... unfortunately always be a source of bad news, but the great powers aren’t going to risk a broader conflict over it
The elaborate assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran will inevitably lead to another round of acute international tension in the Middle East. We do not yet know the exact nature of the retaliatory strike that the Iranian leadership has promised Israel. But it is likely to follow in the near future. This has many observers genuinely worried about the wider implications for the region ...
... perhaps other targets in the West. It is still unclear when Iran will launch its threatening assault against Israel, or what form those strikes would take.
Hamna Ghias Sheikh:
Shadows of Escalation: The Ripple Effects of Ismail Haniyeh's Assassination on Middle Eastern Stability
While Iran’s recent April 13 attack on Israel marked a significant escalation for the two nations—over 300 drones and a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles were launched—almost all incoming drones and missiles were ...
... reflecting a determination to dismantle a key pillar of the Palestinian resistance. As the geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly volatile, the assassination raises urgent questions about the path forward and the potential for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Andrey Kortunov:
When “Iron Swords” Return to Their Sheaths
This targeted killing of Haniyeh is part of a broader pattern of strategic actions aimed at weakening Hamas and undermining its influence. The assassination carries significant ...
... terrorism instead of occupation and counter occupation. The peace process, even unbalanced, had long been delayed due to these immense distortions.
Yang Xiaotong:
“Light of the World” No More. China and Russia Should Help Restore Multipolarity in the Middle East
For many years, the reasonable voice of the Global South, including China and other actors, has been either downplayed or not sufficiently regarded in the political solution of Palestine, though the US did intend to include China in its own ...
The Inevitability of Sino–Russian Cooperation in the Middle East
Hamas’ incursion into Israel last October inflicted casualties never seen before in Israeli history, prompting an Israeli response which indiscriminately targeted militants and civilians. Aside from reopening a 76-year-old wound, causing ...
... October 7 last year, there has been an unprecedented uptick of violence in the Palestinian–Israeli conflict zone. No solution to the fundamental problems related to the Palestinian–Israeli issue has been found yet, while the risks of escalation in the Middle East amid tensions on the Lebanese–Israeli border have mounted over the past few weeks.
How viable is a settlement of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict based on the “two states for two peoples” formula? How has the role of non-state actors ...
On June 27, 2024, HSE University hosted a research workshop “Political Dynamics in the Middle East: Clashes of Interests and Escalation Risks”
On June 27, 2024, HSE University hosted a research workshop “Political Dynamics in the Middle East: Clashes of Interests and Escalation Risks”. In the framework of the meeting, participants ...
Beijing is rather reluctant to get deeply involved in intra-regional politics in the Middle East, as this could provoke new tensions with the U.S.
The current escalation in the Middle East has been described by many as a test of influence for China. For example, the media repeatedly suggested that the United States asked China to put ...
... voiced by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi the day before, at the UN Security Council meeting initiated by China on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, and this is by no means the first of the steps Beijing took to solve some of the problems crippling the Middle East.
China is building its Middle East policy on the basis of peaceful coexistence, typical of its approach. While Beijing refrains from directly declaring its intention to replace the United States, a more “traditional” partner for many countries ...
... suffer. And, of course, the Americans are not so much tired of Kiev as they are tired of having to spread their resources, which are not unlimited, in different directions.
Yes, they are huge, but, I repeat, they are no longer unlimited. Today, the Middle East is strategically much more important than Ukraine.
You may notice that I am not even talking about the issue of China, which the Americans see as existential in terms of their role in world affairs. Will they continue to be number one or will ...
