Middle East

Strategic steps are needed, first and foremost, to diversify sources of imports and reduce dependency on Ankara.

One can welcome the Lebanese government’s decision to task the Lebanese army with formulating a plan to disarm Hezbollah, but also assume – with a sober look – that the likelihood of this happening is slim.

Israeli strikes blunt Houthi threats in Yemen while Europe considers snapback sanctions on Tehran. This pressure could cripple Iran’s missile program and destabilize the regime.

Following Hezbollah’s weakening on Lebanon’s internal front, compounded by its defeat by Israel, the country is experiencing profound upheaval.

Any good policy approach must take into account Israel’s security, its diplomatic objectives and relationship with its Druze citizens.

The Jewish state owes a debt to the Druze and a moral duty to stop the massacres – yet it must not jeopardise a fragile opening to the regime.

The high-stakes diplomatic encounter comes as Trump seeks to capitalize on military victory against Iran’s nuclear program to accelerate Middle East peace processes, creating both extraordinary opportunities and complex challenges for Israel’s long-term security interests.

Without the leading figures who directed the war effort from Hamas’s side, the group will struggle to function effectively, though it will likely continue to resist a comprehensive hostage deal.

Within a few years, Iran could resume its nuclear ambitions – this time with a bolstered ballistic arsenal and possibly intercontinental capabilities, posing a direct threat to the United States.

Only the US — trusted by both sides — can broker an arrangement that secures their vital interests and outlines a shared future in Syria.