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U.S. Downs Iranian Drone Flying Toward Aircraft Carrier
This is Beirut 04/02 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
A U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. The drone “aggressively approached” the aircraft carrier with “unclear intent” and kept flying toward it “despite deescalatory measures taken by ...
‘Moment Could Be Fleeting’: U.S. Congressional Hearing on Curbing Hezbollah
This is Beirut 03/02 19:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
United States Lebanon Hezbollah Disarmament Reform
Policy experts told the U.S. Congress that dismantling Hezbollah’s malign influence in Lebanon will require leveraging Washington’s support for Beirut to secure measurable progress on the militant group’s disarmament, as well as political and financial reforms, thereby strengthening state sovereignty. On Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs ...
The Transatlantic Alliance Will Survive Just Fine
David Hale 28/01 18:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
USA Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Europe Israel
Media and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic are hyping the idea that President Trump's attempt to gain sovereign control of Greenland has caused unprecedented and irreparable damage to the over 75 year-old Transatlantic Alliance. This "analysis" stems from multiple sources. On both sides of the ocean, there are those who pounce on any ...
U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Sanction Election Interference in Lebanon
This is Beirut 04/02 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Amal Elections Sanctions
U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on February 2 that would authorize President Trump to impose sanctions on foreign individuals or entities accused of interfering in Lebanon’s electoral process, including efforts to obstruct voting by Lebanese citizens living abroad. The legislation would allow the president, in consultation with senior ...
Erbil Set to Host New Syria-Kurdish Talks as Ceasefire Strains in the North
This is Beirut 22/01 16:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Ceasefire Damascus USA Kurds SDF Erbil
A new round of negotiations between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is set to take place in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Kurdish sources cited by Al Arabiya, as efforts intensify to salvage a ceasefire and revive talks over the future of northeastern Syria. The planned meetings come just days after ...
U.S. Intelligence Assesses Iran’s Leadership at Its Weakest Point Since 1979
This is Beirut 27/01 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Iran USA Trump IranCrisis USPolicy
U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran’s ruling establishment is facing its most fragile moment in decades, as President Donald Trump receives multiple intelligence briefings indicating that the government’s grip on power has reached its weakest point since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to reports cited by the New York ...
Syria Says It Arrested Terrorist Cell and Seized Hezbollah-Linked Drones and Missiles in Rif Dimashq
This is Beirut 06/02 21:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria’s Ministry of the Interior announced that it cracked down on terrorist cells in the Rif Dimashq Governorate and captured military hardware and weapons linked to Hezbollah, according to a report from Nidaa al-Watan. In the operation, internal security forces arrested all members of the cell and seized Hezbollah drones, missiles, and ...
UNRWA in the Crosshairs: U.S. Weighs Unprecedented Sanctions
Amal Chmouny 2025-12-22 10:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
United Nations Lebanon Donald Trump Hamas UNRWA
In the shadow of the Gaza conflict, a quiet but consequential debate is unfolding in Washington over whether the U.S. should designate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) as a terrorist-affiliated entity and impose sweeping sanctions. A move once viewed as unthinkable is now the subject of urgent policy deliberations, with senior ...
Netanyahu to Prioritize Discussions on Iran During Washington Visit
This is Beirut 10/02 12:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Iran Israel Trump USA USIranTalks Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said he would prioritise discussions on negotiations with Iran when he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this week. "On this trip we will discuss a range of issues: Gaza, the region, but of course first and foremost the negotiations with Iran. I will present to the ...
Iraq PM Candidate Maliki Denounces Trump's 'Blatant' Interference
This is Beirut 28/01 14:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump United States Washington
Iraq's main candidate for the premiership Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday denounced Washington's "blatant interference", after President Donald Trump threatened to end all support to the country if Maliki took the post. The US has held significant sway over Iraqi politics since leading the 2003 invasion that ousted long-time ruler ...
