The Levant Files

A new podcast discussion hosted by the prominent Greek opposition newspaper Efimerida ton Sintakton (Efsyn) highlighted significant skepticism and disagreement within Greek media circles regarding the European Union's accelerating shift towards increased militarization and talks of a "war economy." Analyzing recent statements by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and broader European trends, the commentators expressed deep concern that this new direction prioritizes defense spending at the expense of crucial social needs and genuine security, reflecting a viewpoint critical of the bloc's current trajectory often voiced within Greek discourse. The Efsyn podcast delved into the implications of proposals for a dedicated EU Defence Commissioner and substantial increases in military budgets across member states, potentially reaching hundreds of billions of euros through mechanisms like joint procurement and dedicated funds. The commentators questioned the narrat...

The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the newly appointed government announced by the Damascus authority, stating the move undermines efforts towards a comprehensive political solution in Syria, according to the Hawar News Agency . In a statement, the SDC criticized the formation, which it had hoped would represent a step towards broader participation and an end to Syrians' suffering. The Council argued that the new government fails to reflect Syria's diverse political and social components, instead being dominated by unilateral, ideological leanings despite the inclusion of some technocratic figures. The SDC specifically highlighted the significant lack of genuine representation for women, who constitute a substantial segment of Syrian society and have endured immense hardship, displacement, violence, and political marginalization throughout the conflict years. The Council asserted that forming a government dominated by a single entity c...

A tumultuous day unfolded in Israeli politics following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's surprise appointment of former Navy chief Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), only for the decision to be engulfed in immediate controversy and internal backlash, according to a report and analysis by Ben Caspit in Walla News . The chaotic events suggest Sharvit's tenure, if it proceeds, could be historically short, overshadowed by internal power struggles within the Prime Minister's office and the looming Qatargate investigation. The day began with an official announcement naming Sharvit, a decorated officer, as the successor to current Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar. Initially, pro-Netanyahu commentators lauded the choice. However, the mood soured rapidly as reports surfaced confirming Sharvit had previously attended anti-government protests on Kaplan Street, had written critically about former US President Trump's climate policies, and had suppo...

A volatile new front appears to be opening in the complex Syrian theatre, pitting two regional heavyweights, Israel and Turkey, against each other on a potential collision course. Recent reports from Israeli, Turkish, and international media outlets highlight growing alarm in Jerusalem over Ankara's expanding military footprint and political maneuvering in post-Assad Syria, prompting concerns about Israeli preemptive actions and escalating rhetoric that threatens to ignite a confrontation. According to multiple Israeli and foreign sources, Turkey is significantly increasing its military presence in Syria. This includes reports of Ankara negotiating "secret deals" with the new Syrian administration to establish permanent military bases. Critically, some of these potential bases are allegedly situated much closer to Israel's northern border, notably the Golan Heights, than previous Turkish positions. This perceived encroachment into an area Israel considers vital to its...

Syria's interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced a new transitional government on March 29, 2025. This government will replace the caretaker administration that has managed daily affairs since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow on December 8 . Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which spearheaded the rebellion ending the 14-year civil war, stated his commitment to building a stable state. According to the freeing reports, the newly formed cabinet primarily comprises Sharaa's close allies, indicating a consolidation of power. Key figures such as Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani and Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra retained their posts. Anas Khattab, the former intelligence chief, was appointed Interior Minister. In appointments aimed at broader representation, veteran opposition figure Hind Kabawat, a member of Syria's Christian minority, was named Social Affairs and Labor Minister, marking the first female appointment by Sharaa. Raed al-Saleh, head...

According to a report from Al-Sharq Al-Awsat , significant discontent exists among Syrian Kurds regarding their exclusion from consultations for the new transitional government in Damascus. The Kurdish National Council (KNC), a major coalition of Kurdish parties, confirmed it wasn't consulted on the government's formation and will boycott its inauguration despite receiving an invitation. KNC spokesman Faisal Youssef stated their priority is achieving constitutional guarantees for Kurdish rights, representing Syria's second-largest nationality, not just ceremonial participation. Critics, including Zaid Sfok of the Independent Kurdistan Movement, argue the government, formed unilaterally under President Ahmed Al-Shara, lacks legitimacy and cannot manage Syria's recovery. Concerns persist that the new constitutional declaration, granting Al-Shara extensive powers for the five-year transition, might replicate authoritarianism despite mentioning power separation. While an ag...

