Mideast Discourse

20/07/2025

Gaza gripped by catastrophic famine amid prolonged U.S. inaction

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/20/gaza-gripped-by-catastrophic-famine-amid-prolonged-u-s-inaction/

By:Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The news is the same each day about Gaza. More deaths, more starvation and more suffering. Yesterday, at least 32 people were killed and more than 100 injured after Israeli troops opened fire on crowds of starving Palestinians at a free food....

17/07/2025

Sweida peace follows huge Israeli airstrikes on Damascus

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/17/sweida-peace-follows-huge-israeli-airstrikes-on-damascus/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel attacked the defense ministry building twice, and near the presidential palace in Damascus on July 16.  As the afternoon traffic drove by in the heart of the city, huge plumes of smoke billowed from the landmark building. This was the th...

15/07/2025

“The Israeli flag will not be raised in Beirut.” Interview with Khalil Harb

By: Steven Sahiounie، Journalist and political commentator

MideastDiscourse interviewed Lebanese journalist Khalil Harab خليل حرب

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/15/the-israeli-flag-will-not-be-raised-in-beirut-interview-with-khalil-harb/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator U.S. envoy Tom Barrack has said he is hopeful about Lebanon’s future after meeting officials and discussing the need to disarm Hezbollah, and for the full withdrawal of Israeli military forces. Lebanese officials also were positive in comments...

12/07/2025

The PKK disarming has handed Erdogan a victory for peace

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

MideastDiscourse interviewed Egyptian journalist Hani Elgamal, a researcher in regional and international affairs.

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/12/the-pkk-disarming-has-handed-erdogan-a-victory-for-peace/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On Friday, PKK leaders burned their weapons in a cave in northern Iraq.  “We voluntarily destroy our weapons, in your presence, as a step of goodwill and determination,” said Bese Hozat. The conflict has taken 30,000 lives over 30-years.  ...

09/07/2025

Can Trump broker peace in Gaza?

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/09/can-trump-broker-peace-in-gaza/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have met several times since Netanyahu arrived for talks. Their agenda included Gaza, Iran, Syria, and Ukraine. While the two leaders work closely together as partners, th...

06/07/2025

The Syrian Green Footprint Initiative

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/06/the-syrian-green-footprint-initiative/

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The wildfires burning in the countryside of Latakia are coming under control, but a few hot spots remain. Saturday night was very difficult as the winds picked up and worked against the firefighting efforts. The Minister of Emergency and Dis...

04/07/2025

Syria is poised to be one of the world’s biggest gas producers

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/07/04/syria-is-poised-to-be-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-gas-producers/

The Eastern Mediterranean is no longer just a geopolitical flashpoint—it is a global energy battleground. From Libya’s contested waters to Israel’s infrastructure race and Syria’s untapped reserves, the region is witnessing a complex struggle for control over the future of gas.  It has been...

24/06/2025

The 12-day war ceasefire between Iran and Israel on shaky ground

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/06/24/the-12-day-war-ceasefire-between-iran-and-israel-on-shaky-ground/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The truce between Iran and Israel is just hours old, and already on shaky grounds. Israel Katz, Defense Minister of Israel, ordered “intense strikes” on the Iranian capital, Tehran, after accusing Iran of violating a truce brokered by the Un...

21/06/2025

Five ways to West Asian meltdown

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/06/21/five-ways-to-west-asian-meltdown/

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator A direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran has intensified over the past six days, marking a dangerous shift from years of proxy hostilities. Israel began the war with an unprovoked attack on Iran on Friday, June 13 with airstri...

18/06/2025

Day 6 of the Israeli attack on Iran brings fears of regional war

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/06/18/day-6-of-the-israeli-attack-on-iran-brings-fears-of-regional-war/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Iran responded to ongoing Israeli attacks by launching two waves of hypersonic missiles in the early hours of Wednesday, marking the sixth day of the conflict, which began with an unprovoked attack by Israel. The Wall Street Journal reported tha...

13/06/2025

Israeli preemptive attack on Iran leaves the Middle East on the boiling point

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/06/13/israeli-preemptive-attack-on-iran-leaves-the-middle-east-on-the-boiling-point/

12/06/2025

Middle East braces for possible Israeli attack on Iran

By: Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

https://mideastdiscourse.com/2025/06/12/middle-east-braces-for-possible-israeli-attack-on-iran/

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Middle East news media are nervously covering the evacuation orders for Americans in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, which include some U.S. government personnel.  U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center that Americans were ...