MenuOn Sunday March 7, Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked an Aramco oil facility in Ras Tanura, a major port on Saudi Arabia’s Persian Gulf Coast. Brigadier General. Yahya Sarea, a spokesman for the rebel group, said in a televised statement that ballistic missiles and drones hit the oil facility and one of its largest refineries, along with military
Category Archives: Middle East
Iran Accused Of Eco-Terrorism As Oil Spill Washes Up On Israeli Beaches
The Israeli government is accusing Iran of environmental terrorism over the historic oil disaster unfolding along its Mediterranean coast line. At this point, nearly 100 tons of tar and contaminated material have been scraped off the country’s shores since cleanup efforts began on the 21st of February. In the ensuing investigation the original culprit has since been identified by authorities
Mystery Israeli Oil Spill Leads To Multimillion Dollar Clean-Up
A massive oil spill off the coast of Israel is being called the worst ecological disasters in the Mediterranean country’s history. The cause and full extent of the damage is still unknown, but Israeli authorities are investigating. Several tankers are under suspicion. Continued
The Qatar—Saudi Agreement at First Glance: Everybody Wins
Middle East watchers have long expected the Qatari-Saudi normalization agreement, as Washington wanted its allies to reconcile, even as Doha stonewalled the attempts by Ar-Ryyyadh to accept the Thirteen Demands the coalition of four Arab states presented the gas-rich emirate in 2017. Then, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain demanded that Qatar curb diplomatic relations
America’s Global Retreat and the Ensuing Strategic Vacuum
Shortly after President Donald Trump ordered a U.S. retreat from Syria and Afghanistan in October 2019, events in the region drew U.S. forces right back in. The administration’s decision to target Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, triggered tit-for-tat retaliation between Washington and Tehran at the opening
Libya Set For Strong Comeback To Global Oil Markets
Libya could soon return to the world oil market in a big way, if the agreement between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) in the East of the country is maintained. Continued
Israel’s Leviathan Energy Prize: Where Will The Gas Go?
Israel is finally emerging as a natural gas player in the Mediterranean. In the last week of January, the Israeli Navy conducted a complex drill simulating attacks on the country’s offshore oil and gas infrastructure. The exercise included coordinated operations between dozens of naval vessels and aircraft, and even incorporated a live-fire missile test against
TRUMP’S SYRIA WITHDRAWAL: GLOBAL ORDER IS COSTLY. GLOBAL CHAOS WOULD BE FAR WORSE | OPINION
President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria resonates beyond the Middle East, where key American allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others are raising questions about Washington’s reliability. America’s credibility is on the line, worldwide—even as National Security Advisory John Bolton appears to walk the decision back and condition it
The Saudis have ‘painted’ themselves into a corner: Expert
Ariel Cohen of the Atlantic Council says Saudi Arabia “shot themselves in the head” regarding the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Continued
Will China Replace The U.S. As The Middle East Hegemon?
The U.S. is assembling its allies in Warsaw this week to coordinate Middle East policy– but with limited success. EU policy chief Federica Mogherini, joined by China, Russia, France, Germany, Turkey, and Qatar are boycotting the gathering, opting to adopt a more diplomatic, business-focused, and ‘less confrontational’ track with the Islamic Republic. Continued