Israel

Israeli Escalation in Lebanon Sends Warning to Hezbollah on Iran

As regional tensions mount over the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran, Israel has escalated its operations in Lebanon, signaling that Jerusalem will not accept any attempt by Hezbollah to open a front in support of Tehran. Israel’s recent waves of bombardment in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley were “clearly pre-emptive,” ...

Huckabee Authorizes Embassy Staff to Leave Israel “Today” as U.S. Deploys USS Gerald Ford

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee instructed American embassy staff on Friday that anyone wishing to leave Israel should do so “TODAY,” according to a report by The New York Times. The message warned that the embassy’s call for non-emergency personnel to leave would “likely result in high demand for ...

Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hezbollah Targets in Bekaa Valley

Israel carried out airstrikes on sites linked to Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley near Baalbek on Thursday, according to the IDF’s spokesperson for Arabic media Ella Wayewa. “The IDF is currently attacking terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist group's Radwan Force unit in the Baalbek area of ...

Israel Uncovers and Destroys Hezbollah Infrastructure in South Lebanon

The Israeli army revealed on Wednesday that it had detected and destroyed combat equipment and what it described as terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon. According to the army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, the equipment included observation and firing positions where anti-tank missile launchers were found. “Over the ...

Israel Signals Potential Strikes on Lebanese Infrastructure if Hezbollah Joins U.S.-Iran Conflict

In what was described as an indirect message, Israel signaled on Tuesday that civilian infrastructure could be targeted “hard” if Hezbollah were to take part in any potential war between the United States and Iran, according to a report by Reuters. The warning comes amid growing speculation over a possible U.S. military strike on ...

Let Lebanon Debate Peace

The majority of Lebanese oppose peace with Israel, and elected officials who pursue normalization with the Jewish state risk political suicide. Nevertheless, popular rejection of peace does not justify censoring its proponents. The very purpose of open public debate is to allow minority positions to argue their case, sway doubters, alter ...

Hamas Calls for Sanctions Against Israel Over New West Bank Moves

Hamas on Tuesday called for sanctions against Israel, welcoming a joint condemnation by nearly 20 countries of new Israeli measures aimed at tightening control over the occupied West Bank. Israel has approved a series of initiatives this month backed by far-right ministers, including launching a process to register land in the West Bank as ...

Iran Says Students Have Right to Protest but Must Know 'Red Lines'

University students have the right to protest but everyone must "understand the red lines", the Iranian government's spokeswoman said Tuesday, in the first official reaction to renewed rallies on campuses since the weekend. "Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines that we must protect and not cross or ...

Netanyahu Says If Iran Attacks, ‘We Will Respond With a Force They Cannot Even Imagine’

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates Israel’s position towards a conflict scenario with Iran, stating that the country is ready to use heavy force against Iran if it attacks. In a speech at the Knesset, he remarked that “if Iran makes a mistake–perhaps the most serious mistake in its history–and ...

Israeli Minister Says Army to Occupy All Gaza if Hamas Does Not Disarm

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas may soon be given a deadline to lay down its weapons. "We estimate that in the coming days, Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and completely demilitarise Gaza," Smotrich said in an interview with public broadcaster Kan. "If it does not ...

U.S. Embassy Evacuates Staff from Beirut as Regional Tensions Rise

The U.S. State Department ordered the department of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the U.S. embassy in Beirut on Monday.  “The Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members from U.S. Embassy Beirut. We continuously assess the security environment, and ...