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Articles by Ali Rizk
Trump envoy 'deeply concerned' by Israeli strikes on Syrian air base
US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack defended the Syrian government on Tuesday after Israeli air strikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military air base in northern Syria, calling it an "unnecessary escalation". "The Al-Sharaa government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel," he wrote on X. "We are deeply concerned," he added.
Trump wants to talk to Hezbollah. Will they pick up the phone?
For decades, U.S. policy in Lebanon has focused on the elimination of Hezbollah, or at least its military wing. But the Trump administration has taken this effort to new heights. The State Department is sponsoring the first ever direct talks between Lebanon and Israel since the Madrid peace talks, with the disarmament of Hezbollah being a central objective of those talks.
Trump wants to talk to Hezbollah. Will they pick up the phone?
For decades, U.S. policy in Lebanon has focused on the elimination of Hezbollah, or at least its military wing. But the Trump administration has taken this effort to new heights. The State Department is sponsoring the first ever direct talks between Lebanon and Israel since the Madrid peace talks, with the disarmament of Hezbollah being a central objective of those talks.
Syria: Court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia in landmark trial
Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder 11 August 2026 09:50 BST ago A Damascus court sentenced Syria's former strongman Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher and former security official Atef Najib to death on Tuesday on charges of murder, torture and incitement to murder. Najib was tried in person, while Bashar and Maher were tried in absentia.
Syria reclaims control of key coastal sites in deal with Russia
Syria and Russia have reached a memorandum of understanding to scale back Moscow's military presence on Syria's Mediterranean coast, ending 18 months of negotiations over the future of the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval facility. The Syrian foreign ministry announced the deal on Sunday, describing it as the outcome of "a year and a half of negotiations and intensive discussions led by the ministry".
Exclusive: Trump demanded direct talks with Hezbollah but was denied
Donald Trump called the Lebanese ambassador in Washington in late May and demanded a direct conversation with Hezbollah, a request that was then denied to the US president, Middle East Eye can reveal. According to two sources intimately familiar with events from the Hezbollah side and a Lebanese diplomatic source, Trump called Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad in frustration as the ceasefire in Lebanon frayed.
Why Syria will not join the fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon
The issue of what role Damascus could play regarding Hezbollah has returned to the forefront, amid a flurry of recent high-level statements. On Tuesday, the Lebanese movement has - for the first time - publicly expressed its willingness to hold talks with Damascus. "There is no impediment to a public meeting between Hezbollah and the Syrian leadership at a time considered appropriate by both sides," said Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem in a televised speech.
Civil war in Lebanon is exactly what Israel wants
In a recent interview, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, claimed that the Lebanese army was marginalizing Shiite military personnel in its ranks because of their reluctance to go after Hezbollah.
Rubio floats a disastrous plan for disarming Hezbollah
In recent remarks to Fox News, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a plan to task the Lebanese army with disarming Hezbollah — an effort that could spark civil war in Lebanon.
Right-Sizing the ‘Iran-Linked’ Terror Threat to the U.S.
Foreign Affairs Right-Sizing the ‘Iran-Linked’ Terror Threat to the U.S. While there is a real risk of lone-wolf attacks, Iran has few incentives to orchestrate organized terrorism. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... As the war with Iran rages on, much is being said about Iranian-linked acts of terrorism in the United States.
Überleben als Strategie: Warum die Hisbollah weiterkämpft
Unser Gastautor analysiert das Kalkül der Hisbollah, sich in den Irankrieg einzubringen (Bild: Vladirina32/Shutterstock.com) Hisbollah kämpft ums Überleben – trotz 500 Toter und 700.000 Vertriebener. Was steckt hinter der scheinbar irrationalen Strategie? Ein Gastbeitrag. Die Hisbollah und Israel liefern sich weiterhin Gefechte in der schwersten Eskalation an der libanesisch-israelischen Front seit dem 66-tägigen Krieg Ende 2024.
Why Hezbollah's 'irrational' gambit against Israel makes sense
Ali Rizk Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows in the worst escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli front since a 66-day war in late 2024. The renewed fighting has taken an especially heavy toll on Lebanon, with more than 500 people killed and nearly 700,000 more displaced as of Wednesday. Israeli forces have advanced deeper into south Lebanon, as part of what Israeli officials describe as a plan to create a larger buffer zone in Lebanon against Hezbollah operations.
