After Islamabad

David Hale 13/04 10:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Tehran United States

Whatever different people may think about the Trump Administration's approach to Iran, 21 hours of talks led by the American vice president demonstrated a seriousness of diplomatic purpose.  However, it was never likely that the wide gap between the goals of Washington and those of Tehran would be bridged in a day.  Eight American presidents ...

U.S. State Department: Lebanon and Israel Agree to Continue Direct Negotiations

This is Beirut 14/04 21:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel United States US Secretary of State

The U.S. Department of State released a statement on Tuesday following a trilateral meeting on April 14, 2026, stressing that all sides agreed to continue direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue. The meeting marked the first major high-level engagement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon since 1993, with the ...

Iraq Says Has 'Understandings' to Bypass Hormuz Blockade

This is Beirut 14/04 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq USA Iran USIranWar StraitofHormuz

Baghdad's oil ministry said Tuesday it has "understandings" with the United States and Iran to reduce the impact of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Iraqi oil exports. The ministry did not elaborate or say when these reported understandings were reached. But Iran announced earlier this month before the fragile ceasefire was reached last ...

Antoun Sehnaoui and Morgan Ortagus Commemorate the 'Days of Remembrance' at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

This is Beirut 14/04 21:20 - Reading : less than a minute

United States Washington

Businessman Antoun Sehnaoui posted photos on his social media accounts showing him alongside Morgan Ortagus. He accompanied them with the following statement: “Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Morgan and I had the honor of attending the Days of Remembrance ceremonies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, where both of ...

Aoun Sees Israel Talks as Path to Ending Lebanon’s Suffering

This is Beirut 14/04 19:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Hezbollah Joseph Aoun Washington

Moments before direct Israel-Lebanon talks began in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday he hoped negotiations would mark “the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese in general, and of the people of the south in particular,” following weeks of war between Israel and Hezbollah. “Stability will not be ...

Israeli Ambassador to U.S.: Israel and Lebanon Moving Toward 'Complete Peace Treaty'

This is Beirut 14/04 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Washington Lebanon Israel Hezbollah Joseph Aoun

Lebanon and Israel engaged in the first round of United States-brokered talks in Washington DC today to discuss cooperation on Hezbollah disarmament. The talks were a major historic milestone, the first in-person meetings between Lebanese and Israeli representatives since 1993. Following two hours of talks, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel ...

Rubio Calls Israel-Lebanon Talks a 'Historic Opportunity' for Lasting Peace

This is Beirut 14/04 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Hezbollah United States US Secretary of State

At the opening of direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese Ambassadors at the U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the negotiations as a pivotal moment that could ensure stability and peace for residents of Lebanon and Israel.  “We are very honored to be joined by partners with whom the United States seeks strong ...

Israeli FM Says Keen to Reach 'Peace and Normalization' with Lebanon

This is Beirut 14/04 15:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Lebanon Hezbollah Iran USIranWar Negotiations

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country is seeking "peace and normalization" with Lebanon, ahead of talks between officials from both nations in Washington on Tuesday. "We want to reach peace and normalization with the state of Lebanon... Israel and Lebanon don't have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah," Saar ...

Israel-Lebanon Negotiations: Who Are the Key Participants?

This is Beirut 14/04 14:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Washington Lebanon Banks Gulf Hezbollah

As Israel and Lebanon enter their first direct diplomatic talks in decades, a group of senior diplomats and officials have taken center stage in Washington. Hosted by the United States, the meeting brings together representatives from all three sides amid ongoing war and deep political tensions. Below is a profile of each key participant, their ...

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 ...

IDF Says It Has Encircled Bint Jbeil, Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon

This is Beirut 13/04 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Palestine South Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces said over the past week its troops “completed the encirclement and began an offensive in the town of Bint Jbeil,” a locality long considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. The IDF announced on Monday that its forces have intensified ground operations in southern Lebanon, particularly around ...

Lebanon, Israel to Meet for Tough Talks in Washington

This is Beirut 14/04 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Washington Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu

Lebanese and Israeli representatives are scheduled to meet in Washington Tuesday for US-mediated talks on ending the war in Lebanon. Lebanon was pulled into the region-wide Iran war on March 2 after Hezbollah attacked Israel.Since then Israeli strikes -- including an extremely heavy attack on Beirut on April 8 -- have killed more than 2,000 ...

Lebanon Charts a Separate Path from Tehran in Israel Talks

Samar El-Kadi 14/04 09:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Tehran Benjamin Netanyahu Nawaf Salam

Lebanon is set to begin talks with Israel in Washington on Tuesday, the first direct negotiations since 1983, as Beirut seeks to reassert its role in regional affairs and prevent the country from becoming a bargaining chip in broader international negotiations. Political activist and former MP Fares Souaid described the move as a historic break. ...

Qassem Urges Lebanese Government to Cancel Negotiations with Israel

This is Beirut 13/04 20:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Israel USA

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered a televised address tonight, his sixth since the militant group initiated this round of fighting on March 2. He spoke one day before Lebanese and Israeli envoys are set to begin negotiations at the U.S. State Department on April 14, a watershed moment in the history of ties between the two ...

Hezbollah Resumes Attacks After Short Lull, Report Says

This is Beirut 13/04 15:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon

After a brief lull in fire following the April 8 ceasefire with Iran, Hezbollah has resumed attacks on Israeli territory, according to an assessment by the Alma Research and Education Center. According to the report, a total of 1,310 Hezbollah attack waves targeting Israel have been recorded since March 2, with an average of around 30 attacks per ...

