Sweida Caught Between Damascus and Israel
Mario Chartouni 16/07 19:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Damascus Israel Syria Sweida Druzes
The majority-Druze city of Sweida in southern Syria has been thrust into an unprecedented spiral of violence since Sunday, as fierce clashes between the Syrian army, backed by Bedouin militias, and local Druze armed groups have escalated dramatically. The fighting has been marked by intense combat, summary executions, a deepening humanitarian ...
How Effective Is UNIFIL?
Mario Chartouni 15/07 16:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel UN Security Council UNIFIL Lebanon
With its mandate set to expire on August 31, 2025, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is once again facing scrutiny over its effectiveness in fulfilling its mission. Enlarged under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in 2006 to prevent the presence of armed groups south of the Litani River, UNIFIL has struggled to enforce its ...
Violence Surges in Sweida: Syria Grapples with Sectarian Strife
Mario Chartouni 14/07 17:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Syria Sweida Druze Violence Bedouins
The Syrian province of Sweida, home to a Druze majority, is once again gripped by sectarian violence. Deadly clashes between members of Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters have left at least 89 people dead since Sunday, according to the latest toll from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Hundreds more have been wounded, including ...
Hezbollah’s Threats to Israel: Can They Still Deliver?
Mario Chartouni 10/07 17:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Middle East Syria Iran weapons
As tensions persist in southern Lebanon, with Israel carrying out regular targeted strikes, Hezbollah maintains a firm stance toward Tel Aviv. The threats are mounting – yet they never materialize. Now, the group’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, warns that the patience of the pro-Iranian party is wearing thin. But behind the rhetoric lies a ...
The Economics of Peace: How Trade Disarms Nations
Mario Chartouni 09/07 17:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
International Court of Justice Donald Trump peace war economics
Warlords often repeat the same line to their followers: We know what’s best for you, and you must fight for a cause we’ve already defined. But in a world where conflicts can be resolved through law, why drive people into violence that is both senseless and costly? War: A Losing Proposition In societies built on cooperation and the rule of ...
Hebron's Short-Lived Tribal Emirate Dream
Mario Chartouni 08/07 15:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Middle East West Bank Palestinians Tribes
What if the future of Middle East peace lay not in a one-state or two-state solution, but in a network of tribal emirates forging direct ties with Israel? That is the provocative vision reportedly proposed by a group of influential Palestinian clan leaders from the Hebron region in the West Bank—chief among them the powerful Sheikh Wadih ...
Netanyahu’s Washington Visit: Navigating Middle East Issues
Mario Chartouni 07/07 16:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Benjamin Netanyahu Donald Trump Gaza Iran Israel US
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington this Monday for his third meeting at the White House with Donald Trump in just six months. Against the backdrop of a fragile truce with Iran, ongoing conflict in Gaza, and indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Doha under Qatari mediation, this visit could significantly ...
Big Beautiful Bill: America’s Divisive Tax Overhaul
Mario Chartouni 02/07 08:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Republicans US House of Representatives Democrats Budget US
Passed by the US Senate last Tuesday by a majority of 51 votes to 50, thanks to the decisive vote of Vice President J.D. Vance, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB), is currently the most ambitious and polarizing budget bill championed by Donald Trump since his return to the political ...
The Lingering Specter of the Islamic State in Lebanon
Mario Chartouni 27/06 17:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
ISIS lebanon Nahr el-Bared Palestinians Islamists Tripoli Lebanese Army
The Lebanese Army announced on Tuesday the arrest of a man identified as R.F., also known as “Qassoura,” who is believed to be the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Lebanon. The operation, conducted by the Directorate of Intelligence, led to the confiscation of a large cache of weapons, ammunition, electronic devices, and materials used ...
Conditional Nuclear Power: The Complex Duality of Civilian Nuclear Energy
Mario Chartouni 23/06 18:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Iran nuclear uranium IAEA enrichment
While many countries harness nuclear technology for energy and medical applications, such as electricity production and cancer treatment, others raise global concern by enriching uranium to levels nearing weapons-grade capability. A Dual-Use Dilemma Civilian nuclear energy refers to the use of uranium-fueled nuclear fission for non-military ...