A Historical Clash Demonstrating How Turkish Cypriot Society Repeats Turkey's Fierce Ideological Battles and Mistakes of the Recent Past Just months before crucial presidential elections, the Turkish Cypriot community is vividly reenacting ideological dramas that played out in Turkey over previous decades, centering on the sensitive issue of secularism. A recent attempt to amend school disciplinary regulations, widely interpreted as paving the way for headscarves in secondary education, sparked a fierce political and social battle. This conflict pits segments of society often aligned with Turkey's conservative ruling elites against secular Turkish Cypriots, supported by unions and leftist political parties defending Kemalist principles and demanding reduced intervention from Ankara. The intense divisions and reactions laid bare by this controversy highlight a recurring pattern. This historical clash demonstrates that, with a time delay, Turkish Cypriot society repeats Turkey...

Recent internal instability within Turkey is emerging as a critical factor intensifying complexities across the Middle East, with significant potential consequences for Syria's power dynamics and Lebanon's already precarious situation, according to an analysis by Johnny Mounayer published on March 27 in Al Joumhouria . Mounayer's assessment stresses that Turkey's crucial role as a perceived sponsor of the new Syrian administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa makes its domestic troubles a significant variable. This instability could potentially open doors for rivals like Iran and add layers to existing regional tensions involving Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and major world powers. The broader context includes delicate Syrian-Lebanese relations, highlighted by Damascus's sudden postponement and relocation to Saudi Arabia of a defense ministers' meeting. While ostensibly linked to Syrian government formation, Mounayer suggests Damascus seeks Saudi guarantees for an...

Iran has responded to a letter from former US President Donald Trump, characterized as both "smart and dignified," according to the Iranian newspaper Hamsahri , citing Fars News Agency. The reply blends firm warnings against potential US military action with a conditional openness to specific negotiations while setting clear red lines on other key issues. Hamsahri reports that Iran's message included an official warning that any potential military strike against the Islamic Republic would be met with reciprocal action targeting US bases and interests throughout the region.   Tehran reportedly made clear that its missile and drone capabilities are non-negotiable and declared any dialogue on these matters "impossible." Regarding its regional activities and influence, Iran allegedly referred the US to negotiate directly with allied groups, emphasizing their operational independence. However, on the nuclear front, the response signaled a readiness for indirect negot...

Iran continues to pose a significant threat to US interests and regional stability through its military capabilities, support for proxy groups, and expanding nuclear program. Still, according to the latest annual assessment from the US Intelligence Community (IC) , it faces serious internal and external challenges testing its ambitions. The analysis comes from the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA), released in March 2025 by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The report, which represents the collective insights of the US intelligence agencies and uses information available as of March 18, details the most pressing global threats to US national security over the next year. Alongside challenges from prominent state actors like China and Russia and non-state threats like terrorist groups and drug cartels, the report dedicates significant attention to Iran's multifaceted activities. The assessment states that Tehran will try to leverage its robust missile capa...

Του Νίκου Στέλγια Πολλοί είναι αυτοί που αναρωτιούνται για την τροπή των εξελίξεων στην Τουρκία. Συγκεκριμένα, στην Ελλάδα, την Κύπρο και την Ευρώπη ξεχωρίζουν δύο σχολές σκέψης. Μετά τη φυλάκιση του Δημάρχου της Κωνσταντινούπολης, Εκρέμ Ιμάμογλου, μια σχολή προβάλλει την άποψη ότι ο «πανίσχυρος» Ρετζέπ Ταγίπ Ερντογάν ελέγχει την κατάσταση. Σύμφωνα με τους οπαδούς αυτής της οπτικής γωνίας, οι κινητοποιήσεις της αντιπολίτευσης δεν πρόκειται να φέρουν το αναμενόμενο αποτέλεσμα και ο Πρόεδρος της Τουρκίας, σε συνεργασία με το εθνικιστικό κίνημα, θα διαιωνίσει την εξουσία του. Οι υποστηρικτές αυτής της άποψης αναφέρονται στην Υπόθεση Γκεζί και σε πολιτικούς αναβρασμούς προηγούμενων περιόδων, σημειώνοντας ότι στο τέλος της ημέρας ο Ερντογάν κατάφερε να αναδειχθεί «νικητής» από αυτές τις δοκιμασίες. Μια άλλη σχολή σκέψης προβάλλει αντίθετη άποψη. Από τη δική της οπτική γωνία, τις τελευταίες δέκα ημέρες η Τουρκία έχει γυρίσει σελίδα και πλέον οδεύει προς αλλαγή καθεστώτος. Υπό την πίεση της α...

