Erdogan’s imagined ‘arms race’ in Cyprus
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his loyalists wasted no time last week blasting Nicosia’s purchase of Barak MX air defense systems, denouncing it as a dire threat to Turkey and its client...
Hassan Nasrallah
US designates 4 Iran-backed Iraqi militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The US State Department designated four Iran-backed militias in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on September 17. These militias, Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada,...
Op-eds
A Foundation Led by a Terror Sympathizer Is Waging Lawfare Against Israel
The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) — a Belgium-based advocacy organization — is hunting IDF soldiers and government officials all over the world, attempting to manipulate the international legal...
Op-eds
What if Israel Was Right and the Arabs Were Wrong?
For over five decades, many Arab leaders have blamed Israel’s alleged intransigence, belligerence, and unfulfilled promises for the persistent failure to achieve Arab-Israeli peace. Yet, Lebanon’s...
Op-eds
Naim Qassem commemorates Fuad Shukr’s death, rejects Hezbollah disarmament
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered his latest speech on July 30, commemorating the first anniversary of Israel assassinating the group’s then-chief of staff, Fuad Shukr. Amidst...
Op-eds
Lebanese Central Bank Lands a Blow on Hezbollah’s Finances, but It’s Not Enough
Lebanon’s Central Bank (Banque Du Liban or BDL) issued a circular on July 15 that effectively banned Lebanese financial institutions from dealing with Al Qard Al Hassan (AQAH), Hezbollah’s de facto...
Policy Briefs
Hezbollah Is a State within the State, Not Only “Heavy and Medium” Weapons
In policy, simplicity is valuable; naiveté is catastrophic. Lebanon has by now diluted UNSCR 1701 from dismantling Hezbollah’s militia, arms production, and illicit funding to merely surrendering “heavy and medium” weapons, or as U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack frames it: Hezbollah must hand over weapons that threaten Israel. Such oversimplification misses the root issue: Hezbollah’s very existence as a state within a state is an existential threat to the Lebanese state.
Op-eds
Disarming Hezbollah Is Here, Lebanon’s Peace with Israel Is Next
Now that the leaders of Lebanon are certain that Israel and America would not shy away from using force against Iran when need be, and now that they are sure that the bark of China and Russia in the Middle...
Op-eds
Israel targets IRGC officials, nuclear scientist, and missile bases in Iran (June 22–21 updates)
Over the past 72 hours, Israel has intensified its air campaign across Iran, striking missile and drone infrastructure in Esfahan, Bushehr, Ahvaz, Yazd, and Qom. Targets included the Imam Hossein missile...
Op-eds
Why Are Gulf Countries Not Speaking Out Against Their Rival Iran?
Since 1979, Iran has been a problem for Arab Gulf capitals. Tehran has exported its radical Islamism and terrorism across the region, built loyalist militias, agitated popular opinion against Gulf governments,...
Op-eds
Yet Another ‘Divine Victory’
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Op-eds
Israel’s Iran ‘Decapitation Strategy’ Is Reshaping the Middle East
Key Points and Summary: Israel’s massive air assault on Iran on June 13th, part of “Operation Rising Lion,” was a dramatic decapitation strike targeting top military and scientific leaders....
Op-eds
As Iran Retreats, Islamist Turkey and Qatar Surge in Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a Sunni, entered the stadium of Beirut’s Sports City to watch the classic football game between the two rival teams Nijmeh and Ansar. When the Shia supporters of...
Op-eds
Iran braces for potential conflict as 5th round of US negotiations ends inconclusively
As the fifth round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington concluded in Rome, signs of progress remained elusive. Iranian state media reported on May 23 that US Special Envoy to the Middle...
Op-eds
Lebanon Should Take a Cue from al-Sharaa – and Talk to Israel
A joke has it that Syria’s self-proclaimed president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, offered to build a Trump Tower in Damascus to make up for the two New York towers that Al-Qaeda, al-Sharaa former organization,...
Op-eds
Naim Qassem encourages voting in upcoming Lebanese municipal elections
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem gave a speech on Wednesday, April 28, addressing Lebanon’s upcoming municipal elections. The fate of Hezbollah’s arms is now the top question...
Op-eds
IDF has hit 1,800 targets in Gaza since new operations began on March 18
The Israeli military has struck more than 1,800 targets in Gaza since renewing operations against Hamas on March 18, according to data released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on April 26. The IDF continues...
Op-eds
Nuclear Deal or Not, Hezbollah Must Disarm
The Shia of Lebanon who pledge allegiance to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei should ask themselves these questions: Why do they boycott American products when Khamenei invites Americans to invest in...
Op-eds
Weakened by Israel, Hezbollah turns to spin games to hold support
In the aftermath of the collapse of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire in Gaza, fears of renewed fighting to Israel’s north sparked after it came under anonymous rocket fire from south Lebanon. Hezbollah,...
Op-eds
Naim Qassem explains Hezbollah’s vision for the future in first long-form interview
On March 09, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem gave his first lengthy interview to Manar Sabbagh from Al Manar, Hezbollah’s satellite TV station, after assuming his post. Qassem’s predecessor,...