Arab World

Revised. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Americans are commemorating the Fourth of July today, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Implicit in this holiday is the recognition of the right of a people to self-determination. The grievances that the four million inhabitants of British North America had in 1776 were not felt by them […]

Featured

Turning the Red Sea Redder: Will America’s backing for Israel’s War in Gaza Torch the Red Sea Region Too?

Juan Cole

( Tomdispatch.com ) – In mid-June, the Associated Press announced that the U.S. Navy had been engaged in the most intense naval combat since the end of World War II, which surely would come as a surprise to most Americans. This time, the fighting isn’t taking place in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans but in […]

Drones

How Drones form part of Hezbollah’s deterrence Strategy against Israel

The Conversation

By Emilie El Khoury, Queen’s University, Ontario | – (The Conversation) – The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah recently released videos showing footage from one of its drones flying over the Israeli city of Haifa and the surrounding area. Hezbollah released the videos shortly after American special envoy Amos Hochstein went to Beirut in a bid […]

Human Rights

No Accountability for Saudi Crimes as US Mulls New Defense Pact

Human Rights Watch

By Nadia Hardman, Researcher, Refugee and Migrant Rights Division | – Joey Shea Researcher, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates ( Human Rights Watch ) – Less than a year after Human Rights Watch found Saudi border guards had committed widespread and systematic killings of Ethiopian migrants on its border with Yemen, the US […]

Hizbullah

What would War between Israel and Hezbollah mean for the Middle East?

The Conversation

By Simon Mabon, Lancaster University | – (The Conversation) – The Israeli military is reported to have signed off on a major offensive against Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militia, prompting fears that the situation could spiral into a full-blown war. The two sides have been exchanging fire since the conflict in Gaza began with the Hamas […]

Featured

Hostage Families demand Deal, Netanyahu Resignation, in Largest Demonstrations since Oct. 7

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Saturday evening witnessed the biggest Israeli demonstrations against the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, according to the Israeli press as summarized by Al Jazeera. Some 150,000 are said to have rallied in Tel Aviv alone. They demanded that the […]

Hizbullah

Does Israel really want to Open a Two-Front War by attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon?

The Conversation

By Ian Parmeter, Australian National University | – (The Conversation) – Among the many sayings attributed to Winston Churchill is, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This sentiment seems appropriate as Israel potentially appears ready to embark on a war against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. […]

Hizbullah

Israel Threatens all-out War against Lebanon’s Hezbollah: Curve-ball for US Presidential Campaign?

The Conversation

By Michelle Bentley, Royal Holloway University of London | – (The Conversation) – Israel has announced that it is ready to go to war with Hezbollah – a move that is likely to undermine US president Joe Biden’s chances in the 2024 election even further. Israel says that Hezbollah – the Lebanese political party and […]

Climate Crisis

Climate Emergency strikes Islam’s Holy Ritual, with nearly 600 dead of Heat stroke at 124.24° F. in Mecca

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – As the temperature in Mecca reached 125.24° F. (51.8° C.) on Tuesday, word leaked out that nearly 600 pilgrims had died of heat stroke and 2,000 have been hospitalized for treatment. A virtual clinic treated more thousands remotely. Some 324 of the dead were Egyptians,, while dozens were from Jordan. […]