02-07-2025
Abbas Dahouk: Unconventional Path of Military Acumen, Diplomatic Vision
A distinguished career has positioned Colonel (Ret.) Abbas Dahouk as one of the select few experts who combine diplomatic wisdom and military prowess.
Born and raised in Lebanon, Col. Dahouk experienced the brutal realities of the Lebanese Civil War firsthand, before making the pivotal decision of moving to the US.
There, he enlisted in the US Army, establishing an esteemed career that saw him holding numerous senior roles. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping US defense strategy in the Middle East. Lebanon Civil War: A Defining Experience
Col. Abbas Dahouk was born in Bakline, a prominent Druze town located about 45 kilometers southeast of Beirut, Lebanon. Living through the horrors of the Lebanese Civil War during the late 1970s and 1980s, Col. Dahouk joined a local militia, known as the People's Liberation Army, at the age of 15. He also completed his unconventional military training in Crimea, in the former Soviet Union, at the age of 17.
However, the brutality of the war left him deeply frustrated, prompting him to seek a new path. At this critical juncture, Col. Dahouk decided to travel to the US to pursue his higher education. The American Dream
At the age of 21, Col. Dahouk moved to the US, seeking to enroll in a university for one year. 'I was born in Lebanon and when I came to the US, I could barely speak English. My plan was to have one year of university study,' he recounted in an interview.
'I was 20, almost 21, when I came to the US. And I grew up through the Civil War, so my chance to come and stay in the US was a dream. This American dream still captivates many across the world,' Col. Dahouk said.
In a turning point, he decided to enlist in the US Army, where he served for over 33 years. Col. Dahouk takes pride in his military service, as few Arabs could join the US Army in the 1980s. Remarkable Military Career
Col. Abbas Dahouk joined the US Army as an Airborne Cavalry Scout. Upon his graduation from the Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 1991, he was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer.
He began his military career at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, serving as a Fire Support Officer with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 82nd Airborne Division.
His key assignments included serving as Platoon Leader, and Battalion Intelligencer Officer with 3rd Battalion 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Col. Dahouk's military career included holding several leadership roles in countries across the Middle East and Europe, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Afghanistan, and Germany. Military Expertise in Diplomatic Service
Building upon his distinguished military career, Col. Abbas Dahouk entered the realm of international relations where he drew upon his remarkable strategic acumen and operational insight.
Bridging uniform and diplomacy, Col. Dahouk played a pivotal role at the intersection of defense policy and foreign affairs, assuming key senior positions where his military expertise in diplomatic service proved invaluable.
Col. Dahouk served as a Senior Political-Military Advisor to the Bureau of the Near Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State, from July 2017 to December 2018, where he played a key role in supporting policy with CENTCOM, EUCOM, and AFRICOM.
Before that, he was the Defense and Army Attaché at the US Embassy in Riyadh, from December 2013 to July 2017.
From November 2010 to November 2013, Col. Dahouk served as a Senior Military Advisor on Pakistan and Afghanistan Security Assistance for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the US Department of State.
He was also Military Programs Director at the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, from June 2006 to June 2008, and Director of US- Saudi Mission Relations and Political-Military Affairs at the US Military Training Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April 2004 to June 2006. Academic Path
Beyond his military and diplomatic accomplishments, Col. Abbas Dahouk boasts an esteemed academic path which further solidified his expertise. He holds a BS in Mathematics and a BA in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Arizona. Moreover, he has a BA in Military Science from the Sultanate of Oman Joint Command and Staff College.
Col. Dahouk also holds an MA in Strategic Studies from the Army War College, and an MA in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. Furthermore, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Arabic and Persian (Farsi) at the US Military Academy in West Point, from June 2008 to October 2010. Bridging US-Arab Relations
Col. Abbas Dahouk has made great contributions to promoting US-Arab strategic ties, harnessing his unparalleled expertise and knowledge of both American and Middle Eastern affairs.
'The experiences of my key engagements from Washington DC to the Middle East have enabled me to hone my ability to describe, analyze, comprehend and assess a range of phenomena, factors, and forces that most Americans are seldom if ever exposed to,' Dahouk said.
He is the founder and President of HyphenPoint LLC, an advisory firm that helps in developing partnerships between US security and private sectors and their counterparts in the MENA region.
Moreover, Col. Dahouk is a member of the Board of Directors at the National Council on US-Arab Relations, a non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization that aims to improve American awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the Arab countries, the Middle East, and the Islamic world.
He is also a member of the Advisory Board at the Arab-American Business and Professional Association, and a founding member of the Princeton Veterans Alumni Association. Honors and Recognition
Col. Dahouk's impressive achievements have earned him multiple accolades and awards. His dedication and exceptional service culminated in his induction in the OCS Hall of Fame in 2019.
Furthermore, he received numerous medals and honors, including the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit Medal; and National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation.
He also earned the King Salman of Saudi Arabia Military Appreciation Medal-First Class; Global War on Terrorism Medal –Expeditionary and Service; South West Asia Medal (2 BS); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); Multinational Forces and Observers Medal; German Sportsman Badge; and Master Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab. Visionary Insights
Col. Abbas Dahouk is a frequent political and military commentator for reputable media outlets. He offers far-sighted views and anticipatory analyses on current geopolitical issues, which have repeatedly proven to be correct.
Just right before the Israeli attack on Iran, which took place on June 13, 2025, Col. Dahouk rightly predicted that the US movements in the Middle East signaled a preparation for a strike against Iran and at the same time a way to pressure the Iranian regime to reach a diplomatic solution.
He said that the readiness level was high as 'both the US and Israel are preparing the region for either a unilateral action by Israel or an action supported by the US.'
Once again, Col. Dahouk anticipated that the US would strike Iran's nuclear facilities. 'The military preparations seem to be at its peak,' he said, adding that the US military movements in the region aimed to 'prepare for what could be a major strike on specific targets inside Iran.'
He precisely said that the US intervention 'will be very specific and will target certain nuclear facilities, namely the Fordo nuclear compound, which requires US assets to destroy it.'
Moreover, when the US President, Donald Trump, assumed office in January 2025, Col. Dahouk foresaw a strong US military action against the Houthis. 'Trump will not tolerate any other threats to the US navy in the region and the near-daily Houthi attacks by Iranian missiles and drones,' he said.
'He will likely respond forcefully to prevent future attacks. He may also hold Iran responsible for any damage caused to the US military personnel,' Col. Dahouk predicted.
Then, in March 2025, Trump ordered a 'decisive and powerful' military action against the Houthis in Yemen, in response to their attacks against US ships, aircraft and drones.
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