Columnist

Hanin Ghaddar

Hanin Ghaddar is the inaugural Friedmann Visiting Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Latest Articles

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Lebanon’s Protests: No Option is a Good Option for Hezbollah

    As unprecedented protests took over the streets of Lebanon- from the North, all the way to the South, through Beirut and the mountains, the Lebanese political class was taken by surprise. Years of sectarian narrative, intimidation, and humiliation, failed to coerce the Lebanese people into...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Iran’s Shadow in Washington and New York

    Since last week’s attack on Saudi oil facilities, it has become clear that President Trump is trying his best to avoid a war in the Middle East. It is not clear if and how his administration will respond to these attacks, but the options are still under review....

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Will Iran Chose Confrontation or Negotiation?

    In the past few weeks, Iran was hit on many levels, militarily by Israel – on some of its sites and proxies in the region, and financially by more US sanctions. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is still extending his hand to get Iran to the negotiating table, before the scheduled US...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    How Will Hezbollah Respond to Israel’s Drone Attack?

    Over the past week, the Israel Defense Forces have launched attacks against Iranian and affiliated targets in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. In the latter strike, conducted August 25, two IDF drones crashed between residential buildings in the Mouawad neighborhood of south Beirut. According to...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    The Lebanese Shia Are not Ready for War

    The possibility for a Hezbollah-Israel war has grown immensely after two Israeli drones exploded in Lebanon’s southern suburbs – Hezbollah’s stronghold – earlier this month. As tension builds up on both sides of the Lebanese-Israeli borders, Lebanese people, mainly the Shia community, anticipate...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Hezbollah’s Lebanese Allies Can Be Contained

    On August 7, the U.S. embassy in Beirut released a statement calling for “fair and transparent judicial review” in Lebanon, noting that “any attempt to use the tragic June 30 event in [Qabrshmoun] to advance political objectives should be rejected.” Both the statement itself and the incident it...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Hezbollah is Firming up its Grip on Lebanon

    Hezbollah does not seem to be satisfied with the current grip it has on Lebanon. Despite winning the 2008 parliamentary elections and forming a majority government with its allies, Hezbollah still wants it all. They no longer want to tolerate critics or challengers, from the street or from the...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    What Are the Challenges to Iran’s Escalations?

    Tensions with Iran are escalating. The Iranians have staged a number of sabotage attacks on oil tankers earlier this month, and have seized a British vessel. Their proxies – the Houthis - have conducted drone attacks on at least 10 targets including a major Saudi oil pipeline. Although Tehran is...

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    Does Iran Want a Confrontation?

    Iran has announced on Monday that it has surpassed the limit of low-enriched uranium it could stockpile under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Although it this is technically not a major escalation, its messaging and repercussions could be major....

  • By Hanin Ghaddar

    The US-Russia-Israel Summit: Can Russia Push Iran Out of Syria?

    Earlier this month, The White House announced that U.S., Israeli and Russian national security advisers would meet in Jerusalem in June to discuss regional security issues. According to the White House press release, United States National Security Adviser Ambassador John Bolton, Israeli National...

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Opinion

Decision to Withdraw from Syria Sparks Debate Among Republicans
By Joseph Braude
How Will Hezbollah Respond to Israel’s Drone Attack?
By Hanin Ghaddar
Hezbollah’s Lebanese Allies Can Be Contained
By Hanin Ghaddar
Iran Turns Its Economic Hopes to China — But Its Hopes May be Dashed
By Joseph Braude
Iranian Oil Smuggling and Naval Piracy Fail to Blunt Sanctions
By Joseph Braude
US-Iran Tensions: From Maximum Pressure to Maximum Leverage?
By Dennis Ross