Frankly Speaking: An American view on Middle East conflicts

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Updated 23 March 2025
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Frankly Speaking: An American view on Middle East conflicts

  • Former US intelligence official Norman Roule explains how President Trump’s actions may impact Middle East and whether US can be convinced to back Arab plan to rebuild Gaza
  • Suggests regional actors like Saudi Arabia should take on greater responsibility in fostering stability and resolving conflicts from Syria to Ukraine, Yemen to Lebanon

RIYADH: Norman Roule, a former senior US intelligence official and Middle East expert, says pundits ought to take the “glass-half-full” view of President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve regional conflicts since taking office in January.

Appearing on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” he spoke on a wide range of issues, including what Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they may impact the changes underway in the Middle East, whether Washington can be convinced to back the Arab world’s plan to rebuild Gaza, and whether a Trump-Putin summit in Saudi Arabia is on the horizon.

Acknowledging both the Trump administration’s achievements so far and the challenges ahead, Roule said: “We have a president of the United States in the earliest days of his administration who is showing that he is interested in the Middle East, interested in the Palestinian issue, and has devoted his senior most advisers to working that issue. I’m going to take that as a good start.

“The second issue is, he is consulting routinely with regional partners to include Saudi Arabia, and that’s always a wise move. He is also speaking with the Jordanians, the Egyptians, and that’s also a smart step.”

Reinforcing the “glass-half-full” argument, Roule said: “We have multiple Arab countries who are showing wise and consistent leadership and are focusing resources and political attention on the political and humanitarian future of the Palestinian people. That should be applauded and it should be endorsed and it deserves international applause and resources.”




Norman Roule, a former senior US intelligence official, spoke to “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen on the possible impact of President Trump’s actions in the Middle East among a number of other topics. (AN Photo)

Earlier this month, the Trump administration broke with longstanding US policy by engaging Hamas, designated a terrorist organization since 1997, to secure the release of American hostages in Gaza.

The US president issued stern warnings to Hamas, demanding immediate hostage release and return of bodies. He threatened severe consequences, stating he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”

Roule lauded Trump’s willingness to engage with the various parties in the Israel-Hamas conflict to reach a solution. “I think that it’s a sign that there is a consistency to the Trump administration’s statements,” he told Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Speaking.”

“The administration stated as follows: We will speak with anybody for a diplomatic arrangement. We won’t speak endlessly. We will look for alternatives such as moving people to other countries, offering an extension of a ceasefire, doing what’s necessary. We want hostages back. We want peace. We will see where this leads, but we’re not going to tolerate endless, endless violence and endless militancy.”

On March 18, Israel broke the fragile ceasefire, which had been in effect since Jan. 19, and launched a bombardment of the Palestinian enclave, killing at least 400 people within hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of repeatedly refusing to release the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — taken on Oct. 7, 2023, during a deadly attack in southern Israel that prompted Israel's widescale bombing campaign in Gaza.

Hamas denied rejecting a proposal from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and accused Netanyahu of resuming attacks on Gaza to sabotage a ceasefire agreement.

“The challenges that the president and Steve Witkoff have looked at the scale of the devastation in Gaza, and it is extraordinary,” Roule said. “And truth be told, there has never been a reconstruction in the history of the world where 1.5 million people, which include thousands of militant armed gunmen, have stayed in place while reconstruction has occurred.

“It’s just never happened. And their position is these people need to be moved to a place where they can have normal lives while that reconstruction takes place.”

When asked if Netanyahu would dare defy the US president the way he did when Joe Biden and Barack Obama were in office, Roule pointed out that over more than four decades, Israeli politics and Israeli relations with the US “have been complicated.” “We’ve had periods where Israeli leaders who have had very close relations with Washington have had very difficult relations and periods of defiance with Washington,” he said.

“And we’ve also had periods where American presidents who have vowed the strongest support of Israel have cut off financial support and weapons support for Israel out of anger over Israeli actions. … There is turbulence almost inevitably as part of our US-Israeli relationship.”




Smoke rises from a burning building in North Gaza, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, March 23, 2025. (Reuters)

Turning to Yemen, Roule described the Red Sea crisis as a global concern that requires international cooperation. He argued that the US is effectively waging a war on behalf of the world to protect maritime security and ensure the stability of vital trade routes.

Beginning March 15, the US launched a series of large-scale air and naval attacks against Houthi militant targets in Yemen, marking the most significant American military action in the Middle East since Trump began his second term.