Why Hezbollah's 'irrational' gambit against Israel makes sense
Hezbollah and Israel continue to trade blows in the worst escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli front since a 66-day war in late 2024. The renewed fighting has taken an especially heavy toll on Lebanon, with more than 500 people killed and nearly 700,000 more displaced as of Wednesday. Israeli forces have advanced deeper into south Lebanon, as part of what Israeli officials describe as a plan to create a larger buffer zone in Lebanon against Hezbollah operations.
Lessons from Bondi: Rethinking Counter-Extremism in Australia
The Bondi massacre highlights ongoing challenges in Australia’s ability to detect and prevent lone-actor extremist violence, particularly when individuals are influenced by ISIS-linked networks and operate under the radar of intelligence agencies. Much remains unknown about the Bondi massacre that targeted a Hanukkah festival last December, resulting in the deaths of 15 attendees.
War on Iran Could Provoke a ‘Shiite Jihad’
Foreign Affairs War on Iran Could Provoke a ‘Shiite Jihad’ An attack on the regime would invite serious blowback. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player...
The Hawks’ New Plans for Iran Are Disastrous
Foreign Affairs The Hawks’ New Plans for Iran Are Disastrous Killing the supreme leader and balkanizing the country are terrible ideas. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... As President Donald Trump has shown reluctance to engage in a risky large-scale bombing campaign against Iran, hawkish voices are advocating for alternative courses of action in an apparent bid to keep Washington on a confrontational footing with Tehran.
Trump Risks Stoking an ISIS Fire
Foreign Affairs Trump Risks Stoking an ISIS Fire A religious framing for strikes in Nigeria could encourage blowback. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... When drawing parallels between the foreign policies of George W. Bush and Donald Trump, the focus has understandably been on the former’s Iraq policy and the latter’s Venezuela policy, which has culminated (thus far) in the kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Israel kills 13 in strike on Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon
An Israeli air strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people on Tuesday, according to the health ministry. The attack targeted an area near a mosque and a football pitch in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp on the outskirts of the city of Sidon, which was packed with civilians. Local media reported that dozens were wounded in the strike. Ain al-Hilweh is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.
The Perils of an “Iran-Centric” Policy in Lebanon
Foreign Affairs The Perils of an “Iran-Centric” Policy in Lebanon There is much to lose in treating Lebanon as a clone of Syria. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Recent developments have made it abundantly clear that the Trump administration’s policy towards Lebanon is driven almost exclusively by an obsession to curtail Iran’s regional influence.
Lebanon to complain to UN over Israel wall-building in south
Lebanon's government is set to complain to the UN over allegations that Israel is building a wall in occupied territory in the south. On Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said the Israeli army had built walls in south Lebanon near the UN-demarcated Blue Line.
Israel's occupation and bombing of south Lebanon makes return home impossible
“Urgent warning to the residents of southern Lebanon. The Israeli army will soon strike Hezbollah’s military infrastructure throughout the south.” Such messages, posted on X by Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, have become a grim and familiar presence in southern Lebanon - prompts for families in border villages to flee their homes once again.
Why Trump must stop pushing Israel's agenda in Lebanon
An internal American policy debate seems to have emerged over Washington’s strategy towards Lebanon. In a recent interview, former US presidential adviser Amos Hochstein directed some not-so-veiled criticism at what he described as the Trump administration’s excessive emphasis on the disarmament of Hezbollah. “Let’s be realistic of what we can achieve,” Hochstein said.
Iran’s Hezbollah Support Could Snarl U.S. Diplomacy
Foreign Affairs Iran’s Hezbollah Support Could Snarl U.S. Diplomacy Regional partners’ hardline stance on the Lebanese group is endangering American negotiations with the Islamic Republic. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Recent developments draw attention to the “special relationship” that exists between Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
US envoy takes lighter touch with Hezbollah in Lebanon
Recent remarks by a senior U.S. diplomat suggest that Washington may be open to a more conciliatory approach to Hezbollah, the predominantly Shiite Lebanese movement that has been regarded by Washington as a terrorist proxy of Iran since it was blamed for the bombings of the U.S. Marine barracks and the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in 1983.
Regime Change in Iran Would Endanger America
Foreign Affairs Regime Change in Iran Would Endanger America Toppling Tehran would empower terror groups. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... The recent 12-day war between Iran and Israel—which ended after the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites—sparked hopes and fears of regime change in the Islamic Republic.
