Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On November 11, tens of thousands of Iraqi voters took to the polls to elect a new parliament, marking the country’s sixth legislative election since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the regime of late president Saddam Hussein. More than 20 million Iraqis were eligible to cast their ballots to choose 329 members of parliament, with 46 seats allocated to the Kurdistan Region, including five reserved for minority communities. According to the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), voter turnout exceeded 55% of registered voters — a figure described by observers as a positive sign…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel carries out multiple attacks across Lebanon on an almost daily basis, despite a US-brokered ceasefire almost 1-year-old. Israel has refused to comply with the terms of the ceasefire, which include withdrawal from five occupied points and the cessation of attacks on Lebanon. Part of the ceasefire agreement is the goal to disarm Hezbollah, the Lebanese resistance organization. However, Hezbollah refuses to disarm while the country has been invaded, attacked and the Israeli military has shown no signs of leaving, or living up to the agreed ceasefire. The Lebanese government is stuck between demanding…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi is a Major general in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) who served as the chief military advocate from September 1, 2021. Previously, she served as the gender affairs advisor to the chief of staff of the IDF. On October 31, she resigned after admitting to leaking footage showing the gang rape of a Palestinian prisoner at the Sde Teiman prison facility on July 5, 2024. The shocking video was broadcast on Channel 12 on August 6, 2024. Tomer-Yerushalmi is a whistleblower now under arrest, and supporters fear for her safety. Supporters of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In September, in New York City, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stands “firmly united” behind a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine after meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of UN General Assembly. Von der Leyen used the word “united”, but the EU is anything but united. The EU is guilty of double standards. In the case of the war in Ukraine, the EU placed sanctions on Russia. But, the EU failed to sanction Israel after they have committed crimes against humanity in Gaza. The EU…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Russia is a potential counterweight to Israel, which has invaded parts of southern Syria after the fall of Assad, and has carried out over 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions across the country. Syria sees the good relationship between Moscow and Tel Aviv as potentially solving some of its issues in the south of Syria. Moscow is signaling a potential redeployment of military forces to southern Syria, a strategic maneuver being actively discussed with both the government in Damascus and with Tel Aviv. The initiative, first floated in Russian media, aims to re-establish Russia…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel has once again been accused of stealing the organs, and eyes of Palestinian bodies in their possession. The newest claims by health officials in Gaza have mirrored past confessions by Israeli forensic experts in Tel Aviv. A high-level health official in Gaza has reported that a specialized committee is working to identify the bodies of 90 Palestinians returned by Israel as part of a recent ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement. The remains, transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, have sparked accusations of war crimes, including torture, field executions, and organ theft, by…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa concluded his first official visit to Moscow since assuming power last year, marking a significant step towards normalizing and recalibrating the relationship between the two nations following the overthrow of the former regime. The high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, described by Russian experts as “pragmatic,” covered a comprehensive range of issues, including security guarantees, military cooperation, economic support, and the future of Russian military bases in Syria. Security and Military Dimensions The Syrian delegation, which included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and Defense Minister Murhaf…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator After a two-year conflict that had dramatically destabilized the Middle East concluded on Monday, following the release of the last living Israeli captives from the Gaza Strip by the Hamas movement and a simultaneous exchange of Palestinian prisoners from Israel. US President Donald Trump declared an end to the war, and hours later, gathered Muslim and European leaders in Egypt to discuss the future of the Gaza Strip and broader regional peace. Analysts remain skeptical of the 20-point Trump peace plan, which is deliberately vague in many areas. The official Israeli policy is…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In a seismic shift that signals a new chapter for a post-Assad Syria, two landmark developments are reshaping the nation’s political and military landscape. The United States Senate has voted to repeal the crippling Cesar sanctions regime, dismantling a key pillar of pressure against the country. Simultaneously, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced that a military delegation is heading to Damascus to begin the formal process of integrating into a new, unified Syrian national army. These parallel moves mark the most significant steps yet toward stabilizing and rebuilding the war-torn country, suggesting a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The 1979 Camp David Accords, long the cornerstone of Middle Eastern stability, are facing their most severe test in decades. A calculated campaign of political and economic pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is pushing the historic “cold peace” with Egypt to a potential breaking point, creating a volatile new dynamic across the region. At the heart of the escalating tension is a confluence of disputes over a multi-billion dollar gas deal, unsubstantiated claims of an Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula, and a fundamental disagreement over the future of Gaza.…