Which Strategic Israeli Installations is Hezb Targeting?

On Sunday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on military production sites and an airbase in northern Israel. "In retaliation for the beeper and walkie-talkie explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at the Rafael military industrial complex in northern Israel," the Iran-backed group stated. Rafael Systems, ...

What Is a Pager?

Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters were injured on Tuesday in Dahiyé, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. The cause: the explosion of their pagers, likely after being hacked by Israel. Predecessor to Mobile Phones A pager, or beeper, is a mobile communication device widely used before the rise of mobile phones. Its main purpose is to receive ...

Israel-Lebanon: Between Psychological Warfare and Operational Preparation

In Lebanon, August 2024 was exceptionally intense, characterized by sweltering temperatures and escalating geopolitical tensions. The assassinations of Fouad Shokr in Beirut’s southern suburbs and Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran cast a month-long shadow of a potential regional war, with Lebanon once again at risk of becoming a battlefield. However, ...

The West Bank: The Other Challenge in the Israel-Hamas Conflict

In the early hours of Wednesday, August 28, the Israeli military announced a major operation in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, targeting localities such as Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarem. This operation is the largest in the area since October 7. Although this operation is more extensive than previous ones, it is part of a broader ...

How Much Does a Sonic Boom Cost?

"It is more common to love God than your neighbor because it costs less," said the French writer Alfred Bougeard. A proverb that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) seems to be trying to put into practice in the skies of Lebanon. A practice highlighted, beyond the bombings devastating the south of the country — and sometimes the east — by a scene ...

Tunisia: Final Stretch for a Locked-Up Presidential Election

The suspense in Tunisia has come to an end this Sunday, August 11: The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), responsible for organizing and supervising elections, has released the final list of candidates for the presidential election, which will take place on October 6. This will mark the fourth election since the 2011 overthrow of ...

Who is Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Potential New Top Diplomat?

The name of the possible new Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, was announced on Sunday by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Araghchi could therefore succeed Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, assuming he receives the approval of Parliament and Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei. As a reminder, his predecessor died in a helicopter crash in May ...

Israeli Intelligence, the Nemesis of Pro-Iranian Axis

A thunderbolt struck on the morning of July 31: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, visiting Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, was killed in a strike, which was likely carried out by Israel. This was the second assassination of a high-ranking member of the Iranian axis in 48 hours. The previous day, Fouad ...

Zoom in on the Falaq-1 Rocket That Hit Majdal Shams

As the town of Majdal Shams, located on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, is still recovering after the missile attack that killed twelve people, the Israeli army has reported that the projectile was likely an Iranian-made Falaq-1 rocket. We know it is a Falaq rocket with a 53 kg warhead," said Israeli Army Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevi. ...

China: Navigating the Gordian Knot of Palestinian Rivalries

Palestinian factions announced the signing of a “national unity” in agreement on Tuesday, July 23, in Beijing. This is Beirut spoke with researcher Guy Burton, a specialist in Sino-Middle Eastern relations, to highlight China's role in the Levant. On Tuesday, July 23, Musa Abu Marzouk, a senior official in Hamas’ political bureau, announced ...

France’s Week of Decisive Political Battles

The results of the July 7 legislative elections have confirmed an unprecedented situation under the Fifth Republic. Three more or less cohesive blocs, none capable of dominating the other two to wield power, are gearing up for a series of consultations in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, to prepare the new ...

The Secret Service: From Anti-Fraud Enforcement to VIP Protection

The image went viral worldwide: Trump, fist raised beneath the star-spangled banner, escorted by his security detail. Men in dark suits and sunglasses, representing an agency whose enigmatic name might mislead many about its true mission: The United States Secret Service (USSS). It is one of the oldest federal agencies in charge of law ...

French Legislative Elections: Where Do We Go Now?

The day after the second round of the French legislative elections, which defied expectations, the question of forming the next government remains on everyone's lips. Indeed, no bloc seems capable of reaching an absolute majority to govern effectively. While the left-wing alliance around the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) came out on top with 193 ...

Israel: The Submarine Scandal That Could Torpedo Netanyahu

An Israeli commission investigating suspicions of wrongdoing in the purchase of submarines and warships from Germany by the Israeli government issued a warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, according to information reported by Reuters. This commission reportedly informed Netanyahu that, based on the evidence gathered so far, it ...

Akrotiri and Dhekelia: The Last British Remnants in Cyprus

Cyprus is home to two British-operated military bases, Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These bases have been brought to the fore at a time when Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is directly threatening Nicosia. A key point from Hezbollah's Secretary General's latest speech was the threats directed at the Republic of Cyprus. He warned, "We will ...

Immigration in France: Amidst Divisions and Media Hype

A ruthless victory. That's how one might label the success of the National Rally (RN) list, led by Jordan Bardella (31.3%) in the European elections in France on Sunday, June 9. This marked a significant lead over the presidential majority by nearly 17 points (14.6%). The campaign that led to this score notably revolved around a pivotal debate: ...

