The Levant Files

  In a formal diplomatic move, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has sent an urgent letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, the Security Council President, and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), emphasizing the need for special measures to protect Iran's nuclear facilities and materials.  The letter, dated May 23, 2025, addresses explicitly what Iran describes as 'repeated threats' by Israel to attack Iran's peaceful nuclear installations. Araghchi referenced a CNN report from May 20, which allegedly cited American officials claiming Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities and infrastructure. 'Iran's peaceful nuclear program has been and continues to be under extensive supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency. None of the Agency's reports indicate any deviation in this program,' Araghchi stated in the letter. The Iranian Foreign Minister cited multiple IAEA General Con...

According to Efimerida ton Syntakton , six organizations representing the families of victims have expressed satisfaction over the criminal prosecution of 17 Greek Coast Guard officers for their alleged roles in the deadly Pylos shipwreck that claimed at least 82 lives in June 2023. The Piraeus Naval Court Prosecutor's Office has filed felony charges against multiple officers, including former Coast Guard Chief George Alexandrakis and Lieutenant Commander Miltiadis Zouridakis, who captained patrol vessel 920 that approached the migrant boat before it capsized. The captain faces charges of causing a shipwreck resulting in multiple deaths, dangerous interference with maritime traffic, and failure to assist a vessel commander. "Nearly two years after the Pylos shipwreck, the criminal prosecution and referral to main investigation for felonies of 17 Coast Guard members, including senior leadership officers, represents an essential and self-evident development in the pursuit of jus...

  According to Al Quds ' columnist Mustafa Ibrahim , civilians in Gaza continue to face an escalating humanitarian catastrophe as military operations intensify across the territory. The publication reports that residents are "waiting for their fate" amid relentless bombardment and forced displacement. The Israeli military has expanded its "Chariots of Gideon" operation, which Palestinian officials and humanitarian organizations claim is systematically emptying northern and eastern Gaza of its civilian population. Military officials have publicly stated that "concentrating and transferring people" southward is a central objective of the operation, not merely a byproduct. Reports indicate that at least 17 of 119 humanitarian aid trucks were recently diverted or stolen before reaching their intended destinations, with 30 trucks originally designated for Gaza City and northern areas. This disruption comes at a critical time when food, medicine, and clean w...

We express our deep sadness regarding the latest news from the Gaza Strip, received from international sources. In the shadow of the truly alarming information that has reached the Levant File in recent days, we are not in a place to cover the latest developments in Palestine with the detached objectivity we usually strive for. The weight of what is unfolding is too immense. The latest information paints a devastating picture, one of widespread and acute starvation affecting the whole Gaza Strip. Most tragically, it is the innocent, the children, who are bearing the brunt of this catastrophe. Their small bodies and futures are eroded by hunger that no child should endure. The photograph accompanying this comment, shared by The Independent in the last hours, offers a stark, visceral glimpse into this daunting situation. It is a window into a reality that words struggle to convey adequately—a child's gaze haunted by deprivation. We must also state, with unwavering conviction, that th...

A few months after the Baath regime's collapse, Syria remains on the front pages of the international media. A few hours ago, the United States issued a stark warning about the looming threat of a full-scale civil war in the country. Meanwhile, Turkey has taken a contrasting approach, sending high-level delegations to Damascus to engage directly with the Syrian government. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has painted a grim picture of Syria's future, warning that the nation could be "weeks" away from collapse and fragmentation. Speaking at a Senate hearing, Rubio stated, "We assess that, frankly, the transitional authority, given the challenges they're facing, are maybe weeks — not many months — away from potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions, basically the country splitting up." His assessment came days after meeting with what he described as the country's "transitional leaders" – figures distinct from the curr...

According to a report by the Jerusalem Post , citing CNN, new intelligence obtained by the United States suggests that Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. The revelation, based on information from multiple US officials, underscores mounting concerns over Iran's nuclear program and the volatile regional landscape. While Israeli leaders have not yet made a final decision, significant internal disagreement reportedly exists within the US government regarding the ultimate likelihood of such an Israeli strike. CNN notes that any unilateral Israeli action would constitute "a brazen break with President Donald Trump" and carries the severe risk of triggering a broader regional conflict. The scope and timing of any potential strike are said to be heavily influenced by Jerusalem's assessment of ongoing US-Iran nuclear negotiations. One source cited by CNN indicated that the "chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility has gone up signi...

A nascent opposition front among Turkish Cypriots, recently galvanized by protests against Turkey's conservative influence and the introduction of headscarves in schools, is reportedly collapsing under the weight of internal ideological disagreements over the nature of modern Turkish Cypriot identity. This schism, particularly within left-leaning circles, threatens to dismantle a unified voice against perceived pressures from Ankara. The main issue in dispute centers on the concept of "Cypriotness." One faction argues for an interpretation that closely aligns with the rhetoric of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC). They view all residents of northern Cyprus with Anatolian origins as illegal inhabitants, claiming that they came to the island following the Turkish military invasion and occupation in 1974. In contrast, another segment of the left holds an opposing view, arguing that individuals of Turkish origin who settled in the north after 1974 have become an integral part of t...

According to a report by Israeli news outlet Maariv , U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly losing patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is actively working to end the war in Gaza, a stance seemingly at odds with the Israeli government's objectives. This development follows Netanyahu's decision to renew humanitarian aid to Gaza amid international pressure and Trump's recent visit to Gulf states. During his Gulf tour, regional leaders urged an end to the fighting. After Gulf nations reportedly committed hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S., Trump pledged to assist the "hungry" people in Gaza. Netanyahu's cabinet had renewed aid citing allied concerns over "pictures of mass hunger," though the UN deemed the aid a "drop in the ocean" after a near three-month halt. Sources familiar with discussions suggest President Trump is "concerned about the plight of the Palestinians" and has grown impatient with ...

Growing concerns are surfacing within Cyprus, particularly among the Turkish Cypriot community, over the Republic of Cyprus's determined push to join the Schengen Zone, with fears that such a move could precipitate a "new crisis" by severely restricting movement and deepening existing divisions on the island. Turkish Cypriot researcher and activist Mertkan Hamit recently highlighted these anxieties, pointing to President Nikos Christodoulides's ambition to see Cyprus join the border-free area, potentially coinciding with its EU Presidency in 2026. In a detailed social media post, Hamit warned that while discussions in the northern part of Cyprus often revolve around issues like the construction sector, property rights, foreign capital flows, and citizenship for children from mixed marriages, the broader "status quo is rapidly transforming" without significant Turkish Cypriot influence or preparedness for new risks. Hamit's primary concern is how Schengen...

In an increasingly fragmented global order, Turkey is aggressively pursuing a path of ‘strategic autonomy,’ seeking to leverage its position as a middle power by engaging multiple global actors and expanding its influence beyond traditional Western alliances. However, this transactional foreign policy, while yielding some regional successes, carries significant overlooked costs, according to a recent analysis in Foreign Affairs. The article, “ Turkey’s Middle-Power Dilemma: The Overlooked Costs of a Transactional Foreign Policy ,” published by Mustafa Kutlay, warns that such an approach risks straining partnerships, overstretching resources, and diluting economic priorities. ​Kutlay, a Senior Lecturer at City, St George’s, University of London, highlights Turkey’s assertive role in conflicts from the South Caucasus to the Middle East. Its Syria policy exemplifies this: Ankara’s long-term opposition to Bashar al-Assad eventually saw its influence rise following the regime’s collapse in ...