This is Beirut - Middle East

The Bunker Buster: Inside the Bomb That Could Shatter Iran’s Nuclear Core

This is Beirut, 18/06 09:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

A powerful American bunker-busting bomb is the only weapon capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities, making it President Donald Trump's weapon of choice if he chooses to militarily back Israel. The GBU-57, a 30,000-pound (13,607 kg) warhead capable of penetrating 200 feet (61 meters) underground before exploding, is missing ...

When the Skies Close In: The Impact on Flights, Passengers and Airlines

Yara Germany, 17/06 22:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

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Each time tensions flare in the Middle East, airspace closures thrust airlines, travel agencies and passengers into a frantic race against time. Flights are rerouted, layovers stretch and last-minute decisions become the norm… A behind-the-scenes look at a sky turned unpredictable, where everyone struggles to navigate the chaos. Following last ...

All-Risk Insurance in Wartime

Liliane Mokbel, 17/06 19:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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While Lebanon remains officially neutral in the military escalation between Israel and Iran, it is already feeling the first economic tremors. Rising regional tensions are starting to weigh on the insurance sector, particularly in maritime and air transport, as well as war-related coverage, all of which rely heavily on reinsurance. Premiums in ...

Trump says Wants 'Real End' to Israel-Iran Conflict, not Ceasefire

This is Beirut, 17/06 13:51 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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US President Donald Trump said he wants a "real end" to the conflict between Israel and Iran, not just a ceasefire, as the arch foes traded fire for a fifth day on Tuesday. The escalating clashes saw Israeli warplanes target military sites in Iran, killing a senior commander and drawing retaliatory missile fire from Iran. Explosions ...

Lebanon at a Crossroads: Chaos or a Place in the New Regional Order

Bassam Abou Zeid, 17/06 13:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Lebanon is closely monitoring the unfolding Iranian-Israeli war - a conflict it has kept at arm’s length, but whose fallout is certain to reach its borders. The real test is whether the government will be able to leverage the outcome to its advantage. Hezbollah resents being forced to remain on the sidelines of a war it sees as a sacred duty, ...

G7 Urges Iran De-Escalation as Trump Makes Hasty Summit Exit

This is Beirut, 17/06 09:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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G7 leaders on Monday called for "de-escalation" in the Middle East starting with the Israel-Iran conflict, as US President Donald Trump hastily left the group's summit. Trump, who was making his return to the international diplomatic calendar, departed the gathering in the Canadian Rockies a day early as ally Israel pounded Iran. After a day of ...

'Rising Lion' Operation: Could It Be the Middle East’s Final War?

Philippe Abi-Akl, 17/06 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Israel’s “Rising Lion” operation against Iran, which began at dawn on Friday, was not merely a security response, it marked a pivotal step in a broader campaign of direct US pressure on Tehran. Coinciding with the expiration of President Donald Trump’s 60-day deadline for Iran to respond to nuclear deal proposals, the strike represented a ...

The Resistance Axis: More Fragile Than It Seems

Johnny Kortbawi, 17/06 08:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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A few months ago, a political activist mockingly coined the term “Rice Pudding Axis” to describe the so-called obstructionist axis, after a major part of it collapsed in Lebanon following Hezbollah’s military failure and eventual capitulation. Unable to hold its ground, the group was forced to sign a humiliating agreement that effectively ...

The Revolutionary Guards: Inside the Force Targeted by Israel

Élie-Joe Kamel, 16/06 18:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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As part of its “Rising Lion” operation aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, Israel has dealt a major blow to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), killing at least five senior officials, including the group’s top commander, General Hossein Salami. The operation also targeted Iran’s ballistic missile program, which is ...

Oil Prices fall Even as Israel-Iran Strikes Extend into Fourth Day

This is Beirut, 16/06 12:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Oil prices retreated on Monday as fears of a wider Middle East conflict eased even as Israel and Iran pounded each other with missiles for a fourth day and threatened further attacks. Gold prices rose back towards a record high thanks to a rush into safe havens but equities were mixed amid hopes that the conflict does not spread. Investors were ...

Blow to the Mullahs’ Regime: Reaping the Whirlwind

Michel Touma, 16/06 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. The leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran had pushed too far — driven by a hunger for power, unchecked authoritarianism, and a deadly strategy of regional expansion. The late Qassem Soleimani, once the emblematic commander of the Quds Force — the elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ...

‘Urgent Action’ Needed to Prevent Iran-Israel Conflict Spreading: Turkey

This is Beirut, 15/06 20:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "urgent action" was needed to prevent the Iran-Israel conflict engulfing the Middle East, in a call with US counterpart Donald Trump on Sunday. "President Erdogan hailed the recent comments by US President Trump concerning a resolution of the conflict between Israel and Iran... and stressed that urgent ...

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