Lebanese FM: Direct Talks With Israel Reinforce Separation From Iran Track

This is Beirut 13/04 14:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said that Beirut is pursuing direct negotiations with Israel aimed at reaching a ceasefire, while stressing what he described as a growing separation between Lebanon’s diplomatic track and Iranian influence in the region. In a post on X following a call with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, ...

Israeli Foreign Minister Calls for “Severing Iran’s Influence” Over Lebanon Ahead of Talks

This is Beirut 13/04 12:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Tehran

Israel’s Foreign Minister said on Monday that Iran must be cut off from Lebanon, arguing that Tehran exerts effective control over the country through Hezbollah, ahead of anticipated diplomatic discussions between Israel and Lebanon set to begin in the coming days. In a statement, the Israeli minister said the upcoming talks “are ...

Trump Threatens Iran with “Total Destruction” if It Targets U.S. Forces in Hormuz Operation

This is Beirut 04/05 20:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Trump USA Iran Hormuz Negotiations USIranWar

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark warning to Iran, vowing it would be “blown off the face of the Earth” if it attacks American vessels involved in the ongoing “Project Freedom” operation in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump escalated his rhetoric as tensions deepen around the strategic ...

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 ...

UN Force Says 3 Peacekeepers Wounded in Blast Inside South Lebanon Position

This is Beirut 03/04 16:25 - Reading : less than a minute

United Nations Lebanon South Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said a blast hit one of its positions and wounded three peacekeepers on Friday, the third such incident in a week. "This afternoon, an explosion inside a UN position... injured three peacekeepers, two seriously. They are all currently being evacuated to hospital. We do not yet know the origin of ...

Lebanon at the World Alpine Ski Championships

This Is Beirut 2024-02-02 18:34 - Reading : less than a minute

The Lebanese Ski and Biathlon Federation has announced the names of the participants in the Alpine Junior World Championships, which are taking place in France. The delegation will be led by Zeina Derian, member of the Federation and head of the technical committee, Martin Pavlak and Jan Jakobko (coaches), Manon Chad, Sophie Kallas and Christa ...

Hezbollah Says Clashed With Israeli Troops North of Lebanon's Litani River

This is Beirut 27/05 13:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Netanyahu IDF

Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with Israeli forces in a town north of the Litani river on Wednesday, a day after Israel's military said it was expanding its ground operations. Israel intensified the scope of its strikes on south and east Lebanon on Tuesday despite a ceasefire, killing at least 31 people, Lebanese authorities said, as ...

Israel Unveils First KC-46 “Gideon” Tanker Aircraft

This is Beirut 27/05 16:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Palestine United States

The Israeli Air Force received its first Boeing KC-46 “Gideon” aerial refueling and transport aircraft on Wednesday during a ceremony held at Nevatim Airbase, marking a major milestone in Israel’s long-range military capabilities and strategic air power modernization. The ceremony was attended by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and ...

Iran Says War Unlikely as Trump Warns He May 'Finish the Job'

This is Beirut 01:35 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu US Secretary of State Lebanon Gulf

Oil prices tumbled Wednesday on hopes of a US-Iran peace deal, even as President Donald Trump warned he may have to "finish the job" and Tehran said its forces were still "lying in wait with full magazines." The mixed signals underscored the fragile state of talks aimed at ending a Middle East war that has shaken global energy ...

U.S. Military Conducts New Strike in South Iran

This is Beirut 04:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA

The U.S. military shot down four Iranian drones and struck a control center in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, an American official said Wednesday, describing the actions as "purely defensive." "Today, U.S. Central Command Forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz," ...

Israel Strikes Tyre After Declaring 'Combat Zones' in South Lebanon

This is Beirut 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Hezbollah Middle East USA

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had begun new strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure around the southern Lebanese city of Tyre after issuing an evacuation warning to its residents. Israel the previous day had declared all areas south of Lebanon's Zahrani River - an area roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border and including Tyre - ...

Iran Condemns U.S. Ceasefire 'Violations' After Strikes in South

This is Beirut 12:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Hormuz USA Ceasefire Oman Trump

Iran condemned on Thursday what it called violations by the United States after its strikes on the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, while vowing to defend its sovereignty. The ministry's spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran would "take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty" and condemned what he called "the threatening ...

Israel Expands Strikes Across Lebanon as Netanyahu Warns of Continued Operations

This is Beirut 17:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Events That Shaped 2023: From War to Space

Lyne Sammouri 2023-12-31 12:32 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

artificial intelligence Earthquakes War Recap

As the world said goodbye to 2022, hoping for a better future, the year 2023 began with a tapestry of successes and tragedies, geopolitical moves, natural calamities and technological advancements. From the war-torn landscapes of the Middle East to the vast expanses of outer space, the events that unfolded in 2023 left an indelible mark on the ...

Asian Cup: Lebanon Faces China in Decisive Match

This Is Beirut 2024-01-16 20:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

The Lebanese national football team is playing its second match in Group A of the Asian Football Cup against China this Wednesday, January 17, at 2:30 PM (Beirut time) at the Al-Thumama stadium in the Qatari capital, Doha. The Lebanese team is aiming to overcome the defeat they suffered in their first match against Qatar while maintaining their ...