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Lebanon Ceasefire Opens a Diplomatic Window, Now Comes the Hard Part

Amal Chmouny 02/05 18:40 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon Ceasefire Donald Trump Lebanese Army Benjamin Netanyahu

When the ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel met at the White House on April 23, it was the kind of image that would have seemed unthinkable just months earlier. Their joint appearance alongside President Donald Trump — to announce a three-week extension of the cessation of hostilities — was a shift from decades of indirect, back-channel ...

How Hezbollah's Coordination Unit Continues to Influence Lebanese Security

Ralph Atrach 06/05 20:10 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Amal Lebanese Army Internal Security Forces

The Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) recent raids in a southern suburb of Beirut to apprehend gunmen were coordinated with Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit, a security source told This Is Beirut, highlighting the unit’s continuing influence over security measures in Lebanon. In a tense standoff Sunday, Hezbollah supporters blocked ...

Iran Activates Air Defenses as Trump Faces Congressional Deadline

This is Beirut 01/05 07:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Gulf Iran United States

Tehran's air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday, as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war. The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that air defence systems, heard in some parts of the Iranian capital, were activated "to counter small aircraft ...

If Boycotting Israel Requires a Law, Is It Truly Popular?

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 27/04 11:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel Hassan Nasrallah Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah

Hezbollah and its global Intifada allies claim that the overwhelming majority of Lebanese, Arabs, and people of conscience view Israel as pure evil, a cancer to be eradicated. Yet if this hatred is truly so deep and universal, why does Lebanon still need to enforce its heavy-handed law boycotting Israel? The statute criminalizes any contact with ...

Iran Fires 'Warning Shots' as U.S. Navy Says Its Ships Entered Gulf Via Hormuz

This is Beirut 04/05 17:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gulf Donald Trump Middle East Tehran United Arab Emirates USIranWar

Iran's navy fired 'warning shots' at U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, state media said, after the American military sent cruisers into the Gulf as part of a plan to help trapped commercial vessels leave. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced a plan to guide ships from neutral countries out of the Gulf, saying it was a ...

U.S.-Iran Ceasefire on Brink as UAE Reports Attacks

This is Beirut 05/05 04:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Ceasefire United States Iran

A ceasefire between Iran and the United States was teetering Monday as the two countries traded fire over the strategic Strait of Hormuz and the United Arab Emirates reported attacks for the first time since the truce was declared nearly a month ago. A day after President Donald Trump announced an operation to escort trapped vessels through the ...

U.S. Awaits Iran Response to Latest Deal Offer

This is Beirut 07/05 18:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Gulf Hezbollah

The United States was waiting on Thursday for Iran to respond to its latest proposed deal to end the war in the Middle East and to reopen the key shipping lane out of the Gulf. Oil prices tumbled five percent after U.S. President Donald Trump said once again that an agreement could be near after positive talks and Iran said it would pass on its ...

Iran Keeps U.S. Waiting for Response on Peace Plan

This is Beirut 09/05 17:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran USA Hormuz Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Trump Negotiations

Iran questioned the seriousness of American diplomacy on Saturday in the wake of renewed naval clashes in the Gulf, while keeping Washington waiting for a response to its latest negotiating position. U.S. President Donald Trump had said on Friday that he was expecting Iran's response to Washington's latest proposal for a deal to extend a fragile ...

Trump Warns Iran Better 'Get Smart Soon' and Accept Nuclear Deal

This is Beirut 29/04 15:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran Washington

President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday that it should "get smart soon" and capitulate to Washington's demands for tight controls on its nuclear programme, as a US naval blockade turned the screws on Iran's economy. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was due to testify before Congress later in the day, but US press reports ...

Bound to Tehran: How Hezbollah Is Unraveling Lebanon's Ceasefire

Samar El-Kadi 01/05 12:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Ceasefire UN Security Council AUB Hezbollah

The ceasefire in Lebanon remains fragile amid the state’s inability to fully assert control on the ground. Hezbollah is continuing its military operations, while Israeli retaliation for the group’s attacks keeps Lebanon caught in a cycle of escalation with no clear end in sight. The Lebanon-Israel truce announced by the U.S. on April ...

Lebanon Sees Fiercest Escalation Since Ceasefire as Israeli Strikes Reach South of Beirut

This is Beirut 09/05 22:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Ceasefire Beirut Disarmament

Lebanon witnessed its most severe military escalation since the April ceasefire on Saturday, as Israeli airstrikes expanded beyond southern border areas and struck locations south of Beirut for the first time since the truce took effect. The escalation came amid growing uncertainty surrounding the fragile ceasefire agreement and only days before ...

Iran Says 'No Decision' on Whether to Attend Next Round of U.S. Talks

This is Beirut 20/04 09:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Middle East

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday it has yet to reach a decision on whether to attend the next round of talks with the United States. "As of now, while I am at your service, we have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press ...

Gulf Clash Threatens Hopes for Quick U.S.-Iran Deal

This is Beirut 08/05 13:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran USA Trump Hormuz Negotiations Lebanon Hezbollah USIranWar

A new clash between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Gulf dented optimism for a negotiated peace Friday, despite President Donald Trump insisting a shaky truce was still holding while the sides inch towards a deal. U.S. Central Command said Iranian forces had launched missiles, drones, and small boats at three U.S. warships overnight but that none ...

Prime Minister Salam: No Retreat on State Authority as Lebanon Moves to Enforce Weapons Monopoly in Beirut

This is Beirut 04/05 18:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Ceasefire Disarmament Beirut

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared on Monday in a joint press conference with the Lebanese Interior Minister that the government will move forward with enforcing full state control over Beirut, stressing that there will be “no retreat” from the decision to restrict weapons to state institutions. Speaking after a meeting of ...

