Assad

Syria: Latest Visit Hints at Russia’s Return to Syria

Syria’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Putin in Moscow, signalling a pragmatic reset as Russia seeks to rebuild influence in the Middle East.

Lebanon Teeters on Default: Europe Opts Out of Pushing Disarmament

Lebanon faces $11bn recovery costs, looming default, and stalled IMF bailout as France and the EU weigh aid against real reform demands.

A Tug of War: Türkiye and its Rivals in Syria

Türkiye emerges as Syria’s dominant power post-Assad, rejecting federalism to block Kurdish autonomy and rival regional influence.

The Vacuum Narrative: A Tool of Subjugation or Security?

The myth of post-regime chaos fuels authoritarian survival: fear of a vacuum blocks real democratic change in Syria, Yemen, and beyond.

ISIS 2.0: New Islamism in Syria and Iraq

ISIS-linked jihadist factions resurge in post-Assad Syria as a deadly church attack signals a dangerous new extremist consolidation.

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Three Forgotten Islands Could Decide the Strait of Hormuz

Iran warned this week that any attack on its Hormuz islands would turn the Gulf bloody, as the UAE signalled it now sees a chance to reclaim them.

Stuttgart Voters Punish Merz as Energy Prices Surge

In the industrial heart of Germany, rising energy costs and a sudden war have triggered a surprise election win that hints voters are reaching a breaking point.

Trump Doubles Down on Regime Change in Cuba 

The White House is placing a risky bet on toppling the regime in Cuba as an expensive war in Iran and a restless electorate threaten GOP 2028.

Great Again: Europe’s Place in the Global Order

Europe’s gas shock reveals cost of hesitation as the US, Russia and China reshape power while the EU struggles to act decisively.

Hammer and Anvil: Washington’s Kurdish Strategy

Washington's push to arm Kurdish fighters for the Iran war hit a barrier of defiance that forced Donald Trump to meet a history of broken alliances.