Lebanon and Israel Agree on Peace, Disagree on Sequence

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 11/05 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu UN Security Council

The Lebanese and Israeli governments are fully aligned on the goal of their diplomatic talks. When all is said and done, Hezbollah will be fully disarmed, Israel will have ended its security actions in Lebanon and fully withdrawn, and the border will be demarcated. The two countries will then have reached a bilateral peace agreement. The challenge ...

Hezbollah’s Disarmament Takes Center Stage Ahead of Lebanon-Israel Talks

Claudia Groeling 11/05 09:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army Donald Trump

With the U.S. set to mediate a third round of Lebanon-Israel talks on May 14 and 15, Washington has made clear that Hezbollah’s disarmament will be central to efforts to reach a broader security and peace arrangement between the two countries. “Comprehensive peace is contingent on the full restoration of Lebanese state authority and the ...

Iran Responds to U.S. Peace Proposal, Warns Against New Attacks

This is Beirut 10/05 23:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Gulf United States Iran

Iran responded to Washington's latest peace proposal on Sunday, while warning it would not hold back from retaliating against any new U.S. strikes or permit more foreign warships in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he read Iran’s response, exclsuming that “I don’t like it” ...

Oil Giant Saudi Aramco Says Quarterly Profits Up as Crude Prices Surge

This is Beirut 10/05 12:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Saudi Aramco Iran Gulf USA USIranWar Economy

Saudi oil giant Aramco said Sunday its net profit rose by 25.5 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, after the Middle East war sent oil and gas prices soaring. The result comes as uncertainty plagues global markets over the conflict's trajectory, with Iran restricting the passage of hydrocarbons through the strategic ...

Lebanese PM Pushes Border Crackdown and Security Coordination During Damascus Visit

This is Beirut 09/05 17:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Smuggling Economy Cooperation Hezbollah

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam concluded his visit to Damascus on Saturday by emphasizing tighter border controls, anti-smuggling efforts, and expanded Lebanese-Syrian security coordination, signaling a shift in Beirut’s approach toward Syria amid growing pressure over Hezbollah-linked activity along the border. Speaking at the end of ...

Lebanon, Israel to Hold New Direct Talks in Washington as Ceasefire Nears End

This is Beirut 14/05 13:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Washington Ceasefire Donald Trump

Lebanon and Israel are set to hold a new round of peace talks in Washington on Thursday as their latest ceasefire agreement, which remains formally in effect, approaches its expiration. Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon on Thursday after warning residents of several towns and villages there and in the ...

Third Round of U.S.-Brokered Lebanon-Israel Talks Targets Long-Term Security Framework

This is Beirut 08/05 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Donald Trump Nawaf Salam Hezbollah

The U.S. Department of State announced on Friday that it will facilitate two days of intensive talks between Lebanon and Israel on May 14 and 15, as Washington seeks to advance negotiations toward what it described as a broader peace and security framework between the two countries. In a statement issued on May 8, U.S. State Department ...

CENTCOM says U.S. Forces Disabled Iranian-Flagged Tankers in Gulf of Oman Blockade Enforcement

This is Beirut 08/05 17:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf Middle East Tehran United States USA

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced U.S. forces disabled multiple Iranian-flagged oil tankers this week as part of ongoing blockade enforcement measures aimed at preventing vessels from entering Iranian ports via the Gulf of Oman. In a statement, CENTCOM said the operation targeted the M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda on May 8, as both vessels ...

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

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

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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 ...

U.S. Expands Massive Arms Package to Israel and Gulf States

This is Beirut 08/05 12:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf Israel Bahrain Donald Trump UAE USA

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved $25.8 billion in missile interceptors and other weapons sales to Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates last week, according to a Bloomberg report, significantly expanding a package that Washington had publicly described days earlier as worth roughly $8.6 billion. The sales ...

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 ...

Rubio Says Lebanon-Israel Peace Deal “Imminently Achievable”

This is Beirut 05/05 23:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel is “imminently achievable” and emphasized that the Lebanese Armed Forces must have both the will and capability to directly confront Hezbollah’s arms.  Rubio said there is no fundamental conflict between the Lebanese and Israeli ...

Hegseth warns of ‘overwhelming’ response as Hormuz tensions rise despite ceasefire

This is Beirut 05/05 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Middle East Tehran United States Washington strait of Hormuz

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday a ceasefire with Iran remains in place despite rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, where Washington has deployed forces to protect commercial shipping. Speaking at the Pentagon alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, Hegseth said the United States is “not seeking a wider conflict” in ...

U.S. Downs Iran Missiles and Drones, Destroys Six of Tehran's Boats

This is Beirut 04/05 22:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The United States shot down multiple Iranian missiles and drones fired at U.S. Navy and commercial vessels and destroyed six of Tehran's small boats, a top U.S. admiral said on Monday. The hostilities occurred as American forces sought to facilitate the transit of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort dubbed "Project ...

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 ...

