Author: Steven Sahiounie

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Several rounds of meetings between U.S. and Syrian leaders over the last two days demonstrate a push for integrating eastern Syria with Damascus and an attempt to reconcile the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus-backed forces in the wake of recent clashes. The meetings mark high-level interactions involving the Syrian Presidency, U.S. representatives, and SDF leadership, underlining the gravity in addressing the complexities of the political and security sectors in Syria. On October 6, SDF General Mazloum Abdi met with Special Envoy Ambassador Thomas Barrack and US Central Command Leader Admiral Brad Cooper…

A fragile calm hangs over Lebanon in early October 2025, a year marked by significant political shifts, a persistent economic crisis, and ongoing security tensions along its southern border. While the specter of widespread conflict has somewhat receded following a ceasefire in November 2024, the nation grapples with a complex web of internal and external pressures that continue to shape its trajectory. The political landscape has been dominated by the new government’s efforts to assert state authority, most notably through a plan to disarm Hezbollah. This initiative, backed by a significant $230 million aid package from the United States aimed…

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Time is running out for Hamas. U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a 21-point plan for Gaza, but only gave the Palestinian armed resistance group 3-4 days to respond. Israeli planes and tanks pounded residential neighborhoods in Gaza throughout the night. Local health authorities said that at least 35 people across Gaza had been killed by the military on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City. While the world awaits Hamas’ response, a strike on the old city in northwestern Gaza City killed seven people, while six people sheltering in a school in another…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday, despite most of the international delegates walking out in protest of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza. He brazenly stood in New York, defiant of his arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza. His speech included a direct military threat against armed groups inside Iraq, a close U.S. ally. It is clear that Netanyahu is frustrated at not being able to achieve any of his goals in Gaza. His army have failed to rescue the hostages, failed to…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanon is facing multiple serious challenges spanning politics, security, energy resources, and an Israeli occupation with almost daily attacks across the country. In July, water levels dropped to a historic low at Lebanon’s largest reservoir on the Litani River. Experts have said it’s the country’s worst drought on record, threatening agriculture, electricity production, and domestic water supplies. Lebanon’s hydroelectric plants tied to the reservoir were shut down, causing electricity rationing. A study found climate change has contributed to more frequent dry seasons and higher temperatures, exacerbating soil moisture loss and reducing the recharging of…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator For the first time since 1967, a Syrian President has arrived in New York to participate in the UN General assembly. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivered his address on September 24. On September 24, Syria’s President, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, addressed the UN General Assembly. He called on the U.S. Congress to lift the “Caesar Sanctions” in order to allow Syrians to rebuild the country. He stressed the importance of signing a security deal with Israel, which benefits both countries. He called for the economic development and unification of all regions of Syria. He repeatedly called…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The dust in Doha had barely settled when Saudi’s Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman signed a historic deal with Pakistan. While the Qataris were asking themselves how could the U.S. betray them so spectacularly, the Saudis were busy shoring up their defenses to prevent any similar attack. Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are staunch American allies, and both oil-rich nations host U.S. military installations, with Qatar’s base the largest in the Middle East. But, that didn’t prevent Israel from attacking Doha and killing several people connected to Hamas, and one Qatari policeman. U.S. President…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Israeli military has initiated a large-scale ground operation into the heart of Gaza City, a move officials describe as the “main phase” of its campaign to dismantle Hamas. The assault, long threatened and preceded by months of airstrikes and operations on the city’s outskirts, has been met with severe international criticism and dire humanitarian warnings. There is no defense of occupation, and equally no defense of the attack on Gaza. Collective punishment is the act of punishing everyone for the acts of one or some of its members. Imagine a person, or a…

A public initiative in defense of the Orthodox Church of Moldova (OCM) is gaining momentum in Moldova. The creators of the “Heritage” website, which documents violations of believers’ rights, have published a major appeal and petition to the country’s citizens (mostenire.online/petiie). In it, they sound the alarm over an “unprecedented attack” on the faith, which, in their opinion, threatens the very foundation of Moldovan statehood. The authors of the appeal, calling the OCM the “Mother-Church” and the spiritual foundation of Moldovan identity (with over 70% of residents being its parishioners), directly accuse the so-called “Metropolis of Bessarabia” (a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The unprovoked attack on Qatar, a major U.S. ally, by Israel on September 9 has shaken the relationship between Qatar and the U.S., and may have a similar effect on other Arab countries. The trust is broken. At first, President Donald Trump claimed it was a surprise attack, and he had no prior warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, later the White House spun a story that they had notified Qatar before the attack. In response, Qatari officials have denied that claim, saying the call they got was during the attack, not before.…