The Levant Files

Σφοδρή επίθεση κατά του Υπουργού Εξωτερικών της Τουρκίας, Χακάν Φιντάν, εξαπέλυσε ο Ναμίκ Ταν, διακεκριμένος βουλευτής της αντιπολίτευσης και πρώην πρέσβης της Τουρκίας στην Ουάσιγκτον, κατηγορώντας τον ότι συμπεριφέρεται σαν να είναι Υπουργός Εξωτερικών της Συρίας και ακολουθεί μια εξωτερική πολιτική που καθοδηγείται από μια αντιφατική και ελαττωματική δημόσια εικόνα. Ο Ταν υποστηρίζει ότι ο Φιντάν αναθέτει «κατ' οίκον εργασίες» σε ένα συριακό κράτος που στην πραγματικότητα δεν υφίσταται, ενώ ταυτόχρονα υπονομεύει το διπλωματικό κύρος της Τουρκίας μέσα από μια σειρά λανθασμένων κινήσεων και αυτοπροβλητικών εμφανίσεων στα μέσα ενημέρωσης. Σε ένα άρθρο γνώμης με ιδιαίτερα αιχμηρή γλώσσα και τίτλο «Φαίνεται πως είναι το τέλος της εποχής Φιντάν, ενώ η Συρία βρίσκεται στην αρχή του δρόμου», που δημοσιεύθηκε στις 31 Αυγούστου, ο Ταν περιγράφει τον Τούρκο ΥΠΕΞ ως μια προσωπικότητα που δεν μπορεί να ανταπεξέλθει στις απαιτήσεις του ρόλου του. Η κριτική του, που προέρχεται από τον τουρκικό...

Namık Tan, a prominent opposition MP and former Turkish Ambassador to Washington, has launched a blistering attack on Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, accusing him of behaving like Syria's foreign minister and pursuing a foreign policy driven by a contradictory and flawed public persona. Tan argues that Fidan is assigning "homework" to a Syrian state that effectively does not exist, while simultaneously undermining Turkey's diplomatic standing through a series of missteps and self-aggrandizing media appearances. In a sharply worded opinion piece, Tan portrays the Foreign Minister as a figure who is out of his depth. The critique, sourced from the Turkish news outlet T24 , details what Tan sees as a disconnect between Fidan's harsh rhetoric and the reality on the ground in Syria. Tan asserts that Fidan's approach ignores the fundamental chaos in the neighboring country. "It is as if Fidan is not the Foreign Minister of Turkey, but of Syria, giving out assignm...

By Mustafa Ibrahim* * This article first appeared in the Palestinian newspaper Al Quds on 31 August 2025. Translated for its readers by The Levant Files. The brazen and outrageous behavior of the United States has reached a dangerous new level with its decision to revoke visas granted to officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization ahead of the UN General Assembly. This decision cannot be seen as a mere technical administrative measure; it is an assault on international law and the norms of relations between states. It violates the existing agreement between Washington and the United Nations, which obligates the host country to grant visas to delegations participating in the work of the international body. Such conduct once again raises a fundamental question: Is the United Nations still an independent international institution, or has it become a hostage to the whims of its host country? Suppose the organization's headquarters has become a tool...

A prominent Jordanian analyst has issued a stark warning that the country faces three "difficult years" ahead, arguing that navigating this period will require immense political calm, rationality, and a laser-like focus on protecting the kingdom's own borders, sovereignty, and interests. In a pointed column published on Sunday, August 31, commentator Hussein Al-Rawashdeh called for Jordan to "hold its political breath" and refrain from emotional or impulsive responses to regional turmoil. In his analysis for the Ad-Dustour newspaper, Al-Rawashdeh contends that the old "Arab system" no longer exists, leaving each nation to fend for itself. He argues that while diplomatic engagement is essential, Jordan has no interest in shouldering the historical and present-day burdens of the entire region alone. He cautions against loud calls for war that may emerge in public discourse, stating that while such a choice is respected if necessary, "reality has ot...

