely settled when Saudi’s Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman signed a historic deal with Pakistan. While the Qataris were asking themselves how could the U.S. betray them so spectacularly, the Saudis were busy shoring up their defenses to prevent any similar attack. Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are staunch American allies, and both oil-rich nations host U.S. military installations, with Qatar’s base the largest in the Middle East. But, that didn’t prevent Israel from attacking Doha and killing several people connected to Hamas, and one Qatari policeman. U.S. President…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Israeli military has initiated a large-scale ground operation into the heart of Gaza City, a move officials describe as the “main phase” of its campaign to dismantle Hamas. The assault, long threatened and preceded by months of airstrikes and operations on the city’s outskirts, has been met with severe international criticism and dire humanitarian warnings. There is no defense of occupation, and equally no defense of the attack on Gaza. Collective punishment is the act of punishing everyone for the acts of one or some of its members. Imagine a person, or a…

A public initiative in defense of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) is gaining momentum in Moldova. The creators of the “Heritage” website, which documents violations of believers’ rights, have published a major appeal and petition to the country’s citizens (mostenire.online/petiie). In it, they sound the alarm over an “unprecedented attack” on the faith, which, in their opinion, threatens the very foundation of Moldovan statehood. The authors of the appeal, calling the OCM the “Mother-Church” and the spiritual foundation of Moldovan identity (with over 70% of residents being its parishioners), directly accuse the so-called “Metropolis of Bessarabia” (a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The unprovoked attack on Qatar, a major U.S. ally, by Israel on September 9 has shaken the relationship between Qatar and the U.S., and may have a similar effect on other Arab countries. The trust is broken. At first, President Donald Trump claimed it was a surprise attack, and he had no prior warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, later the White House spun a story that they had notified Qatar before the attack. In response, Qatari officials have denied that claim, saying the call they got was during the attack, not before.…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator A recent US military airstrike on a vessel off the coast of Venezuela has dramatically heightened tensions between President Donald Trump and President Nicolas Maduro. The US government alleges the boat was transporting narcotics to the United States, a claim that has fueled speculation about a potential military confrontation. This aggressive move coincides with the deployment of a significant US naval armada to the Caribbean Sea, ostensibly to support counter-narcotics operations targeting Venezuela, but critics see regime change as the real goal. The Trump administration attack on Venezuela has been orchestrated by Secretary of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region are experiencing upheaval and crisis. In order to fully understand the issues faced, Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hashemi, the Director of the Union Center for Strategic Studies, of Iraq. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): With the halt in oil exports from the Kurdistan Region costing Iraq over $28 billion and recent drone attacks prompting U.S. intervention, how are Erbil-Baghdad tensions reshaping the region’s political and economic stability? Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hashemi (MAH): The persistent tendency among the political class in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq toward independence…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator A multifaceted global boycott campaign, spanning consumer goods, agricultural exports, arms sales, and academic cooperation, is inflicting substantial and sustained economic damage on Israel. Driven by international outcry over the war in Gaza, this movement has evolved from grassroots consumer activism to formal governmental sanctions, leading to closed businesses, plummeting exports, and unprecedented diplomatic isolation for the Israeli economy. The Rise of BDS and Consumer Power The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, formally launched in 2005 by over 170 Palestinian organizations, has matured into a potent economic force. Initially a symbolic tool against…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanon finds itself at a pivotal moment as internal debates intensify over the future of Hezbollah’s weapons, amid escalating threats from Israel and American diplomatic pressure. Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, recently expressed openness to discussing disarming Hezbollah within the framework of the Lebanese constitution, emphasizing the need for calm, consensual dialogue. His remarks came in response to the controversial visit of Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to southern Lebanon, which Berri condemned as a “provocation.” Israel is currently occupying parts of Southern Lebanon since invading on October 1, 2024, marking the sixth…