This is Beirut

The Leader of a Palestinian Group Based in Syria Arrested in Damascus

This is Beirut, 03/05 17:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Palestine Hamas Israel United States

Officials of a small Palestinian militant group that was close to ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said their leader was arrested Saturday by the country's new Islamist-led authorities. The arrest of the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) came after the armed wing of another Palestinian ...

Syria: UN Envoy Denounces Israeli Strikes and Calls for De-escalation

This is Beirut, 03/05 15:37 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Israel

United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen on Saturday urged Israel to immediately stop its attacks on Syria, after strikes including one near Damascus's presidential palace, which followed sectarian violence this week. Fresh overnight strikes were reported, coming as Israel has repeatedly said its forces were ready to protect the Druze ...

Gaza Rescuers Say Three Babies Among 11 Killed in Israel Strike

This is Beirut, 03/05 11:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Gaza United Nations

Gaza's civil defense agency said Saturday that an overnight Israeli strike on the Khan Yunis refugee camp killed at least 11 people, including three babies up to a year old. Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported 11 killed "after the bombardment of the Al-Bayram family home in the Khan Yunis camp" in southern Gaza at around 3:00 am (0000 ...

Mossad Agents Behind Deadly 'Pager Operation' in Lebanon Publicly Honored During Independence Ceremony

This Is Beirut, 03/05 10:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Lebanon Hezbollah Pagers

During Israel’s 77th Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl last Wednesday, three masked Mossad operatives identified only by the initials “R,” “D” and “N” appeared publicly for the first time. Israeli media reported that these individuals led the covert “Killer Pager Operation” targeting Hezbollah members in ...

Security Forces Given Free Rein to Pursue Hamas Military Wing

Bassam Abou Zeid, 03/05 09:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army Palestine

The Lebanese authorities—through the Higher Defense Council—have initiated a confrontation with the Palestinian movement Hamas, following the latter’s involvement in supporting Gaza from Lebanese territory under the full sponsorship of Hezbollah. While Lebanon has yet to address Hezbollah’s own weapons arsenal, it appears to be using the ...

More Than 20 Israeli Strikes on Syria's Territory

This is Beirut, 03/05 02:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Israel Strikes Conflict

Israel launched more than 20 air strikes inside Syria late Friday, a war monitor said, following up an attack near the presidential palace in Damascus which was condemned as a "dangerous escalation" by the country's Islamist rulers. The strikes came amid Israeli warnings to the Damascus government not to harm the Druze minority, ...

Syria Slams “Dangerous Escalation” After Israeli Strike in Damascus

This is Beirut, 02/05 22:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Benjamin Netanyahu Israel

Syria's Islamist rulers on Friday denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a "dangerous escalation", as Israel called it a "clear message" not to harm the Druze minority. The dawn strike came hours after senior Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus and rejected any call for secession. They also ...

Syria: Drone Strike Kills Four Druze Fighters in Sweida

This is Beirut, 02/05 21:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Israel United Kingdom

Four Druze fighters were killed on Friday in a drone strike targeting Syria’s southern province of Sweida, a stronghold of the Druze minority, according to a rights group, which did not specify who carried out the attack. “Four Druze fighters were killed on a farm in Kanaker in an explosion that coincided with the overflight of a drone,” ...

Two Days Before the Municipal Elections, Voters Weigh Civic Duty Against Deep Mistrust

Marilyne Jallad, 02/05 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Achrafieh Baalbeck Hezbollah Israel South Lebanon

The excitement of first-time voters stands in stark contrast with the deep-seated skepticism of older generations, many of whom have lost faith in the promise of democratic renewal. Yet, across this generational divide, a common refrain emerges: a yearning for an electoral system that is more inclusive, transparent and more attuned to the ...

Activists Say Israeli Drones Hit Aid Boat Heading for Gaza

This is Beirut, 02/05 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine Cyprus Gaza

A group of activists organizing an aid boat for Gaza said it was attacked on Friday by Israeli drones in international waters off Malta as they headed towards the Palestinian territory. "At 00:23 Maltese time, the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, came under direct attack in international waters," the group said in a ...

Gaza Humanitarian Work on 'Verge of Total Collapse': Red Cross

This is Beirut, 02/05 10:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel Palestine United Nations Gaza

The Red Cross warned Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the "verge of total collapse" after two months of Israel blocking aid to the war-torn Palestinian territory. "Without an immediate resumption of aid deliveries, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will not have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving ...

Israel Says Downs Missiles Fired From Yemen

This is Beirut, 02/05 09:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Donald Trump Gulf Hamas Houthi

Israel's army said Friday it intercepted two missiles fired towards its territory from Yemen within 12 hours, with at least one attack claimed by the Arabian Peninsula country's Huthi rebels. An explosion was heard over Jerusalem as the military said it was intercepting the second projectile. "The (Israeli army) has identified the ...

Israel