Trump cited the Houthis’ “relentless campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism” in the Red Sea as the rationale for the strikes, which are part of a broader strategy to restore security in the region and pressure Iran, the Houthis’ main backer.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, claiming they were aimed at supporting Palestinians in Gaza. Targets have included commercial vessels, warships, and Israel-linked ships.

“There are now more than 14 Iranian missile systems being operated in Yemen and more than a dozen, approximately a dozen, drone systems operating from Yemen as well,” Roule said.

He added: “Now that logistics system has been cut because of the naval presence in the area, but Iran can restore this at any time and interdict global trade and indeed provide capabilities that extend that introduction into the Indian Ocean and have greater impact on the world's economy.

“The US is saying that is over. And that means that Iranian Quds Force personnel in Yemen … are now at risk if they are standing near Houthi ballistic missiles, explosive boats or offensive drone systems.”

Roule said that the economic toll of instability in Yemen extends beyond its borders, affecting Sudanese workers, Palestinian laborers in Jordan, and Egypt’s Suez Canal operations.

“We have some significant regional impact,” he said. “Egypt has lost $7 billion in 2024. Palestinian workers in Jordan who take care of thousands of containers of shipping have been unemployed. Sudanese humanitarian aid has been severely diminished because of Red Sea activity.”

When asked about the cost-effectiveness of using advanced fighter jets flying from Qatar and Bahrain against primitive weapons deployed by Yemeni forces, Roule emphasized the need to balance financial considerations with strategic objectives. “This is a serious freedom of navigation issue that does have economic and political consequences and the US playing its role in part because we’re the only world actor with naval capabilities that can do this,” he said.




Beginning March 15, the US launched a series of large-scale air and naval attacks against Houthi militant targets in Yemen. (X/@CENTCOM/Reuters)

“Europe doesn’t have the same level of ships with anti-missile capabilities as the United States. We’ve got to do what we are capable of doing.”

Offering his cost-benefit analysis of the decision to counter Houthi attacks, Roule said: “Sometimes people say it’s a $4 million missile bringing down a $100,000 drone, that’s true. But the actual way of looking at that is, it’s a $4 million missile preventing a $100,000 drone from hitting a $1 billion ship.”

Roule also suggested that Arab powers should take on greater responsibility in resolving Yemen’s conflict. “There is very little likelihood there will be negotiations with the Houthis. The Trump administration will, and should, leave the Yemen issue to regional partners to work,” he said, stressing that it is “a regional issue, not an American issue.”

Moving on to Syria, Roule noted with satisfaction the new government’s “strong actions against Iranian proxies” and the fact that “Hezbollah’s relationship with Syria has indeed been cut.” “Likewise, we’ve got Syria not allowing massive Russian bases in the region. And this isn’t a world where we should have massive Russian bases in that part of the world from the American standpoint,” he said.

“We have seen some very promising developments between the Syrian Democratic Forces, how Kurds are handled between the new Syrian government and the Kurds. And in some ways, this is again where Saudi diplomats, where Arab diplomats, where Syrian diplomats, need to push this case with Congress, with the American media. … The challenge remains.”

Does Roule think that the sanctions, which were imposed essentially on the Bashar Assad regime, should be lifted?

“The answer is yes, but at the same time, the new regime, which is led by people with dark backgrounds, needs to prove itself,” he said. “It is attempting to do so. It is not a monolith in terms of its organization or its structure.”

Asked how a local solution, even if it is from Arab governments, can be found if US sanctions remain in place, he said: “Sanctions waivers should be provided, should be watched carefully across the board.

“Syrians should be encouraged to come home and provide it with financial relief so that they can return with resources to start businesses, to enable their families to thrive and build communities. And the West can be part of that. And your show and other voices should be encouraging that.”

Roule reiterated his point that regional actors ought to play a more prominent role in Syria’s conflict resolution. “This is an Arab issue,” he said. “This is an example where we’ve watched Saudi Arabia and others, but Saudi Arabia, since we’re speaking about the Kingdom, play an important and profound role in shaping regional events.”

He emphasized that the US and the West “need not to lead what happens with Syria, but to partner and to follow behind the leadership of the Kingdom so that we are enabling the region to, in essence, build itself.”

“Now, we can help, the United States can help in making sure Israel doesn't complicate things,” he said. “We can help and make sure that Western banks help Syria as needed.”

Despite widespread instability in the region, Roule expressed optimism about Lebanon’s future, describing the country as a potential “bright spot” for 2025. According to him, President Joseph Aoun has been saying and doing “all of the right things,” including how his government has been handling security, pushing back on Hezbollah, and “preventing Iran from bringing in cash.”

