Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel is attacking Lebanon continuously, while unarmed civilians suffer mounting deaths and injuries. America and Israel are insisting that the armed resistance organization in Lebanon, Hezbollah, be disarmed. Hezbollah will not lay down arms while Israel is occupying and bombarding Lebanon in a daily advancement of death and destruction. The Lebanese government can’t attack Hezbollah alongside Israel, because that would likely cause the Lebanese Army to crumble, as perhaps the majority of the soldiers in the army would refuse orders to attack Hezbollah. The U.S. has described recent security discussions between Israeli and Lebanese…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Palestinians in Gaza City on Wednesday mourned the deaths of senior Hamas military commander Mohammed Awda, his wife, and two of his children after an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential apartment in the al-Rimal neighborhood late Tuesday evening. The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that it had killed Awda in what it described as a carefully coordinated operation in northern Gaza. According to an Israeli army statement, Awda had recently assumed leadership of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, following the killing of his predecessor, Azz-al-deen al-Haddad, earlier this month. Israeli officials…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator A series of explosive reports citing Iraqi and regional officials has triggered intense debate across Iraq after claims emerged that Israel allegedly operated covert military sites deep inside the Iraqi desert as part of preparations to attack Iran. According to accounts published by major international media outlets and later amplified by Iraqi political and security figures, at least two secret facilities were reportedly established in western Iraq and used intermittently for more than a year. The alleged sites, hidden in remote desert territory, were said to serve as logistical and operational support hubs…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The UK formally recognized Palestine in 2025 to protect the viability of a two-state solution and create a path towards lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people. However, many would say the act is too little, and too late. On April 19, Israel’s Minister of Defense and Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, presided over a ceremony in an illegal settlement in the Occupied West Bank and said, “We are abolishing the disgrace of expulsion, killing the idea of the Palestinian state, and returning to ” Under international law, the settlements populated by Israeli…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Iraq has announced a major new oil discovery in the country’s southwest near the Saudi border, a development that comes at a critical moment as Baghdad faces one of the most severe energy and economic crises in its modern history due to regional conflict and the disruption of Gulf export routes. The newly discovered field, located in Najaf province along the Iraqi-Saudi frontier, was identified by the Chinese company ZhenHua Oil. Iraqi officials estimate the potential reserves at approximately 8.835 billion barrels of oil, with an initial production capacity of 3,248 barrels per day…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator As geopolitical tensions intensify across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the global maritime system, a new strategic vision is beginning to emerge from Cairo—one that could redefine the balance of international trade and logistics in the coming decades. Recent Egyptian–Russian discussions surrounding the creation of a logistics corridor linking the Black Sea to the Red Sea through Egyptian territory have drawn growing international attention. At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed during his latest visit to Egypt that the partnership between France and Egypt represents “an alliance for peace and stability,”…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On May 7, the Israeli military (IDF) launched a wide series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon while Hezbollah escalated drone and rocket attacks against Israeli forces occupying Lebanon near the southern border. The IDF announced that it had struck more than 15 Hezbollah-linked sites in southern Lebanon during overnight operations and Thursday morning raids. According to the IDF, the targets included weapons depots, command centers, missile-launching platforms, weapons manufacturing facilities, and infrastructure allegedly used to coordinate attacks against Israeli troops and northern Israeli communities. Israeli military officials stated that several rocket launchers used…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Iraq is navigating a precarious geopolitical landscape as the conflict between the United States and Iran intensifies, threatening the nation’s security, its primary revenue source, and its fragile political stability. High-ranking U.S. officials have revealed a staggering increase in hostilities, with American facilities in Iraq enduring over 600 attacks involving missiles and drones since the outbreak of the Iran-U.S. war. The targets of these sustained assaults include the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, the U.S. Diplomatic Support Center, and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil. Washington has heightened its rhetoric, demanding “actions, not words” from the…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The UAE has taken a significant and unexpected step by announcing its withdrawal from both OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance, effective May 1. This move marks a notable turning point in regional and global energy policy. The decision to cut free from the supply constraints of OPEC and OPEC+ is not just about the price of crude. This goes beyond oil, because the UAE has moved its base of wealth beyond depending just on oil. The finances of the UAE are tied to the global economy, not the price of crude. Abu Dhabi…

Within the framework of the international conference “Protection of Religious Rights and Orthodox Heritage,” held on April 30, 2026, in Belgrade and organized by the Center for Geostrategic Studies, participants discussed contemporary challenges in the field of religious freedoms, the position of Orthodox communities, and the preservation of cultural-historical heritage in different geopolitical contexts. Based on the presentations of participants from Serbia, Ukraine, Latvia, France, Georgia, and Belarus, the following conclusions can be highlighted: Religious freedom as a key element of modern society Participants agreed that freedom of religion is one of the fundamental human rights, but in practice…