Peace President’s plans for more war in the Middle East

When I say this YouTube news report (1) and wanted to repost it, I immediately found myself thinking if I should start identifying CBS News as “regime-conforming media,” now that Trumpista zealot Bari Weiss has been put in charge of it by its oligarch owner David Ellison.

In that clip, Peace President Trump, whose Eternal Peace Plan for the Middle East began last October 10, warns the Palestinian Hamas group of a new round of military attacks if it doesn’t do what he and Benjamin Netanyahu’s government says.

As a reminder, Trump told the Israeli Parliament in October: "After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace, a land and a region that will live, God willing, in peace for all eternity." [my emphasis] (2)

To be fair, he did put in that “God willing” caveat that if the Eternal Peace Plan fails, it’s God’s fault, not Trump’s.

Ben Samuels reports on Trump’s Dec. 29 meeting with Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago:

For all the murmurs and leaks about growing U.S. impatience with Israel's actions in Gaza and concerns about ratcheted-up tensions with Iran that could once again bring the Middle East on the precipice of regional war, in a brief appearance alongside Netanyahu on the steps of Mar-a-Lago, Trump once again demonstrated that he is firmly in Israel's corner.

Whether declining to put a firm timeline on moving Gaza to the next phase ("I think it's gonna begin pretty soon,") declining to publicly assert any pressure on Netanyahu over a Turkish military presence in Gaza, or effectively committing to involving U.S. forces in any new military action against Iranian nuclear targets ("If Iran builds up again, we'll knock the hell out of them,") Netanyahu could not have scripted Trump's answers better. …

Netanyahu could not have scripted the beginning of his U.S. visit better in his wildest dreams. How long he can presume to reap the benefits of Trump's breathless support is a question that will only intensify throughout 2026. [my emphasis] (3)

But since the Eternal Peace Plan is going so well, apparently, Israel has now decided to promote a secessionist movement in Somalia by recognizing a breakaway entity called “Somaliland.” A rebel group there issued a declaration of independence in 1991. International recognition has been slow to come. So slow, in fact, that Israel’s recognition this month made it the first country to recognize “Somaliland.”

If you’re thinking this means Netanyahu’s government has developed a sudden fondness for African liberation movement, well, no, that’s not it. Ragip Soylu explains:

... Israel’s decision to establish diplomatic ties with this de facto state is not popular in the region.

It has drawn criticism from many regional actors, including Turkey, which has heavily invested in Somalia over the past 13 years. Many Arab and regional countries, with the notable exception of the United Arab Emirates, condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision.

Amichai Stein, an Israeli journalist with i24 who specialises in regional affairs, agrees. Ragip Soylu explains:

“So far, Israel has not developed a clear strategy to counter the Houthis, and this step could help the Israeli government strengthen its influence in the region, especially as the Suez Canal is largely blocked for cargo traffic destined for Israel,” he said.

“A second goal is to counterbalance Turkey’s influence in the Horn of Africa, as Turkey maintains military bases in the area. Ankara is not alone, the UAE also has a base there, and several other countries are seeking access and influence in this strategically important trade gateway.”

Turkey has officially condemned the Israeli move, but all eyes are on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to make a statement later this week. [my emphasis] (4)

As we’ve seen in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria just in recent years, Israel can be reluctant to recognize the permanence of international borders in its immediate region. But because of the colonial history of Africa, changing national borders there is a particularly touchy issue.

As the BBC reports, “A few months ago, a number of news outlets reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza.” (5)

Notes:

(1) Trump warns that if Hamas doesn't disarm very soon, "there will be hell to pay". CBS News YouTube channel 12/29/2025. <https://youtu.be/flV7yrfbEII?si=uE0PggWkttW8xoi7> (Accessed: 2025-29-12).

(2) Hutchinson, Bill (2025): Trump declares end of Israel-Hamas war, but experts see the hard work as just beginning. ABC News 10/14/2025. <https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-declares-end-israel-hamas-war-experts-hard/story?id=126482789> (Accessed: 2025-29-12).

(3) Trump's Comments Outside Mar-a-Lago Read Like a Script Direct From Netanyahu. Haaretz 12/29/2025. Full link: <https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haaretz-today/2025-12-29/ty-article/.highlight/trumps-comments-outside-mar-a-lago-read-like-a-script-direct-from-netanyahu/0000019b-6b29-ddb6-abfb-fb29fdf70002?gift=74f79c22190741d8b5401eb2b7875bba> (Accessed: 2025-29-12).

(4) Soylu, Ragip (2025): Israel-Turkey rivalry moves to the Horn of Africa. Middle East Eye 12/29/2025. <https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-turkey-rivalry-moves-horn-africa> (Accessed: 2025-30-12).

