Donald Trump’s election victory was a real shock, not only for decision-makers in every single capital in the world, but also for experts and observers who saw nothing but a win for the Democrats and Hillary Clinton. Shortly after his victory, Trump announced his readiness to meet with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Many Israeli officials weren’t shy about saying that the Trump White House will signal a golden age for Israel-US relations, and that the chances of establishing a Palestinian state had now all but disappeared. Read the rest of this entry
The Rise and Fall of ISIS: Regional Dynamics and Global Ambitions
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Is it the end of DAESH (ISIS)? It is difficult to see how the group could return after the recapturing of Raqqa and Mosul, but the quick rise and apparent fall of ISIS has plagued the region with horrific crimes and mass destruction while planting the seeds of sectarian strife. It can be argued that the chief strategic outcome from the existence of ISIS was that the regional gates were left wide open for global and major regional powers to return and become active. Read the rest of this entry
SYRIA: The seven-year crisis
The enduring and tragic impasse in the Syrian conflict is making it difficult to imagine a bright future for the country. Superpowers have agreed to resolve some aspects of the conflict that would serve their own specific interests, but the civil war rages on and continues to destabilise not only Syria but also the region and beyond. Read the rest of this entry
The Price: The end of Iraqi and Syrian Woes and the Vanishing of ISIS
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When entangled elements make it hard to reach sound analyses, conspiracy theories appear to be a good tool to explain the unexplained. This applies perfectly to the situation in the Middle East. Many observers are not yet ready to cede their de facto approach, albeit every single regional development shows the clear marks of a crucial role for foreign powers (either super or regional), not only in what has been taking place, but for a debacle that has been erupting in the region for decades, perhaps centuries. Such indicators lead to a strong understanding that dramatic changes might be within striking distance. Read the rest of this entry
Soft Power in the Middle East: THE INVISIBLE SKIRMISH
The Middle East remains of a major geostrategic importance. Global powers found in the recent developments an opportunity to chart their way into the region; sending troops and reinforcements, rebuilding alliances and restoring old relations. Amidst this chaotic environment, a number of regional forces opted to adopt a different approach: soft power. It is obvious that such forces have found in soft power an efficient tool that can achieve what tanks and jets failed to do. In this article, four soft power models in the Middle East are assessed and analysed: Iran and Oman. Read the rest of this entry
Oman: A Peaceful Oasis in a Flaming Region
In a fractious, unstable region rife with conflicts, one country appears to be unscathed. It is telling that Oman emerged not only intact from the ramifications of the Arab Spring, but also shied away from the tense polarisation that has hijacked the rest of the Middle East. Oman’s position on the various regional issues is self-evidently peaceful and different from the other Gulf monarchies. In fact, behind this peaceful and unique position lies a hive of activity of which many are unaware. Read the rest of this entry
Putin’s “Completely Fulfilled” Task in Syria
Since Russia has been declared officially in the Middle East, and following the extended presence of its military in all forms in Syria, speculations splashed media platforms across the globe. Observers saw in Russia’s decision to enter Syria a long-term strategy, albeit the abrupt announcement of Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw most of the Russian forces from Syria put friends and foes alike in bewilderment. Read the rest of this entry
The Middle East: Was the Turkish Model replaced by an Iranian Role?
Since 2003, Turkey has appeared as a valuable asset for global powers to invest in and as a leading actor in a region long described as sluggish towards democratic transformations. However, with the advent of the Arab Spring, things changed and the role portrayed for Turkey by the United States has been declining, especially in light of the rise of another regional power: Iran. Read the rest of this entry
Russia is officially in the region: A new Order has just begun
Since the outbreak of the Syrian uprising, Russia has limited itself to its traditional role of providing arms as well as military and logistical experts to its Arab allies. As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime weakened, the Russians intensified their military support dramatically. Recently, the Russian ‘Caesar’ opted to expand his role in Syria to include direct intervention against enemies of the regime. The move towards direct intervention constitutes a revolution in Russia’s role in the Middle East and portends a deeper shift in the region. Read the rest of this entry
ISIS: Ambitions and Constrains
Since its inception, news of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS/Daesh) has splashed across the world’s media. The nascent entity emerged suddenly and expanded quickly. Its brutality has commanded widespread attention and generated mounting concern. A few months ago, Daesh entered its second year, demonstrating a unique ability to survive despite being targeted by joint international efforts and military campaigns. This article digs deep inside the life of Daesh, assesses important details such as its structure and formations and highlights facts that may be important to the general reader and decision-maker alike. These features reveal the complexity of the composition of Daesh which it has managed to build in record time. Read the rest of this entry
FADI ELHUSSEINI 