This is Beirut

Israel Prepares for Rapid Return to War with Iran as Talks Collapse

This is Beirut, 17:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The Israeli military has moved to an unprecedented level of combat readiness amid growing expectations that the war with Iran could resume within days, following the collapse of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Pakistan. According to Israeli media reports citing military sources, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has ordered a sweeping escalation in operational ...

Israel PM Slams Erdogan After Comments on Iran Ceasefire

This is Beirut, 11/04 23:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharply criticised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday after comments he made about the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, vowing that Israel would continue fighting Tehran and its regional proxies. Shortly after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire earlier this week, Erdogan warned U.S. ...

Proxy, Not Priority: Iran Leaves Hezbollah on the Sidelines

Ralph Atrach , 11/04 23:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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As Iran and the U.S. begin negotiations in Islamabad while Israel continues its military campaign in Lebanon, analysts say Tehran is prioritizing its own interests over those of its proxy, Hezbollah. “Iran has its priorities as a state,” political analyst Ali al-Amine told This is Beirut. “Today, its main interest is to avoid a ...

Iran Sacrifices Lebanon on the Altar of Its Own Interests

Marwan El Amine, 11/04 22:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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The U.S. and Israel have entered a two-week ceasefire, an arrangement that paves the way for negotiations aimed at resolving a wide range of complex and contentious issues. Yet Lebanon, despite Iran’s rhetoric, appears to remain a marginal concern in the talks for Tehran, which has shown little care for the suffering of Lebanese Shia. Despite ...

Hezbollah-Linked Cell Foiled in Damascus Plot Targeting Religious Figure

This is Beirut, 11/04 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Syrian authorities said Saturday they foiled a planned attack in Damascus, arresting a five-member cell allegedly linked to Hezbollah that was preparing to target a religious figure near a church in the capital. In a statement, the Syrian Interior Ministry said its Counter-Terrorism Department, in coordination with security forces in the ...

Vance Arrives in Pakistan for Iran Talks

This is Beirut, 11/04 12:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for talks with Iran that the Pakistani premier hosting the warring sides called a "make or break" effort to permanently halt weeks of fighting in the Middle East. An Iranian delegation led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is also in the city, having arrived ...

Iran Delegation Arrives in Pakistan Capital Ahead of U.S. Talks

This is Beirut, 11/04 01:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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A delegation of top Iranian officials has arrived in Islamabad ahead of ceasefire talks with the United States in the Pakistani capital, Iranian state television reported Friday. The delegation was led by Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other security and economic officials, ...

Lebanon Says Israel Talks Set for Tuesday in U.S.

This is Beirut, 11/04 01:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Lebanon's presidency said Friday that a meeting would be held with Israel in Washington next week to discuss a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and the start of negotiations between the neighbours. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly expressed readiness for direct talks with Israel since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle ...

Senior U.S. Official to TIB: “Serious Consequences” if Lebanon Fails to Disarm Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 10/04 20:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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A senior U.S. official told This is Beirut that Washington has urged Israel to move toward a diplomatic track with Lebanon, adding that Israel has agreed and discussions could be convened as early as next week. The official said the United States expects the Lebanese government to take concrete steps to address and ultimately disarm Hezbollah, ...

Hezbollah’s Qassem Urges Lebanon to Halt “Concessions” Ahead of Talks

This is Beirut, 10/04 15:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem on Friday urged the Lebanese government to halt what he described as “free concessions” to Israel, ahead of anticipated negotiations between the two sides in Washington scheduled for next week. In a written statement broadcast on the group’s Al-Manar television channel, Qassem said ...

Operation Roaring Lion: Iran's Missile Program Takes a Hit

This is Beirut, 10/04 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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According to the Israel Defense Forces, the Israeli Air Force carried out more than 8,500 sorties over Iran as part of a sustained aerial campaign during Operation Roaring Lion. In total, the Air Force deployed over 18,000 munitions, conducting approximately 10, 800 individual strikes. These attacks targeted a broad network of Iranian military ...

Iran's Supreme Leader Says Does Not Seek War in Written Message

This is Beirut, 10/04 09:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)