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Including Syria.. New Directions for U.S. Middle East Policy with Trump's Return
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Trump's multiple meetings with Syrian and Lebanese opposition reveal clear interest in reshaping U.S. policy in the region

Republican presidential election winner Donald Trump pledged to adopt a firm approach in the region, confirming his intention to demand "an immediate ceasefire and move towards negotiations," without revealing additional details.
The equations in the Middle East region changed after Trump's victory, after eyes were watching Biden administration policies when Democratic candidate Kamala Harris's chances seemed favorable.
The Washington Post quoted sources saying that the Biden administration was planning to provide support to Syria to reduce Iranian influence, indicating American and Israeli desire to help Damascus prevent weapons flow to Hezbollah.
U.S. and Israeli officials believe that the Syrian regime's president might support these steps given his dissatisfaction with Iranian infiltration in Damascus, with Washington ready to provide reciprocal positive initiatives.
Syrian opposition figure Ayman Abdel Nour revealed intensive contacts with both Democratic and Republican parties, indicating they were informed about freezing the anti-normalization law with the Syrian regime for about a year.
He explained that freezing some Caesar Act provisions following the February 2023 earthquake became an adopted approach, facilitating various projects, including gas and oil transport lines through Syrian territory.
There was a disparity in communication levels between the two camps, where Trump held 4 direct meetings with Syrians and Lebanese, plus 15 meetings for his advisers and family, versus one Zoom meeting with Harris. The Syrian opposition figure confirmed that Trump pledged to direct warnings to Iran to stop militia support, with restrictions on its financial resources.
Meanwhile, Bassam Ishaq, Syrian Democratic Council representative in Washington, expressed Kurdish caution about the next phase, questioning the fate of U.S. forces in northeastern Syria.
Observers questioned the possibility of moving stagnant waters in the Syrian crisis, and the extent of Trump's commitment to his electoral promises to resolve intertwined conflicts in the region, awaiting his official assumption of power on January 20.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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