Israël

Lebanon at the Baghdad Summit: A Message of Arab Reconnection

On the eve of his departure for Baghdad to lead the Lebanese delegation at the Arab summit, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a firm message outlining his government’s intentions to reestablish Lebanon’s standing in the region. “Lebanon intends to fully reconnect with its Arab environment and regain its place on the regional scene,” Salam ...

Trump Says Getting Close to Deal to Avoid Iran Military Action

US President Donald Trump said Thursday a nuclear deal with Iran was close that would avert military action, as he toured Gulf capitals, securing $1.4 trillion in 10-year investments from Abu Dhabi. Trump made the Iran remarks in Qatar before flying on to the United Arab Emirates for the third and final leg of the tour that began in Saudi ...

Ortagus Urges Full Disarmament of Hezbollah

Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus delivered a strong message on Thursday, declaring that the path to peace and prosperity lies in the full disarmament of Hezbollah, not just in southern Lebanon, but across the entire country. In an interview with LBCI, Ortagus emphasized the unified stance of the US, Saudi ...

Israeli Drone Strike Kills Hezbollah Operative

One person was killed Thursday in an Israeli drone strike in the plain of Yohmor al-Shaqif, in the Nabatiyeh district (caza), the Ministry of Public Health announced. According to available information, the strike targeted a bulldozer believed to be operated by Hezbollah member Mohammad Marouni. The deadly attack was part of a wider escalation ...

Riyadh Without Beirut: Lebanon’s Omissive Absence From a Key Regional Summit

Riyadh, May 2025—In the heart of the Saudi desert, a private summit between US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Syrian President Ahmad el-Chareh reignited crucial conversations on the Middle East’s future. But one absence was consistently noted: that of Lebanon. While Lebanon’s persistent crises were ...

Donald Trump Reshapes the Middle East: A New Geopolitical Era

Donald Trump had promised that his visit to the Gulf would be historic — and he delivered. From the moment he stepped off the plane, a series of announcements followed swiftly. Let’s start with the numbers — and they’re staggering: $300 billion in signed deals spanning industry, research, defense, space, and even civilian nuclear energy. ...

Hezbollah-Affiliated Religious Singer Accused of Spying for Israel

The Lebanese government’s commissioner at the military court, Judge Fadi Akiki, filed charges on Wednesday against Mohammad Hadi Saleh, a Shiite religious singer (mounshid) known for his close ties to Hezbollah. Saleh is accused of “collaboration with the Israeli enemy” and “complicity in acts that led to the deaths of Lebanese ...

UNIFIL Protested Israeli 'Direct Fire' on Its Lebanon Outpost

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon protested Wednesday against a "direct fire" incident by the Israeli army targeting one of its positions in southern Lebanon — the first such incident since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), part of an international committee ...

Netanyahu Accuses Macron of Siding with 'Terrorist Organisation' after Israel Criticism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday accused French President Emmanuel Macron of siding with a "murderous Islamist terrorist organisation" after Macron criticised Israel's blocking of aid to Gaza. "Macron has once again chosen to stand with a murderous Islamist terrorist organisation and echo its despicable propaganda, accusing ...

Donald Trump Calls for a “New Middle East” During his Visit to Saudi Arabia

On an official two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump called for a fundamental reshaping of the geopolitical balance in the Middle East. In a speech delivered to an audience of Arab leaders, Trump advocated for an expansion of the Abraham Accords and increased cooperation in addressing regional threats, particularly those ...