Sam Menassa

Media outlets are brimming with predictions and analyses about the new US administration’s Middle East policy. Most of it is wishful thinking, with each camp making projections according to their political orientation. The key appointments that President-elect Donald Trump has announced he wants to…

It was broadly assumed that, with Sinwar and Nasrallah out of the picture, it could become easier to reach a deal that would end the war in both Lebanon and Gaza and allow the 101 hostages still held by Hamas to return to their homes. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has…

It has been a month since Israel launched its war against Lebanon and Hezbollah in response to the latter's "support and harassment" in backing Hamas in Gaza since October 8, 2023. Following the lethal blows dealt to the party, most notably the assassination of its Secretary-General Hassan…

The main conclusion that can be drawn a year after the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation in the Gaza Envelope and the launch of the “support” war from Lebanon, is that this "flood" has drowned those behind it. Hamas has been reduced to Yahya Sinwar and his small entourage; Hezbollah has lost Sayyed Hassan…

It is not the time to address the earth-shattering attack on the central command of Hezbollah, the horrific assassination of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and the regional and international repercussions of the attack. The operation crowned an unprecedented wave of escalation using airstrikes, drones,…

American presidential debates have only changed the course of the race twice. The first time this happened was in the race between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy, who outperformed his rival. The second it happened was when Joe Biden faltered in his debate with Donald Trump, compelling Biden to…

Hezbollah recently released a video depicting a military facility in which vehicles loaded with missiles move across extensive, fortified, and illuminated tunnels. There had been talk about Hezbollah's tunnels before it made these unprecedented revelations. However, the matter did not receive the…

All eyes are on the negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza. Despite the strenuous efforts, however, the picture does not seem rosy. The talks could falter as they had before, bringing us back to square one. Even if we assume that the negotiations will succeed, a compromise is reached…

Benjamin Netanyahu was not content with kidnapping Israel itself, Palestine, Lebanon, and perhaps Syria. He has decided to take the entire region hostage before finishing the Gaza war and drag it to the place it wants to avoid. No one following regional developments a year ago, and no experts in…

In light of the current impasse in Lebanon, there has been a lot of talk about dialogue. However, there are differences around the nature of this dialogue: Is it a dialogue or consultation? Between groups or a duo? The country will be back in the labyrinth of futile debates. Meanwhile, the…