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Syria will struggle more than Iraq with reconstruction

Location:

IRAQ/SYRIA

Iraq and Syria -- neighbours with many economic, political and social connections -- have both been subject to years of destructive armed conflict. They are now looking to…

Lebanese Shia will rely on Hezbollah parallel economy

Location:

LEBANON

This promptly followed reports of a large explosion at a Hezbollah-linked fuel depot on a smuggling route across the Lebanon-Syria border, possibly targeted by Israeli planes.

China’s COVID-19 aid may boost Mideast role, US clash

Location:

MIDDLE EAST

This came during a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, who was seeking to negotiate a 25-year strategic partnership and move forward with collaboration on a…

State role will entrench Syrian-Lebanese drugs trade

Location:

SYRIA/LEBANON

Key to the new pattern is the increased association of state and state-linked actors with the trade in narcotics, primarily Captagon and hashish. The new environment creates risks…

Saudi escalation threatens Lebanon's stability

Location:

LEBANON

The Saudi government confirmed last week that it had stopped all military aid to Lebanon, including previously agreed deals aimed at equipping the LAF in its fight to secure the…

Lebanese politics signals shift away from sectarianism

Location:

LEBANON

Shifting voting patterns in Lebanon.

Prospects for the Levant in 2021

Location:

PROSPECTS 2021

However, in 2021 they will all face two common challenges: recovering from major economic shocks in 2020 and reorienting to US policy shifts under a Biden presidency. From…

Crisis will further weaken Lebanon’s legal system

Location:

LEBANON

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who has backed Salameh, on January 12 denied accusations that he had interfered with the judiciary in his case. Mikati is also struggling to break a…

Lebanon’s local port blast investigation will stall

Location:

LEBANON

However, the HRC stopped short of establishing an international probe -- a key demand of Lebanese protesters who complain the local process is stalled. They reject in particular…

Political groups will exploit Lebanon’s water failures

Location:

LEBANON

Water pollution has long been a problem in the area, linked to poor sewage, farming practices and rubbish disposal. Despite abundant water resources from the mountains, state…