Syrian president Ahmed al-Shara’s drive to centralize the country and marginalize minority communities shows no sign of abating. Seven months after seizing power, Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Shara, had successfully recast himself from a jihadist once subject to a $10 million US bounty into a pragmatic statesman and the nation’s best hope for reunification and […]
Ahmed Al-Shara: Syria’s Fragile Strongman Read More »
Despite his rhetoric about democracy and inclusivity, Syria’s new president is steering the country back toward military dictatorship. At the Victory Conference on January 29, Ahmed al-Sharaa stood in military fatigues before an audience of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) members and Islamist militia leaders as he was declared Syria’s transitional president. Alongside this announcement, he suspended the constitution and ordered that
Syria’s Dictatorship Trap Read More »
On Wednesday, November 27, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (commonly known as Abu Mohamad al-Jolani), and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) launched a lightning offensive against the Assad regime. By December 1, they had seized Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. One week later, Bashar al-Assad’s regime is on the verge of collapse. While the volatile geopolitical
The Fall of the House of Assad Read More »
Ukraine’s daring incursion into Kursk provided a much-needed morale boost and sparked renewed debate over Russian redlines and escalation. Most importantly, it demonstrated that Kyiv would continue to fight for its sovereignty and territory through any means necessary despite waning Western support. However, once it became clear that the offensive failed to achieve its primary objective of diverting
Ukraine Risks Falling into a Trap in Kursk Read More »
As Israel launches its offensive on Rafah at the peril of the hostages and its international standing, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again demonstrated that his primary objective is to ensure his political survival by catering to the messianic Far Right. Netanyahu has argued that an assault on Rafah is key to achieving total victory. However, after nearly
The Middle East’s Perfect Storm Read More »
Twenty months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the war grinds to a bloody stalemate with no end in sight. Neither side can afford or accept defeat; for Ukraine, this is an existential fight, and for Russia, the outcome of this war will have profound ramifications on foreign policy and domestic stability, which presents a survival threat
Trapped in a Forever War Read More »
Three years ago, Belarusians took to the streets to protest the fraudulent presidential elections that saw dictator Alexander Lukashenko reelected as president for the sixth time. The regime responded with a brutal crackdown, leading to the West breaking off diplomatic relations and imposing sanctions. Since then, Lukashenko has adopted an increasingly belligerent stance against his
The Slow Invasion of Belarus Read More »
While Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine nearly one year ago was undoubtedly motivated by his desire to leave a mark on history, the risk of a humiliating defeat has united Russian elites in support of the war, regardless of their ideological convictions. Russia’s hawks consider this war as part of a wider
The False Promise of Regime Change in Russia Read More »
While the staggering underperformance of the Russian invasion, coupled with Ukraine’s formidable resistance, have fuelled hopes of victory, Russia has intensified their offensive in the Donbas and are slowly gaining control of the region. Through their strategy of attrition, Russia has destroyed arms depots and key infrastructure all over the country, which means that it
Diplomacy Does Not Mean Capitulation Read More »
In the decade since Muammar Gaddafi’s fall, Libya has had two civil wars, and seen worsening living conditions and increased foreign interference. The UN has sponsored numerous discussions, dialogues, panels and other peace initiatives that have been increasingly ineffective. Its latest efforts focused on holding presidential and parliamentary elections that were meant to take place
How the UN failed Libya Read More »
As Russian troops encircling eastern Ukraine are preparing to attack, western leaders are bracing for a Russian invasion while struggling to maintain a united front. Following the fallout of peace negotiations and numerous deterrence measures that appear to be inconsequential, French President Emmanuel Macron has called on the EU to conduct its own dialogue with
Will the old world order end in Ukraine? Read More »
As the European Union (EU) braces itself for a cold winter with rising energy prices, a fourth COVID wave and the threat of a new migrant crisis orchestrated by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, the Kremlin may have found the perfect opportunity to exploit the EU’s weakened position in order to forcefully resolve Russia’s conflict with
Russia’s ultimatum: Will Ukraine negotiate peace or risk conflict? Read More »
Faced with a crumbling economy, a hostile population, and geopolitical isolation, the Taliban’s divided leadership may lead Afghanistan towards another civil war. More than three weeks after the fall of Kabul, the Taliban has finally announced an all-male Pashtun government comprised mainly of senior Taliban figures. While the news is scarcely surprising, the announcement came
The Taliban’s house of cards Read More »
After suffering humiliating defeats in the Middle East, the Islamic State has turned to Africa to reestablish its power and prove that it nonetheless has prevailed. At this stage, the group remains a mere shadow of the threat it once cast, but the Mozambique government’s petty corruption and ineptitude may present the greatest opportunity for
The Islamic State’s golden opportunity in Mozambique Read More »
Faced with the EU’s growing frustration and Biden’s more hostile administration, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has softened his tone, renewed his promises for greater cooperation and has ceased all exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, Erdogan’s superficial attempts to appease the West in order to avoid further sanctions will not result in a
The upcoming talks regarding the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, that are due to take place on January 25, should not disillusion us from the dangers of Turkey’s unilateral aggression on all fronts. Erdogan has made no real efforts to improve ties with the EU, except for the occasional vain promise of turning over a
An Enemy Among Us Read More »
France and the rest of Europe face a serious threat from Islamist terrorism. This has become more apparent after the brutal beheading of schoolteacher Samuel Paty, the terrorist attacks in Nice and Vienna, and the disgust and contempt most Muslim countries have expressed toward French values. French President Emmanuel Macron’s battle against Islamist separatism fights
The Hypocrisy of the Muslim World Read More »
The failure of the Saudi-led coalition, coupled with the UN’s habitual ineptitude, has plunged Yemen into another quagmire, with the US and UK blindly following Saudi Arabia. What was suppose to be a short intervention to restore a supposedly legitimate government against a radical islamist Iranian proxy has quickly turned into a five year civil
Yemen: A Strategy of Defeat Read More »