The state of Trump’s Eternal Peace Plan in the Middle East

Trump in his fantasy performance of an address to the nation this past Wednesday declared: "I've restored American strength, settled eight wars in 10 months, destroyed the Iran nuclear threat and ended the war in Gaza, bringing for the first time in 3,000 years, peace to the Middle East."

This is the main headline on the Haaretz website as of this writing: (1)

The killing in Gaza continues, mostly on the Israel side. Trump’s Eternal Peace Plan officially took effect on October 10. As of now, there is no actual ceasefire. Israel is continually expanding the territory it directly controls in Gaza. Violent settler activity in the occupied West Bank.

The bullet-points in the story itself include the following: “The ‌U.S. military launched ⁠major airstrikes against ‌several Islamic State ‍targets across Syria, American officials said.” Oh, US combat in Syria. Nice to know. This should actually be getting more coverage. That bullet-point didn’t include more details. But it’s worth noting that the US intervention in Syria has had one unintentionally constructive effect of allowing the Kurds in the Rojava area to maintain a government with important democratic elements.

Middle East Eye reports:

The US, in conjunction with Syrian forces, has carried out several attacks on IS members over the past year.

Six days ago, US Central Command (Centcom) said that an IS fighter ambushed US personnel in Syria.

Centcom said US troops came under fire in the Palmyra area of central Syria, prompting an immediate response. US forces engaged the attacker and killed the gunman responsible for the ambush.

The Pentagon said the attack took place while US soldiers were holding a meeting with local leaders in Palmyra, underscoring the risks facing troops during engagement missions on the ground. [my emphasis] (2)

CENTCOM (US Central Command) reported that it had "struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria with fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery." (3)

As David Hearst notes of Trump’s First Peace In The Middle East For Three Thousand Years:

At a recent military parade attended by [Syrian President and alumni of Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State Ahmed al-Sharaa], troops chanted: “Gaza, Gaza, Gaza, our slogan, night and day, bombing and ruin. We are coming for you, our enemy, coming, coming for you, even if you were a mountain of fire, I will make from my blood ammunition, and from your blood rivers.”

Soon afterwards, an Israeli government minister hinted at a potential war with Syria.

Days earlier, a pre-dawn raid on a village south of Damascus had nearly turned into a military disaster. In late November, Israeli helicopters and artillery struck Beit Jinn, 50km southwest of Damascus, as soldiers stormed homes and seized three villagers, according to local media.

A firefight then developed, as the whole village joined the effort to repel the Israeli invaders. Fighter jets were deployed as the Israelis became surrounded. By the time they retreated, 13 Syrians had been killed and 25 others injured, while six Israeli soldiers were wounded, three seriously. [my emphasis] (4)

And Jared Szuba notes:

The insider attack has threatened to pose the toughest test yet to Trump's second-term Syria policy, which is led by envoy Tom Barrack. Trump returned to the presidency vowing to halt US involvement in "endless" foreign conflicts. Barrack has stated the president ruled out a policy of nation-building in Syria after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.

Yet administration officials are signaling they plan to forge ahead on their approach to supporting Syria's internal security forces despite the deadly incident. Privately, some US officials acknowledge they are aware of the presence of former al-Qaeda and other extremist figures in Damascus' ranks. [my emphasis] (5)

Bottom line: Peace President Trump is actively involving US forces in ongoing combat in Syria in support of ongoing Israeli military intervention there.

Notes:

(1) Haaretz online 12/20/2025. <https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-12-20/ty-article-live/strike-on-gaza-shelter-kills-five-hospital-chief-says-idf-incident-under-review/0000019b-39c8-dc39-abbb-fffad5680005> (Accessed: 2025-20-12).

(2) MEE Staff (2025): US bombs Islamic State targets in Syria after attack on personnel. Middle East Eye 12/19/2025. <https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-bombs-islamic-state-targets-syria-after-attack-personnel> (Accessed: 2025-20-12).

(3) US strikes over 70 IS targets in Syria after attack on troops. Al-Monitor 12/19/2025. <https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/us-strikes-over-70-targets-syria-after-attack-troops> (Accessed: 2025-20-12).

(4) How Israel's overreach in Syria could be its downfall. Middle East Eye 12/16/2025. <https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/how-israels-overreach-syria-could-be-its-downfall> (Accessed: 2025-20-12).

(5) US bombs ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation for Palmyra insider attack. Al-Monitor 12/19/2025. <https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/us-bombs-isis-targets-syria-retaliation-palmyra-insider-attack> (Accessed: 2025-20-12).