As the new Damascus leadership navigates internal strife and intense foreign scrutiny, a crisis-ridden Beirut finds a rare moment of autonomy. For a nation grappling with deep-seated internal divisions and crippling economic despair, Lebanon is finding a potential, if temporary, respite from external interference, not from its own strength, but from the profound preoccupation of its historically dominant neighbor. As Syria navigates a seismic political shift under its new transitional leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, its government is consumed by the challenge of internal survival and a complex web of foreign pressures. This intense focus inward is offering Lebanon a rare window of autonomy, a moment to breathe free from the decades-long shadow cast by Damascus. The core of this geopolitical shift is detailed in a recent analysis from the Lebanese Al Joumhouria . The piece argues that while al-Sharaa is attempting to present a reformed, democratic image to gain Western and Gulf support, he is ...

Welcome to the last episode of the first season of The Levant Files' Deep Dive Podcast Section, where we move beyond the headlines and into the heart of history.  What if the story of a nation wasn't just a collection of dates and dry facts, but a living, breathing narrative shaped by constant struggle, unimaginable loss, and an unbreakable spirit? Today, we embark on a journey into the tumultuous and profoundly moving history of modern Armenia. We're setting aside ancient chronicles to focus on the pivotal 20th and 21st centuries—a period that forged the nation's contemporary identity. This isn't a simple timeline; it's a story of survival against all odds. We will navigate from the tragic dawn of the Armenian Genocide, a foundational trauma that echoes to this day, through the complex decades of Soviet rule where national identity simmered just beneath the surface. We'll witness the fleeting, hard-won moments of independence, the devastating conflicts over...

World leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are gathering in the Chinese port city of Tianjin this weekend for the 25th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). For Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, the summit is a critical opportunity to rally support as Tehran faces the imminent return of punishing UN sanctions amid mounting Western pressure over its nuclear program. As reported by Al Monitor , the Islamic Republic is looking to the significant Eurasian bloc to signal that it is not isolated on the world stage. The summit's urgency is underscored by a move on Thursday by Britain, France, and Germany to trigger the UN Security Council's "snapback" mechanism. This step marks the beginning of a 30-day countdown to the likely reinstatement of international sanctions against Tehran. Iran's key partners swiftly condemned the European decision. Russia's foreign ministry denounced the action a...

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in cooperation with local security forces and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), have arrested 39 individuals suspected of being ISIS mercenaries in Hasaka city, northeastern Syria. The arrests came as part of a large-scale, ongoing security operation launched early Friday, aimed at dismantling ISIS sleeper cells and preventing planned attacks on detention centers, Hawar News Agency (HNA) reported. The joint security operation, involving the SDF, Internal Security Forces, and YPJ, commenced in the early morning hours across various neighborhoods in Hasaka, located in the Jazera Canton. Its primary objective was to target "sleeper cells affiliated with ISIS mercenaries who were preparing to carry out attacks against a detention center for mercenaries," according to earlier reports by HNA. In addition to the arrests, a quantity of weapons and ammunition was seized during the raids. Later on Friday, the SDF Media Center announced via Tele...

A significant and potentially game-changing plan is taking shape in the region as Egypt actively trains a Palestinian security force intended to manage the Gaza Strip after the conclusion of the ongoing war. The initiative, which aims to establish a well-armed force of up to 10,000 fighters, is stirring a storm of controversy, raising concerns in Israel and posing a direct challenge to the future existence of Hamas's rule in the devastated enclave. The details of this "mysterious" security force, which is being prepared for what is being called "the day after," are slowly coming to light. According to a report by the Arabic news outlet Rai al-Youm , the force is primarily composed of individuals from the Palestinian Authority's (PA) security apparatus in the West Bank, as well as figures aligned with the Fatah movement. The plan is creating significant uncertainty regarding its ultimate objectives, its chain of command, and whether it could realistically ser...

