Servant of the World: The Heavy Mantle Facing the Next Pope
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 24/04 21:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Pope Francis Banks Europe Middle East
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a conclave is set to convene in early May to elect his successor as the leader of the Catholic Church. The 267th pope will face formidable challenges in continuing the mission of this 2,000-year-old institution and spreading the message of Jesus. This responsibility is particularly daunting in a ...
HTS: From a Jihadist Group to a Military Power
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 18/04 13:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Damascus Gulf Israel HTS Al Nusra
Over the years, Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has built a substantial military arsenal and established a force that is both professional and cohesive – an accomplishment that posed a significant challenge when the group was formed in 2017, following the merger of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly al-Nusra) with five other jihadist ...
HTS: Repression Driving the Protests
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 10/04 16:15 - Reading : 8 minute(s)
Starting in February 2024, a wave of protests has swept through the cities of Idlib, Binnish and Sarmada, quickly spreading across much of Syria's northwestern province. The demonstrations are a direct response to the repressive governance of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), compounded by worsening economic conditions and a collapse in basic ...
HTS: The Syrian Salvation Government and the Formation of a Proto-State
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 09/04 13:05 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Damascus Hezbollah Turkey idlib HTS
Before gaining control of significant parts of Syria following a swift assault on Bashar al-Assad’s forces, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had spent several years establishing a proto-state model in the region of Idlib. This experiment in governance mirrored the group’s ideological transformation over time. The Takeover of the Idlib ...
HTS: From a War Economy to a Fully-Functioning State
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 09/04 12:50 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
After seizing control of most of the Idlib region, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) evolved from a mere Islamist group into a de facto governing authority responsible for millions of civilians. It was thus forced to rebuild an economy ravaged by years of war while also shifting the sources of its internal funding. Following Jabhat al-Nusra’s split ...
Nuclear: Trump and the Iranian Dilemma
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 02/04 16:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Tehran Nuclear Iran US
Since his return to power, US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its nuclear program. In March, he sent a letter to Tehran urging it to negotiate a new nuclear agreement and issued a two-month ultimatum. Then, in an interview with NBC on Sunday, Trump threatened the Iranians, stating that “if they do ...
Humanitarian Crisis: The Yemeni Population Overlooked by the International Community
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 11/03 11:04 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
After more than a decade of conflict, Yemen is mired in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Malnutrition, epidemics and water shortages persist, with nearly half of the population facing “food insecurity,” according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and 80% relying on humanitarian aid to survive. The situation ...
Houthis: What Military Power?
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 06/03 18:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Since Hamas’s attack on October 7, the Houthis have carried out multiple operations in the Red Sea against Israeli and Western ships and have also launched missiles and drones into Israel. This is a way for them to show support for the people of Gaza, but it has also raised fears of a regional escalation of the conflict. Culture of ...
The Houthis, an Iranian Proxy Unlike Any Other
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 06/03 18:20 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Often described as a group subservient to Iran, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi movement is, in fact, quite different. Although they share a common affiliation with Shiism, the Houthis (officially known as “Ansar Allah”) adhere to Zaydi Islam, unlike the Iranian Shiites who follow the Twelver doctrine. However, the ties between both ...
French-Iranian Relations: Between Rifts and Distrust 2/2
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 2024-11-13 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Building on long-standing cultural ties, France and Iran have maintained a difficult relationship following the rise of the Islamic Republic and the Iran-Iraq War. However, the issue of nuclear weapons will deepen the rift between the two countries. Second Rift: The Issue of Iran's Nuclear Program In the early 2000s, Iran was suspected of ...
French-Iranian Relations: Between Rifts and Distrust 1/2
Marie de La Roche Saint-André 2024-11-12 12:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Europe Gulf Middle East Tehran United States US Congress
Though geographically distant, France and Iran have shared ties since the Middle Ages. Yet, their relationship has been marked by repeated ruptures, driven by a complex interplay of influence and rivalry in the Middle East and on the international stage. This first section delves into the historical ties between France and Iran, highlighting the ...