The New Arab Voice

A little over a year from the start of the new government in Syria, violence returned to Aleppo. In January, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the forces of the interim Syrian government clashed in the Aleppo areas of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah.The SDF came off worse and were forced to retreat back to the northeast; and such was the scale of the defeat, they were forced into signing a deal that will see the SDF integrated into the Syrian army.For almost a year, the SDF has been resisting such a deal. This week, we look at the fighting in Aleppo, the deal that has been signed, and why, the status of the SDF and Syria's Kurds, and what these event mean for the Syria that President al-Sharaa is building.We're joined by Dr. Rahaf Aldoughli (@r_aldoughli), senior editor at Cogent Social Sciences and fellow at the Arab Reform Initiative (@ArabReform_ARI), and also, Joseph Daher (@JosephDaher19), a Syrian academic and specialist on the political economy of the Middle East.This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

As 2025 was coming to a close, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen decided they had one last roll of the dice to make. At the start of December, the STC launched a military operation to seize the eastern governorates of Yemen. They quickly swept across the region, with arms supplied by the UAE. It was a great success, until the Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, fought back. This week on The New Arab Voice podcast, we look at the STC's offensive in the east of Yemen, the fight back by the Yemeni government, and the impact that these operations have had on the balance of power in Yemen.On this episode, we're joined by Yasmeen al-Eryani, the Executive Director for Knowledge Production at the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies (@SanaaCenter), and Baraa Shiban (@BShtwtr), researcher and political analyst on Yemen and the Gulf, and an Associate Fellow with the Royal United Services Institute in London (@RUSI_org). Also, Mohamed al-Sahimi. Head of the STC UK office.This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

The year is drawing to a close, which means its time for The New Arab Voice's annual review of year. To guide us through the tangled mess of the past 12 months, we're joined by The New Arab's Managing Editor Karim Traboulsi (@Kareemios), and journalist Oliver Mizzi (@OllyMizzi99).In this episode, we look back on the 12 days of war that shook Iran and Israel, the continued efforts of President Erdogan to hold on to power, the state building project of the new Sharaa government in Damascus, the brutal war in Sudan, and the stuttering ceasefire efforts in Gaza. We also look ahead to what 2026 might bring, and what us at The New Arab will be keeping an eye on. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

This is part 2 of a special investigation. You can find part 1 in your feeds now.For 15 months, The New Arab, in cooperation with Bridges Investigations, explored the shadowy world of Maltese bird hunters.We uncovered how Maltese hunters, frustrated by local laws, were travelling to Egypt to slaughter migratory birds in vast numbers. Their hunting activities have been described as an environmental disaster, and a threat to the thousands of migratory birds who rely on Egyptian wetlands.We went undercover in Fayoum. Followed the smuggling routes from Egypt’s lakes to Maltese homes. And saw how Europe’s conservation efforts collapse when its citizens pull the trigger abroad.This is more than a story of poaching. It’s about wasted conservation money, destroyed ecosystems, and a system that rewards hunters while silencing conservationists. The Poachers Trail was a investigation by The New Arab and Bridges Investigations (@BRIDGES4I), with the support of the Journalism Fund Europe (@journalismfund). It was written and hosted by Mahmoud Elsobky (@ElsobkyMahmoud_), with additional help from Wael El-Sayegh.Andrea Glioti is The New Arab’s Investigation editor. This podcast was produced by Hugo Goodridge. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

It has been annus horribilis for Hezbollah.They were struck by a deadly pager attack, Israel launched a devastating air and ground campaign against the group, and their long-time leader was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The war left Hezbollah battered and broken, and now, the Lebanese government is moving in to clear up the arms, which is taking place under the shadow of continued Israeli airstrikes.At the start of September, the Lebanese army presented its plan to disarm Hezbollah once and for all to the cabinet. While welcomed by much of the cabinet, Hezbollah rejected the notion.This week on The New Arab Voice we examine the state of Hezbollah today. How are the Lebanese state disarming the group? And what is the future of the self-styled resistance movement in Lebanon?We're joined by David Wood, Senior Analyst for Lebanon at International Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup); and Paul Salem, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute (@MiddleEastInst).This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

This week on The New Arab Voice podcast, we look at the recent decision by Western nations to recognise the State of Palestine. It came as a surprise to many, although it remains to be seen what it actual means for Palestinians. Either way, it angered Israel. And as Western states were announcing to recognise a Palestinian state, Israel was planning a major new offensive in Gaza, and Israeli citizens were on the streets protesting against the Netanyahu government. This week, what’s Israel doing in Gaza, and why are some Israeli citizens protesting the move? What does the recognition of a state of Palestine mean for Israel? And is Israeli foreign diplomacy failing?We speak with Paul Scham, the former  Professor of Israeli Studies at the University of Maryland; also, Nimrod Goren, President and Founder of Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies.This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the recent ceasefire agreement between the PKK and the Turkish state. The Kurdistan’s Worker’s Party (PKK) and the Turkish state have been in a state of conflict since 1984. The conflict has killed over 35,000 people and achieved little, for either side. But now, a ceasefire has been announced. In a symbolic ceremony, PKK fighters burnt their arms in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq; and more recently, a commission was started at the Turkish Parliament to discuss the Turkish parliament. Is this the opportunity for Kurds to secure their rights in Turkey? Why is the Turkish state agreeing to a ceasefire now? Is President Erdogan using the ceasefire talks to increase his grip on power?Joining us to examine the Kurdish position, we speak with Dr. Salim Çevik (@salimcevikk), a visiting fellow at the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies (@CATS_Network) at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (@SWPBerlin).And to guide us through Turkish thinking, we speak with Henri Barkey (@hbarkey), adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) and the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen chair in international relations at Lehigh University (Emeritus) (@LehighU). This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

This week on The New Arab Voice podcast we look at the state of the war in Sudan.It’s been declared the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with hunger, disease and displacement rife. Yet the fighting surges on with reports of atrocities in the Kordofan region that left hundreds of civilians dead last weekend, the UN reported.The two rival militaries, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, are showing no sign of slowing down - and they have a few external forces to thank.So why is the UAE accused of involvement in the war? Who else is fighting for a piece of Sudan’s mineral rich pie? And might the crisis be next on the list for the “peacemaking” Trump administration in Washington?To discuss all this and more, we speak to Hamid Khafallah (@HamidMurtada) Sudanese Researcher and Policy Analyst at the University of Manchester (@OfficialUoM), Hala Alkarib (@Halayalkarib) Sudanese activist and Regional Director of Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, and Khalid Omer Yousif (@KHOYousif) Vice Chairman of Sudanese Congress Party and former minister of cabinet affairs in the transitional government.