The Media Line

Voices from the Arab Press: Red lines in Syria, Azerbaijani oil, and Anwar Sadat

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses of the Arab media around the world.

A WORKER rests next to an oil pump in Baku, Azerbaijan.
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee receives Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem’s Abraham Torch Award

Mike Huckabee on Iran, Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia and Israel’s US relationship - interview

Jordan's King Abdullah welcomes Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun at Marka military airport, in Amman, Jordan, June 10, 2025.

What happens after UNIFIL leaves Lebanon, and what might take its place? - explainer

BRICS leaders pose for a group photo during the summit in New Delhi, India, September 12, 2026

India pushes for bigger role in BRICS while it aims to avoid damaging ties with US


WATCH: Gazan activist calls for peace with Israel, blames Hamas for war, seeks meeting with Trump

Al-Natour aims for a meeting with President Trump, says Gazan civil society is not Hamas, wants a political role, and calls for schoolbook reform to counter radicalization.

Tents housing displaced Palestinians are seen among homes destroyed during the recent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, September 3, 2026.

Iraq emerges as Iran’s economic lifeline amid tighter US sanctions

Iraq’s close political and commercial ties with Iran, give Tehran access to trade routes, currency markets, and commercial networks that are difficult for US authorities to monitor.

Iran and Iraq map. Ilustration.

UN adopts post-Assad Syria resolution recognizing women searching for missing family

Syria’s representative to the UN, told the General Assembly ahead of the resolution’s adoption that Syrian women faced what he described as “the worst missing persons crisis in modern history."

Artists perform, as Kurdish female fighters attend a military parade to mark the 13th anniversary of the founding of the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) in Qamishli, Syria, April 4, 2026.

Saudi Arabia names women diplomat Manal Radwan as special envoy for peace efforts

Radwan is a veteran Saudi diplomat with 25 years of experience in foreign policy, multilateral diplomacy, and relations with the United States, the United Nations, and the Arab League.

Dr Manal Radwan at the Med-Gulf Summit 2026.

Iraq considers currency overhaul to expose looted funds

"The decision will be made in the coming period, and it is hoped that the procedures will begin during 2027," a source in the Iraqi Prime Ministry.

Iraqi dinar and US dollar banknotes are laid out on a table as members of the Shia Muslim community arrive at a centre in Iraq's southern city of Basra accepting charity donations to aid people affected by the ongoing war in Iran and Lebanon

British activist remains in Israeli custody over suspected minor assault during West Bank clash

Finn Joughin was detained Saturday after an encounter involving a child in Umm al-Kheir. Police said late Saturday that he was being held “on suspicion of performing an indecent act against a minor.”

Israeli leftist activists gather as Palestinian residents and solidarity volunteers stand on the roof of a house besieged by Israeli settlers in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, West Bank, August 14, 2026

What's next for Syria's economy as US removes nation from state terror list? - analysis

The more important question is no longer whether the designation has been lifted, but whether its removal will translate into banks willing to deal with Syria.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during the opening ceremony of the Damascus International Fair in Damascus, Syria, August 26, 2026.

Voices from the Arab press: Weighing Iran's decline, Israel's strategy and Infantino's Arab support

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses of the Arab media around the world.

IRANIAN PROXY: University student treads on US, Israeli, and UK flags during a parade at Sana’a University campus to show support for the Houthis, in Yemen, July 22.

‘We are behind you’: Shachpatz App offers IDF veterans rapid legal help abroad for emergencies

Shachpatz brings official alerts, travel advice, and emergency contacts together, with 600 lawyers in 17 countries available to provide initial assistance, according to Shurat HaDin.

Shachpatz is a new app designed to help IDF veterans abroad by offering travel guidance, emergency contacts, and access to legal assistance.

Christian Lawmakers ask President Trump to grant Jewish Canadians refuge from antisemitism

A letter from Christian lawmakers in America said more than 2,000 Jewish Canadians have expressed interest in moving because of safety concerns.

The vandalized Chabad site in Ontario, Canada.