“It’s all positive,” he said. “I think Lebanon is going to be one of the bright spots of 2025.”

Roule praised Morgan Ortagus, the deputy US special envoy to the Middle East, for her contribution, describing her as “a very smart, capable, sober person” who has been achieving “considerable progress.”

Ortagus’ involvement in Lebanon has centered on addressing the aftermath of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict — which started on Oct. 8, 2023, and escalated since September 2024 — and on fostering regional stability.

“She’s tireless in her focus on bringing Lebanon to the attention of policymakers and making sure that they get what they need from Congress and elsewhere,” he said.




Appearing on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Roule spoke on a wide range of issues, including what Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they may impact the changes underway in the Middle East. (AN Photo)

Roule also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a mediator in international diplomacy. The Kingdom has successfully brokered deals between Russia and Ukraine and facilitated prisoner exchanges — roles traditionally played by Switzerland or European nations. This shift has earned Saudi Arabia significant respect on the global stage.

According to him, Saudi Arabia’s stature in the international community “has dramatically changed in recent years.”

“It is impossible not to recognize that Saudi Arabia is a meeting place for every globally important issue,” Roule said. “Caribbean leaders, Central Asian leaders, meetings that at one time would take place in Geneva, Paris, Berlin, Washington, now take place in Riyadh or Jeddah.”

He pointed to the upcoming March 24 meeting between Ukrainian and Russian technical teams in Jeddah as an example of this transformation. “That’s the sort of thing you used to see in Europe,” he remarked, emphasizing how Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a mediator in high-stakes international conflicts.

Roule said Saudi Arabia’s “global stature is significantly greater” owing to the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Once viewed, both regionally and globally, primarily through the lens of Islam or energy, Saudi Arabia now plays a bigger role in shaping international events, he said.

Turning to broader geopolitical dynamics, Roule addressed speculation about an imminent Trump-Putin summit. Differing views on ceasefire terms among the US, Ukraine and Russia highlight the complexities of reaching a lasting resolution. Led by top officials from the US, Russia and Ukraine, negotiations to end the conflict in Europe reflect broader efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Despite recent agreements, including Russia’s temporary halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, challenges remain. While acknowledging the momentum toward such a meeting, Roule cautioned that unresolved issues must be addressed first.

“I think President Trump and President Putin will each want some sort of broader agreement, some sort of progress to take place,” he said, referring to recent discussions aimed at halting energy-related attacks between Russia and Ukraine.

He explained that while initial agreements have led to some steps — such as Russia halting attacks on Ukrainian energy sites — implementation remains uneven. Pointing to reports of Russian drone strikes during negotiations, he noted that Russia claimed to have recalled or intercepted its own drones to prevent further escalation.

Lauding the mediation of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he said: “We’re watching again the region play a bigger role in bringing together not only Ukraine and Russia but also freeing prisoners between the countries. Saudi Arabia has brought home prisoners to the US from Russia, but also Ukrainian and Russian prisoners.

“Riyadh has done a number of remarkable things. We need we need a broader set of agreements to take place. Steve Witkoff and a number of Russian advisers, I believe, are in quiet communications behind the scenes. This is going to need to percolate for a while.”

Alluding to Ukraine-Russia talks set for the week of March 24 in Saudi Arabia, expected to focus on securing safe shipping in the Black Sea and a potential interim ceasefire, Roule said: “We’ll see where this goes. I’d watch the technical discussions that take place in Jeddah. There is a momentum that’s building here. That is clear.”

 


Syria to import electricity from Turkiye, rehabilitate Kilis-Aleppo natural gas pipeline

Updated 6 sec ago
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Syria to import electricity from Turkiye, rehabilitate Kilis-Aleppo natural gas pipeline

  • Energy Minister discussed with the Turkish side the possibility of mining Syria’s earth minerals
  • Government developing new 80-megawatt transmission line between Turkiye’s Reyhanli district and Syria’s Harem region

LONDON: The Syrian Arab Republic will import electricity from Turkiye and rehabilitate a natural gas pipeline connecting two border regions, the country’s energy minister said on Sunday.

Mohammed Al-Bashir stated that Damascus is finalizing an agreement to import electricity from Turkiye via a 400-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line that links the two countries.

Al-Bashir stated that the government is developing another 80-megawatt transmission line between Turkiye’s Reyhanli district and Syria’s Harem region to supply electricity to towns in northern Syria.

“Additionally, we are working to rehabilitate the natural gas pipeline connecting Kilis and Aleppo,” two cities in southern Turkiye and northern Syria, the minister added.

