I Like / I Dislike Week 09 [20241123-20241129]

Every Monday, the CERESE publishes the assessment of the previous week’s news by the Research Trainees:

I like the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. After 14 months of conflict, Israel and Hezbollah agreed on a ceasefire brokered by the US and France. According to the 60-day deal, Israel will withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah will move its fighters and weapons to the north of the Litani River, while the Lebanese army will control the south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of retaliation if Hezbollah violates the agreement. The agreement aims to weaken Hezbollah, impacting Iran’s influence and isolating Hamas. US officials hope that the ceasefire will lead to progress in the Gaza peace talks, which have stalled for months.

I dislike the flare-up of the Syrian civil war. New clashes between Bashar al-Assad’s forces and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in north-western Aleppo are adding to the already fragile situation in Syria. The area near the border with Turkey has been the scene of intense clashes, once again disturbing the balance that had been achieved with great difficulty. The resurgence of violence at a time when the Middle East is facing serious geopolitical challenges is extremely negative. The risk of escalation threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, increase instability in the region, and undermine any efforts to achieve peace and reconstruction in Syria. The involvement of powerful players such as Turkey and Russia makes the situation even more complex, with Syria’s northern front remaining a point of geopolitical tension that requires immediate attention from the international community.

The aforementioned opinions are those of their respective authors and they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Institute of International Relations or its Researchers.