Israel

Hezbollah’s Excuses Are No Longer Credible

Two months after the Lebanese government reaffirmed its exclusive authority over weapons, Hezbollah remains unwavering in its refusal to disarm. Since its inception, the pro-Iranian militia has justified its arsenal as a means of “resistance” and “defending Lebanon,” portraying its weapons as both a shield against Israel and a tool of ...

Israel Lifts State of Emergency for Communities Neighbouring Gaza

Israel has lifted the state of emergency for areas near the border with Gaza for the first time since Hamas's October 2023 attack, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday. "I have decided to adopt the (Israeli military's) recommendation and to lift, for the first time since October 7, the special state on the home front," a statement ...

Families of Missing Israeli Hostages Demand Pause in Gaza Truce Plan

The families of Israeli hostages on Monday demanded that the next steps in the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire be put on hold until Hamas returns the remaining bodies of dead captives. "Hamas knows exactly where every one of the deceased hostages is held. Two weeks have passed since the deadline set in the agreement for the return of all 48 hostages, ...

Over 330 Hezbollah Members Killed Since Ceasefire

A series of Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon since Thursday, has turned it into one of the deadliest escalations in weeks. The latest attacks on Sunday targeted two senior Hezbollah figures in Naqoura and the Beqaa Valley, as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz toured the northern border alongside U.S Envoy to the Middle ...

The Demise of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies 

What’s dumbfounding is the equivocation of Hamas and Hezbollah toward the projected normalization initiated by President Trump. Nothing is new, since their obstructionism stems from ideological and strategic considerations. Whatever mediations are attempted by the U.S. and its associates, the state of mind within both formations is not inclined ...

Joint Visit by Katz and Ortagus to the Lebanese Border

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz conducted a visit along the Lebanese border on Sunday, accompanied by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced. According to Israeli media reports, Katz stated during the tour that Israel would continue to defend its northern regions against any threat. Morgan Ortagus is reportedly ...

Netanyahu Asserts Israeli Control Over Gaza Security as Egypt Joins Hostage Recovery Effort

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on Sunday that Israel would decide for itself when to strike its foes and which countries could join an international security force in Gaza, as Egyptian recovery crews arrived. The Egyptian convoy, captured on camera by AFP reporters in Khan Younes in the south of the Gaza Strip, included heavy ...

'Disarmament:' The Challenge of Peace

In this final week of October, the Disarmament Week set by the United Nations resonates with new urgency. On one front, Washington has issued an ultimatum to Hamas to disarm under Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. On another, the Lebanese government is under US pressure to disarm Hezbollah, a key Iranian proxy in the region. Tehran remains ...

Trump to Meet Qatari Leaders on Gaza Truce During Asia Trip

US President Donald Trump will meet Saturday with the emir and prime minister of Qatar – a key ally in preserving the fragile Gaza peace deal – during a refueling stop on his way to Asia, officials said. The Qatari leaders will board Air Force One late in the day when it lands at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the regional headquarters for ...

Rubio Vows to Recover Bodies of Hostages Still Held in Gaza

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed Saturday to secure the return of all deceased hostages still held in Gaza, as he met with the families of two captives during his visit to Israel. "We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas," Rubio said on X. "Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay ...

Lebanon’s Last Chance: Disarm Hezbollah or Risk Collapse

Lebanon’s long‑simmering debate over Hezbollah’s disarmament has sharpened into a defining confrontation between state sovereignty and a foreign‑backed militia. In Washington, the issue is becoming the centerpiece of US regional policy. For President Trump’s administration, Hezbollah’s disarmament is not merely a security objective but ...