Author: Steven Sahiounie

Khaled IskefThe Turkish-backed factions in “Afrin”, Aleppo northern countryside, are cutting down productive trees to be used as firewood.The militants are taking advantage of the civilians’ need for heating means and the high prices of fuel which greatly push them to resort to firewood for heating, noting that this  situation repeats every winter, while the armed factions tightened their grip on the firewood trade to monopolize it. The militants prevent people from cutting trees to take firewood even if they are their own, while they allow some brokers to supervise the cutting and collecting of firewood, giving them some of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Trump insiders, such as Anthony Scaramucci, have suggested a reason why President Donald J. Trump refuses to concede the election to President-elect Joe R. Biden, and had refused to pave the way to a peaceful transition of power, which is an American tradition. Some journalists have likened Trump’s refusals to the tantrums of a petulant toddler, with the Republican leaders acting as the enabler parents, who give the screaming baby a lollipop, even though he has diabetes. However, there is a different school of thought, offered by people who have been very close associates,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator As the US changes leadership, new opportunities for re-alignment may open up for the Middle East and the wider region.  To understand more fully the implications presented in conflicts ranging from the US-Iran tension, the Syrian war, and the role of Turkey and Israel in the destabilization of the region, Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse, reached out to Polina Aniftou, analyst of the Iranian foreign policy, in a wide-ranging interview. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Once President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20th, will there likely be found a solution to ease the tension between Iran…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Stephanie Williams, continues attempts to actively influence the events in Libya. On November 15, Williams announced the end of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Tunisia. According to Williams, the work of the forum was a success. However, many in Libya don’t agree with her assessment, and politicians and experts say that the LPDF in Tunisia was a failure, with the blame placed on Stephanie Williams’ team. The week-long meeting resulted only in a decision on the date of elections, and several declarations,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), organized by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and led by Stephanie Williams, former US Charge d’Affaires in Libya, opened in Tunis on November 9.  At stake are Libya’s future, the holding of elections, and the composition of the transitional authorities that will lead the country until elections. The participants of the LPDF agreed to hold elections no more than 18 months after the beginning of the transition period, Stephanie Williams said November 11. They also agreed on a road map for the reunification of State authorities.…

Khaled Iskef, Syrian Journalist Today, the Turkish forces began dismantling the observation point that the Syrian army is besieging in “Qubtan al-Jabal”, Aleppo western countryside. The Turkish forces start dismantling the post’s structure, remove the observation towers, and assemble equipment and weapons, in preparation for their withdrawal from the point, as they did in / 3 / other points. The point in “Qubtan Al-Jabal” is the first to dismantle in Aleppo countryside, out of / 7 /. Previously, Turkey withdrew from the points of “Morek” and “Sher Maghar” in Hama countryside, along with ” Ma’ar Hatat” in Idlib southern countryside,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syrian President Bashar al Assad recently revealed the main source of Syria’s deepening economic crisis.  He pointed to the $20 to $42 billion in deposits in Lebanese banks by Syrian customers, which are now frozen and unable to be accessed, and feared lost. “This figure for an economy like Syria is terrifying,” said President Assad, and added, “It’s the money they put in Lebanese banks and we paid the price, this is the core of the problem that no one talks about,” Assad said while speaking during a recent Damascus trade fair broadcast on…

Steven Sahiounie, a Syrian-American journalist, believes that while Western and European sanctions prevent the import of replacement parts needed by Syria in infrastructure projects, the ability of Iranian industrial engineers to build what is needed could be a vital path around and behind Western sanctions. Sahiounie tells the Bazaar in an exclusive interview that the prospects for continuing bilateral relations between Iran and Syria are good. “They both share the same dedication to peaceful relations with countries in the Middle East region while holding firmly to the ideal of resistance to the occupation of Palestine, and demanding that the rights of the…

Khaled Iskef, Syrian Journalist On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that warns of “the increased activity of ISIS in some Syrian regions,” expressing its concern on this matter. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said that “the recent intensified operations of ISIS sleeper cells in eastern and central Syria raises growing concern to Russia,” noting that these operations are taking place within the “SDF” regions as well as the Syrian state’s. The Russian diploma confirmed that ISIS militants carried out several attacks on Syrian army sites in Badia region, which were all addressed.During the past month,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Tonight, a fierce fight is being waged in the US. The incumbent President, Donald J. Trump, is up against his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. November 3 is election day, but it may take days to thoroughly count all the eligible voters. Almost 100 million votes were cast early, and by the polls closing today, we will know how many more came in person to vote. The soul of the nation The soul of the nation. according to Eric Gregory, professor of religion at Princeton University, “…reveals something about the current political conversation,…