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Breaking the Crowdfunding Myth: The Digital Architecture Funding Iran’s Proxy Wars
Ian Talley 02/03 16:05 - Reading : 674 minute(s)
Lebanese Forces USA G7 Hamas Hezbollah Iran
For years, Iran’s use of cryptocurrency was written off as pocket-change militant fundraising. A slew of enforcement actions now shows something far more consequential: Tehran and its terror allies have woven digital assets into the core financial architecture that bankrolls their war machines. By integrating crypto into their control of ...
Lebanon’s Government Moves to Rein in Hezbollah, But Is It Enough?
Claudia Groeling 08/03 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Nawaf Salam Lebanese Army Benjamin Netanyahu
After Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the regional conflict with its March 2 attack on Israel, the Lebanese government signaled increased urgency to assert state authority and seize the militia’s arsenal. The cabinet’s headline-making decisions include banning Hezbollah’s military and security activities, directing the Lebanese Armed Forces ...
Israeli Forces Conduct Operation in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in Search for Ron Arad, Clashes Reported with Hezbollah
This is Beirut 07/03 07:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The Israeli army carried out an operation in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley aimed at uncovering information about the fate of missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad, triggering clashes with Hezbollah fighters overnight. According to field reports cited by regional media, Israeli troops were deployed near the town of Nabi Sheet, a ...
Lebanon Bans Hezbollah’s Military Activities, But Stops Short of Terrorism Label
Amal Chmouny 04/03 22:10 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Nawaf Salam Lebanese Army Israel
In an unprecedented move, Lebanon’s government on March 2 banned all Hezbollah’s military and security activities and instructed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to immediately move forward with its plan to disarm the militia. The decision came hours after a Hezbollah rocket barrage into Israel, which triggered a widescale military ...
Escalation Intensifies as Israel Strikes and Hezbollah Drone Attacks Rock Lebanon
This is Beirut 03/03 10:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Israel South Lebanon Beqaa Southern Suburbs Beirut
Israeli raids resumed on Tuesday across Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. An additional Israeli strike hit Beirut’s southern suburbs on Tuesday morning, following a tense night of evacuation warnings and air raids. In southern Lebanon, ...
Israel’s Goals and Challenges in the New Hezbollah War
Seth J. Frantzman 09/03 16:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Lebanon Hamas Joseph Aoun
Hezbollah’s opening of a front from Lebanon in support of Iran was not a surprise for Israel, which is again discussing the forcible dismantling of the organization. It remains unclear whether Lebanon is ready to disarm Hezbollah, and whether Israel will be able to do so itself. The new war is escalating, one that Israel and Hezbollah have ...
Israel-Hezbollah Escalation Intensifies as Warnings and Airstrikes Continue
This is Beirut 07/03 16:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Iran Lebanon USA RegionalConflict
The confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah intensified across Lebanon on Saturday, with Israeli airstrikes striking multiple locations in the south and the Bekaa Valley, new evacuation warnings issued to civilians, and Hezbollah launching retaliatory rocket and drone attacks toward northern Israel. The developments come as the conflict enters ...
Why Lebanon’s Muslims Are Key to Any Credible Peace Initiative
Marwan El Amine 27/02 14:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon once again stands on the brink of a military confrontation that threatens to replay the all-too-familiar scenes of devastation and loss. As regional tensions escalate and the prospect of a U.S. strike on Iran looms, Hezbollah appears ready to place Lebanon squarely in the eye of the storm in defense of the Iranian regime, with little ...
Israeli Escalation in Lebanon Sends Warning to Hezbollah on Iran
Samar El-Kadi 27/02 13:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Lebanese Army Hamas Israel
As regional tensions mount over the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran, Israel has escalated its operations in Lebanon, signaling that Jerusalem will not accept any attempt by Hezbollah to open a front in support of Tehran. Israel’s recent waves of bombardment in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley were “clearly pre-emptive,” ...
Will Hezbollah Turn to Political Assassinations Again?
Iftah Burman 10/02 13:00 - Reading : 10 minute(s)
Hezbollah Lebanon Amal Hassan Nasrallah UN Security Council
As Hezbollah faces mounting pressure, the risk is growing that the group could once again turn to assassinations to preserve its fragile military, political, and financial positions. In December 2025, fresh revelations about the activities of Hezbollah’s assassination squad, Unit 121, brought the group’s use of political violence back ...
