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OISÍN McILROY | I’m an Irish journalist based in Beirut with experience covering politics, conflict, and culture.

I focus on Lebanon and Syria, but my work for The Independent, The New Arab, BBC and elsewhere has spanned Europe, the US, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel.

On my WESTERN PERIPHERIES substack, I cover the politics and conflict stories neglected by the front pages.

oisinmcilroy5[at]gmail[dot]com \ o-mcilroy.bsky.social | @oisin_mcilroy

Recent Work and Highlights

Israeli troops ski into Lebanon as Netanyahu expands invasion (The Independent)

Intensifying IDF activity in the country’s south, including the coordinated destruction of homes, have prompted fears of a long-term occupation

The ‘zombie’ ships appearing in the Strait of Hormuz after they were scrapped for parts (The Independent)

Reports suggest the vessels transitioned through Iranian waters and may have paid the IRGC $2m to pass

Killed while keeping the peace: UN’s blue helmets to leave behind a Lebanon in a tailspin into death and destruction (The Independent)

Under terms agreed by the UN Security Council, the ‘blue helmets’ will begin to withdraw from the war-torn region at the end of this year.

Where to watch as UN forced to half 2026 aid expectations (Western Peripheries)

As Gaza and Ukraine continue to dominate newsroom running-orders, here’s where international aid cuts could be most harmful and least noticed.

Syria’s Decisive Year: Routing sectarian strife and political Islam (Western Peripheries)

With the conflict not yet settled, what happens in 2026 will determine whether 2025 is remembered as the Syrian Civil War’s intermission or its conclusion.

Pro-Palestine student activists in UK left disappointed by ‘mixed bag’ free speech guidelines for universities (The New Arab)

Intensifying IDF activity in the country’s south, including the coordinated destruction of homes, have prompted fears of a long-term occupation

How glide bombs will shape the future of the war in Ukraine (The Independent)

Analysts say the weapons are increasingly making a difference on the battlefield due to their low cost and explosive power

Exiled Hong Kong activists urge tougher stance against Chinese ‘aggression’ (NorthWestLondoner)

Hong Kong pro-democracy activists exiled in London call for toughened responses from Whitehall to Beijing’s recent steps in the former British colony.