This is Beirut

Israeli Defense Minister Says Lebanese President is 'Gambling' Country's Future

This is Beirut, 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz met with UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Monday, telling her that "if the Lebanese government continues to shelter under the shadow of the Hezbollah terror organization, fire will burn the cedars of Lebanon." Earlier in the day, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon ...

Israeli Army Strikes Bekaa Valley as Targets Expand

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

Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

The Israeli military said it was “currently striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley” on Monday, marking the first time since the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire began that it has hit targets outside southern Lebanon. Like the south, the Hermel and Baalbeck areas of the eastern Bekaa Valley are predominantly Shia areas and a ...

Lebanese President Aoun Accuses Hezbollah of National 'Betrayal'

This is Beirut, 14:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Ceasefire Negotiations SouthLebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday accused Hezbollah of “betrayal” and openly challenged the group’s decision to take Lebanon to war, asking whether it had secured national consensus before doing so. “Did you have national consensus when you went to war?” Aoun questioned, in a direct message to Hezbollah, as ...

Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem Rejects Direct Talks, Vows to Maintain Armed Resistance

This is Beirut, 12:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Israel Ceasefire Negotiations USA

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Monday rejected direct negotiations with Israel, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to armed resistance, and sharply criticized the Lebanese government’s recent political course in a statement addressing the latest developments in the country. In a written statement, Qassem said Hezbollah ...

If Boycotting Israel Requires a Law, Is It Truly Popular?

Hussain Abdul-Hussain, 11:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel Hassan Nasrallah Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah

Hezbollah and its global Intifada allies claim that the overwhelming majority of Lebanese, Arabs, and people of conscience view Israel as pure evil, a cancer to be eradicated. Yet if this hatred is truly so deep and universal, why does Lebanon still need to enforce its heavy-handed law boycotting Israel? The statute criminalizes any contact with ...

Lebanon Says Israel Strikes Kill 14 in Deadliest day Since Truce

This is Beirut, 01:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Benjamin Netanyahu United Nations Hezbollah

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south on Sunday killed 14 people, the deadliest day since a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war came into force over a week ago. It came as Israel and the Iran-backed group traded fresh accusations of breaching the fragile truce, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying the ...

Israel Orders Evacuation on Seven Towns North of Litani River

This is Beirut, 26/04 13:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah

Following a number of reports of fighting in the area, the Israeli Defense Forces have issued evacuations on seven towns in the Nabatieh District north of the Litani river, saying that Hezbollah continues to violate the ceasefire agreement and that the army was “compelled to act forcefully.” The towns form a pocket where the Litani ...

Iran Executes Man Over Membership of Jihadist Group, Armed Rebellion

This is Beirut, 26/04 13:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel United States US Supreme Court

Iran on Sunday executed a man convicted of membership in the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and involvement in attacks on security forces in the southeast, the judiciary said. Amer Ramesh was arrested during a counterterrorism operation in the Pirsahrab area of Chabahar county in Sistan-Baluchestan province, the judiciary's Mizan Online ...

New Strikes Reported in Lebanon After 6 Killed in South of Country

This is Beirut, 26/04 07:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

Lebanese state media reported a series of new Israeli strikes in the country's south on Saturday night, after attacks earlier in the day killed six people despite a recently extended ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah The new attacks followed orders from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "forcefully ...

Iran Executes Man Over 'Mission' for Israel's Spy Agency

This is Beirut, 25/04 11:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel United States US Supreme Court USA

Iran on Saturday executed a man for carrying out a "mission" on behalf of Israel's spy agency during mass protests in January, the judiciary reported. It is the latest in a string of executions since war broke out with Israel and the United States. Erfan Kiani was hanged after his sentence was upheld by the country's Supreme ...

Will Lebanon Repeal Its Law Criminalizing Contact With Israel?

Kaline Antoun, 24/04 20:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Donald Trump Washington White House

As Lebanese and Israeli officials conclude their second round of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington, a contradiction is becoming harder for Beirut to ignore. The state is now negotiating with Israel, while its citizens can still face prosecution for far less. Following Thursday’s meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys at the White House, ...

Israeli Army and Hezbollah Clash in Bint Jbeil

This is Beirut, 24/04 19:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel

Israeli Army spokespeople said six Hezbollah fighters were eliminated in a firefight in Bint Jbeil on Friday, over a week since Israel said it had encircled the town on April 13, and just a day after a Lebanon-Israel ceasefire was extended by three weeks. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army continues to hold a forward ...

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