SocoSIX Behind the Scenes for October 2024
WAR WIDENS IN THE MIDDLE EAST COMMENT: Israel may be calling them “small, tactical incursions,” but in fact, the invasion of southern Lebanon and the purging of as much Hizballah infrastructure, personnel, and weapons from the Litani River southwards has begun as has, in fact, the broader war. This is the third such attempt to […]
News, Flashpoints, and Insights for SEPTEMBER 2024
The same international issues remain leading causes for concern and interest in September 2024 as they were six or seven months ago. These include on-going crises or near-crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Venezuela, and the South China Sea. Some of these issues are updated below, while we introduce our readers to one or two additional […]
News, Flashpoints, and Insights for August 2024
NEW WAR SCARE IN THE MID-EAST, WHILE HOPES DASHED FOR HOSTAGE DEAL August begins with heightened concerns that the Middle East is on the brink of a major escalation in the violence already plaguing the region. Just a few days ago it seemed as if Israel and Hamas were finally growing close to a ceasefire […]
News, Flashpoints, and Insights for July 2024
IRAN HEADS TO RUN-OFF VOTE ON FRIDAY (JULY 5) The only reformist candidate on the June 28 presidential election ballot, parliamentarian Masoud Pezeshkian, scored a slim lead (43%) over his leading hardline competitors (39% for the former nuclear talks chief negotiator, Saeed Jalili), with Parliamentary Speaker Qalibaf taking slightly more than 13% of the remainder. […]
News, Flashpoints, and Insights for June 2024
WHITHER IRAN? Over the next few months, Iran’s political scene will be closely watched following the death on May 20 of the country’s president, Ebrahim Raisi. In accordance with constitutional provisions, elections for a new president are scheduled for June 28 – an exceedingly short electoral window by any measure. While several prominent candidates threw […]