Author: Steven Sahiounie

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s newly unveiled national security doctrine has intensified political divisions inside Israel while drawing attention to the shifting geopolitical alignments shaping the Middle East. Presented on October 18, 2026, the document calls for preemptive military strikes, expanded buffer zones, and the preservation of Israel’s military superiority. Yet, rather than establishing a broad consensus on national security, it has provoked fierce criticism from opposition leaders who accuse Netanyahu of substituting political slogans for a coherent strategy. Beyond the domestic controversy, a geopolitical map displayed during Netanyahu’s presentation has raised questions about…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has reaffirmed that his presidency will end in 2030, declaring that his departure from office is a settled matter and “not open to debate.” The statement comes amid renewed online campaigns calling for constitutional amendments that could allow him to seek another term, placing Egypt’s political future back in the spotlight at a time of growing regional instability. Yet Sisi’s latest remarks extend far beyond the question of presidential succession. His address at the Egyptian Military Academy’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, October 17, brought together three significant messages: a…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Israel is confronting mounting military, diplomatic, and domestic political pressures as its leaders intensify threats against Hamas, demonstrations against Israeli policies spread across European capitals, and the government considers striking Iran without direct American military participation. According to Haaretz, Netanyahu is pushing through US mediators to secure Saudi Arabia’s permission for Israel to intervene in the conflict in Yemen. Israel seeks to help Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, and the relationship could evolve into a normalization agreement. Israel’s leadership is pursuing an increasingly assertive security agenda while facing growing international criticism, unresolved questions over…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Behind the armed conflict between Riyadh and Yemen’s Houthi movement lies a much broader strategic struggle: the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two regional powers whose competing interests have influenced the political and security landscape of the Middle East for years. Escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran threaten to push the region toward another major confrontation. The conflict in Yemen is increasingly intertwined with broader regional security calculations, maritime competition, energy infrastructure protection, and the strategic interests of the US and Israel. An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Journalist Steven Sahiounie conducted an interview with Iraqi engineer and political affairs analyst, Dr. Dhafer Mayouf Al-Taie, to discuss the latest developments in Iraq, particularly the implications of the U.S. military withdrawal, Iraq’s security sovereignty, the balance of regional influence, and the future of military and intelligence cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Has Iraq entered a new phase of security sovereignty, or will U.S. influence continue in other forms? Dhafer Mayouf Al-Taie (DMA): With the withdrawal of U.S. forces, Iraq has entered a new phase in assuming greater responsibility…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Journalist Steven Sahiounie interviewed Dr. Suheil M. Diab, a Palestinian writer and researcher specializing in Israeli and regional affairs, about Israel’s upcoming elections, the future of its policies toward Gaza and the West Bank, relations with Iran and the Gulf states, and the political prospects surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Could the elections lead to a change in Israeli policy toward Gaza, the West Bank and Iran, or will major security issues continue regardless of the identity of the next government? Dr. Suheil M. Diab (SMD): If the current government…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Israel-US war on Iran has evolved into a wider geopolitical contest in which China occupies an increasingly important position. While Washington seeks to prevent Beijing from providing Tehran with military, technological or intelligence assistance, China is attempting to preserve its strategic partnership with Iran without becoming directly entangled in a confrontation with the US. The September 24, 2026, meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping took place against an increasingly complicated background. The US President greeted the Chinese President in a manner befitting the status of a rising superpower,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Moscow’s first major resupply convoy since the August agreement reveals how Damascus and Moscow are redefining a relationship once built around war Russia has returned to Syria’s Mediterranean coast with a significant naval and logistical operation, sending a four-vessel convoy to Tartous in the first major resupply mission reported since Moscow and Damascus reached a new agreement on the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria. The movement is more than a routine logistical operation. It offers an early glimpse into how a relationship once defined by Russia’s military backing of Bashar al-Assad is…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The renewed escalation between Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following years of calm, has set the Middle East ablaze and plunged the region into an unprecedented and dangerous escalation, particularly as the war involving the US-Israel war on Iran continues. Amid the military silence of Riyadh’s allies and Yemen’s escalation through its control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Saudi Arabia finds itself standing alone in this confrontation. Devastating strikes have had a significant impact not only on the Saudi economy but also on global energy prices Journalist Steven Sahiounie…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The US-Israel war against Iran has exposed a question that Washington may find increasingly difficult to avoid: Was this truly an American war, or did the United States become the principal military and financial force behind a conflict driven largely by Israel’s strategic agenda? Since 1992, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has identified Iran as Israel’s most dangerous regional adversary. Long before the latest confrontation, Netanyahu repeatedly warned about Iran’s nuclear program, missile capabilities and regional influence. Confronting and weakening Tehran has remained a central element of Israeli strategic thinking. Did Washington pay…