Bruno Finel

As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran following U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot took to social media to express his “concern” and call for “restraint.” It was a familiar gesture—predictable, performative, and ultimately irrelevant.

In a twist worthy of a Hollywood screenplay, Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has become an unlikely lifeline for thousands of Israelis and international travelers desperately trying to flee the region — and, dare we say, an unexpected winner in the middle of regional chaos.

King Abdullah II of Jordan has departed on a working visit to Strasbourg, France, where he is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Tuesday.

In a strongly worded open letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron, Dr. Rafa Halabi, a Druze leader and resident of Dalit-el-Carmel in Israel, called for France’s support in what he described as Israel’s war “for the whole world” against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

With Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv currently closed, many travelers in Israel are left stranded, unable to depart the country. The timeline for the airport’s reopening remains uncertain and will largely depend on the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Saudi Arabia officially condemned Friday’s deadly Israeli strikes on Iran, describing them as "blatant aggression" against a “brotherly nation,” according to a statement by the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry.

In recent weeks, Algeria has suffered a string of diplomatic blows on the Western Sahara issue, most notably with the United Kingdom and Ghana expressing support for Morocco’s autonomy plan—a development that underscores the growing global consensus around Rabat’s approach and the fading influence of Algiers on the matter.

Every time an Israeli airstrike hits Gaza, international media outlets rush to cite “Gaza’s Civil Defense” for casualty figures—often highlighting the deaths of women and children. But rarely, if ever, do these reports mention militants, armed operatives, or Hamas fighters killed. Why?

A descendant of a prominent Iraqi Jewish family is seeking justice and redress from the French government, which currently operates its embassy in Baghdad from the mansion once owned by his ancestors. 

In a move that could reshape geopolitical dynamics in North Africa, the United Kingdom has thrown its weight behind Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara—calling it the “most credible” path forward. 

On Monday, reports surfaced from Gaza claiming that Israeli fire had killed at least three Palestinians and injured dozens more near a humanitarian aid distribution site operated by the U.S.-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). 

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and the rise to power of President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Syria has begun to take on a new face—one that signals a possible break from decades of isolation and propaganda.