Dario Sabaghi

Freelance journalist interested in international news and cannabis.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The New Arab •

What the fall of Assad means for Iran's regional influence

A coalition of Syrian rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched an unprecedented 12-day offensive that on 8 December put an end to Bashar Al-Assad’s 24-year rule in Syria. Launched on 27 November, the ‘Deterrence of Aggression’ operation rapidly seized significant portions of northern and southern Syria, facing little to no resistance from the Syrian army. Rebels took control of strategic highways, military assets, and key cities such as Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, and Homs, ultimately...
The New Arab •

Will Lebanon's army be able to uphold the ceasefire with Israel?

Since the early hours of 27 November, when the US-brokered ceasefire ended one of the fiercest wars between Israel and Hezbollah in decades, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) began to move troops to southern Lebanon. The ceasefire is the result of months-long indirect negotiations that ended a 13-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah linked to Israel's war in Gaza following Hamas's attack on 7 October 2023. In Lebanon, Israel killed nearly 4,000 people, injured almost 16,000, displaced ove...
The New Arab •

Will the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu stop Israel's wars?

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza has deepened Israel’s global isolation. While criticised by Tel Aviv and its allies, including the United States, the ICC’s decision could pave the way for further investigations into war crimes and fuel diplomatic tensions that could shape the outcome of Israel’s wars in Gaza...
The New Arab •

What Trump's 'Israel first' cabinet means for the Middle East

US President-elect Donald J. Trump announced his cabinet nominees last week ahead of the 20 January inauguration following his November election victory. Across roles like secretary of state, Middle East envoy, secretary of defence, US ambassador to Israel, and United Nations ambassador, Trump signalled a resolutely pro-Israel position. Marco Rubio, nominated for secretary of state, has long been a staunch Israel supporter, even attacking Trump in 2016 as ‘anti-Israeli’ for his stance on peace...
dw.com •

War in Lebanon: Aid groups struggle to offer food, shelter – DW – 11/11/2024

Israel's bombing and ground invasion of Lebanon have displaced over a million people. Lebanese relief organizations are struggling to make ends meet and provide for the growing numbers of those in need.In a small kitchen in al-Fawar — a village near Sidon, about 40 kilometers (24 miles) south of Beirut, Lebanon — a dozen women of all ages are cooking rice and chicken in large, gas-fueled pots. Among them, and overseeing every detail to ensure everything runs smoothly, is 42-year-old Zainab Jumaa...
The New Arab •

What could lame duck Biden still do in the Middle East?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first world leaders to congratulate Donald J. Trump before he was officially declared the winner of the 2024 US presidential election. In a post on X, Netanyahu hailed Trump's "huge victory" as "history's greatest comeback," sharing a photo of himself, his wife Sara, and Trump at Mar-a-Lago in July. Netanyahu's congratulations to Trump were echoed by other members of his far-right coalition, including newly appointed Defence Minister Isra...
The New Arab •

Inside Israel's campaign to undermine the United Nations

Israel officially notified the United Nations on Monday of its decision to cut ties with the agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after adopting two bills last week banning its operations. The new legislation will take effect in 90 days and the UN has warned of devastating consequences for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where it is the largest aid provider amid famine-threshold levels of malnutrition. Experts interviewed by The New Arab say that Israel’s ban on UNRWA is a political act...
The New Arab •

What military options does Hezbollah still have against Israel?

After Israel announced the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on 17 October, Hezbollah said it was entering a new phase in its fight against Israeli forces. How Hezbollah's new escalatory phase will unfold, however, remains to be seen, especially after facing heavy setbacks since Israel's war on Lebanon was launched. In mid-September, a series of Israeli attacks broke the tacit rules of engagement established since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began following Hamas' 7 Octo...
The New Arab •

The role of Lebanon's army as Israel wages war on Hezbollah

On 3 October, Israeli military forces struck a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) post in Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, killing one soldier, as Israel pushed ahead with a ground invasion of the country. During the incident, and for the first time since hostilities began in October 2023, Lebanese soldiers returned fire at Israeli forces. That same day, another Lebanese soldier lost his life in separate Israeli strikes in the region. These Israeli attacks on Lebanon's army were not an isolated incide...
The New Arab •

After Nasrallah's killing, what will Israel do next in Lebanon?

