Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • J.B. Pritzker from his election campaign Facebook Page at UFCW union endorsement.
    Pritzker interview with Arab American newspapers American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022  Activism
  • rab American Democratic Club hosts a gathering of elected officials and journalists looking at the recent elections, celebrating Ramadan and Arab American Heritage month (April.)
    Arab American Heritage Month, Ramadan feted by Journalists and elected officials American Arabs
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promised to ensure that Arabs and Muslims will be included in his administration during a visit he made to celebrate the Eid Al Adha with Chicagoland's Muslim community.
    Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims Activism
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American American Arabs
  • The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq
    New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs Arab World
  • Winter in Bekaa Lebanon January 2015 Photo courtesy of NRC Lebanon. January 7, 2015 in Bekaa valley Lebanon. Heavy snowfall in Lebanon January 7, 2015. Yesterday staff from NRC Lebanon’s Bekaa office were working with refugees to put in place flood mitigation measures in advance of the forecast harsh storm which hit overnight. Field teams distributed 1,205 plywood sheets and 885 bricks as floor-raising kits for tents in two settlements in the town of Sarain, and 250 wooden pallets to ensure a clear pathway in five settlements in the town at risk of flooding. Niamh Murnaghan, NRC’s Country Director in Lebanon said, “This morning residents of these informal settlements awoke to a knee-deep blanket of snow. With roads impassable in Bekaa, our staff have not been able to reach refugee settlements, but refugees have sent photos of themselves clearing the snow from their tents.” Photo credit: NRC Lebanon/Syrian refugees in Lebanon. January 7, 2015 in Bekaa valley Lebanon. Heavy snowfall in Lebanon January 7, 2015. Yesterday staff from NRC Lebanon’s Bekaa office were working with refugees to put in place flood mitigation measures in advance of the forecast harsh storm which hit overnight. Field teams distributed 1,205 plywood sheets and 885 bricks as floor-raising kits for tents in two settlements in the town of Sarain, and 250 wooden pallets to ensure a clear pathway in five settlements in the town at risk of flooding. Niamh Murnaghan, NRC’s Country Director in Lebanon said, “This morning residents of these informal settlements awoke to a knee-deep blanket of snow. With roads impassable in Bekaa, our staff have not been able to reach refugee settlements, but refugees have sent photos of themselves clearing the snow from their tents.” Photo credit: NRC Lebanon/Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
    AHRC Observes World Refugee Day American Arabs
  • Endorsements: Democrats in the Illinois June 28, 2022 Primary election Activism
  • The Arab Daily News candidate endorsements: Cook County, Illinois American Arabs
  • Endorsements: Republicans in the Illinois Republican Primary Election June 28, 2022 Election
  • Joseph Gutman was appointed by Gov. Pritzker to serve as a Member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Gutman was a Partner at BDT & Company from 2017 until retiring in January 2020 where he remains a consultant today.
    Gov Pritzker makes more appointments to state commissions, boards but no Arabs American Arabs
  • World Jewish Congress Chairman Ronald S. Lauder
    WJC President Ronald S. Lauder Receives France’s Top Distinction  Activism
  • Project DYNAMO rescues more than 600 people from Mariupol, Ukraine over the last week Major Mariupol rescue operation conducted by Project DYNAMO, more than 480 people from Mariupol as city under violent siege falling to Russian forces. 
    Project DYNAMO rescues more than 600 people from Mariupol, Ukraine over the last week Human Rights
  • US Congressman Sean Casten, 6th District, Illinois
    Congressman Sean Casten joins Ray Hanania Radio Show American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs

Watch for growing Israeli-Iranian & hezbollah tension in Syria

Posted on January 21, 2015June 12, 2019 By rayhanania No Comments on Watch for growing Israeli-Iranian & hezbollah tension in Syria
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

By Ali Rizk

Hezbollah photo
Photo by Zingaro. I am a gipsy too.

In August 2013 Israeli defense minister Moshe Yaalon said the following to visiting US joint chief of staff Martin Dempsey:

“We must also be prepared for a long conflict and instability in Syria. We cannot let the Tehran-Damascus-Beirut axis of evil to win this fight”.

