The seasoned British diplomat and barrister who, until recently, was the United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, speaks to Al Majalla about the Middle East.

The guns may have fallen silent but in Syria's Druze-dominated southern city, they have enforced the status quo. That is dangerous, since it fails to recognise that Syria has now fundamentally changed

Türkiye's 2019 agreement with Tripoli on maritime boundaries and exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean irked Athens at the time. The idea that Tobruk may ratify it has set off Greek alarms.

For Benjamin Netanyahu, it would be a 'humanitarian zone'. For most countries, it would be a war crime. For Egypt, it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Arming proxies and launching pre-emptive strikes was Iran's 'forward strategy' model since the devastating Iran-Iraq War of 1980-88. Then, from October 2023, Israel copied it. A recipe for disaster?

The two Kingdoms have worked together for two centuries and a recent visit to London from Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa cemented the links in trade, security, and education.

Geir Pedersen condemns Israeli strikes and urges genuine dialogue between Syrian authorities and the local Druze community in Sweida.

The second instalment of a two-part investigation into the unprecedented looting of Syria's archaeological sites, Al Majalla uncovers the destruction of a rich archaeological landscape

Tel Aviv does not want a military power led by former Islamists on its doorstep, so is throwing a protective missile system around Syria's minorities, whether they want it or not. Will it backfire?

The first instalment of a two-part investigation into the unprecedented looting of Syria's archaeological sites, Al Majalla uncovers the destruction of a rich archaeological landscape