The Moment of Decision: Will Lebanon Choose Peace?
Marwan El Amine 04/03 09:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon Nawaf Salam Hezbollah Israel Joseph Aoun
The return of war to Lebanon was neither sudden nor unexpected. On the contrary, it appeared almost inevitable, a consequence of Hezbollah’s rigidity and denial on one hand, and the Lebanese state’s hesitation and accommodation on the other. It followed the trajectory of the political and security developments since the ceasefire that ended ...
UAE Closes Embassy in Iran After Four Killed in Attacks Across the Gulf
This is Beirut 01/03 20:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The UAE said on Sunday it was closing its embassy in Tehran and recalling the Emirati ambassador after Iran's retaliatory missile and drone campaign in the Gulf killed four people and wounded dozens more. The move marks the strongest condemnation yet by a Gulf state since Tehran began targeting the region with a barrage of strikes after the ...
Iran Accuses U.S. and Israel of Seeking to Divide the Country as War Escalates
This is Beirut 09/03 12:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Iran Israel USA RegionalConflict
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday accused the United States and Israel of attempting to weaken and divide the country as the regional war continues to intensify, while insisting that Tehran’s military actions are defensive and warning that international institutions have failed to intervene. During a press ...
Iran Strikes Gulf Energy Infrastructure as Regional War Drives Oil Prices Higher
This is Beirut 09/03 10:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Gulf Bahrain Kuwait Middle East Saudi Arabia
Iran launched a new wave of strikes across the Gulf on Monday, targeting energy infrastructure and military-linked facilities in several countries as the regional conflict triggered by the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran continues to widen. One of the most significant attacks struck Bahrain’s Al Ma’ameer oil facility, a major petroleum ...
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Claim “Full Control” of Strait of Hormuz as Oil Traffic Plunges
This is Beirut 04/03 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Iran USA Israel StraitOfHormuz Gulf RegionalWar
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Wednesday that it has taken “full control” of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply passes. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, senior IRGC naval official Mohammad Akbarzadeh said ...
Iranian Strikes on Arab Countries Continue Into Seventh Day of Regional War
This is Beirut 07/03 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Gulf UAE SaudiArabia Kuwait Jordan Iran Iraq Israel RegionalConflict
The war between Iran and the U.S.-Israeli alliance continues to spill across the Middle East, with several Arab countries reporting missile and drone attacks as Tehran expands its retaliatory campaign across the region. Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia all reported interceptions of Iranian projectiles on Saturday, while ...
U.S. Rep. LaHood to This Is Beirut: “No Progress, No Support,” Lebanon Must Act Now
Amal Chmouny 10/02 18:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Lebanon Lebanese Army Amal Donald Trump Hezbollah
When Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal arrived in the U.S. capital during the first week of February, he entered a fundamentally transformed strategic landscape. The meetings that unfolded—from tense political exchanges to a dramatic walkout by Sen. Lindsey Graham—crystallized a stark reality: Lebanon’s decades-long balancing act ...
Inside the Historic 2026 U.S. Military Buildup Leading to the Iran Strikes
Jeremy Brecher 28/02 16:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The U.S. and Israel have begun conducting joint strikes on Iran on February 28 following a historic U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. This is Beirut compiled a timeline of the 2026 buildup leading up to the attacks, revealing preparations for using large amounts of force against Iranian targets. The 2026 U.S. Military Buildup The U.S. ...
Lebanese Authorities Warn Hezbollah Over Escalation Risks as Regional War Rages
This is Beirut 28/02 14:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Nawaf Salam Lebanon Israel Middle East United States
Lebanon’s presidency renewed its warning to Hezbollah Saturday, holding the group responsible for any potential domestic or international consequences amid rising regional tensions following the strikes on Iran. According to sources cited by Al Hadath, the Lebanese presidency reiterated its caution to Hezbollah and emphasized that the group ...
