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U.S. Official: Opportunities for Normalization Between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon Are Possible

Stephen Wittykov, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, stated that normalizing relations between Israel and Syria and Lebanon has become a real possibility, especially after Syria has lost a significant amount of Iranian influence.
Wittykov's comments came in a lengthy interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, where he discussed the Trump administration's vision for the future of the region, focusing on the Syrian issue and Israel’s role in the geopolitical changes taking place on the Middle Eastern map.
He explained that “Lebanon may find itself in a position to normalize relations with Israel by signing a peace treaty between the two countries, and this is indeed possible.” He added that the same applies to Syria, pointing out that normalization between Lebanon and Israel, and subsequently between Syria and Israel, “could be part of a broader process to establish peace in the region.”
Regarding the final map that Israel seeks to draw in the Middle East, Wittykov noted that Israel holds field influence in Lebanon and Syria, even though they are not part of its territory. He confirmed that this control paves the way for comprehensive normalization, especially if armed groups linked to Iran, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, are eliminated.
He added that if Syria and Lebanon move to normalize relations with Israel, and Saudi Arabia reaches a peace agreement after the situation in Gaza stabilizes, we will witness a completely new landscape in the Middle East.
The U.S. envoy pointed out that “Syria today is not what it once was, and Israel is drawing a new map that transcends the traditional concept of borders.” He clarified that if peace is achieved in Gaza, we will see a new Middle East based on technological and economic cooperation between Gulf states and Israel, and perhaps Syria as well.
Wittykov also considered that there has been a “turning point” in the Syrian file, following the fall of the ousted president Bashar al-Assad's regime, stating that Iran has effectively been removed from Syria, and that Bashar al-Assad is no longer in power, which represents an “unexpected achievement” in the context of weakening the Iranian axis in the region.
He concluded by saying, “What happened in Syria was a massive turning point for the region, and removing Assad was a huge step that no one expected, and Syria is now outside of Iranian influence.”
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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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