Author: Steven Sahiounie

Moscow Nears Agreement with Damascus on Retaining Staff and Equipment in Syria Moscow is reportedly close to sealing a deal with Damascus that would permit it to maintain some personnel and equipment in Syria, according to sources cited by the American news agency Bloomberg on Monday. This agreement underscores the deepening strategic ties between Russia and Syria amidst the complex regional dynamics. Last Wednesday, Syrian Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa received a phone call from his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. During this conversation, they discussed various issues related to practical cooperation in trade, economic, educational, and other fields, highlighting the multifaceted…

Kremlin Announces Lavrov and Ushakov to Meet with US Officials in Saudi Arabia The Kremlin announced on Monday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, alongside Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Policy Advisor to President Vladimir Putin, will partake in discussions with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The focus will be on U.S.-Russian relations. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, informed journalists that the meeting would also prepare the groundwork for possible peace talks regarding Ukraine. Lavrov and Ushakov are set to depart for Riyadh today, Monday. However, Peskov refrained from commenting when asked if President Putin would meet President Donald Trump…

Ukraine Rejects US Access to Its Rare Earth Minerals In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed his ministers not to sign a proposed agreement that would grant the United States access to Ukraine’s rich deposits of rare earth minerals. This decision was made due to the agreement’s perceived overemphasis on American interests without offering sufficient security guarantees in return. The proposal was a key topic during Zelensky’s discussions with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday. According to a current and a former Ukrainian official familiar with the talks,…

Potential Postponement of the Arab Emergency Summit in Egypt The Arab League’s Assistant Secretary-General, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, has announced that the date for the Arab Emergency Summit scheduled to take place in Egypt on February 27 might be changed due to scheduling considerations of participating leaders. Zaki emphasized in televised statements that Egypt’s primary concern is ensuring the attendance of as many leaders as possible to guarantee the summit’s success, with any potential postponement being purely for logistical reasons. A Unified Arab Stance Zaki clarified that the summit aims to articulate a strong, unified Arab position on the Palestinian issue,…

Israeli Forces Advance in Kfarshouba Despite Lebanese Army Presence Despite the deployment of the Lebanese Army, an Israeli force advanced into the village of Kfarshouba in southern Lebanon on Monday. According to the Lebanese National News Agency, “An Israeli force penetrated into the center of Kfarshouba village this morning, following the deployment of the Lebanese Army there.” The ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel came into effect on November 27 of the previous year. Under this agreement, the Lebanese Army and security forces are to be deployed in southern Lebanon, while Israel is to gradually withdraw its troops towards the…

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Arrives in Saudi Arabia Amidst Ukraine War Talks US Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in Saudi Arabia on Monday, marking the second stop of his inaugural Middle East tour. This visit comes ahead of anticipated discussions with Russian officials aimed at ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine, which has now persisted for nearly three years. Rubio’s plane landed in Riyadh after departing from Israel, where he is expected to meet with Saudi officials to discuss pivotal issues, including President Donald Trump’s proposal for controlling the devastated Gaza Strip, following over 15 months of…

Iraq Repatriates 3,200 Families from Al-Hol Camp Following Security Vetting The Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displaced has announced the repatriation of 3,200 Iraqi families from Al-Hol camp, managed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria. This move comes after a comprehensive security vetting process, ensuring that all returning children bear Iraqi citizenship. According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Ali Abbas, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated yesterday that “the Iraqi government continues its efforts to bring back its citizens from Al-Hol camp due to the security concerns it poses, especially under Syria’s unstable conditions.” Abbas emphasized that Iraq has…

Al-Sisi Meets Jordanian Crown Prince to Discuss Palestinian Issue On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II in Cairo to discuss several issues, primarily focusing on the future of Gaza and the ongoing developments in the West Bank. The meeting addressed Egypt’s efforts towards the reconstruction of Gaza, alongside hosting the upcoming Arab Summit scheduled for February 27. Discussions also covered bilateral relations between Egypt and Jordan, exploring ways to enhance cooperation across various fields, with a particular emphasis on regional issues, notably the Palestinian cause. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to…

Hafez Assad Promises to Reveal Truths and Secrets in New Podcast In a series of tweets from his account on the platform “X”, Hafez Bashar Assad, son of the former Syrian President Bashar Assad, has committed to revealing truths and secrets through a new podcast series. This follows his family’s exit from Syria, a move that has sparked much speculation and interest. Assad’s tweets read, “Every event has its narratives, and every era its secrets. The aim isn’t to stir controversy but to tell the story as it was, far from tension and accusations. What was once in the shadows,…

Liverpool Overcomes Wolverhampton, Salah Sets New Record Liverpool managed to overcome the challenge posed by Wolverhampton Wanderers, securing a 2-1 victory at Anfield in the 25th round of the English Premier League on Sunday. The Reds took the lead with goals from Luis Diaz in the 15th minute and Mohamed Salah in the 37th. Wolverhampton’s Matheus Cunha managed to pull one back in the 67th minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the match. With this win, Liverpool now tops the league table with 60 points, extending their lead over Arsenal to seven points. Meanwhile, Wolves remain…