“Once operational, (the pipeline) could supply 6 million cubic meters of gas per day to Syria’s power generation stations, significantly improving our energy situation,” he added in a statement to the SANA news agency.

The minister said he discussed with the Turkish side the possibility of mining Syria’s mineral deposits, such as phosphate and lithium, and the prospect of exploring natural gas in the country’s national waters. He urged Turkish companies to invest in exploring Syria’s oil and natural gas potential, upgrading power lines and plants, and rebuilding refineries and transportation systems.


Israel vows retaliation against Iran, Yemen’s Houthis over airport attack

Updated 14 min 41 sec ago
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Israel vows retaliation against Iran, Yemen’s Houthis over airport attack

  • It is the first time a missile has directly struck inside Israel's main airport, according to a military spokesperson
  • Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at 'a time and place of our choosing'

TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed a response to Yemen’s Houthis and their Iranian backers after the militant group struck the area of Israel’s main airport, wounding six people and prompting several major airlines to suspend flights.
The strike came hours before Israel’s army confirmed the call-up of “tens of thousands” of reservists to expand the 19-month war in Gaza against Palestinian militants Hamas.
The military confirmed that the attack, which gouged a large crater in the perimeter of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, was launched from Yemen and had struck despite “several attempts... to intercept the missile.”
In a video published on Telegram, Netanyahu said Israel had “acted against” the Iran-backed group in the past and “will act in the future.”
“It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs,” he added, without going into further detail.
Later on X, Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at “a time and place of our choosing.”
A police video showed officers standing on the edge of a deep hole in the ground with the control tower visible behind them. No damage was reported to airport infrastructure.
The police reported a “missile impact” at Israel’s main international gateway.
An AFP photographer said the missile hit near the parking lots of Terminal 3, the airport’s largest. The crater was just hundreds of meters from the tarmac.
Missile inside the airport
“You can see the area just behind us: a crater was formed here, several dozen meters wide and several dozen meters deep,” central Israel’s police chief, Yair Hezroni, said in the video.
“This is the first time” that a missile has directly struck inside the airport perimeter, an Israeli military spokesperson told AFP.
Earlier, the Houthis, who say they act in support of Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The group said their forces “carried out a military operation targeting Ben Gurion airport” with a “hypersonic ballistic missile.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened a forceful response, saying: “Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger.”
Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad later hailed the attack on the airport.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said it had treated at least six people with light to moderate injuries.
An AFP journalist inside the airport at the time of the attack said he heard a “loud bang” at around 9:35 am local time, adding that the “reverberation was very strong.”
“Security staff immediately asked hundreds of passengers to take shelter, some in bunkers,” the AFP journalist said.
“Many passengers are now waiting for their flights to take off, and others are trying to find alternative flights.”
An incoming Air India flight was diverted to Abu Dhabi, an airport official told AFP.
It was one of the airlines to suspend Tel Aviv flights until Tuesday along with Italy’s ITA Airways and Germany’s Lufthansa Group, which includes Austrian, Eurowings and SWISS. Air France announced the cancelation of Sunday flights.
The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war.
Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid a deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that had largely stopped the war.


Jordan’s tourism sector surges in first quarter of year with 19% rise in visitors, 8.9% revenue boost

Updated 30 min 7 sec ago
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Jordan’s tourism sector surges in first quarter of year with 19% rise in visitors, 8.9% revenue boost

  • The surge was fueled by a 19 percent year-on-year rise in international arrivals
  • Enhanced air connectivity, targeted international marketing campaigns and Continued investment in infrastructure reasons given for rise

AMMAN: Jordan’s tourism sector has kicked off 2025 strongly, registering growth in both visitor numbers and revenue, a Jordan News Agency report said on Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, tourism revenue reached 1.217 billion dinars ($1.72 billion) in the first quarter of the year, which equated to an 8.9 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The surge was fueled by a 19 percent year-on-year rise in international arrivals, which reached 2.125 million between January and April.

Overnight visitors increased by 15.3 percent to 1.765 million, while the number of same-day visitors soared by 41.6 percent to 360,000 compared to early 2024.

April alone saw international arrivals jump by 36.7 percent to 617,000, suggesting that the strong momentum is likely to carry into the second quarter.

Ministry officials attributed the growth to several strategic initiatives.

Enhanced air connectivity, including new direct flights and expanded budget airline operations, has significantly improved access to Jordan, they said.

Meanwhile, targeted international marketing campaigns have successfully spotlighted the kingdom’s diverse tourism offerings, from heritage sites and desert landscapes to adventure and wellness experiences.

