Author: Steven Sahiounie

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…

The Story Behind Salah’s “Joke” About Leaving Liverpool for Money The saga of Mohamed Salah’s future with Liverpool has taken a light-hearted turn, thanks to a recent revelation by English football legend, Gary Lineker. On the podcast “The Rest Is Football,” Lineker shared an amusing conversation he had with Salah, hinting at the Egyptian’s future plans. Lineker recounted a brief 10-minute meeting with Salah when he visited Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, for a special interview with the BBC. He described Salah as a “great guy” and detailed their exchange: “He asked me how old I was when I finished playing…

Pedersen Welcomes Leadership Statements on State-Building Foundations In a recent statement, Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy to Syria, shared that he has been in Syria over the past few weeks, meeting with interim authorities, various groups of Syrians, and closely monitoring all developments on the ground. According to the statement, During his time in Syria, “Pedersen met with a diverse group of Syrian representatives, groups, and individuals from across the country who are engaged in a wide range of political, social, religious, and organizational activities. He expresses his gratitude to all the Syrians he was able to meet for…

US Suspends Tariffs on Imports from Mexico and Canada The United States has decided to suspend the imposition of tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada after both countries reached new agreements concerning border security, as announced by leaders on Monday. Originally, the proposed U.S. tariffs, which were set to impose a 25% duty on imports from Mexico and Canada and only a 10% duty on Canadian energy exports, were due to come into effect on Tuesday. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Washington agreed to suspend tariffs on Canadian imports “for at least 30 days” following a…

EU Warns of “Decisive” Response if Trump Imposes Tariffs The European Union (EU) has issued a stern warning that its response will be “decisive” should U.S. President Donald Trump impose tariffs on the bloc. Brussels has criticized Washington for levying tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. Currently, Brussels hopes to avoid a trade dispute with Trump through negotiation. However, Trump declared on Friday that he would “definitely” impose tariffs on the EU in the future, following his actions against China, Mexico, and Canada. A spokesperson for the European Commission stated, “The European Union regrets the decision by the…

Ilham Ahmed to Israeli Newspaper: Syrian Security Requires Israeli Involvement Ilham Ahmed, co-president of the Foreign Relations Department in the Autonomous Administration led by Kurds in North and Eastern Syria, stated that “achieving security in Syria’s border regions requires the participation of all parties in the solution, and Israel is one of the concerned parties and will have a significant role.” She emphasized that “holding discussions with Israel at this stage is a necessary step.” This statement was made during an interview with the Israeli newspaper “Jerusalem Post,” responding to questions about her view on relations between Israel and the…

Israeli Army Withdraws from Quneitra Governorate Building and Several Points Local sources have reported that the Israeli Army began withdrawing its military equipment from the Quneitra Governorate building and the judicial palace this evening, after having occupied these sites since the fall of the Syrian regime. During the roughly two months of occupation, both buildings suffered extensive damage, with the Israeli forces reportedly setting the governorate building on fire before their retreat. Moreover, Israeli forces have also pulled out from the points at al-Muntar Dam and al-Adnaniyah in al-Qahtaniyah. The road connecting from the Cultural Center in Salam City to…

Trump Calls for Canada to Become the 51st US State On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his call for Canada to become an American state, further straining relations with one of its key allies after imposing hefty tariffs. According to statements reported by AFP, Trump argued that the United States spends “hundreds of billions of dollars supporting Canada,” seemingly referring to the trade deficit with its northern neighbor. Trump further claimed, “Without this massive support, Canada wouldn’t exist as a viable country,” and added, “Therefore, Canada should become our cherished 51st state.” On Saturday, Trump imposed tariffs on major…