Over a year has passed since then, and it seems like Yaalons worse fears are coming true. It is against this backdrop that one should view the latest Israeli airstrike in the Golan Heights targeting Hezbollah members and a general in the Iranian revolutionary guards.

The comments made by Hezbollah’s secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during his interview with the pan Arab Al-Mayadeen television, and the Israeli comments which lent credibility to his statements, revealed that the “axis of evil” Yaalon had referred to, has indeed come out on top in Syria. Sayyed Hassan spoke about Hezbollah possessing all kinds of weapons the enemy “could and could not imagine”, warning Israel at the same time that the movement would launch an offensive on Israeli turf in any future war which could reach “beyond the Galilee”. Coinciding with these remarks, outgoing head of Israeli military intelligence Itai Brun predicted that “next time we will see Hezbollah forces on Israeli soil” and that Hezbollah planned to launch 1000 missiles at the Israeli home front during this “next time”.

Another major point made by the Hezbollah chief which has not received much attention was his revelation of having information that the US administration has abandoned its precondition of Assad stepping down in order for a political solution to be reached. This point also appears to be reinforced by the course of American military action in Syria, which has been limited to targeting (albeit limited targeting) of Takfiri militants without any strikes on Syrian government targets.

Therefore after almost four years since the beginning of the Syrian crisis it does indeed appear that the “Tehran- Damascus- Beirut axis” is on its way to securing victory in Syria. Not only has Hezbollah not been weakened, but it has greatly enhanced its offensive capabilities as a result of its participation in the fight in Syria. “The fall of Assad” scenario, which Israel had been hoping for from the beginning has not taken place. Not just that, but Iran and Hezbollah now command much more influence in Syria, which is directly the opposite of what Israel had hoped for. A new “front” against Israel – the Golan Heights- was also declared open for business by president Bashar Assad in May 2013.

Indeed many have said that the Israeli strike targeted important military personnel who had a prominent planning role on the Golan Heights front. (Contrary to what many have said, the presence of Hezbollah fighters in this location does not contradict what Sayyed Hassan said in his interview with Al-Mayadeen about no Hezbollah presence- as he was referring to presence as a fighting force and not as an advisory role.)

But at the same time the strike could be the beginning of a new Israeli escalatory strategy in Syria after a failure of the previous Israeli strategy. Israel had previously launched attacks on Syria, but the latest was more of an assassination operation by military means. Recall also that Israel was the first to accuse Assad of using chemical weapons in April 2013,(outgoing head of Israeli military intelligence Itai Brun) after president Obama had declared such a development as “a game changer”.

The pro-Israeli lobby AIPAC, strongly lobbied Congress to authorize military action against Syria after Obama referred the matter to congress following the chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta in August 2013, (the attack now appears to have been conducted by the armed opposition), but these lobbying efforts were unsuccessful. It is important to point out here to the recent article published by the pro-Israeli der-Spiegel magazine (the same Magazine that broke the alleged story of Hezbollah assassinating former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri) regarding Syria building a secret nuclear facility near the Lebanese border area. This issue went largely unnoticed in the West, much to the chagrin of Israel.

Hence Israel is clearly changing and escalating its strategy visa vi the “Tehran- Damasucs- Beirut axis” in Syria, as the strategy of limited airstrikes and pressuring Western powers has proven its futility. Israel cannot afford for this axis to achieve victory in Syria and can therefore not afford a political solution that keeps Assad in power, which is something many are now saying is the only acceptable option. But the question is will Israel’s escalated strategy be any more successful than its earlier strategy?