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has officially confirmed that his country is acting as a mediator in talks between Syria and Israel, with the aim of fostering peace and stability in the Middle East. In a significant parallel development, Aliyev also announced a major quadrilateral agreement to supply Syria with natural gas, positioning Azerbaijan as a key player in both the region's diplomatic and economic future. The confirmation of the mediation efforts, revealed by President Aliyev in a televised interview with Al Arabiya English, follows months of speculation. According to a report by The Syrian Observer, an initial meeting between Syrian and Israeli officials was hosted under Azerbaijani mediation in Baku. This foundational step was reportedly followed by two subsequent meetings in Paris, facilitated by the United States, which signaled a progression toward more direct negotiations. These diplomatic overtures are taking place against a backdrop of continued military frictio...

In a significant escalation of its measures against Israel, Turkey has announced the complete cessation of trade relations and the closure of its airspace to Israeli flights. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made the announcements during an emergency session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly convened to address the situation in Gaza. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) held an emergency session on Tuesday, at the initiative of its Speaker, Numan Kurtulmuş, to discuss the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. During the session, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan briefed lawmakers on the latest developments and announced a series of new, stringent measures being taken by Ankara. "We have completely cut our trade ties with Israel. We are not allowing Turkish ships to go to Israeli ports, and we are not allowing Israeli aircraft to enter our airspace," Fidan stated. The Turkish Foreign Minister accused the Netanyahu government of "state terrorism" and o...

The push for a federal solution in Syria appears to be widening. After Kurdish-led authorities and their allies in the northeast and Druze activists in Sweida championed decentralization, figures from Syria’s Alawite community are preparing to unveil a political project that embraces federalism, according to reliable sources cited by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). SOHR reports that an impending announcement will establish a formation called the “Political Council for Central and West Syria” (PCCWS). The initiative, led by Alawite community figures, seeks to create a federal political entity defined by legal and geographical criteria encompassing Latakia and Tartus provinces and parts of Homs and Hama. According to SOHR, the PCCWS aims to present a civil and secular model grounded in justice, citizenship, and respect for human rights, while explicitly committing to the principles of federalism and the rights of all components of Syrian society, irrespective of ...

Amid historical geopolitical developments and changes, the United States is consolidating its military posture in Iraq toward Iraqi Kurdistan and northeastern Syria (Rojava, Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES)-controlled areas). According to the Turkish outlet T24 , U.S. forces have begun relocating from bases in Baghdad and Anbar to the Kurdistan Region, with Erbil International Airport designated as a logistics hub for coalition operations. The outlet and other regional sources report that elements from Ayn al-Asad Air Base have already shifted into northeastern Syria as part of a phased drawdown and repositioning. The U.S.–Iraq understanding foresees coalition combat operations concluding by September 2025, with hundreds of American personnel departing by then and remaining units leaving by the end of 2026. A U.S. official has emphasized that the process is not a complete exit but a restructuring—reducing troop numbers and recasting missions toward advising and...

Israeli troops carried out an airborne landing on a former Iranian-controlled air defense site on the southern outskirts of Damascus early Thursday, operating within roughly 15 kilometers of an event attended by Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, according to Syrian military sources and state media. The raid near Kiswa, southwest of the capital, followed a wave of strikes on nearby military facilities, the sources said. A Syrian military source told the international media that four helicopters inserted Israeli soldiers who rappelled onto a military post near Kiswa. Dozens of troops carrying search equipment combed the area for more than two hours before withdrawing. There were no immediate reports of direct clashes between the Israeli force and Syrian units during the landing, the source added. The landing came after state-run Al Ekhbariya TV cited two Syrian army sources as saying Israel struck a former army barracks in the Kiswa area. Shams TV, a Syrian outlet, reported a non-final e...