Tactical Nukes Worry Strategists
Mario Chartouni 20/06 22:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
USA Europe Israel Turkey nuclear Russia
The Kremlin, via spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, reiterated on Friday its firm opposition to the use of tactical nuclear weapons, describing any potential US strike on Iran as “catastrophic.” Peskov was responding to “media rumors” about a possible nuclear strike aimed at destroying Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, stressing ...
Tehran’s Shadow Arsenal: Chemical, Biological and Radiological Threats
Mario Chartouni 19/06 21:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Tehran Gulf Israel Middle East nuclear
Despite Iran’s largely nominal commitments to international treaties, mounting evidence suggests the existence of an active or developing chemical, biological and radiological weapons program. Long-sidelined concerns are resurfacing as regional tensions escalate, and a Damoclean sword hangs over the mullah’s regime. On one side, Israel claims ...
Caught Between Missiles and Militias: Iraq Struggles Under Regional Strain
Mario Chartouni 18/06 16:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
UN Security Council Hezbollah Israel Middle East Tehran
As Israeli airstrikes and Iranian missile launches intensify across the Middle East, Iraq finds itself trapped in a precarious position amid a mounting diplomatic and military storm. Still fragile after decades of conflict, the country’s geographic and strategic location leaves it exposed to the escalating rivalry between two powerful regional ...
Fordow: Deep Inside Iran’s Nuclear Core
Mario Chartouni 17/06 20:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Gulf Israel Tehran US Secretary of State
Deep in the Iranian mountains, near the holy city of Qom, lies one of the most heavily guarded nuclear facilities in the world: the Fordow uranium enrichment site, a pivotal hub of Iran’s nuclear program. Shielded by the Mountain Buried nearly 90 meters beneath solid rock, the Fordow facility symbolizes Tehran’s nuclear determination and ...
Iran’s Formidable Arsenal… and Its Logistical Weaknesses
Mario Chartouni 17/06 11:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Tehran Missile launcher
The Middle East is once again engulfed in a major military confrontation between Israel and Iran. In a calculated display of force, Tehran has mobilized a significant portion of its extensive ballistic missile arsenal, aiming to project strength and deterrence. Yet beneath this formidable stockpile lies a structural vulnerability, one that exposes ...
Mullahs Inc.: Inside Iran’s Shadow Banking Network
Mario Chartouni 10/06 11:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
United Arab Emirates US economy sanctions nuclear program Iran Hong Kong
With nuclear talks stalled, Washington has opened a new front in its standoff with Tehran: financial warfare. On Friday, the United States imposed sanctions on more than 30 individuals and entities tied to a sprawling money-laundering network that covertly funnels funds to the Iranian regime. This clandestine financial system — a covert, ...
Spider’s Web: Drones and AI Transforming the Ukrainian Conflict
Mario Chartouni 05/06 19:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Kyiv Russia Spider's Web
Ukraine’s covert “Spider’s Web” operation, launched last Sunday, marks a significant shift in the Russo-Ukrainian war. Using advanced kamikaze drones, Kyiv struck four Russian air bases located thousands of kilometers behind enemy lines, reportedly destroying over 40 military aircraft and causing an estimated $7 billion in damage. In an ...
In Gaza, the Shadow of a Hamas Rival Gains Ground
Mario Chartouni 05/06 14:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hamas United Nations Gaza Yasser Abu Shabab
As Hamas’s uncompromising stance continues to cost dozens of Palestinian lives daily, public anger is mounting. In this climate of deepening disillusionment and insecurity, Yasser Abu Shabab is emerging as a powerful new actor challenging the status quo. A Leader from a Powerful Bedouin Clan Yasser Abu Shabab comes from the Tarabin, a powerful ...
On the Brink of Nuclear Capability, Iran Challenges Red Lines
Mario Chartouni 04/06 09:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Europe Israel Iran Nuclear IAEA US
Under growing international scrutiny, Iran is enriching uranium at levels unseen since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal. While Washington publicly hardens its rhetoric, more flexible proposals are reportedly being floated behind closed doors. Amid firm statements, covert negotiations and ongoing inspections, Iran’s nuclear program has ...
