Abdulrahman Al-Rashed

Netanyahu’s allies are also his adversaries, both Arabs and Israelis. He spares no effort in provoking them and stirring enough dust to stay at the top of the headlines or to distract them from his own issues. The focus on Netanyahu as an individual is understandable and even justified under the…

A deathly silence looms over the Arab street, unmoved by the wave of dramatic events in the region. We have not seen demonstrations, protests, or sit-ins in the Arab countries, and in my view, this is the first time in seven decades or more that such displays have vanished! What has befallen Iran…

Seven years ago, I wrote about the “regional rise of Israel.” Today, its presence is greater than ever. It’s behind massive geopolitical changes in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. After all this, how does Israel now view itself? It’s unlikely that it will settle for its old role; it…

The war in Gaza, with all its horrors, is approaching its second year, making it the longest and deadliest confrontation in the history of the Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflict. Why has the Gaza war lasted this long? Some believe that Israel fears for the remaining hostages. Others think…

It’s true that Bashar al-Assad left the palace on the evening of Saturday, December 7, and that Ahmad al-Sharaa entered it the next day without a single shot being fired in the capital. It’s a rare occurrence in history. Even so, the road ahead for the new leadership is neither paved nor smooth. …

Every side in the war has declared victory. Trump announced the attack with 14 bunker-busting bombs and the destruction of three nuclear facilities, and called for a peace deal. Israel described “Operation Iron Glove” – the name of its campaign – as historic. It assassinated leaders and experts…

Iran makes threats, but it will not act. It will not mine the Strait of Hormuz or block it by bombing passing ships. This scenario would backfire and primarily harm China – the largest buyer of Gulf oil – which would lose four million barrels a day. Iran’s enemies – the Americans and Israelis –…

Last week, the idea resurfaced that Israel may target Iran’s Supreme Leader – as if he were just another easy military target in the fierce war between Israel and Iran, which may soon involve the United States. US President Donald Trump made a point of distancing himself from the Israeli plan,…

This war had been brewing for two decades - long anticipated but repeatedly avoided. Both the Iranian and Israeli sides had succeeded in avoiding direct confrontation, limiting themselves to proxy wars, until the October 7, 2023, attack happened. At that point, the Israelis decided to eliminate the…

It’s been about 150 days since Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam took office. On one hand, Lebanon is experiencing its best chapter in two decades. On the other hand, there are concerns about the slow pace of progress – and that another war is on the verge of erupting. Regardless of whether the…