One thing is for sure: the battle will intensify in Syria and particularly on the Golan Heights front between the “Tehran Beirut Damascus axis” and Israel.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Weaponizing Anti-Semitism as a tool to protect Israel’s war crimes - July 27, 2022
  • Time to ditch the spoils system, our elected officials need to be more inclusive - July 26, 2022
  • AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022  - July 21, 2022

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Israel, Palestine & Jordan, Spotlight, Syria Tags:Al-Qaeda, Bashar al-Assad, BBC, Golan Heights, Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Israeli terrorism, Mossad, Quneitra, Syria, Syrian civil war

Post navigation

Previous Post: The Death of Reason: American bias when it comes to Justice
Next Post: Egypt Human Rights group condemns government crackdowns

Related Posts

  • Israeli soldiers and settlers attack Palestinians in Khirbet al-Mufaqarah, on Sept. 28, 2021 captured by B'Tselem video. The attacks were intentionally distorted by Israeli TV to blame the Palestinians
    Weaponizing Anti-Semitism as a tool to protect Israel’s war crimes American Arabs
  • Mansaf (mensiff) -- lamb, rice, toasted Syrian pita bread and jameed sauce -- popular as a holiday dish and the national dish of Jordan. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Mansaf, one of the most important Arab recipes Arab World
  • Born in N.Y.C. in 1954, Eileen Fleming was an apolitical privileged American before the events of 11 September 2001. That day we call 911 was the catalyst that led to eight investigative journeys to Israel Palestine and the realization of her childhood dream of becoming a reporter, which is documented in "Beyond Nuclear: Mordechai Vanunu's FREEDOM of SPEECH Trial and My Life as a Muckraker 2005-2010." In 2012, Eileen ran for US HOUSE of Representatives and in 2013, became Senior Non-Arab Correspondent for USA's The Arab Daily News/TADN. In 2015, Eileen became the Health Reporter for TADN.
    POTUS Trump Colludes in Israel’s Nuclear Deceptions and What The New Yorker Missed Arab World
  • Lady Gaga courtesy of Wikipedia
    Lady Gaga causes ruckus, again, over Super Bowl song American Arabs
  • Iran flag. Photo courtesy fo Pixabay.com. pixabay.com/fr/photos/iran/
    Middle East Analyst: Solution to Iran Issue is Israel-Palestine Arab World
  • Trump’s Jerusalem proclamation backfires. Arab World

More Related Articles

Lifta Palestine. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia The fate of Lifta portends the future of Ramallah and Bethlehem and more Bloggers
Mordechai Vanunu: Cases of Libel and Extortion Security and Press Arab World
Life for Relief Thanksgiving food for the needy program. Photo courtesy of Life for Relief, Detroit Life for Relief distributes meals for Thanksgiving American Arabs
The Christian community in Jerusalem celebrates the century old traditions in honor of the Holy Mother of God. Thousand crowded the entrance to the Church of her Empty Tomb lighting candles all the way down descending the stairs into the crypt. This magnificent church was built in the 5th century and destroyed in the 7th century by Chosroes the Persian. Only the crypt of the church was preserved and the Crusaders erected the existing building over the crypt. Photo Courtesy of Maria Khoury Media ignores Christian, Muslim rights in UNESCO assault Arab World
Reviving the Culture of Hamra Street in Lebanon Arab World
War on Terror is the dumbest idea ever floated Arab World

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Israeli soldiers and settlers attack Palestinians in Khirbet al-Mufaqarah, on Sept. 28, 2021 captured by B'Tselem video. The attacks were intentionally distorted by Israeli TV to blame the Palestinians
    Weaponizing Anti-Semitism as a tool to protect Israel’s war crimes
    July 27, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    Time to ditch the spoils system, our elected officials need to be more inclusive
    July 26, 2022
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Nearly four years in office, Pritzker fails to deliver on promises to Arab Americans
    June 12, 2022
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • NEWS
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC “Spirit of Humanity” Awards & Dinner Gala, New Date:  Friday, October 21, 2022 
    July 21, 2022
  • Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promised to ensure that Arabs and Muslims will be included in his administration during a visit he made to celebrate the Eid Al Adha with Chicagoland's Muslim community.
    Chicago Mayoral candidate Dr. Willie Wilson promises to support Arabs and Muslims
    July 16, 2022
  • Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Pritzker makes more appointments, none are Arab American
    July 11, 2022
  • The American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (American FRRME) helping Christians in Iraq
    New report on Christians in Iraq shows desperate situation and needs
    June 20, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme