By Ioanna Theou Tom Barrack, who is the US Ambassador in Turkey, said on January 20, 2026 that the role of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as the ‘’primary anti-ISIS force on the ground’’ in northeastern Syria has ‘’largely expired’’. This…
A possible return of Bashar al-Assad in Syria?
By Ioanna Theou The al-Jazeera investigation program has found over 74 hours of leaked audio records, involving senior military officers from the ousted Bashar al- Assad regime. The main topic of this discussion was the plans and efforts to destabilize Syria,…
The rebranding of Ahmad al- Sharaa
By Ioanna Theou The new leader of Syria was previously a member of a terrorist organization. Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, a new figure emerged to assume power in Syria. According to Western narratives, this former…
New Alawite protests in Syria
By Ioanna Theou On December 28, 2025, Alawite Syrians protested in central and coastal parts of Syria after a call by Ghazal Ghazal, an Alawite leader living outside the country. Ghazal Ghazal warned and urged the Alawite population about the killings…
Contemporary Turkey and the Kurdish Issue
By Ioanna Theou The Kurdish people is a distinct ethnic group native to the Middle East and have aspired to self-determination for a long time. After World I, the victorious powers of the Entente (Great Britain, France, US) initially promoted the…
Turkey Boosts Military Activity at the Syrian Border
By Ioanna Theou According to the Iran Press and to Turkish media, there are Turkish military convoys that have entered northern Syria and are advancing toward the city of Manbij, using multiple routes through Afrin, Ras al Ain (Kobani) and northern…
Wishful thinking in strategy
By Manolis Skoulikas The new U.S. strategy regarding Asia foresees economic competition with China and military deterrence against it. Concerning America’s competitive capability, the following is stated verbatim: “America retains tremendous assets—the world’s strongest economy and military, world-beating innovation, unrivaled “soft…
The Present and Future of Syria
By Ioanna Theou The Assad regime collapsed in a sudden way, yet Bashar al-Assad managed to escape with his family to Moscow. With the fall of the Assad regime, the question of Syria’s future remains unsolved. The new regime has gained…
The Misak-I Milli, Davutoglu’s Strategic Doctrine and the risks for regional stability
By Ioanna Theou Turkey’s foreign policy cannot be fully understood without considering the historical and ideological frameworks that continue to shape its strategic thinking. Two of the most influential concepts are the Missak- i Milli (National Oath) and Ahmet Davutoglu’s ‘’Strategic…
The importance of Hannibal Gaddafi’s release from Lebanese Prison
By Ioanna Theou Hannibal Gaddafi, the youngest son of Muammar Gaddafi -who was tragically killed with the Arab Spring events-, was released from detention in Lebanon in November. He stayed in prison almost ten years without even having a trial. Lebanese…