Normalizing #Assad; cntn’d…

#Syria & #Saudi_Arabia have agreed to reopen their embassies after cutting diplomatic ties more than a decade ago; a step that would mark a leap forward in Damascus's return to the Arab fold.” reuters.com/world/middle-e…
“The decision was the result of talks in #Saudi_Arabia with a senior #Syrian intelligence official.
A Gulf diplomat said a high-ranking Syrian intelligence official "stayed for days" in Riyadh & agreement was struck to reopen embassies "very soon".”
“One regional source identified the official as #Hussam_Louqa, who heads #Syria's #intelligence committee; talks included security on Syria's border w #Jordan & the smuggling of captagon to the Arab #Gulf, from Syria.”
PS:
Concurrently,other Arab sources reported a few days ago that the high-ranking #Syrian security figure who traveled to #Saudi_Arabia for the same goal is none other that #Maher_Assad (Notably,widely considered as the main overseer of the Captagon trail originating from Syria).

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More from @jobahout

Mar 25
@IMFNews⁩’ ArtIV mission to #Lebanon concluded w this stark statement (in a presser no Lebanese official attended).

A last wake-up call before ultimate act of homicide this country’s mafiacracy is committing vs its people in order to save its a*s.. imf.org/en/News/Articl…
«#Lebanon is at a dangerous crossroads, & w/out rapid reforms will be mired in a never-ending crisis. A continuation of the status quo & additional delays in implementing reforms will keep the economy depressed, with irreversible consequences for the whole country.»
«W/out acknowledging & credibly addressing the large financial gap in the banking sector,banks will not be able to provide meaningful credit to support the economy,small depositors will continue to incur large losses,while medium/large deposits will remain indefinitely locked.»
Read 6 tweets
Mar 24
Notable flare-up of strikes & counter-strikes at #Syria/#Iraq border; between #US & #Iran proxies.

(? Timing ?
in the wake of #Saudi-Iranian rapprochement; & few days after serious steps of Saudi-#Assad normalization). theguardian.com/world/2023/mar…
#US airstrikes on facilities used by #Iran’s proxies came in retaliation to a drone strike in north-east #Syria that killed a US contractor & injured five American troops.
Strikes killed six fighters at an arms depot in the Harabesh neighbourhood in the city of #Deir_Ezzor.
Interesting:

“Diplomacy to de-escalate the crisis appeared immediately around the strikes. #Qatar reported a call between its foreign minister & Jake Sullivan, the #US national security adviser. Qatar’s foreign minister then spoke with the #Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.”
Read 4 tweets
Dec 24, 2022
En guise de cadeau de Noël,l’inimitable Gouverneur de la #Banque_Centrale #Libanaise livre (par les bons soins d’@Entreprendre & d’@Icibeyrouthnews) à ses compatriotes & au monde un beau paquet d’énormités surréalistes.

Florilège & morceaux choisis plus bas;texte intégral aussi:
Et pan dans le bec du @IMFNews @IMFLive !
Et pan pour le taux de change!
Read 8 tweets
Nov 7, 2021
The failed assassination attempt vs #IraqiPM #Kadhimi calls for several observations:
• 1st contextual element: Recent Iraqi elections were clear setback for #Iran (w/out really strengthening the PM’s own constituency; while strengthening #Muqtada_Sadr, a volatile actor).
(1)
(2)
• This has triggered 2 opposite effects:
- need for #Iran & #PMF to reassert control & preeminence on #Iraqi scene (by use of violence among other means).
- (vs) temptation by rivals (mainly #Gulf) to (over?)read setback as a net advantage in their favor.
(3)
• 2nd contextual element:
- Stalling of #Saudi/#Iran talks (#Yemen setback?), w clear #Gulf stiffening (#Lebanon?) as bargaining posture.
- soon new round of Iran/#US talks, w Vienna process becoming in final decisive phase.
Read 7 tweets
Sep 5, 2021
The #Middle_East after Kabul’s fall; how reshaped?

“The #US withdrawal from #Afghanistan and the #Taliban's new leadership has brought about a multitude of surprising alliances.” haaretz.com/middle-east-ne…
“Without #Qatar’s mediation and involvement, the #US withdrawal would likely have been much more violent and bloody.
Years ago, Qatar was “chosen” by the #Taliban to be the liaison between them and the United States.”
#Qatar became a key state in the #US’ relat w the Islamist group,& arranged the meeting bet @CIA chief #William_Burns & #Taliban. Qatar is now running negos w Taliban over safeguarding Kabul’s airport, which will enable Taliban to start rebuild #Afghanistan & forge int’l ties.”
Read 10 tweets
Sep 5, 2021
#Liban_Effondrement-
Autopsie d’une crise #économique systémique.
Une synthèse par ⁦@ishacdiwan⁩ pour ⁦@ifi_aub⁩ dont il est Senior Fellow: lorientlejour.com/article/127371…
Cet article d’@ishacdiwan fait partie d’une série plus exhaustive sur les ressorts et impacts de la crise #Libanaise globale, et que @ifi_aub publie sur plusieurs semaines en collaboration avec @LOrientLeJour et @lorienttoday.
“La cause immédiate du désastre #libanais est désormais claire: un pays qui a trop dépensé, à crédit, sans augmentation proportionnelle de la production, puis l’arrêt soudain des flux financiers lorsque la confiance en un atterrissage en douceur s’est évaporée.”
Read 9 tweets

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