U.S. Escalates against Hezbollah: Israel Happy, EU Not

by Ali Rizk On November 13, the State department designated Jawad Nasrallah—the son of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah—a global terrorist. At the same time, the State department announced a $5 million reward for information on two Hezbollah officials, Khalil… Continue Reading →

Pushing Beirut And Baghdad To Comply With Iran Sanctions Is Risky Business

by Imad K. Harb President Donald Trump has reimposed an old set of American sanctions on Iran, as well as new ones following his abandonment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) last May. For regional neighbours Lebanon and Iraq,… Continue Reading →

Yemen War Challenges Saudi Moral Authority

By James M. Dorsey Saudi conduct of its ill-fated war in Yemen coupled with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s alignment with the Trump administration and Israel, and his often coercive approach to diplomatic relations, has opened the door to challenges… Continue Reading →

Multiple Diplomatic Spats with Saudi Arabia

by James M. Dorsey The failure of Western allies to rally around Canada in its dispute with Saudi Arabia risks luring the kingdom into a false belief that economic sanctions will shield it from, if not reverse mounting criticism of its human… Continue Reading →