The Perils of Escalation with Iran
Foreign Affairs The Perils of Escalation with Iran President Trump seems poised to enter the war. That would be a serious mistake. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... The war between Iran and Israel shows no signs of abating, heightening fears about how the situation may unfold. Now, the world is waiting to see if President Donald Trump will intervene directly in the conflict. Chances are, he will—and will come to regret it later.
Neue Töne aus Beirut: Hisbollah-Führung setzt auf Stabilität mit USA
Die Hisbollah-Führung sendet überraschende Signale an die USA. Sie betont gemeinsame Interessen für Stabilität im Libanon – US-Geheimdienste stimmen ihr zu. Ein Gastbeitrag. Der Generalsekretär der libanesischen Hisbollah-Bewegung, Scheich Naim Qassem, hat kürzlich erklärt, die anhaltende Instabilität im Libanon diene nicht den Interessen der USA.
Hezbollah to US: It's not in your interest to support Israeli attacks
The Secretary-General of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, Sheikh Naim Qassem, recently asserted that continued instability in Lebanon does not serve U.S. interests. Qassem made the remarks following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs which Israel claimed had targeted a Hezbollah weapons depot. “Put pressure on America and make it understand that Lebanon cannot rise if the aggression doesn’t stop,” he said, addressing senior Lebanese state officials.
The Ugly Reality on the Ground in Syria
Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... The latest episode of violence in Syria has its roots in the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Assad dynasty, according to sources on the ground who spoke to The American Conservative. Their comments contradict the narrative that remnants of the former regime are responsible for the bloodshed.
How Hezbollah is navigating a new era
The Lebanese Hezbollah movement is facing unprecedentedly challenging times, having lost much of its senior leadership in its latest war with Israel. Events in neighboring Syria have further compounded the organizations losses.
How Turkey Is Pulling the Strings in Syria
Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... Turkey has taken complete charge of the situation in Syria following the downfall of former president Bashar al-Assad, per comments made from the ground to The American Conservative. While many of the disclosures should not necessarily be a cause of worry for the United States and its allies, some pertaining to ISIS do warrant concern.
What's Next for Trump On Israel?
Politics Trump: Not the Most Pro-Israel President After All? The 47th president appears to be playing a canny game to disengage the U.S. from the Middle East. Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player... President Donald Trump’s Middle East policy’s staunch pro-Israeli tilt in his first term earned him the reputation of being the most pro-Israel American president ever.
Washington's man in Lebanon?
Lebanon finally has a president after a vacancy that has persisted for over two years. The election of Lebanon’s army chief Joseph Aoun caps the rising role of the military following the ceasefire agreement reached between the country and Israel last November. Appointed as commander of the armed forces in 2017, the 61-year-old led the Lebanese military’s operations against ISIS and Al-Nusra in the border areas with Syria.
Turkey and Israel are reaping rewards from the chaos in Syria
The surprise offensive by Syrian rebels led by a radical Islamist group with roots in Al Qaeda dramatizes the enormous regional repercussions set off by Israel’s war against Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Ceasefire 101: Israel Fails at War Goals, Hezbollah Succeeds
By Ali Rizk / The Cradle Hezbollah has once again proven to be a handful for Israel, notwithstanding the heavy blows that were dealt to the resistance movement in the latest round of hostilities. A ceasefire deal that has come into effect after over two months of full-scale conflict on the Lebanese–Israeli front falls far short of what Israel had hoped to achieve in the earlier stages of this conflict when the momentum seemed to be on its side.
Trump’s Opportunity in Lebanon
Foreign Affairs Trump’s Opportunity in Lebanon The dealmaker-in-chief has a chance to make a new, stable Middle Eastern combination. As the United States’ President-elect Donald Trump gears up for his second term in office, there are indications that Lebanon may be a focal point of his Middle East policy. Trump has made more than one gesture to this effect, raising hopes that his return to the White House may end the suffering in the war-ravaged country.
Libanons politische Elite: Keine Verbündeten für US-Plan gegen Hisbollah
USA wollen Hisbollah schwächen. Doch Libanons Parteien zögern, sich gegen die Schiitenmiliz zu stellen. Ein Gastbeitrag. Die Biden-Administration hat angedeutet, dass sie die Eskalation der israelischen Kampagne an der libanesischen Front als goldene Gelegenheit betrachtet, die Rolle der Hisbollah im Libanon zu beschneiden.
