Biography
Publications
Lauren Williams is a journalist and Middle East analyst formerly based in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. She’s now based in Sydney.
Bucha: Capturing the horror
The story of a Russian massacre in the Ukraine town needed to be told. And like all images, context is important.
The bleak reality of sectarian Lebanon
As the Lebanese people are left to pick up the pieces of the 4 August blast, few have faith in the state to help.
Middle East dispatch: MBS purge, dam dispute, refugees in jeopardy
As Covid-19 threatens some of the world’s most vulnerable, power plays continue in northern Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Middle East dispatch: A paper closes, a rift opens, Syria slips
New hostilities between Turkey and Syria mark another blow to the Astana process and further tragedy for civilians.
The Kurds are again caught in the crossfire, now between US and Iran
Yet the Kurds may gamble to play the two adversaries off against each other to finally achieve an independent state.
Ending Iran’s regional ransom
Tehran may further strike back over Soleimani, but it has freely carried out attacks across the region for a long time.
Iran: When maximum pressure collides with indefinite defiance
After a bad month, the regime in Tehran might be floundering, but it is far from falling.
Erdoğan’s treachery can’t sway Trump’s affections
Despite Turkey’s glaring betrayals, the US president gave Recep Erdoğan a glowing welcome last week in Washington.
Protests in Lebanon are a problem for Hezbollah
A rare and unified anti-sectarian agenda could quickly unravel as religious identities and old grievances take hold.
