It has been more than a week since five Arab countries joined the US-led coalition in bombing Islamic State targets in both Syria and Iraq. The event is unprecedented and bolsters Washington’s case that the onslaught is not directed towards the region’s Sunnis, but a

One potential winner in the international and regional drive to fight and destroy the Islamic State is Israel. Less than a month has passed since a tentative ceasefire was reached between the Palestinians and Israelis over the Gaza war, and already there is little interest in th

NATO’s 10-nation “core coalition” formed last week in Wales, in the United Kingdom, to confront the growing threat of the Islamic State, also known as IS, did not include any Arab country. And yet, US President Barack Obama underlined the important role that Su

Barely a week had passed since a ceasefire agreement was reached by Palestinians and Israelis, through Egyptian mediation, before verbal clashes erupted between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas over the 50-day Gaza war. Abbas accused the Islamist resistanc

For the first time since the break out of the Syrian crisis, in March 2011, there are indications that policies towards the Damascus regime are about to change drastically. That is not because President Bashar Assad altered his position since the uprising against him or vis-&agr

The almost impossible task of salvaging Iraq has begun along two distinct, but interconnected, courses: political and military. Last week’s decision by former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki to withdraw his candidacy for a third term as head of the Iraqi government has pave

The coming few hours will be crucial in determining if a political solution is found to end the war between Palestinian resistance forces in Gaza and Israel. A new three-day truce has been agreed upon and the Israeli delegation is back in Cairo to deliver its response to Palesti

The Israeli war on Gaza has come to a temporary pause following an Egyptian proposal for a 72-hour truce commencing on Tuesday morning. The difficult task of negotiating a long-term ceasefire has begun in Cairo. It could all collapse at anytime.

As the assault on Gaza enters its third week, the Israeli army is no closer to achieving its military objectives than it was on the first day.