As the latest Iran–Israel confrontation underscores the primacy of airpower—and particularly air and missile defense—Ankara is moving quickly to harden its own shield. Turkish officials this week unveiled major deliveries under the country's multi-layer "Steel Dome" architecture and opened new production capacity aimed at accelerating serial output of critical systems. According to a detailed report by TRT Haber , Turkey combined three landmark steps into a single day, coupling a large package of operational deliveries for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) with a significant expansion of industrial infrastructure. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking at the ceremony, stated that the Steel Dome components would elevate Turkey "into a different class in air defense." The deliveries—valued at roughly $460 million and comprising 47 vehicles—include one SİPER long-range air defense system with 10 associated vehicles and three HİSAR-O medium-range batteries with 21 c...

On Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had killed 13 alleged militants and arrested several others during coordinated raids across Sistan and Baluchestan, a volatile southeastern province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. The operations, carried out in Iranshahr, Khash, and Saravan with intelligence and internal security units, followed a deadly ambush last Friday that left five police officers dead in Iranshahr. The Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for that attack on Telegram. Several Turkish security-related sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Levant Files, called the timing of the new clashes "suspicious" and warned that the uptick in operations inside Iran could be a prelude to broader turmoil. "There are credible indications of fresh attacks and special security operations from inside Iran, especially in highly sensitive areas like Sistan and Baluchestan," one source said. ...

Almost a decade after the financial collapse that brought it to its knees, Greece continues to grapple with the deep scars left on its essential public services. A recent tragedy on the popular tourist island of Aegina has become a grim symbol of this ongoing struggle, highlighting critical deficiencies in the national health system. The preventable death of a 79-year-old woman, who was left without ambulance service at a crucial moment, has ignited a firestorm of public anger and exposed the perilous state of healthcare in a country still recovering from years of austerity. The incident, first brought to national attention by the investigative news outlet TVXS , underscores a systemic failure. According to the related report, the 79-year-old woman was pulled unconscious from the sea at Agia Marina beach. A lifeguard and a doctor on the scene successfully administered first aid and revived her. However, their efforts were tragically undermined as calls for an ambulance went unanswered ...

  In a dramatic escalation of Swedish/Suwayda's standoff with Damascus, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri has called for the establishment of a separate autonomous region and appealed for international backing, even thanking the United States and Israel for support. The appeal came as a new, al-Hijri–blessed military umbrella, the "National Guard," announced it had absorbed key local militias, most notably the influential Men of Dignity Movement. Enab Baladi reported the developments, stating that the Guard, formed on August 23, now comprises around 40 armed factions, and characterized al-Hijri's push as the most straightforward public call yet from Suwayda's leadership for separation from Syria. In a video circulated by local media, including al-Rasid, Men of Dignity's new leader, Mazid Khaddaj (Abu Diab), pledged loyalty to the Guard and to a "Supreme Legal Committee" set up by al-Hijri. His endorsement marked a watershed for the Druze...

Turkey may be poised to abandon a years-long policy of cautious "appeasement" in Syria and adopt a more explicit deterrent posture in response to Israel's expanding footprint there, according to a new analysis that frames Syria as the latest arena of strategic competition between Ankara and Tel Aviv. The assessment comes as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan steps up engagement with Damascus, including a recent meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, and as Ankara recalibrates its approach to Kurdish forces and the regional security architecture. According to Murat Yesiltas, director of security studies at the SETA Foundation in Ankara, Turkey's initial post-Assad strategy—defined by "regional ownership," restrained military activity, and low-visibility diplomacy—helped preserve leverage but no longer delivers results amid Israel's more aggressive moves and the Kurdish People's Protection Units' (YPG) evolving calculations. Accor...

A Israeli security analyst is sounding the alarm that while Israel stands on the brink of historic security pacts with Syria and Lebanon, a new and more formidable danger is emerging in the form of a radical Sunni axis led by Turkey and Qatar. This assessment argues that this new alignment threatens to replace Iran as the principal challenge to regional stability, casting a long shadow over unprecedented diplomatic breakthroughs in the north. According to a recent analysis by Yoav Limor for The Jerusalem Post , the dramatic reshaping of the Middle East has created both opportunity and peril. The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and a devastating military blow to Hezbollah in Lebanon have severely diminished Iranian influence, paving the way for American-led mediation. The report details how President Donald Trump's envoy, Tom Barrack, has been shuttling between Jerusalem, Beirut, and Damascus to broker understandings that seemed impossible just months ago. These developments a...

