This is Beirut - Lebanon

Taekwondo: A Precious Bronze for Jane Abboud at the Sarajevo Grand Prix

Makram Haddad, 10:16 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Young Lebanese taekwondo athlete Jane Abboud (–37 kg category) claimed an impressive bronze medal at the Grand Prix Finals Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the 12–14 age division, marking yet another major achievement for Lebanese taekwondo on the international stage. At her age, reaching the podium at such a high-level competition is ...

UNIFIL Urges Lebanese Authorities to Protect Peacekeepers

This is Beirut, 10:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations Lebanon Israel UNIFIL South Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday called on Lebanese authorities to uphold their responsibility to guarantee the safety of peacekeepers following an armed incident targeting a peacekeeping patrol in southern Lebanon. In a press release, UNIFIL condemned attacks on its personnel as “unacceptable” and ...

Aoun to Cabinet: The Language of Dialogue Must Prevail Over War

This is Beirut, 04/12 20:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Joseph Aoun Lebanon Cabinet

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that “the language of negotiation must take precedence over that of war” during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting at the Baabda Presidential Palace. President Aoun reaffirmed the appointment of former Lebanese ambassador to the United States, Simon Karam, to head the Lebanese delegation within ...

LAF Refutes Hezbollah Infiltration Claim

This is Beirut, 04/12 16:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Lebanese Army Iran Ali Khamenei Lebanon

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) on Thursday firmly rejected claims published in Iranian media alleging that a substantial share of its personnel are affiliated with Hezbollah. In an official statement, LAF stressed that all its members operate “strictly under a unified military doctrine” and pledge loyalty solely to the army institution and ...

Israel Launches Fresh Strikes on South Lebanon After Warnings

This is Beirut, 04/12 14:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah Avichay Adraee Lebanon Israel South Lebanon

The Israeli army carried out strikes on Thursday against several localities in southern Lebanon it considers used by Hezbollah, after warning residents to evacuate certain areas. Shortly before the first strikes, the army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted on X an evacuation notice urging residents of Jbaa and Mahrouna to ...

Ambassador Issa Commends Lebanon’s Progress Toward Peaceful Regional Engagement

This is Beirut, 04/12 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Pope Francis United States Washington

The United States’ Ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, issued a statement Thursday praising Lebanon and Israel for opening a channel of dialogue at a sensitive moment, signaling “a sincere willingness to pursue peaceful, responsible solutions grounded in good faith.” Ambassador Issa emphasized that durable progress can only be achieved ...

Lebanon’s Diplomatic Pivot: Understanding Simon Karam’s Role

Natasha Metni Torbey, 04/12 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Joseph Aoun

Wednesday’s meeting of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism in Naqoura carried the weight of history. Lebanon held civilian-led direct talks with Israel for the first time in decades, a development that offered Beirut a rare opportunity to resuscitate the faltering November 27, 2024, ceasefire and begin moving toward substantive political ...

Basketball – Lebanon Beaten at Home: a Bump In the Road or A Real Warning Sign?

Makram Haddad, 04/12 12:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Qatar Basketball World Cup Qualifications

For several years, playing Lebanon on its home floor was almost an impossible mission. Since the blowout loss to South Korea on February 23, 2019, Zouk Mikaël had become a true fortress: ten straight qualification wins, across all FIBA competitions. Iraq, Bahrain twice, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Syria, the ...

Iraq Reverses Hezbollah, Houthi Asset Freeze, Calls It ‘Mistake'

This is Beirut, 04/12 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Banks Gulf United Kingdom Iraq Houthis

Iraq's central bank on Thursday said the appearance of Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis on a frozen assets list was a mistake, and ordered the correction of the official announcement, according to a document seen by AFP. An official gazette issue dated November 17 published a decision about Iraq freezing the assets of ...

The Next Israel–Hezbollah War Could Be Inevitable — and Crippling for Hezbollah

Salam El Zaatari, 04/12 09:00 - Reading : 8 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Hezbollah War Peace

When Israeli jets struck Beirut’s Haret Hreik on 23 November 2025 and killed Haitham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s chief of staff and the man responsible for rebuilding its shattered military infrastructure, the message was unmistakable. Israel was not simply targeting a militant; it was signaling that the post-war “ceasefire” is dead, that ...

Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Assassinations in Beirut Port Blast Case

Tylia El Helou, 03/12 19:05 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon Beirut Port Israel Hezbollah

New and highly sensitive allegations emerged on Tuesday after the Israeli army accused a specialized Hezbollah cell—Unit 121—of assassinating four Lebanese figures who allegedly held information implicating the Shiite militia in the August 2020 Beirut port explosion. The claims, made by the army’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee ...

14th Meeting of Mechanism: Civilian Participants Added to Enhance Stability and Success

This is Beirut, 03/12 16:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel UN Security Council USA

Senior officials convened for the 14th iteration of the Pentalateral on December 3 in Naqoura to assess ongoing efforts to reach an enduring cessation of hostilities arrangement in Lebanon, reported the US Embassy in Beirut in a statement. To support a durable peace and shared prosperity of both sides, former Ambassador Simon Karam of Lebanon ...

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