ARTICLES
Rising crime in Lebanon as economic woes worsen
The 4 August explosions in Beirut highlight an entrenched political and socio-economic crisis in Lebanon, which is fuelling criminal activity across the country, writes Saif Islam.
The 4 August explosions in Beirut highlight an entrenched political and socio-economic crisis in Lebanon, which is fuelling criminal activity across the country, writes Saif Islam.
Resource scarcity has historically contributed to – and prolonged – various conflicts, both between states, as well as between communities or groups within states.
Piracy, terrorism and geopolitical tensions have presented persistent threats to commercial shipping in 2019. Despite states’ increased focus on securing shipping routes, the overall number of maritime incidents continues to fluctuate, and has declined only marginally over the past year.
The extractive industry – including mining, oil and gas exploration, dredging and quarrying – is one of the most vulnerable to kidnapping and extortion. Looking ahead to 2020, these industries’ often remote operating locations with limited rule of law, and the perception of industry actors as lucrative targets, are likely to persist as key factors contributing…
The largest anti-government protest campaign since 2015 has taken the ruling establishment by surprise, and may have significant implications for Lebanese political stability, writes Saif Islam.
Since the first examples of CBRN agents being used in warfare, developments in treatment and prevention have been struggling to keep up. Options to mitigate the harmful effects of CBRN agents on the civilian population have been relatively limited until recent years.
An attack on the world’s biggest crude processing facility in Saudi Arabia has fueled growing tensions in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and the US pointing to Iran as the culprit. Bilal Bassiouni assesses the possible trajectories of this latest escalation
Attacks against and seizures of merchant vessels in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman amid increased tensions between Iran and the US could result in a major military escalation, with serious implications for regional security and the global economy, writes Saif Islam..
The ongoing fighting in Tripoli has not only killed and injured thousands of people in and around the Libyan capital but has also exacerbated the threat of wrongful detention faced by foreign nationals, writes Saif Islam.
Islamic State has responded to its territorial losses in Iraq with a return to its insurgent roots, which, along with security vulnerabilities present in the country, could intensify the threat of kidnapping, writes Saif Islam.
In this article, we look at three prominent case studies from different parts of the world to demonstrate the nature and extent of the security risks facing commercial operators in the oil and gas sector.
Leader of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar’s latest assault on Tripoli has made his ambitions of leading Libya clear. Yet, in the absence of a swift military victory and the LNA’s failure to unify Libya’s myriad stakeholders, the move on Tripoli has severely jeopardised chances for a political settlement, writes Bilal Bassiouni.