The Lies America Tells Itself About the Middle East

On any given day during the long war in Gaza, a Biden administration official could be expected to assert any of the following: a cease-fire was around the corner, the United States was working tirelessly to achieve one, it cared equally about the Israelis and the Palestinians, a historic Saudi-Israeli normalization deal was at hand, and all this was bound up with an irreversible path to Palestinian statehood.

Kiir promotes ally Bol Mel to full general in intelligence service

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has promoted Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel to the rank of full general in the Internal Bureau of the National Security Service, state media reported on Monday.

The promotion, confirmed during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Juba, marks Mel’s third major elevation in less than a year, fueling speculation over his growing influence.

Spotlight on Terrorism: Hezbollah and Lebanon (September 8 – 15, 2025)

IDF forces attacked Hezbollah infrastructure and eliminated operatives of the organization as part of ongoing operations against Hezbollah’s presence in south Lebanon, which violates the ceasefire agreement understandings, and against Hezbollah’s efforts to increase its military-terrorist capabilities and restore its arsenal. They attacked elite Radwan Unit training camps in the Beqa’a Valley in northeastern Lebanon and eliminated at least eight Hezbollah terrorist operatives, including one who also belonged to the Imam Hussein Division of the Iranian Qods Force.

Who Remembers Afghanistan?

The Taliban rose to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s. It achieved international notoriety for hosting al Qaeda through the September 11, 2001, attacks. These zealous Islamists were toppled from power by U.S. forces and our Afghan allies shortly after those attacks. But the group fought back for two decades. Its tenacity paid dividends. The United States withdrew in ignominious defeat in 2021.

Israel carries out systematic erasure of Gaza’s historical landmarks and cultural heritage

Israel’s large-scale military assault on Gaza City, marked by repeated and systematic bombardment of historic neighbourhoods, houses of worship, libraries, museums, archives, cemeteries, ancient homes, old markets, and the surrounding urban fabric, threatens to erase what remains of the city’s tangible and intangible heritage in its entirety.

Power of Siberia 2 : le grand embarrassement de l’UE

Pékin hérite désormais de la stabilité énergétique qui alimentait autrefois l’industrie de l’Europe occidentale. Et tout ce que Bruxelles peut faire, c’est crier aux loups.

Il y a des moments où vous pouvez presque entendre l’histoire chuchoter et la nouvelle de mardi selon laquelle la Russie et la Chine ont finalement signé un accord contraignant pour le Power of Siberia 2 (un pipeline pouvant transporter 50 milliards de mètres cubes, traversant la Mongolie et transportant du gaz de l’arctique vers l’Orient) en est un cas.

Marwan Qabalan: Syria Must Rebuild Ties with Russia and Foster Inclusive National Dialogue

Marwan Qabalan, a researcher and professor of international politics, has stressed that state governance requires far more than managing a faction, group or institution, as it involves complex responsibilities tied to national interests and international representation. Speaking to Syria TV, Qabalan underscored the strategic importance of rebuilding Syria’s relationship with Russia, arguing that both countries share a mutual interest in strengthening bilateral ties.

Hezbollah Denies Involvement in Damascus Arrests

The Lebanese group Hezbollah has firmly denied allegations made by the Syrian Ministry of Interior concerning the arrest of individuals in the western countryside of Damascus on 11 September.

In an official statement, Hezbollah’s media relations office rejected the ministry’s claims “in their entirety”, asserting that the group maintains neither a presence nor operations on Syrian territory. The statement reiterated Hezbollah’s commitment to the stability of Syria and the safety of its people.

Guns for hire: Should private military companies take on organized crime?

In March 2025, the Haitian government hired Vectus Global, a private military company (PMC) led by Erik Prince, the founder of US-based PMC Blackwater, to support the public forces in combating criminal groups that control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and exert governance over vast swathes of the country’s territory and economy. Haiti joins a growing list of governments and private consortiums that have recruited Prince’s companies or are in talks with them.