Although Hezbollah looks increasingly likely to weather Syria’s civil war, blowback from hardline Sunnis at home may prove a longer-term challenge.
Forget Red Lines: Obama Should Eat His Words on Syria
The good news? President Obama’s surprise decision to consult Congress about launching a U.S. strike on Syria has returned crucial powers to the people’s representatives, allowing a much-needed public discussion about the U.S. stake—or lack thereof—in Syria’s civil...
The Gas of August: Syria and Regional Conflagration
I’ve always thought that Bashar Al-Assad often has an uncomfortable look on his face, as if he never envisioned he would be Syria’s president, and never quite got accustomed to the idea. This make sense, inasmuch as he only seemed destined for the role after his elder...
Next Step for Assad — Exile to a Rump State?
What does Syria plan to do, if anything, about Israeli air strikes?
Israel’s Pointless Attack on Syria
Israel’s recent air strike on one of Syria’s premier military research centers came as no surprise to those monitoring the spiraling turn of events in the Levant over the last few months. In the days and weeks running up to the audacious attack, there were several signs that something was afoot—a scurry of Israeli envoys shuttling between Tel Aviv and Washington, reports of closed-door security meetings, the distribution of gas masks to residents of northern Israel, and the deployment of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system in the same region, to name just a few.
Harirism Exposed
Saad Hariri—the Saudi-born son of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri—has been on something of a speaking tour lately. The billionaire former prime minister has repeatedly tried to make the case that Lebanon’s incumbent government (read Hezbollah) has put the country in harm’s way because of its stance on the conflict in neighboring Syria. But Hariri may be stoking the sectarian fires himself.
Hezbollah Hedges Its Bets on Assad
The Party of God will not disappear even if the Assad regime does. Nonetheless, if the Ba’athist order in Syria falls, Hezbollah will be compelled to operate in a more challenging environment, both domestically and regionally.
Exactly Which “Terror Plots” Are Relevant to the Bulgarian Bombing?
Cypriot investigators believe the Lebanese they suspected of planning to harm Israeli tourists was acting alone, not working for Hezbollah.
Tunisia Culture Wars: Ruling Ennahda Party Refuses to Rein in Salafists
The growing Salafist influence in Tunisia can be explained by the refusal of the ruling Ennahda Party to rein it in, as well as financial and political support provided by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Supporting Assad Shreds Iran’s Credibility With Radical Islam
If the Islamic Revolution still means anything, Tehran betrays it by supporting Syria’s Assad regime.