A tense and uneasy quiet hangs over Iran, two months after a fragile ceasefire ended a devastating 12-day war with Israel. While missiles no longer streak across the sky, a series of mysterious explosions, crippling economic pressures, and warlike rhetoric from officials have left the nation on a knife-edge, fearing that a simmering conflict could boil over at any moment. The "total uncertainty" described by citizens is palpable, as they grapple with the dual burdens of a potential new war and a domestic crisis of soaring inflation and failing infrastructure. The precarious situation follows a brutal conflict that, according to a recent report in Le Monde , has never truly come to an end. From June 13 to June 24, Israeli strikes—joined by the United States on the final day—pummeled Iranian targets, killing over 1,000 people. Iranian officials have warned that the ceasefire is merely a "temporary suspension of fighting," with Yahya Rahim Safavi, an adviser to the Sup...

Australia has expelled the Iranian ambassador and suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran after accusing the Islamic Republic of masterminding major antisemitic arson attacks on its soil. In a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the government will also move to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, calling the attacks "extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression" intended to sow discord. Citing a report from the Jerusalem Post, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) confirmed it had gathered intelligence linking the IRGC to at least two incidents: the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne on December 6, 2024, and an arson attack on a kosher kitchen in Sydney last October. ASIO officials revealed that the IRGC utilized a complex network of proxies, including elements of organized crime, to execute the attacks while concealing its direct involvement. Fore...

The Levant Files once more unequivocally condemns the relentless and targeted killing of journalists in Gaza. This is not collateral damage; it is the systematic erasure of witnesses to a catastrophic conflict. Independent of its political view and affiliations, every press vest is a target, every camera a threat to a narrative that cannot withstand scrutiny. The death toll for Palestinian journalists since October 7, 2023, has now reached a horrific 192, a figure that represents an unprecedented assault on press freedom and the world's right to know. The latest atrocity, detailed by The Guardian, exemplifies this brutal campaign. An Israeli strike on al-Nasser hospital in southern Gaza claimed the lives of at least twenty people, including four more journalists: Hussam al-Masri of Reuters, Mariam Abu Dagga of the Associated Press, Mohammed Salam of Al Jazeera, and Moaz Abu Taha of NBC. The report chillingly describes how a second bomb struck the same spot after journalists and res...

The leader of Greece's opposition PASOK-KINAL party, Nikos Androulakis, has formally called on the Hellenic Parliament to convene a special session to reaffirm and act upon a 2015 resolution that urges the government to officially recognize the state of Palestine. The move intensifies domestic political pressure on the Greek government to adopt a firmer stance on the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. According to a report by the Greek opposition newspaper Efimerida ton Syntakton , Androulakis submitted a detailed letter to the President of the Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, on Monday morning. The letter requests an urgent debate to update the unanimous resolution passed on December 22, 2015. That historic resolution called for Greece to recognize Palestinian statehood and for the government to undertake all possible diplomatic efforts to restart direct peace negotiations. Androulakis's new initiative aims to translate that nine-year-old parliamentary will into concr...

A coalition of Western powers, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, is reportedly poised this week to "write" new justifications for another Israeli strike on Iran, pushing the Middle East perilously close to a new, devastating conflict. As these nations threaten Tehran with activating the so-called "snapback" mechanism to reimpose crippling UN sanctions, Iran is moving its own pieces on the chessboard, making overt preparations for war in a high-stakes test of global alliances and military readiness. This alarming escalation, according to analysis by Akdoğan Özkan for the T24 news outlet, places the region on a razor's edge. The primary flashpoint is a critical briefing scheduled this week in Washington, where officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are set to update the US administration on the state of Iran's nuclear program. Following the devastating "12-Day War," which saw Israeli and American...