Hezbollah Readies Its Electoral Machine After War Losses
Marwan El Amine 19/02 16:25 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah Lebanon Amal Israel
Whether Lebanon’s parliamentary elections are held on time in May or postponed, Hezbollah’s electoral machine appears to be in a state of full readiness. While the party commands the largest popular base within the Shia community, maintaining a wide lead over its closest ally, the Amal Movement, this electoral advantage has not bred ...
U.S. in Talks With Iranian Kurdish Groups Over Potential Uprising Against Tehran
This is Beirut 04/03 11:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Iran USA Israel IranKurds Iraq RegionalWar
The United States has held discussions with Iranian Kurdish armed groups about the possibility of launching attacks against Iranian security forces in the country’s western regions, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks. The discussions, first reported by Reuters and confirmed by several media outlets, come as the U.S.-Israeli ...
The Lebanese Army Goes Rogue
Hussain Abdul-Hussain 09/03 14:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanese Army Lebanon Damascus Hezbollah Israel
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), under its commander Rodolphe Haykal, has defied the state it is sworn to serve, effectively siding with Hezbollah at a moment when Lebanon teeters on the edge of the abyss. After Hezbollah drew Lebanon back into war on March 2, the Lebanese cabinet rushed into an emergency meeting and banned the militia’s ...
The Day Loyalty Met Reality
Salam El Zaatari 06/03 11:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Nawaf Salam Lebanon Dahyeh Hezbollah Israel
Hezbollah consolidated its power on the simple promise that confronting Israel would protect its people. Yet once again, its military actions have forced a mass exodus of its support base from South Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut. Cars are fleeing war zones in slow convoys, carrying the few essentials panicked people can pack in ...
Trump Says Largest Strikes on Iran Still to Come as War Expands Across Region
This is Beirut 03/03 06:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
USA Israel Iran Gulf Trump Netanyahu RegionalWar
“We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon.” That was U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning Monday as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran entered its third day, signaling that the most intense phase of the campaign may still lie ahead. Trump outlined an expanded set of war ...
Lebanon Calls for Renewed Negotiations as Israeli Strikes Escalate
This is Beirut 09/03 14:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel Joseph Aoun
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday urged major international powers to push for renewed negotiations aimed at halting Israel’s escalating military campaign in Lebanon, as cross-border fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continues to intensify. Speaking during a meeting with the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, ...
Praise or Pressure: What CENTCOM's Commendation for the LAF Tells Lebanon
Amal Chmouny 19/02 15:35 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Lebanese Army Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Saudi Arabia
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper’s praise of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) for uncovering a "massive underground tunnel" near the southern border represents far more than routine diplomatic protocol. While his February 9 statement commended the LAF, it implicitly contested the Lebanese army’s announcement the previous month ...
Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon: Israel’s Advance Raises Questions About Lasting Presence
Natasha Metni Torbey 03/03 20:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon Israel South Lebanon Lebanese Army Hezbollah
As Israel ramps up its military campaign against Hezbollah, Israeli troops advanced into southern Lebanon on Tuesday morning and established a buffer zone described by Tel Aviv as a limited defensive maneuver aimed at protecting northern Israeli communities. However, security sources interviewed by This is Beirut said that the maneuver could be ...
Inside Hezbollah’s Post-Nasrallah Power Struggle
Samar El Kadi 08/03 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah Lebanon Israel Tehran
Hezbollah’s renewed conflict with Israel has exposed internal tensions within the group that have been simmering since Tel Aviv’s assassination of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and other senior figures. The loss of these leaders has left the group grappling with what analysts describe as a “decapitation” of its leadership ...
Iran Launches Missiles as Khamenei's Son Takes Charge
This is Beirut 09/03 09:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu USA Bahrain Gulf
Iran fired missiles at Israel and Gulf nations early Monday after the Islamic republic named Mojtaba Khamenei its new leader to succeed his late father despite threats by the United States and Israel to target him next. Nine days after US-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and plunged the Middle East into war, Iranian clerics picked ...
Iran War Sends Oil Price Soaring
This is Beirut 09/03 14:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron Benjamin Netanyahu USA Lebanon
Global energy markets surged Monday as the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel entered its tenth day, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and triggering sharp declines in global equity markets amid fears of supply disruptions across the Middle East. The spike in prices came as Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba ...