Author: Steven Sahiounie

Erdogan Emphasizes Stability in Syria at D-8 Summit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed on Thursday his commitment to achieving stability in Syria and aiding the Syrian people during his address at the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) in Cairo. In his speech, Erdogan highlighted the numerous conflicts the world is witnessing, particularly in the Middle East. He stated, “We are monitoring developments in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, and we strive to achieve stability in Syria and assist the Syrian people.” Erdogan underscored the necessity of supporting youth and small-scale projects to drive economic…

SDF Prisons in Syria: A “Ticking Time Bomb” Named ISIS In recent developments, American officials have expressed heightened concerns regarding the possibility of a mass escape of ISIS members from prisons under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, which hold thousands of members of the organization. Concerns Over a Mass Escape Intelligence reports published by Politico indicate that U.S. officials are closely monitoring the situation in northeastern Syria. They believe that potential Turkish attacks on SDF areas could deteriorate the security situation, facilitating an escape for ISIS members from these prisons. U.S. Secretary of State…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Hundreds of people have slept outside in freezing weather in the Damascus region, hoping to find a loved one who might still be alive in one of the many prison complexes run by former president Assad, who fled Syria on December 8. Recently, the unguarded prisons began to be broken into as thousands of prisoners found freedom, some after decades of torture and horrific conditions. Every country has prisons, but Syria’s were notorious for being filled with hundreds of thousands of political prisoners. Sednaya prison has been dubbed the “human slaughterhouse”. It is just…

Israeli Plan to Expand Settlements in the Occupied Golan Heighs In a significant move following days of Israeli military incursions into the demilitarized zone near the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, the Israeli government has approved a plan to expand Israeli settlements in this region. The decision, announced on Sunday, was justified by stating it was acting “in light of the war and the new front facing Syria,” with the aim to double the Israeli population there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized in a statement that “strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, especially at this critical time.”…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On December 8, the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia leaving the country to be occupied by a coalition of armed fighters led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The HTS and the numerous affiliated armed groups have taken over the administration of the country, and have not carried out any massacres or threatened the public safety. They say they will be caretakers until March when a transition government will be formed in Damascus and later elections to be held. The HTS and their affiliates are now conducting themselves…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator In 1980, the Swedish pop group ABBA released a hit song, “The winner takes it all”. As of December 8, 2024, the armed coalition headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, might be singing that song. In every conflict, there are winners and losers. On a scale from 1 to 10, the various factions involved in the Syrian civil war from 2011 to 2024 are rated below. The US and Israel are rated a 9 out of 10 win in the downfall of the Assad regime. In…

The Mystery Surrounding the Fate of Journalist Austin Tice On Friday, U.S. officials disclosed new information regarding Austin Tice, an American journalist detained while on assignment in Syria in August 2012 and not seen since. A current and three former U.S. officials, along with an informed source, told Reuters that Tice managed an escape from his cell in 2013 but was recaptured shortly thereafter. After his escape, Tice was reportedly spotted by residents in Damascus’s Al-Mazzeh neighborhood wandering the streets. According to a source familiar with the escape, Tice sought refuge in the home of a well-known Syrian family, whose…

Why Did Israel Seize Control of Syria’s Highest Mountain? After the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israel did not waste any time in bombing all the Syrian military assets it wanted to keep out of the hands of armed groups. However, the seizure of Mount Hermon, the highest peak in Syria, might be one of the most enduring prizes for Israel, despite Israeli officials’ insistence that the occupation is temporary. Ephraim Inbar, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, stated, “This is the highest place in the region, overlooking Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. It’s of immense…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Syria is known for its ancient mosaics. A multitude of tiny colored ceramic pieces artfully arranged to create a beautiful scene; a piece of priceless art. The events leading up to the fall of the 24-year dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad involved a multitude of moving pieces that came together finally in the early hours of December 8 when Assad and his family fled in a private plane to Moscow for asylum. One of the main wheels of the machine which brought Damascus to its knees was Abo Muhammed al-Jolani, the commander of Hayat Tahrir…

Former Israeli Defense Minister: Ceasefire Agreement with Hezbollah is a Surrender… They’re Just Mocking Us Avigdor Lieberman, former Israeli Defense Minister, head of the “Yisrael Beiteinu” party, and a member of the Knesset, described the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon as a “surrender agreement to Hezbollah.” In an interview with “Yedioth Ahronoth” newspaper’s Hebrew site (Walla), Lieberman referred to the ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which came into effect early Wednesday morning, as a “surrender agreement.” Lieberman stated, “This agreement is akin to the one with Hamas since 2018; it’s the same principle: Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) is…