An Analysis of the Makkah Defense Pact
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior international affairs analyst stated that the recent meeting of the foreign minister of Syria’s interim government with a delegation from the Zionist regime in Paris marks a turning point in the regional equations; an event that, beyond a simple diplomatic meeting, signifies a redefinition of strategies regarding Syria’s future. These talks, which were mediated by the United States and focused on reducing tensions in southern Syria, monitoring the ceasefire, and reactivating the 1974 agreement, clearly indicate that the Syria file can no longer be analyzed solely within the framework of an internal crisis or field conflicts. Instead, Damascus today is caught in a complex duality: on one hand, it faces the occupation of part of its territory by the Israeli regime and increasing pressures on its strategic geography, and on the other hand, it feels the necessity of utilizing diplomacy to break out of political isolation. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime seeks to consolidate its position in the region, an issue that links to the long-standing project of “Greater Israel” and efforts to dismantle the traditional structures of the Middle East.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A senior analyst on West Asian affairs stated that under the current circumstances, discussing the disarmament of the Resistance is not only unfeasible but could also lead to an escalation of tensions. Following the 12-day aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran, efforts in another layer to disarm Resistance groups, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi), and Hamas, have intensified as part of a coordinated project pursued to weaken the Axis of Resistance and impose American regional dominance. The U.S. proposal for Lebanon, which includes disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025 and the withdrawal of the Israeli regime from border positions, is an attempt to transform an external conflict into an internal one. Hezbollah has firmly rejected this proposal, deeming it a violation of national sovereignty and a service to the interests of the Israeli regime, while emphasizing its defensive role. In Iraq, pressure on the Popular Mobilization Forces has been accompanied by accusations and economic sanctions, yet this group continues to stand as a popular force against external threats. Hamas, despite heavy attacks by the Israeli regime, has continued its resistance and rejected a recent ceasefire proposal in exchange for disarmament. These plans, supported by U.S. and allied diplomatic and economic backing, seek to alter the balance of power in the region. Still, the resistance of the groups and popular support have prevented the realization of these objectives.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: On October 14, a group of Lebanese people, invited by the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Amal movement, gathered in front of the Lebanese Ministry of Justice, between Ain al-Rummaneh and Tayouneh areas, to protest the political process of investigation into the Beirut bombing, especially the performance of the judge investigating the incident, Mr. Tariq Bitar. The demonstrators were shot by the assailants affiliated to the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, “one of the parties to the Lebanese civil war and one of the present allies in the Western-Arab axis,” was witnessed which led to the killing and wounding of many protesters.
Hossein Ajorloo – expert on Middle East affairs
Online Strategic Council—Interview: An expert of West Asia affairs says the link between the elements of “belief” and “the management Style of Soleimani” who had pinned his trust in God resulted in the defeat of Daesh.
Strategic Council Online – The most likely scenario Lebanon is presently faced with is not to allow the prime minister proposed by Michel Aoun to form government in the absence of the consent of Saad Hariri, Fouad Siniora and Samir Geagea, and finally, with the widening of political vacuum, the Lebanese President will be forced to appoint Saad Hariri to form the government.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Expert on Middle East Affairs
Strategic Council Online – An analyst on West Asian affairs said there were “obvious hands” among foreign countries as well as domestic political currents against the Lebanese government, adding that Hassan Diab’s government did not appear to be able to maintain the status quo and efforts are underway to overthrow his government and put the phase of confrontation with the Hezbollah on the agenda; So the next step will be very difficult for Lebanon.
SCFR Online – Opinion: On Friday, August 7, the heads of state of three countries – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan – signed a text under the title “Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.”
Strategic Council Online – Note: The initiative to revive the Hejaz Railway, beyond being a transportation project, constitutes an attempt to redefine geopolitics, the economy, and Turkey’s regional position; however, its realization appears to face significant financial, security, and institutional challenges.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer merely the consequence of a military confrontation, but rather a sign of the transition from the US-centered maritime order to a new energy security structure involving the participation of emerging and influential powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Iran’s active deterrence strategy, while increasing the costs of US intervention, has increasingly exposed the hidden rifts between Washington’s interests and those of the Israeli regime.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The escalation of verbal and strategic tensions between Turkey and the Israeli regime, although not increasing the likelihood of direct war, indicates the formation of a new order in West Asian geopolitical rivalries.
Strategic Council Online – Note: Recent developments in the political geography of West Asia, from rising tensions in the Persian Gulf to missile and drone activities in the Red Sea and the recent warning by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, regarding the threat to freedom of navigation, indicate a key pattern shift; the US-Iran war has moved beyond the scope of a regional and local confrontation and has linked two vital passageways for the global economy: the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
SCFR Online – Opinion: The Ukraine war was not merely a European crisis, but rather the starting point for the rearrangement of the global balance of power and a shift in the strategic behavior of great powers.
SCFR Online – Opinion: Great power competition is now pursued more in trade, currency, technology, and global supply chains than on the battlefields of military confrontation.