Author: Steven Sahiounie

New Agreement with French Company to Operate Syrian Port of Latakia The Syrian Public Authority for Land and Sea Ports has announced the signing of a new contract with the French company CMA CGM for the operation of the container terminal at Latakia Port. The authority, through a statement released on Wednesday and reported by Reuters, confirmed that previous financial obligations between the parties have been settled, and a new agreement has been established with revised terms and mechanisms. This was discussed during a meeting between the head of the authority, Quteiba Badawi, and Joseph Dakaak, the French company’s representative…

Trump’s New Middle East Plan: A Shocking Proposal for Gaza Following Donald Trump’s recent statements about controlling the Gaza Strip and the displacement of Palestinians, which stirred global controversy, close associates of the U.S. President have once again come forward to explain his vision for the region on this Wednesday. A Plan for the Middle East! According to Axios, an advisor close to Trump stated that he is pushing boundaries and challenging red lines. The advisor emphasized that Trump does not fear headlines or the backlash from experts and analysts. The message Trump is reportedly sending to the Middle East…

Vatican Calls for Lifting Sanctions on Syria In a significant call for humanitarian action, Alistair Dutton, the Vatican’s humanitarian affairs official, has urged for the immediate lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Syria. Speaking to the U.S.-based “National Catholic Reporter,” Dutton highlighted that these sanctions are no longer justified. Dutton described the Syrian people as highly capable and educated, but emphasized how the sanctions are crippling their potential. “The real crime and the issue with these sanctions is that they do not hurt those in power; Assad himself has never been affected by them,” he stated. Instead, he pointed out,…

Egyptian-Turkish Agreements on Regional Issues Led by Gaza and Syria Egypt and Turkey have issued a joint statement highlighting numerous agreements on the situations in the region, particularly focusing on the Gaza Strip and developments in Syria. In Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan held a consultation session discussing bilateral relations and regional issues of common interest. This meeting resulted in a shared declaration. The Foreign Ministers emphasized their commitment to addressing the root causes of instability in the Middle East by advocating for a just and lasting peace between…

Upcoming Meeting Between Trump and Xi Jinping to Discuss Contentious Issues In a move that signals an escalation in the relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt announced an impending meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. This meeting comes at a time when international relations between the two nations face a mix of challenges and opportunities. Political Context: The United States and China grapple with several contentious issues, including trade, human rights, and the Taiwan question. However, there’s also room for cooperation in areas like…

Qatar to Play Key Role in Lebanon’s Reconstruction Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, confirmed on Tuesday that his visit to Beirut is a show of support from Qatar to Lebanon, welcoming the election of Joseph Aoun as President. Following his meeting with President Aoun at Baabda Palace, Sheikh Mohammed stated, “We look forward to the completion of the formation of the new Lebanese government and the realization of the hopes of the Lebanese people. We reaffirmed our commitment to continue supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.” He emphasized the “necessity of implementing Resolution…

Calls for Accountability Against Donald Trump Jr. In a recent controversy, Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of the former U.S. President, faces criticism for posting a video where he is seen hunting birds at Lake Veneto in Northern Italy. The video shows Trump Jr. describing the chase, dressed in camouflage military attire, alongside ducks, mallards, and the rare European teal. Environmental activists have accused him of illegally killing rare wild birds, including the red-orange duck, which is seldom found in Europe, during a hunting trip at the end of last year. Activists have called on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia…

Possible Scenarios for Governing Gaza Post-War Over the past 16 months of conflict in Gaza, politicians and analysts have discussed various proposals regarding who will govern the region post-war, but no clear option has emerged yet. As Israel and Hamas prepare for negotiations to extend the ceasefire, four competing models for Gaza’s future are beginning to take shape, according to The New York Times. Despite its weakened state, Hamas still controls most of the territory and is attempting to solidify that control. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is supposed to gradually withdraw from Gaza, yet its forces still…

Turkish Security Detains 46 in Operations Against ISIS Ankara, February 04 – According to the Turkish news agency “Anadolu,” Turkish security forces have detained 46 individuals today in operations targeting members of the terrorist organization ISIS. These arrests took place as part of ongoing investigations led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, targeting suspects linked to the group across four provinces, including Istanbul. The search continues for one more suspect. It’s noteworthy that ISIS has previously claimed responsibility for several operations in Turkey over the years, leading to hundreds of deaths and injuries. The most recent significant attack was…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa made his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, which was the same choice Donald Trump made in 2016. On February 2, Sharaa was received at King Khaled International Airport by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani accompanied him on the landmark visit to the oil-rich kingdom. Shibani had traveled to Riyadh last month to lay the groundwork for renewed Syrian-Saudi ties. Sharaa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, where both leaders discussed the…