Libanons politische Elite: Keine Verbündeten für US-Plan gegen Hisbollah
USA wollen Hisbollah schwächen. Doch Libanons Parteien zögern, sich gegen die Schiitenmiliz zu stellen. Ein Gastbeitrag. Die Biden-Administration hat angedeutet, dass sie die Eskalation der israelischen Kampagne an der libanesischen Front als goldene Gelegenheit betrachtet, die Rolle der Hisbollah im Libanon zu beschneiden.
Opposition parties so far not throwing Hezbollah under the bus
The Biden administration has indicated that it sees Israel’s escalated campaign on the Lebanese front as a golden opportunity to diminish Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon. But despite the unprecedented heavy blows Israel has inflicted on the party, including the assassination of its late leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on September 27, this task may prove more difficult than policy makers in Washington would like to admit.
Hezbollah: Down But Not Out
Foreign Affairs Hezbollah: Down But Not Out Despite the gap in its command-and-control structure, the group has been galvanized by Israeli operations. That Hezbollah was dealt an unprecedentedly painful blow with the assassination of its leader Hassan Nasrallah is not up for debate.
Resistance Axis: A Calculated, Simultaneous Strike On Israel
Above photo: The Cradle. A Hezbollah source tells The Cradle that Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen will launch simultaneous retaliatory strikes against Israel, intended to overwhelm the Iron Dome. Let’s wait and see. West Asia stands on a knife’s edge as the region’s Axis of Resistance prepares to retaliate against a series of recent Israeli assassinations and aggressions.
Is Israel Headed To All-Out War In Lebanon?
The U.S. is working to stave off what could be a major cross-border war and regional conflagration. By Ali Rizk, Responsible Statecraft A missile strike in the town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has led to the death of 12 civilians and could be the match that finally blows up the tensions between Hezbollah and Israel into a full-on war.
Has Israel considered a loss to Hezbollah?
Has Israel considered a loss to Hezbollah? By Ali Rizk | The Cradle | June 11, 2024 As the war in Gaza lags on, cross-border exchanges on the Lebanese–Israeli front have intensified. Fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli military has taken a heavy toll on both sides. The Lebanese resistance movement has lost over 300 fighters, with Israeli shelling resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of Lebanese residents of the country’s southern villages.
Hezbollah plays down Israel threat of full blown war
While the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and Israel have gradually escalated their cross-border attacks, the situation has been relatively under control, with a full-scale war being averted — so far. This delicate balancing act however may be facing its toughest test yet since the onset of the latest round of hostilities. Despite Israeli officials ratcheting up their rhetoric, Hezbollah officials maintain that major escalation remains unlikely.
Hezbollah leader ups ante after attack on Iranian consulate
During a speech in Beirut on Friday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that Iran will surely retaliate for last week’s attack, presumably by Israel, on its consulate in Damascus that led to the death of seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including senior Al-Quds commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi. In a televised address marking “Quds Day,” Nasrallah described the attack as a “turning point,” warning that any scenario was possible in its aftermath.
Is Hezbollah ready to deal with Israel?
Hezbollah has carried out what it described as its first act of retaliation against Israel following the assassination of senior Hamas official Saleh Al-Arouri in the Shiite movements stronghold of Dahieh in southern Beirut. The movement issued a statement saying it had launched a barrage of 62 rockets at an air surveillance base located at Mount Meron in Northern Israel.
How US, Hezbollah interests align amid Gaza war
The situation along the Lebanese-Israeli front continues to escalate as Hezbollah and the Israeli military intensify cross-border operations. Despite the escalation, the Lebanese Shiite movement’s strategy appears unchanged — to force Israel to divert substantial military forces from its Gaza offensive against Hamas without provoking a full-blown war with the Jewish state.
Gaza-Krieg: Israel, die USA und die roten Linien der Hisbollah
Washington unterstützt Israel, die Hamas auszulöschen. Es ist ein gefährliches Spiel, auch wenn keiner einen großen Krieg will. Wovor Quellen aus dem Libanon warnen. Die Lage an der libanesisch-israelischen Front eskaliert, da sich die Hisbollah und das israelische Militär täglich Gefechte liefern.
Gaza-Krieg: Israel, die USA und die roten Linien der Hisbollah
Washington unterstützt Israel, die Hamas auszulöschen. Es ist ein gefährliches Spiel, auch wenn keiner einen großen Krieg will. Wovor Quellen aus dem Libanon warnen. Die Lage an der libanesisch-israelischen Front eskaliert, da sich die Hisbollah und das israelische Militär täglich Gefechte liefern.
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