Hamas is the Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. And the Muslim Brotherhood has for decades in Syria – long before the current civil war – been a threat to the Assad regime that keeps the Alawite minority in power. For some uber-Sunnis, including the members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Alawites (a branch of […]
Syria’s Devil You Know
“In a movement of sheer masochism, the West encouraged political developments that would destroy systems designed as a safeguard against extremism,” writes Alexandre Goodarzy in a new Sophia Institute Press translation of his French memoirs. In Kidnapped in Iraq: A Christian Humanitarian Tells His Story, this French Catholic aid worker critically examines foolish Western beliefs that the […]
Syria’s Jihad Winter
The post-2011 uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian dictatorship “wasn’t a social revolution but a coup to create a caliphate and return to the time of the prophet Muhammad” of Islam, writes Alexandre Goodarzy in a new book. Kidnapped in Iraq: A Christian Humanitarian Tells His Story, a Sophia Institute Press English translation of his memoirs […]
Syria’s Assad meets Iran’s Khamenei and Raisi in surprise visit to Tehran
After reports that Syria was distancing itself from Iran, Bashar al-Assad is once again bonding with Islamic Republic leaders, which likely means more bad news for Israel. Israel has launched many defensive strikes inside Syria against Iran-backed forces and Iran’s main proxy, Hizballah. Of concern now is also the fact that Russia controls Syria’s airspace; […]
What Does Bashar Al-Assad’s Recent Visit to the UAE Signify?
Bashar al-Assad, making his first visit to an Arab country since the Syrian civil war began, flew to the United Arab Emirates on March 18, where he met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Emirates’ vice president and prime minister, who is also the ruler of Dubai. People are reading the tea leaves, trying […]
Abbas Expresses Support For Assad; No One Notices
Mahmoud Abbas has sent a delegation to Damascus to deliver a letter to Bashar Assad, expressing support and a desire for closer relations. It’s part — a distinctly unimportant part — of a wider effort by Arab states to bring Syria back into the Arab fold, and to pressure it, at the same time, […]
Hamas’ growing closeness to Iran and Assad regime enrages Syrian opposition
According to MEMRI, “The recent Hamas-Israel conflict brought into focus the years-long close relationship between Hamas and Iran. During the operation, Hamas leaders were in constant contact with Iranian offsssicials [sic], and each side fulsomely praised the other. Both stressed Iran’s contribution to the development of Hamas’ military capabilities…..Various opposition elements see expressions of support […]
Tom Friedman, World’s Greatest Authority, Has A ‘Big Idea’: US Should Pay Assad to Expel Iran From Syria
A well-pleased pleaser, mightily impressed with himself, the New York Times columnist Tom Friedman — the World’s Greatest Authority — has just announced that he has had a Big Idea about Syria, one that should solve all kinds of problems for Israel and the U.S. Ira Stoll was not impressed. His critical analysis is here: “Tom […]
Saudi Arabia aims to reduce tensions with Iran, moves to normalize relationship with Syria
In the post-Trump world, countries are realigning fast, leaving America behind. The alliances being formed for expedience and mutual convenience are not in American interests, or for that matter, in the interests of the West (or Israel). Speculation has vanished about any possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. Not that it was a […]
Israel Keeps ‘Mowing the Lawn’ In Syria
Israel describes as “mowing the lawn” its repeated strikes on a particular target – say, on a Hamas base in Gaza from which missies are launched into Israel, or on a particular building in Aleppo where weapons are hid; after that enemy base, or that weapons cache, are hit, and the enemy then repairs […]