Every conflict in the Middle East is a move on a vast, hidden chessboard. Nations maneuver for advantage, building alliances and supporting proxies in a game where the stakes are nothing less than the fate of entire regions. At the center of this web is the figure of Qasem Soleimani, a strategist whose influence extended from Tehran to Beirut and beyond. His ability to communicate directly with leaders and militias made him one of the most powerful—and controversial—players in the world of covert operations.
Proxy warfare is the rule, not the exception. Major powers fund, arm, and advise local militias, turning civil wars into global contests. Every alliance is temporary, every rivalry a potential spark for new conflict. The impact is felt in bustling marketplaces, remote villages, and the halls of power alike. Ordinary people live with the consequences of decisions made far away, while leaders weigh the risks and rewards of every covert move.
The chessboard is always shifting, and peace is never guaranteed. But understanding the game is the first step toward changing it. This is the story of the hidden hands that shape our world—and the hope that, someday, the game will end in peace rather than perpetual conflict.
Want to explore more insights from this book?
Read the full book summary