Continued investment in infrastructure has also played a role, they said, which has improved the visitor experience and enhanced the country’s overall competitiveness in the global travel market.

Beyond direct economic impact, tourism’s strong performance is boosting Jordan’s foreign currency reserves and generating employment across the hospitality and service sectors, JNA said.

Looking ahead, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to a national tourism strategy grounded in sustainable development.

Its goals include increasing tourism’s contribution to GDP, creating long-term job opportunities, and solidifying Jordan’s position as a premier global destination by promoting its rich historical, cultural, and natural assets.


Flights again halted to Israel after Houthi missile lands near airport

Travelers pull luggage as they walk toward Ben Gurion airport after main road entrances to the facility were closed by Israel.
Updated 04 May 2025
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Flights again halted to Israel after Houthi missile lands near airport

  • Many foreign airlines subsequently suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after the missile hit
  • Claiming responsibility for the strike, Houthis’ military spokesperson said Israel’s main airport was “no longer safe for air travel”

JERUSALEM: European and US carriers canceled flights for the next several days after a missile fired by the Houthis on Sunday landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international travel gateway.
Many foreign airlines subsequently suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after the missile hit, sending a plume of smoke into the air and causing panic among passengers in the terminal building.
Following a ceasefire deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas in January, foreign carriers had begun to resume flights to Israel after halting them for much of the last year and a half since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
That left flag carrier El Al Airlines — along with smaller rivals Arkia and Israir — with a near monopoly. El Al’s shares rose 7 percent, while Israir gained 4.1 percent in a flat broader Tel Aviv market on Sunday.
Delta Air Lines said it canceled Sunday’s flight from JFK in New York to Tel Aviv and the return flight from Tel Aviv on Monday. United canceled its twice daily flights between Tel Aviv and Newark while it monitors the situation.
Earlier, flights from Tel Aviv on Delta and United on Sunday morning departed about 90 minutes late.
Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels and Austrian, said it had halted flights to and from Tel Aviv through Tuesday due to the current situation.
ITA said it had canceled flights from Italy to Israel through Wednesday, while Air France canceled flights on Sunday, saying customers were transferred to flights on Monday. TUS flights to and from Cyprus were canceled through Monday, while Air India flights from New Delhi were halted on Sunday.
Ryanair suspended flights on Sunday but flights are still scheduled for Monday, according to the Israel Airports Authority. Wizz also halted flights.
“I’m afraid it’s going to be very difficult to go back to France because all European carriers, from what I see on the information (board), have canceled. Lufthansa have canceled, Swiss have canceled, Brussels (Airlines), so no connection is possible,” said Michael Sceemes, 56, whose Air France flight was canceled.
Aegean, flydubai and Ethiopian did not cancel flights.
El Al said it would reintroduce rescue flights to Israel from Larnaca and Athens for passengers stranded by foreign carriers at a cost of $99 and $149, respectively.
Udi Bar Oz, head of Ben Gurion Airport, said the airport was up and running less than 30 minutes after the missile hit a road nearby.
Claiming responsibility for the strike, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said Israel’s main airport was “no longer safe for air travel.”
The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping in late 2023, during the early days of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.
US President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond to the Houthis. “We attacked in the past, we will attack in the future ... There will be more blows,” he said.


Two held in Iran after deadly port explosion: state TV

This image shows a crater after an explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port dock southwest of Bandar Abbas.
Updated 04 May 2025
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Two held in Iran after deadly port explosion: state TV

  • April 26 blast at a dock in the southern port of Shahid Rajaee killed at least 57 people and injured more than 1,000, officials said, revising down an earlier death toll

TEHRAN: Iranian authorities arrested two people including a government official in connection with a deadly explosion last month at the country’s main commercial port, state television reported on Sunday.
The April 26 blast at a dock in the southern port of Shahid Rajaee killed at least 57 people and injured more than 1,000, officials said, revising down an earlier death toll.
The judiciary on Sunday said the toll had been revised because “it was determined that some of the bodies considered separate were in fact one body,” adding that it could still change.
At the time of the blast, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni blamed “shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence.”
Shahid Rajaee is near Iran’s coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.
“A government manager and another from the private sector have been arrested,” state television said on Sunday, citing a report from the investigating committee.
The committee announced on Monday that “false declarations (of goods) were made in some cases.”
It said on Sunday that “suspects have been identified and the summoning process is underway,” without elaborating.
The New York Times has quoted a person with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, as saying that what exploded was sodium perchlorate — a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.
Iran’s defense ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik later told state television that “there has been no imported or exported cargo for military fuel or military use in the area.”