Arab World

By Katya Alkhateeb, University of Essex and Faten Ghosn, University of Essex (The Conversation) – The capture of Damascus by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the collapse of the regime of Bashar al-Assad last December sent shockwaves through Syria’s political landscape, heralding an unprecedented shift in power. The rise to power of HTS, formerly the […]

Featured

Lebanon at a Crossroads: Can Saudi Arabia Counter Iran’s Waning Influence?

Hamdullah Baycar

Trabzon, Turkey (Special to Informed Comment, Feature) – The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Lebanon on 23 January marks a critical moment for Saudi Arabia-Lebanon bilateral relations. This visit comes after years of strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, driven by the ongoing rivalry between Saudi Arabia […]

Iraq

What was the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and Why does it still affect the Middle East Today?

The Conversation

By Andrew Thomas, Deakin University (The Conversation) – Some national borders are determined by natural phenomena like seas, mountains and rivers. Most, however, are created by people. This means the creation of borders is often a political exercise – usually informed by the interests of those who create them, not the local populations to whom […]

Donald Trump

Sinai! Why Egypt’s al-Sisi says he will snub White House Invitation if Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza is on Agenda

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Egypt has shown more spunk in standing up to Trump than has the mostly supine US Congress. Offered the most insane rogues’ gallery of cabinet appointees in American history (and there have been some doozies), the Senate has rolled over time and again. Not so former Field Marshall Abdelfattah al-Sisi. […]

Featured

In the Race for Influence in the New Syria, will Türkiye come out on Top?

Volkan Isbasaran

Istanbul (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – Last week, Syria’s newly appointed President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marking the highest-level meeting between Türkiye and Syria since 2009. The visit was al-Sharaa’s second international trip since being declared president, following his recent visit to Saudi Arabia. During the […]

Colonialism

Palestine Through the Lens: A Visual Chronicle of a Vibrant Society (1898-1946)

Middle East Monitor

Book Author(s): G. Eric and Edith Matson Published Date: 2023 Publisher: Karama Paperback: 215 pages ISBN-13: 9798885892421 by Jamal Kanj ( Middle East Monitor ) – This is a review of an exceptional photo book, Images of Palestine (1898-1946). The book is a collection of photographs that spans nearly five decades, captured in the period […]

China

China dominates Middle East Solar Sector as Trump hobbles Renewables in US

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Chinese firms dominate the manufacture of photovoltaic solar panels, accounting for 80% of the global market (along with most elements of the supply chain). Volumes in China’s solar sector, including panels, batteries and EVs, expanded by a third in 2024, even though panel prices had plummeted. The Chinese will, however, […]

Syria

Syrian Regime Change: How rebel Victories often lead to unstable, non-inclusive Governments

The Conversation

By Sally Sharif, University of British Columbia (The Conversation) – Syria’s rebel leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has defended his decision to fill his cabinet with wartime loyalists and delay constitutional and electoral processes, describing these moves as pragmatic necessities for the country’s fragile transition. At the same time, he has called for the disarmament of all […]

Displaced and Refugees

“The Lion has Fallen:” The End of Syria’s Brutal Regime and the Fate of the Refugees

Tomdispatch

By Helen Benedict ( Tomdispatch.com ) – Six years ago, at the time of the first Trump administration’s Muslim ban and its initial round of vicious anti-immigrant policies, I visited a refugee camp on the Greek island of Samos to see how Europe was handling its own immigrants and refugees. Within a day, I met […]