From War To Business Suits: What Peace with Israel Could Mean for Lebanon's Economy

Ralph Atrach 17/04 23:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Nawaf Salam Gulf Hezbollah

As Lebanese and Israeli officials met face to face in Washington for the first time in decades, the war with Hezbollah dominated headlines, but the prospect of future economic ties between Jerusalem and Beirut came into view. Following the meeting, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter brought up the potential windfalls of peace. “The ...

Majd Harb Calls for Reform of Lebanon’s Boycott Law with Israel

This is Beirut 07/05 14:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel

Lebanese attorney and political activist Majd Harb announced on Thursday that he is preparing two draft laws aimed at amending Lebanon’s legislation related to “collaboration with Israel,” saying he intends to present the proposals to supportive MPs and parliamentary blocs following the conference. Harb said the first proposal seeks to ...

Rubio is Right, a Vetted and Trained Lebanese Army Could be the Answer

Seth J. Frantzman 30/04 11:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Palestine

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made an important announcement when he said that Washington is developing a plan to pursue Hezbollah’s disarmament by building up trusted units within the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). “We’re working towards establishing… a system that actually works where vetted units within the Lebanese Armed Forces ...

U.S. Says Ball in Iran's Court as Push Grows to End War

This is Beirut 14/04 12:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Gulf New York

The United States said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the Mideast war, as diplomats accelerated efforts on Tuesday towards a new round of peace talks after weekend negotiations failed to produce a deal. US Vice President JD Vance had left talks hosted by Pakistan on Sunday, saying he had handed Tehran the "final and best offer".Iran ...

Beyond Mediation: How Washington Is Recasting Lebanon–Israel Negotiations

Jeremy Brecher 22/04 21:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

United States Lebanon Israel Negotiations Trump

The U.S. is set to mediate a second round of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials on Thursday as part of the first such series of direct negotiations between the two sides since 1993. These diplomatic engagements come nearly a year and a half after the previous Lebanon-Israel ceasefire framework. In November 2024 under the Biden ...

A State Decides: Lebanon's Bet on Direct Talks with Israel

Amal Chmouny 20/04 13:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Donald Trump Lebanese Army Hezbollah

For the first time in decades, the U.S. has brokered direct talks between Lebanon and Israel, beginning with a 10-day cessation of hostilities and a commitment to negotiate in good faith. Washington says lasting calm will require the Lebanese state to reassert sovereignty over non-state arms. President Donald Trump said the initiative had created ...

Why Hezbollah and Israel May Be Betting Against the Lebanon Truce

Marwan El Amine 28/04 10:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Donald Trump Lebanese Army

The Lebanon–Israel truce, extended by three weeks last Thursday, is already being put to the test. Escalating military exchanges in southern Lebanon are exposing both its fragility and the complicated political realities surrounding it. Both Israel and Hezbollah appear to see a potential breakdown of the truce as an opportunity to reshuffle the ...

Lebanon Says Israel Strikes Kill 14 in Deadliest day Since Truce

This is Beirut 27/04 01:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Benjamin Netanyahu United Nations Hezbollah

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Sunday killed 14 people, the deadliest day since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war came into force over a week ago. It came as Israel and the Iran-backed group traded fresh accusations of breaching the fragile truce, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the ...

Arrival of Third U.S. Carrier Marks First Triple Deployment in Middle East Since 2003

This is Beirut 27/04 11:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Middle East United States USA

For the first time since the 2003 Iraq War, the United States has deployed three aircraft carrier strike groups simultaneously to the Middle East, marking a major escalation in its military posture in the region, according to the United States Central Command. The latest deployment follows the arrival of the USS George H. W. Bush strike group, ...

Trump Says U.S. Not Likely to Accept New Iran Peace Proposal

This is Beirut 03/05 09:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Trump Iran USA Negotiations Islamabad USIranWar

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he would review a new Iranian peace proposal but cast doubt over its prospects as he left open the possibility of future attacks on Iran. Negotiations between the two countries have been deadlocked since a ceasefire came into effect on April 8, with one round of peace talks to end the more than two-month ...

Iran Says Won't Reopen Hormuz as Long as U.S. Blockade Remains

This is Beirut 23/04 08:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Lebanon Amal Gulf

Iran's vow not to reopen the Strait of Hormuz -- so long as a U.S. naval blockade remained in place -- was held into Thursday despite a ceasefire extension, as the Gulf nation announced the seizure of two ships trying to cross the strategic waterway. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said late Wednesday that it had also "directed 31 vessels ...

Trump’s Deal of the Century for Lebanon

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 04/05 09:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Benjamin Netanyahu Banks EDL

Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas do not end wars; they only pause them. They make limited concessions to secure a ceasefire, only to exploit the fragile status quo to rearm and prepare for the next round. This is why they shun direct negotiations, whether between Lebanon and Israel or the U.S. and Iran, preferring instead to haggle over irrelevant ...

Iran Offers New Proposal Amid Stalled U.S. Peace Talks

This is Beirut 01/05 17:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran USA Negotiations USIranWar Israel

According to Iranian state media reporting on Friday, Iran delivered a new proposal for peace talks with the U.S. via mediator Pakistan, with negotiations between the two sides frozen despite a weeks-long ceasefire. The text of the proposal was handed to Islamabad on Thursday evening, the IRNA news agency reported. The war, launched by the ...