PRESS RELEASE From Setbacks to Solutions: The Journey Toward Israel-Lebanon Peace and Regional Integration
This is Beirut 11/02 19:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Israel Benny Gantz Hezbollah Palestine
THIS IS BEIRUT AND MIND ISRAEL CO-HOST PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE ABOUT LEBANON-ISRAEL PEACE The panel, which will be livestreamed, will discuss the setbacks and progress made as Lebanon and Israel engage in dialogue, and will look ahead to the road toward peace (MUNICH): On Saturday, February 14 at 12:30 PM (Eastern ...
Iran Army Chief Warns U.S., Israel Against Attack, Says Forces on High Alert
This is Beirut 31/01 13:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Iran UnitedStates Trump Isreal
Iranian army chief Amir Hatami on Saturday warned the United States and Israel against an attack, saying his country's forces were on high alert following Washington's heavy military deployments in the Gulf. He also insisted the Islamic republic's nuclear expertise could not be eliminated, after Trump said he expected Tehran to seek a deal to ...
Trump Confirms Speaking to Iran, Says He Plans to Again
This is Beirut 30/01 11:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump Israel Tehran USA Washington
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday evening that he intends to hold talks with Iran. When asked by reporters about the possibility of talks with Tehran, Trump said, "Yes. I intend that. We have a lot of very large and powerful ships heading to Iran right now, and it would be great not to have to use them.” Asked if ...
U.S. Launches Regional Air Readiness Drill in the Middle East
This is Beirut 26/01 10:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
USA Middle East Donald Trump USMilitary USNavy Iran
The United States will conduct a multi-day air readiness exercise across the Middle East, aimed at demonstrating the ability to deploy, distribute, and sustain combat air capabilities throughout the region, according to a statement issued Sunday by U.S. Central Command, as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the region ...
Chevron Signs Agreement with Syria and Qatari Conglomerate for Syrian Energy Exploration
This is Beirut 04/02 19:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Syria United States Qatar Energy
Chevron has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Petroleum Company and UCC Holding, a Qatari conglomerate, on assessing offshore oil and gas exploration off Syria’s coast, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. U.S. Syria envoy Tom Barrack also attended the signing of the agreement, signaling U.S. approval as the ...
French FM: Iran Must Stop Being a 'Destabilizing Power'
This is Beirut 06/02 09:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanese Army Emmanuel Macron Lebanon Internal Security Forces Joseph Aoun Michel Issa France United States
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said during a visit to Lebanon that Iran should stop being a "destabilizing power", citing its nuclear program and support for "terrorist" groups that threaten regional and European countries. During a press conference in Beirut, where the government has committed to disarming the ...
Do Syria’s Former Regime Networks Really Command 168,000 Fighters?
This Is Beirut 03/01 00:05 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Syria Lebanon AssadRegime AhmadAl-Sharaa
As Syria tries to stabilize after years of devastating war, a new and unsettling narrative has emerged: claims that remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s former regime command an armed force of up to 168,000 fighters, allegedly preparing for renewed confrontation. The figure, revealed through leaked documents and intercepted communications obtained ...
Trump Expects Iran to Seek Deal to Avoid U.S. Strikes
This is Beirut 31/01 09:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump USA Tehran Iran IranProtests
President Donald Trump predicted on Friday that Iran would seek to negotiate a deal rather than face American military action, despite Tehran warning that its arsenal of missiles would never be up for discussion. "I can say this, they do want to make a deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Asked if he had given Iran a deadline to enter ...
Iranian Authorities Arrest Several Prominent Reformist Figures: Fars News Agency
This is Beirut 09/02 09:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Iranian authorities on Sunday arrested three reformist figures including the head of Iran's Reform Front coalition, Azar Mansouri, the Fars news agency reported. "Azar Mansouri, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, and Mohsen Aminzadeh were arrested by security and judicial institutions," the agency said. "The accusations against these individuals include ...
Iraq Says to Start Legal Proceedings against IS Detainees Moved from Syria
This is Beirut 22/01 22:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Iraq's judiciary said Thursday it would launch legal proceedings against Islamic State group detainees transferred from Syria to Iraq as part of a US operation. "The Iraqi judiciary will begin standard legal proceedings against the defendants who are received and placed in the relevant correctional institutions," the Supreme Judicial Council ...
