Middle East

By Shehab Al Makahleh • Can Saif al-Islam Gaddafi unite Libya with the support of the country’s numerous tribes? Understanding the three key actors in the Libyan Civil War is critical during the coming months. Libyan National Army (LNA) Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar is pushing his Operation Dignity forces …

By Shehab Al Makahleh • On April 20th 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss a number of bilateral issues, with special attention given to the fight against international terrorism “in the context of Syrian settlement”, …

The solidarity initiative brought together people from around the country. Following the bomb attacks on two churches in Egypt last week, Muslim youth activists in Jordan vowed to protect Christian places of worship on Easter Sunday. Kazem Kharabsheh, an organizer of the solidarity initiative that saw people from …

By Shehab al-Makahleh • March 16 marks the 6th anniversary of a war that has been described as the worst the world has seen in 50 years, and one that resulted in the death of more than 350,000 and the displacement of more than 12 million. Syria, the Cradle …

By Shehab Al-Makahleh •  As Turks cast their votes in historic referendum on constitutional changes, both domestic and foreign public, media and analysts are weighing pros and cons of either outcome. According to latest exit polls Turkish voters have handed President Erdogan sweeping new powers. The ‘Yes’ campaign won 1.25 …

As the US Tomahawk missiles were raining on Syria, the entire Middle East was shaken to its core. Here, even the name itself – Syria – triggers extremely complex and often contradictory sets of emotions. To some, Syria is synonymous with pride and a determined struggle against Western …

Events are moving rapidly to a possible new war involving Israel, the United States, Syria and Russia. Were it to take place, I honestly hope not, it would be yet another stupid war over oil. Only this oil war somehow feels far more dangerous than the US war …

By Shehab Al-Makahleh • Responding to Trump’s cruise missiles attack on Syrian Shayrat airbase, the tripartite meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Syria was held today in Moscow. The meeting ended with a resounding ‘no’ to the Washington’s ‘Great Middle East Project’, and with equally resounding confirmation …

More than two dozen ex-U.S. intelligence officials urge President Trump to rethink his claims blaming the Syrian government for the chemical deaths in Idlib and to pull back from his dangerous escalation of tensions with Russia. MEMORANDUM FOR: The President FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)* SUBJECT: Syria: Was It Really …