This is Beirut

UAE Air Defenses Intercept 3 Drones Entering From Western Border

This is Beirut, 17/05 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Gulf Israel Saudi Arabia Tehran

The United Arab Emirates announced Sunday evening that its air defenses intercepted three drones that entered the country from the western border direction, with two successfully neutralized while a third struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra region. The UAE Ministry of ...

Iran Media Says 'No Tangible Concessions' in U.S. Response to Iran Proposal

This is Beirut, 17/05 15:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iranian media said Sunday that the United States had failed to make any concrete concessions in its latest response to Iran's proposed agenda for negotiations to end the war. The Fars news agency said Washington had presented a five-point list which included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its ...

Israeli Strikes Hit Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 17/05 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israeli strikes hit multiple areas across southern and eastern Lebanon on Sunday, including the western Bekaa Valley and villages in Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts. Two Israeli strikes hit the town of Sohmor in the western Bekaa Valley, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said, adding that additional raids struck multiple areas across ...

Hezbollah Rejects Peace Talks With Israel, Warns Lebanese State Against ‘Concessions’

This is Beirut, 16/05 20:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Israel Iran USA Ceasefire Disarmament

Hezbollah on Saturday escalated its rhetoric against ongoing Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, rejecting any path toward a “comprehensive peace agreement” with Israel and warning Lebanese authorities against what it described as a “concessionary track” imposed under American pressure. In a lengthy statement released on the ...

Israel Announces Killing of Senior Hamas Commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad

This is Beirut, 16/05 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine

The Israeli military and Shin Bet security agency announced on Saturday that they had killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a senior commander in Hamas’s military wing whom Israeli officials described as one of the last high-ranking leaders involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks. In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet ...

Lebanon-Israel Talks to Resume June 2 as Ceasefire Extended by 45 Days

This is Beirut, 15/05 21:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The United States announced Friday that Lebanon and Israel concluded two days of “highly productive” talks in Washington, agreeing to extend the April 17 ceasefire by 45 days as negotiations continue amid ongoing cross-border tensions. In a statement, the State Department said the talks, held on May 14 and 15, focused on ...

Iran FM Says U.S. Willing to Continue Talks, Open to China's Help

This is Beirut, 15/05 15:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday he had "received messages" from the United States saying it is willing to continue talks and that he was open to any support, including from China. "We received messages again from the Americans saying that they are willing to continue the talks and continue the ...

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 ...

Israeli Ministry of Defense Signs Deal to Extend Range of F-35I Adir Fleet

This is Beirut, 14/05 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has signed a new contract with Cyclone, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, to develop an extended-range capability for Israel’s fleet of F-35I Adir fighter jets. The agreement, valued at more than $34 million (over 100 million shekels), includes the development and integration of external fuel tanks intended to ...

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

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

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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 ...

Vessel Off UAE Coast 'Taken', Now Bound for Iran Waters: UK Maritime Agency

This is Beirut, 14/05 12:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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A ship off the UAE coast near the Strait of Hormuz has been taken by unknown people and is now headed towards Iranian waters, a UK maritime agency said on Thursday. The vessel was "taken by unauthorised personnel whilst at anchor" 38 nautical miles (70 kilometres) northeast of Fujairah, and "is now bound for Iranian territorial ...

Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Says Any Deal With Lebanon Depends on Hezbollah Disarmament

This is Beirut, 14/05 11:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter issued a series of statements on Thursday ahead of the expected third round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, signaling that any broader political or security arrangement would be conditioned on the dismantling of Hezbollah and stronger Lebanese state action on the ground. In ...