Iran's Interim Ruler VP Mohammad Mokhber, a Pure Product of Islamic Republic

A prominent and influential figure in Iranian politics today, Mohammad Mokhber has held the position of First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran since August 2021. Following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, he replaces the latter, according to the Iranian constitution. IRGC officer Born into a clerical family on May 11, 1955, ...

Lebanese Skies Are Becoming Increasingly Dangerous for Israel

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, a "cat-and-mouse game" between Israeli drones and Hezb air defense has steadily emerged in Lebanese skies. As a new Israeli drone was shot down on Monday, Ici Beyrouth takes a look at the main equipment involved. On Monday, Israeli forces reported the interception of one of their drones above the village ...

Israel-Iran: Saber Rattling and Rhetorical War

Since the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, the war of words between the two countries has shown no signs of abating. While US officials fear an imminent retaliation, calls for calm are rising around the world. Since the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which left 16 people dead, including seven ...

Israeli Withdrawal from Southern Gaza: Hope for Peace or Tactical Move?

The Israeli decision to withdraw its forces from Khan Younes on Sunday raises questions, especially in light of recent American pressures. Is it a prelude to a lasting ceasefire or a mere delay before a powerful comeback towards Rafah? The Israeli military announced on Sunday the near-complete withdrawal of its forces from southern Gaza. This ...

Key Entry Points for Aid Delivery in Gaza

The announcement, made on Friday by the Netanyahu government, of the opening of the Erez-Beit Hanoun border crossing aims to facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Here's an overview of the primary ways of delivering aid to the enclave: by land, by air or by sea. On Friday, April 5, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ...

Daesh: The Return of the Jihadist Specter?

The attack that struck Moscow on March 22 highlights the resurgence of the jihadist group Daesh worldwide, spanning from the Middle East to Africa. This time, with the Khorasan cell firmly established in Central Asia leading the charge. The Russian invasion of Ukraine had previously monopolized attention, while the conflict between Israel and ...

Mohammed Moustafa, Palestinian Economist Turned Prime Minister

On Thursday, March 14, Mohammed Moustafa was designated by Mahmoud Abbas as the new Palestinian Prime Minister. Behind the name lies a seasoned economist whose proximity to the Palestinian President can do him harm. On Thursday, March 14, the name of the former prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh – who left office on Monday, February 26 – was ...

Iran Elections Emptied of Their Substance

A double ballot is scheduled to take place in Iran on Friday, March 1. In a country where power remains monopolized by the mullahs, what is the true significance of these elections? This Is Beirut contacted Bernard Hourcade, director of the CeRMI (Centre de recherche sur le monde iranien), to answer these questions. On Friday, March 1, about 61 ...

Is the Iranian Axis on the Defensive?

In the days following the drone attack on the Syrian-Jordanian border, two key players within the Iranian axis announced the suspension of their attacks on American positions in Iraq and Syria. Amid fears of retaliation and a wish to negotiate from a position of strength, let's revisit this unexpected turn of events. On Tuesday, January 30, the ...

Qatar, Netanyahu’s New Scapegoat

In recent days, Netanyahu and his political allies have been launching attacks against Qatar. This trend is far from trivial and reveals a new aspect of the Israeli Prime Minister's uncompromising strategy, according to political analyst Karim Sader. On Wednesday January 24, Israeli Channel 12 broadcast an audio recording of Netanyahu with ...

Red Sea: Global Trade Hub

The strikes carried out by the international coalition in the Red Sea since the beginning of the year once again illustrate the importance of this body of water for global maritime trade. Here are the key points to understand the specifics of this vital artery of major strategic importance. Since October 7, 2023, the Red Sea has gradually become ...

Insight into "Prosperity Guardian" Operation in Six Key Points

Led by the United States, the "Prosperity Guardian" operation, which involves approximately a dozen countries, aims to protect the Red Sea from attacks launched by the Houthis based in Yemen. Here are six key points outlining the primary features of this deployment. On Wednesday, December 27, two of the world's major shipping companies, the ...

Operations in Ukraine Remain Unabated Despite Winter

While the world’s attention remains focused on the raging conflict between Israel and Hamas and its allies in the Iranian axis, another conflict continues to cause widespread devastation. Despite the shift in media attention, Ukraine and Russia persistently strive to achieve their objectives on all fronts, employing every possible means. As ...

Essequibo, the Next Geopolitical Hot Spot?

On December 3rd, Venezuelans will cast their votes on the annexation of Essequibo, a region under the governance of Guyana but claimed by Caracas. The outcome of the vote raises concerns about a potential military conflict between the two South American countries. After Ukraine and the Middle East, is Latin America on the brink of a new escalation ...