Grief and anguish filled Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahiyeh after Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday. Screaming in sorrow, some collapsed to their knees as despair and rage swept over them, with spontaneous rallies erupting in Beirut and across the region renewing allegiance to the veteran leader. A day earlier, Israel announced it had killed Nasrallah using 85 US-produced ‘bunker-buster’ bombs designed to target underground facilities in an attack that...
dw.com •

Israel-Hezbollah conflict deepens Lebanon's economic crisis – DW – 09/27/2024

The escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is contributing to Lebanon's economic instability. People in the crisis-ridden country are struggling to survive.In his small currency exchange shop in Beirut, 86-year-old Farouk Khoury is watching the news on television, showing the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel spreading across Lebanon. No customers ring the bell to exchange money. "Today, I have money to exchange, tomorrow, I don't know. Maybe tomorrow we close," Kouri t...
CannIntelligence •

Italian amendment reintroduced that could leave CBD, hemp sector in ruins | CannIntelligence

The proposed and withdrawn amendment to ban CBD products in Italy has reappeared as part of a bill aimed at enhancing public safety and combating crime. The government amendment 13.06 to hemp law 242/2016 would require hemp cultivation in the country to clearly be intended for industrial purposes only. The proposed and withdrawn amendment to ban CBD products in Italy has reappeared as part of a bill aimed at enhancing public safety and combating crime. The government amendment 13.06 to hemp la...
The New Arab •

Biden's legacy of failure in the Middle East

In a letter published on X on 21 July, US President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to contend for the White House with former president Donald Trump in November's election. Biden's announcement shook up the presidential race and came after increasing pressure from within the Democratic Party, and among members, that he should step down after a poor performance in the 27 June debate against Trump in which his mental capability to serve was call...
The new Arab •

Is Israel gearing up for war with Hezbollah?

Rockets fired by Hezbollah at northern Israel last week caused days of wildfires that burned over 2,500 acres of land, raising fears of an all-out war amid fresh calls for a military escalation from Israeli officials. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that he is prepared to take "very strong action" to restore security along the border, while Israel’s northern army commander said the military is ready for war. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National S
The new Arab •

How Raisi's death will test the unity of Iran's hardliners

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, 63, died in a helicopter crash in the north-western province of East Azerbaijan province on 19 May, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and six others. To demonstrate the Islamic Republic of Iran's ability to handle any crisis, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning and appointed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim president, with the country expected to hold early presidential elections on 28 June. How
The new Arab •

Will the EU strike a new anti-migration deal with Lebanon?

A rising number of Syrian migrants leaving Lebanon for Cyprus in recent months has prompted Nicosia to demand that the European Union (EU) intervene to halt the influx. Senior EU officials have suggested that Brussels could strike a deal with Beirut similar to recent anti-migration pacts signed with Egypt and Tunisia, which have been criticised by human rights groups. The Cypriot government has recorded more than 2,000 Syrian refugees arriving from Lebanon by sea in the first three months of 2
The new Arab •

Will famine in Gaza force an end to Israel's war?

The looming famine long warned about in Gaza as a result of Israel's war increasingly appears to be materialising. A report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released last week warned of imminent famine in North Gaza, with severe food crises expected to spread throughout the strip by mid-March to May. About 210,000 people in northern Gaza face catastrophic conditions, categorised as IPC Phase 5, the most severe level. Overall, this phase could affect up to 1.1 milli
The new Arab •

Biden-Netanyahu rift: Are US-Israel ties at breaking point?

Last week's visit by Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to Washington hit a nerve in the relationship between the US administration and Israel’s government, underscoring a personal dimension of the diplomatic tensions between the two countries amid the Gaza war. Gantz, former chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and defence minister, and now part of the war cabinet after Hamas's October attack, travelled to Washington for a meeting with several US officials, includin
The new Arab •

Could Marwan Barghouti be the key to a ceasefire in Gaza?

Whenever Hamas and Israel negotiate on prisoner exchanges, the name of Marwan Barghouti, a prominent Fatah leader labelled Palestine’s Nelson Mandela, is at the top of the list. In 2011, his name was put forward to be part of an exchange deal that saw over 1,000 Palestinians freed for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but Israel refused to release him. It was in this deal that now Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar was released from an Israeli jail. In current ceasefire negotiations, Hamas has onc
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