U.S. Ambassador Issa: Aoun–Trump Meeting Would Not Be a Concession

This is Beirut 04/05 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said Monday that a potential meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not be viewed as a loss or concession for Lebanon. Speaking in a live address, Issa stressed that such a meeting would provide an opportunity for ...

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 ...

Israel Expands Air Power with F-35I and F-15IA Deal Following Lessons from Iran Conflict

This is Beirut 03/05 23:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel United States USA

Israel has approved the acquisition of two additional fighter jet squadrons from the United States. The deal includes a fourth squadron of F-35I stealth fighters and a second squadron of F-15IA strike aircraft, both supplied by U.S. defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The announcement, made by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, ...

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Warns U.S., Sets Deadline to Lift Naval Blockade

This is Beirut 03/05 14:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence arm issued a series of new warnings on Sunday, saying Tehran has given Washington a deadline to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, as tensions escalate alongside fragile diplomatic efforts. The IRGC said on Sunday that Iran had granted the Pentagon a “final ...

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

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

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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 ...

U.S. Expands Pressure on Iran as Warplanes Patrol Over Hormuz

This is Beirut 13/05 20:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran USA Hormuz CENTCOM F35 Gulf Israel

The United States military announced Wednesday that it has intensified enforcement of its naval blockade on Iran, saying American forces have redirected dozens of commercial vessels and continue military patrols near the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said 67 commercial ships attempting to enter or leave ...

IDF Intensifies Strikes in Southern Lebanon and Bekaa Valley as Washington Hosts Third Round of Talks

This is Beirut 14/05 21:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Washington Ain el-Tineh Hezbollah Israel

On the same day that the third round of indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel reportedly began in Washington, the Israeli military announced a significant escalation of operations in southern Lebanon. In an official statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that over the past 24 hours it had struck approximately 65 targets ...

U.S. Hits Iran With New Sanctions, Warns Against Hormuz ‘Fees’

This is Beirut 01/05 21:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran USA Hormuz NuclearTalks Pakistan Sanctions

The United States on Friday imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting three Iranian exchange companies, while warning that any attempt to charge transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger further punitive measures. According to a statement by the U.S. Treasury Department, the sanctions are part of Washington’s broader effort to cut ...

Saudi Arabia’s Voodoo Diplomacy Is Sabotaging Middle East Peace

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 26/05 09:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Saudi Arabia Lebanon Donald Trump Gulf Hamas

While Iran has strangled Kuwait and Qatar’s ability to export energy and fund repairs for costly damage inflicted by Iranian attacks, Saudi Arabia has done nothing to challenge Tehran. Instead, Riyadh—the self-anointed leader of the Gulf—prioritized denouncing the opening of a Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem. Saudi foreign ...

The Situation of Migratory Species Worsens Worldwide

2024-02-12 19:36 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Albatrosses, turtles, or sturgeons: the plight of migratory species, vital for nature’s balance, is deteriorating, warns a groundbreaking report published on Monday under the auspices of the UN and reported by AFP. "Migratory species are being severely impacted," denounced the head of UN Environment, Inger Andersen. Among the species listed by ...

Race Against Time to Rescue Victims of Earthquake in Japan

This Is Beirut 2024-01-02 12:38 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

In Japan, rescuers urgently worked against time and aftershocks to locate survivors of a destructive 7.5-magnitude earthquake, resulting in at least 48 casualties.  Japanese rescuers raced against the clock and powerful aftershocks on Tuesday to find survivors of a New Year's Day earthquake that claimed at least 48 lives and caused widespread ...

The Likelihood of a Viable Palestinian State

Nicolas Sbeih 2023-12-21 10:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

It has been relegated to oblivion, this story of two states existing side by side. It took a long time, a show of force from Hamas and tens of thousands killed in Gaza for world leaders to wake up, probably under the pressure of their outraged populations. Yet, it is still only in the form of scattered statements lacking unanimity. Some are still ...

At Least a Dozen Migrants Die Trying to Cross Channel

1970-01-01 02:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron United Kingdom

At least 10 migrants died off the northern French coast on Tuesday trying to cross the Channel to England, with a major rescue operation underway after the deadliest such disaster this year. AFP correspondents on site said they saw six body bags on the coast off the northern port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Emergency services were out in force and ...

Behind the Israeli Escalation in South Lebanon: What Explains the Push Beyond the Litani?

Ralph Atrach 29/05 17:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon South Lebanon Benjamin Netanyahu UN Security Council Hezbollah

Israeli officials signaled a major escalation in the conflict in southern Lebanon this week, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing on Friday that Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River while intensifying strikes across Lebanon. “We struck Beirut just now, and Tyre yesterday, and our forces crossed the Litani River,” ...

Vance Says Progress Made as U.S.-Iran Deal Awaits Trump Green Light

This is Beirut 29/05 16:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran are close to agreeing to a deal to extend their ceasefire in the Middle East war, but the potential breakthrough still hangs on President Donald Trump's approval. Trump remained notably silent into Friday morning, despite U.S. sources telling AFP a deal just needed his sign-off, underscoring ...