Tag Archives: Shia

War across the borders – one sectarian war in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon

Posted on February 16, 2014 by jonathanspyer

 A version of this article appeared in the February 2014 issue of Tower magazine: A single sectarian war is currently under way across the Middle East.  This war has a number of fronts, some more intense and active than others.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bahrain, Hezbollah and the Sunni-Shia arc of conflict

Posted on November 9, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 9/11/12. Bahrain this week accused the Lebanese Hezbollah group of responsibility for a series of bombings in the Bahraini capital Manama. The five bomb blasts, in the Adliya and Gudaybiya districts of the city came amid renewed protests … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Silence Speaks Volumes

Posted on August 20, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 17/8. Lebanon’s former information minister, Michel Samaha, who is closely linked to the embattled regime of Bashar Assad in Syria, was arrested in Lebanon last week. Samaha has since confessed to involvement in the transfer of explosives from … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Collateral Damage

Posted on August 4, 2012 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post, 4/8. Brigadier-General Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of the Iranian armed forces, told a reporter this week that Iran would ‘not allow the enemy to advance’ in Syria. He said that no need had yet arisen for direct Iranian … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Hizballah backs Assad – and pays the price

Posted on January 20, 2012 by jonathanspyer

In early January, 2011, Hizballah and its allies took up the reins of government in Lebanon, having ensured the collapse of the coalition led by March 14 leader and then Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri. Hizballah needed a coalition which it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Afghanistan Shows Iran’s Stake in Regional Insecurity

Posted on April 5, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post- 04/05/2009 A month ago, US President Barack Obama announced a new strategy to address the current crisis in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Obama’s plan to ‘disrupt, dismantle and defeat’ al-Qaida and the Taliban in ‘Afpak’ includes deployment of an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Analysis: US believes Syria is overplaying its Hand in Iraq

Posted on March 21, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post- 17/09/2009 The scheduled meeting Thursday of the Syrian and Iraqi foreign ministers is unlikely to lead to a swift resolution of the simmering feud between the two countries. The government of Iraq is furious at the mounting evidence … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Analysis: Ahmadinejad to issue Warning in Lebanon

Posted on March 20, 2011 by jonathanspyer

Jerusalem Post- 13/10/2010 Preparations are complete for the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lebanon. Iranian flags and portraits of the distinguished visitor have been placed along the road from Rafik Hariri International Airport to Beirut. A soccer stadium … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment