Author: Steven Sahiounie

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…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On July 22, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam toured Zawtar Al-Gharbiya, one of several “pilot zones” intended to demonstrate that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) can remove and disarm Hezbollah as part of an American-sponsored deal with Israel. Beirut is working toward a “complete Israeli withdrawal” from areas it occupies said Salam. “We will continue mobilizing our political and diplomatic efforts to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from the south,” said Salam. On July 20, the Israeli military fired at the LAF as they took up positions in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh under an American-sponsored agreement. …

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Journalist Steven Sahiounie interviewed Dr. Nesma Abdel Nabi Abdel Aziz, Professor of Iranian Studies at Beni Suef University, and Researcher at the Iranian Studies Unit, Center for Political and Strategic Studies. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): A new round of political, military, and economic confrontation has emerged between Tehran and Washington, and both sides appear unwilling to de-escalate. In your opinion, is the region at risk of remaining trapped in a cycle of violence, and what are the possible ways to end this tension? Dr. Nesma Abdel Nabi Abdel Aziz (NANAA): The region is undoubtedly…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On July 14, Lebanon and Israel concluded the first day of direct negotiations in Rome under United States mediation, with both sides describing the discussions as constructive while remaining far apart on the key issues of Israeli military withdrawal, security arrangements, and the future of the border region. A U.S. State Department official described the Rome meetings between American, Lebanese, and Israeli representatives as “productive” and conducted in a positive atmosphere. The Lebanese presidency instructed its delegation to insist that Israeli forces begin withdrawing immediately from two designated pilot areas before addressing any additional…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Senator Lindsey Graham, 1955-2026, died on July 12, shortly after returning home from a trip to Kyiv on July 10, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham had promised Zelenskyy continued U.S. support for Ukraine, and promoted a new increased sanctions bill against Russia. It is not known if the persistent corruption accusations in the Zelenskky government were discussed. Graham was one of the last Republicans committed to the defeat of Russia at any cost, except that of U.S. lives. He supported America fighting Russia, on Ukrainian soil, and using Ukrainian soldiers…