This is Beirut - European Union

Lebanon and Syria Seek Rapprochement Amid Lingering Distrust

Samar el Kadi, 22/01 16:00 - Reading : 10 minute(s)

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Since the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in December 2024, Lebanon and Syria have been in the process of rebuilding trust and repairing relations. The challenging endeavor, supported by Saudi Arabia with Washington’s backing, follows decades of recriminations and Lebanon’s former subjugation under Syria’s Baathist rule. Syria did not ...

German Chancellor Says Iranian Regime Likely Living its ‘Last Days’

This is Beirut, 13/01 11:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Europe European Union

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said he believes Iran’s regime is living out its last days, as pressure grows on the Islamic Republic over protests that have reportedly killed hundreds of people. “When a regime can only hold on to power through violence, then it is effectively finished,” Merz tells reporters in Bengaluru, during ...

EU Says Bloc Eyeing Sanctions on Iran

This is Beirut, 12/01 15:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

European Union

The European Union is “looking into” imposing additional sanctions on Iran over the repression of protests throughout the country, the bloc said. “We are ready to propose new and tougher sanctions following the violent repression of demonstrators,” said the Union's foreign affairs spokesman, Anouar El ...

Syrian President Sharaa Meets With EU Chief von der Leyen: State Media

This is Beirut, 09/01 11:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus European Union

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, state media said, as she became the highest ranking EU official to visit since longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was ousted. After the meeting, Ursula von der Leyen said Europe would do everything possible to assist Syria's recovery and ...

Aleppo Clashes Between Syria Govt, Kurdish Forces Rage into Third Night

This is Beirut, 08/01 22:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Clashes between Syrian government and Kurdish forces in Aleppo raged into the night Thursday on the third day of fighting, as Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi warned the violence undermined talks with Damascus. Global Response Washington's special envoy to Syria on Thursday issued an "urgent appeal" to the Syrian government and ...

Syria Settles Status of Top Businessman Under Assad

This is Beirut, 08/01 08:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Syrian authorities said Wednesday they had reached a settlement with Mohammad Hamsho, a prominent businessman accused of ties to Bashar al-Assad's rule and of profiting from the country's war, their first such announcement since taking power. Two sources told AFP that Hamsho, a former lawmaker, had benefited from links to Qatar, a key ...

Syria and Lebanon: Who Is Moving Forward in 2026?

Salam El Zaatari, 04/01 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Nawaf Salam European Union Gulf Hezbollah Syria

Entering 2026, Syria and Lebanon stand at an inflection point along the region’s active fault line. While both nations shook off paralysis at roughly the same time a year ago, neither has become truly stable. What separates them is the nature of the risks they face in the near and medium-term as the Middle East undergoes uneasy post-war ...

Israel Says Ban on Aid Groups Operating in Gaza to Hit 37 Organisations

This is Beirut, 2025-12-31 15:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israel has said that 37 aid organizations will be banned from operating in Gaza starting on Thursday unless they comply with its new guidelines requiring detailed information on Palestinian staff. "They refuse to provide lists of their Palestinian employees because they know, just as we know, that some of them are involved in terrorism or linked ...

Rajji: Lebanon to Complete Disarmament by End of 2026

This is Beirut, 2025-12-15 19:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

UN Security Council Lebanon European Union Hezbollah Israel Rajji

Speaking at the Lebanon–European Union Partnership Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said the full implementation of the decision to restrict the bearing of arms in Lebanon exclusively to the state should be completed by the end of 2026, with the first phase expected to be completed by the end of this ...

Who Really Defeated ISIS in Syria?

Mario Chartouni, 2025-12-09 20:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Damascus European Union Washington Russia Syria ISIS

In the narrative promoted by Moscow and Damascus, Russia and Bashar al-Assad’s regime are credited with delivering the decisive blow against ISIS in Syria. This account frames Russia’s military intervention, which began in September 2015, as the turning point in the fight against the terrorist group. Yet, a closer look at the data paints a ...

Lebanon Sees Push for Foreign Troops in South Litani Region

Bassam Abou Zeid, 2025-12-09 18:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Through Jean Yves Le Drian and the French military team in Lebanon, France has informed Lebanon’s political and military leadership that it is ready to take charge of an international force to be stationed south of the Litani River once UNIFIL pulls out at the end of 2026. The message added that Paris is working to rally backing for this ...

Aoun Welcomes French Role in Mechanism Committee, Reaffirms Commitment to Diplomacy

This is Beirut, 2025-12-08 19:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Emmanuel Macron UN Security Council Lebanon European Union Nabih Berry Jean-Yves Le Drian Le Drian France Israel

President Joseph Aoun told French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday that Lebanon is open to an enhanced French role within the framework of the “Mechanism Committee,” stressing that any such involvement must support the committee’s core negotiation goals. During the meeting at Baabda Palace, Aoun outlined ...