Israel

September 23: Deadliest Israeli Operation Since Civil War

Code-named "Northern Arrows" by Israel, the September 23 aerial military operation against Lebanon was the deadliest since the end of the Civil War. In a single day, Israeli airstrikes claimed 558 lives, including 35 children and 58 women, and left 1,835 wounded, according to the Ministry of Health's latest report, released on Tuesday. The ...

UN General Assembly Calls on Israel to Avoid Full-Scale War

World leaders lined up at the United Nations on Tuesday to call on Israel to refrain from a full-scale war in Lebanon, with the organization's chief warning the situation was on the "brink." The UN General Assembly, the high point of the international diplomatic calendar, comes after Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes had killed 558 people ...

Is a Diplomatic Solution Still an Option to Stop the Spiraling Conflict?

  As Lebanon and Israel teeter on the brink of a full-fledged conflict, a diplomatic solution for almost a year-long of spiraling confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, which took an unprecedented violent turn last week, appears far-fetched. Walid Joumblatt, the former head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), ...

Le Drian’s Visit to Beirut: No New Initiatives in Sight

  The French presidential envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, did not introduce any new initiatives regarding the presidential election during his current visit to Beirut. There was no proposal or roadmap to move the electoral dossier forward. Those who met with him noted that he merely urged them to elect a president as soon as possible, stressing ...

Editorial – Lebanon and Regional Powers: A History of Alienation

  To summarize and provide the proper context for recent developments: On October 8, 2023, following Hamas' deadly attack on Israel, Hezbollah reignited the southern Lebanon front, which had been perfectly calm since August 2006. The stated reason for this unilateral move, taken against the will of a vast majority of the Lebanese people, was ...

Israeli Raid on Ftouh: Hezbollah Chief for the North and Mount Lebanon Targeted

Israeli warplanes attacked the village of Maaysrah, resulting in the death of three people and leaving nine wounded, according to the Health Emergency Operations Center. Sheikh Mohammad Amr, a local Hezbollah official for the North and Mount Lebanon, was the intended target of the raid. The Israeli army had already announced plans for extensive ...

"Israel Pushing Region to Open War", Say Egypt, Iraq and Jordan

“Israel is pushing the region towards open war,” said the heads of diplomacy of Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan in a joint statement issued on Wednesday, condemning ‘the Israeli aggression on Lebanon’. The three foreign ministers also discussed the organization of a “tripartite summit” of the leaders of the three countries, to be held in ...

Pope Says Escalation in Lebanon is "Unacceptable"

Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced the “terrible escalation” in Lebanon, calling it “unacceptable” and calling on the international community to do all it can to put an end to it. “I am saddened by the news coming from Lebanon, where intense bombardments in recent days have caused numerous victims and destruction, and I hope that the ...

Khamenei Says Israel's Killing of Commanders Wont Stop Hezbollah

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Israel's killing of top Hezbollah commanders couldn't bring the Iran-backed militant group to its knees. "Some of the effective and valuable forces of Hezbollah were martyred, which undoubtedly caused damage to Hezbollah, but this was not the sort of damage that could bring the ...

Is the Concept of Tactical Retreat Applicable?

The dangerous turn of events in Lebanon in recent days, fueled by the open conflict with Israel, signals dire consequences that are likely to further worsen the existing situation. The high-stakes gamble that has unfolded for over ten months has now reached the point of no return, particularly after Israel has fully destroyed Gaza, making it ...

Israel Mobilizes Two Reserve Brigades to Northern Borders

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it was calling up two reserve brigades to the north, where its forces are involved in cross-border clashes with Hezbollah. "The Israeli Army is calling up two reserve brigades for operational missions in the northern arena," the military said in a statement, adding that this would "enable the continuation of ...

Anxiety, Solidarity, and Powerlessness: Lebanese Diaspora Reacts to Israeli Airstrikes

The recent Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, especially in the south and in Beirut, have stirred deep emotions within the Lebanese diaspora. Present in many countries worldwide, Lebanese expatriates are anxiously monitoring the escalating tensions and violence in their homeland. As they witness this new crisis gripping Lebanon, they voice not only ...