According to a detailed report by  Enab Baladi , an anti-Baath newspaper, Syria's newly formed caretaker government faces a critical 90-day period fraught with immense economic, security, and political challenges. Tasked with steering the nation after the dramatic fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the interim administration, led by Mohammed al-Bashir under the guidance of Military Operations Administration leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, must navigate a landscape marked by decades of authoritarian rule and devastating conflict. The countdown began following the opposition factions' swift "Deterrence of Aggression" operation in late November, culminating in Assad's departure on December 8. Al-Sharaa, a dominant figure in the transition, outlined a three-phase plan: establishing the current interim government (until March 1, 2025), convening a national conference to address constitutional matters and form an advisory council, and eventually holding elections – a complex...

The Arab League must undergo change on a scale not seen in eighty years or face demise. by Salah Nasrawi  On 22 March 1945, the Arab League was founded in Cairo by seven Arab states in the wake of a resurgence of Arab nationalism as a political ideology that asserts that the Arabs constitute a single nation. It was the dawn of what is now the Arab regional order anchored around pan-Arabism and connectivity. More importantly, the organisation was also established in response to the threat posed by attempts to create a Jewish state in the heart of the Arab world and to promote the Palestinian cause in the resulting conflict. Today, the order that was in place at the time of the founding of the League is in decline, perhaps terminally, and it needs recasting in the shape of a new Middle East, one which offers a grim reminder of how flawed the previous order was over the last 80 years as the region was racked by wars, turmoil, destruction, and displacement. Moreover, the Arabs have rem...

  Recent government actions, particularly those targeting Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, signify a dangerous erosion of legitimacy that extends far beyond partisan politics, impacting rights, justice, democracy, and the economy for all citizens, argues analyst Ümit Kardaş in an article for  ArtiGercek  titled "Meşruiyet'in Kaybı" (Loss of Legitimacy), published March 28, 2025. Kardaş contends that the ruling power, embodied increasingly in a single figure, has pushed past acceptable boundaries, raising fundamental questions about its right to govern. Kardaş points to two recent pivotal moves against İmamoğlu as evidence of the government's overstepping. The first was the highly unusual cancellation of İmamoğlu's university diploma by Istanbul University, 31 years after it was issued, alongside those of 27 others. Kardaş dismisses this as political maneuvering, describing it as an act of "naked violence" to eliminate a rival. He argues that if administrat...

Recent political developments in Turkey have sparked many reactions, ranging from concern to outright disbelief. However, the Turkish public, known for their resilience and sharp wit, have also responded with a healthy dose of humor and satire, using internet memes and online jokes to grapple with the News. Dancing protesters gathered in front of the special police branch during the massive protests in Istanbul, showcasing the creativity of Turkish citizens. Another unforgettable moment was when one individual  chose to propose  to his partner amidst the chaos of the protests. One example of the humorous response from Turkish citizens is a viral image from the well-known satirical site Zaytung. The image claims, "Breaking News! The Ministry of Interior has announced that the Riot Police in Saraçhane will use air freshener to intervene in student demonstrations because they have run out of pepper spray." This absurd statement mocks the government's approach to protests and...

Former Cypriot diplomat criticizes current foreign policy direction and warns of global uncertainties affecting Cyprus Erato Kozakou-Markoullis, Cyprus' former Foreign Minister with extensive diplomatic experience, including two terms at the Ministry and service as Cyprus' Ambassador to the USA, has expressed deep concern about what she describes as an "immense and unbridgeable gap" between the two sides following the informal Geneva conference on the Cyprus issue. In an exclusive interview with The Levant Files published on March 26, 2025, Markoullis offered a critical assessment of the Christodoulides government's foreign policy, particularly regarding relations with Israel and the United States, while warning about the unpredictable consequences for Cyprus stemming from global uncertainties under the new Trump administration. Assessment of the Geneva Informal Conference Markoullis expressed frustration that after eight years of deadlock in negotiations and an u...