Graham Cuts Haykal Meeting Short After LAF Chief Refuses to Label Hezbollah Terrorist
This is Beirut 06/02 00:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon United States Rodolphe Haykal Lindsay Gram Hezbollah
Lebanese Armed Forces Chief of Defense Gen. Rodolphe Haykal’s Thursday meeting with Senator Lindsay Graham ended early after Haykal stated that he did not consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization. In a post on X describing his meeting, Graham stated that “I asked [Haykal] if he believes Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. He ...
UNIFIL to Withdraw Majority of Troops in Lebanon by Mid 2027
This is Beirut 10/02 14:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Lebanese Army UN Security Council United Nations Hezbollah UNIFIL UN Italy France Israel
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is preparing to withdraw most of its troops from Lebanon by mid-2027, following the expiration of its mandate, spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told AFP on Tuesday. UNIFIL, which has served for decades as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, has recently been supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces ...
Hezbollah’s Qassem Rejects State Authority, Frames Conflict as Existential Battle
This is Beirut 03/02 15:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army United States Naim Qassem
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem on Tuesday adopted a defiant tone toward Lebanese officials and state institutions, rejecting any internal pressure on the group and reaffirming Hezbollah’s commitment to armed confrontation, while framing regional tensions as an existential battle against what he described as American and Israeli ...
Iran FM: U.S.-Iran Talks Held In a “Very Positive Atmosphere”
This is Beirut 06/02 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
USA Donald Trump Gulf Israel Middle East Abbas Araghchi Iran Tehran Oman
Iran and the United States held indirect, high-level talks in Oman on Friday over Tehran’s nuclear program, in their first such encounter since the June Israel-Iran war, amid sharp disagreements over the agenda and growing fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks were held in a “very ...
Syria Expected to Form a New Government, Reports I24 News
This is Beirut 16/02 11:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Damascus Donald Trump Turkey Washington
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected in the coming weeks to convene a workshop aimed at forming a new, inclusive government with expanded powers, a Syrian source close to the president told i24NEWS. The planned government is expected to include representatives from across Syrian society in an effort to address the concerns of minority ...
Syrian Interior Ministry Sets February Deadline to Absorb SDF Into State Institutions
This is Beirut 16/02 18:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The Syrian Ministry of the Interior announced on Monday that it would impose a deadline on the Syrian Democratic Forces for integration into the government by the end of February. Focusing on governorates in northeastern Syria, the ministry will mandate that SDF members to regularize their status as of March, with the threat of legal troubles if ...
Senior Hezbollah Official Wafiq Safa Steps Down as Qassem Reshapes Leadership
This is Beirut 06/02 18:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Wafiq Safa Naim Qassem Hezbollah Lebanon
Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit, resigned from his position on Friday as Secretary General Naim Qassem has pushed to reshape the organization’s leadership, sources close to Reuters confirmed. Safa has maintained a senior position within Hezbollah since 1987 and was appointed to his role as a powerful ...
UAE Rules Out Use of Its Territory as Region Braces for Possible Attacks on Iran
This is Beirut 26/01 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
United Arab Emirates Iran Gulf
The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement asserting the United Arab Emirates’ position on a U.S.-Iran conflict on Monday, stressing that it will not allow its territory to be used for any attacks on Iran. The release states: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates’ ...
Talks Between Damascus And Kurdish-led Forces "Collapse"
This is Beirut 20/01 12:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Damascus Donald Trump Turkey USA Kurds SDF
Negotiations have collapsed between the Syrian president and the chief of the country's Kurdish-led forces, a Kurdish official told AFP, as the army deployed reinforcements to flashpoint areas in the north. President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, who heads the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), were meeting to discuss a ceasefire ...
Iran Says U.S. Stance on Nuclear Issue 'More Realistic'
This is Beirut 16/02 16:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Iran said Monday that the US position on Tehran's nuclear programme "has moved towards a more realistic one" ahead of a second round of talks. "A cautious assessment is that, from the discussions that have taken place in Muscat to date, at least what we have been told is that the US position on the Iranian nuclear issue has ...