Peace vs. Normalization: Distinct Paths, Diverging Logics in ME Diplomacy
Mario Chartouni 02/06 20:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Middle East United Arab Emirates Bahrain Hezbollah Israel
From the peace treaties signed between Israel and certain Arab States – most notably Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 – to the wave of diplomatic normalizations initiated in 2020 with the Abraham Accords, two concepts have consistently shaped discussions about regional diplomacy: peace agreements and normalization. Although these terms are ...
Trump vs. Harvard: Measures That Are Redefining the American Academic Landscape
Mario Chartouni 28/05 20:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
United States Donald Trump Harvard University
Since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January, Harvard University has found itself at the center of an unprecedented federal offensive that threatens its funding, its ability to host international students, and, more broadly, its academic autonomy. An Unprecedented Financial Offensive The Trump administration already froze more than ...
‘Tripoli, Yes We Can:’ How Diaspora and Reform Fuel Economic Revival
Mario Chartouni 27/05 20:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Under the patronage of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the third edition of the “Tripoli, Yes We Can” conference took place at the Beirut Arab University Tripoli campus on Monday. Bringing together political decision-makers and Lebanese diaspora representatives, the event aimed to map out a bold vision for national economic recovery – extending ...
Mullahs Wearing Sombreros: Hezbollah in Latin America
Mario Chartouni 21/05 18:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hezbollah Europe Middle East Tehran United States
The so-called “tri-border area,” at the junction of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, has long attracted tourists, notably thanks to the famous Iguaçu Falls. But behind this idyllic setting lies a much more troubling reality: this region is also a strategic hub for transnational criminal networks, including Hezbollah. Washington, which is ...
Birthright Citizenship in the United States: A Constitutional Principle Under Debate
Mario Chartouni 15/05 21:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump United States US Supreme Court
Birthright citizenship, which grants American citizenship to anyone born on United States soil, has become the focus of a major constitutional debate. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to limit this right by excluding children born to parents who are undocumented or hold temporary visas from citizenship granted ...
Trump’s Middle East Tour: Diplomacy Under the Billion-Dollar Sign
Mario Chartouni 12/05 17:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump Middle East Gulf Saudi Arabia Qatar UAE
Donald Trump begins the first diplomatic tour of his second term with a strategic visit to Gulf monarchies. This tour — which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — aims to strengthen already solid economic ties with these hydrocarbon-rich states, with the hope of securing massive trade and investment deals. Riyadh has ...
Violence in Kashmir: A New Test of Strength for the Indian Government?
Mario Chartouni 23/04 17:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
A rare and brutal attack struck the Indian region of Kashmir on Tuesday, when gunmen opened fire on a group of travelers near the popular tourist area of Pahalgam, killing at least 26 people. It marks one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in years, in a region gripped by a separatist insurgency since 1989. According to initial information ...
Sudan: What You Need to Know After Two Years of Hell
Mario Chartouni 15/04 20:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Sudan Conflict Darfur United Arab Emirates
Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been ravaged by a brutal civil war between the country’s two main armed forces: the regular army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary militia commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti. The conflict, which erupted in the heart of the ...
Tehran–Washington: Toward a Thaw or a Deadlock?
Mario Chartouni 14/04 17:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Tehran Washington nuclear talks Iran US
Iran and the United States held indirect negotiations on Saturday, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, focused on Iran’s nuclear program. These talks are making headlines amid a lack of transparency about their content and progress. A Second Round in Rome According to Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, a second round of negotiations is set ...
When Trump Applies the Zelensky Treatment to Netanyahu
Mario Chartouni 09/04 17:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Iran US
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington, initially expected to be a diplomatic summit reinforcing US-Israel ties, ultimately became a series of disappointments. According to several observers, including Israeli publication Haaretz, Netanyahu sought unwavering support from President Donald Trump for a hardline ...
Is a Trade Deficit Really That Terrifying?
Mario Chartouni 07/04 21:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Economy free trade Commerce Deficit
If there is one thing on which the vast majority of serious economists agree, whether they lean politically left or right, it is that free trade and commerce are beneficial to a nation. Yet, this truth is being contested today. Trade deficits are generating a lot of ink in the media, and they are being used to justify counterproductive policies. ...