Nawaf Salam

Lebanon Condemns Israeli Strikes on Doha

Lebanon condemned on Tuesday Israel’s military operation targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, denouncing it as a violation of international law and Qatari sovereignty. In separate statements on social media, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the strikes as “an attack on the sovereignty of a brother Arab state and a ...

Where Is Hezbollah’s Arsenal Still Hidden?

Since the November 2024 ceasefire and Hezbollah’s crushing military defeat by Israel, the question of the pro-Iranian group’s arsenal has once again moved to the forefront in Lebanon. Caught between international pressure, internal fragility and a government determined to reassert control over weapons, Hezbollah appears weakened. Yet its ...

Global Leaders Condemn Israeli Strikes on Hamas in Qatar

Israel’s airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday have sparked widespread regional and international condemnation. The strikes, which hit buildings hosting the Palestinian militant group, prompted strong reactions from governments and organizations worldwide. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned the attack as a ...

Lebanon Moves Toward Gradual Disarmament of Hezbollah

Anyone who believes Hezbollah will announce the handover of its weapons to the Lebanese Army is mistaken. The party is unlikely to do so for two main reasons. First, its arsenal remains closely tied to the strategic agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Second, Hezbollah uses the issue to rally Lebanese Shia, portraying itself as a protector ...

Ahmed al-Sharaa to Visit Moscow in October

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is to visit Moscow next month, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced in Damascus Tuesday, hailing a new page in ties after the overthrow of longtime ally Bashar al-Assad. "We place great importance on the coming visit to Moscow of the Syrian president in October to participate in the Russian-Arab ...

Spain Bars Two Far-Right Israeli Ministers Further Aggravating Bilateral Relations

Spain and Israel's relations plunged to new depths on Tuesday as Madrid barred two far-right Israeli government ministers, a day after announcing measures aimed at stopping what it called "the genocide in Gaza". Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich would be sanctioned and "not be able to enter ...

Raggi: Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah Near Israel Border Within 3 Months

Lebanon's army is set to fully disarm Hezbollah near the border with Israel within three months, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi told AFP on Tuesday. In August, the Lebanese government ordered the military to draw up plans to disarm the once-dominant militant group by the end of the year, having come under pressure from the United States and ...

The Creator of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ Returns With Ambitious New Thriller

Best-selling American author Dan Brown, creator of the publishing phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, released his latest thriller Tuesday in 16 languages simultaneously. The Secret of Secrets, which runs to nearly 700 pages in English, marks Brown's return eight years after his last novel, Origin. Brown called it "by far the most intricately plotted ...

Salam Reaffirms Government Support for Army’s Plan, Cooperation with Parliament

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed on Tuesday, following a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri, the government’s commitment to implementing the army’s plan for the disarmament of militias, which would be accompanied by a monthly follow-up report. He stressed that the government would not go back on its decisions regarding the monopoly of ...

Israel says to Act with 'Great Force' in Gaza City

Israel's military said on Tuesday that it will act with "great force" in Gaza City and told residents to leave as it stepped up its deadly assault on the Palestinian territory's largest urban center. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a similar warning, as Israel intensified its bombardment in preparation for an operation to seize Gaza City ...

Israeli Strike Hits Near Syrian City of Homs

Israeli air strikes hit areas of the central and western Syrian cities of Homs and Latakia late Monday, state news agency SANA reported. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that "the Israeli strike near Homs targeted a military unit south of the city." Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in ...

Will Lebanon Disarm Hezbollah, or Not?

The Lebanese cabinet heard, on Friday, a presentation from Army Chief Rodolphe Haykal on a confidential plan to monopolize arms, as tasked by the government on August 5. The cabinet then issued a statement, and Information Minister Paul Morcos held a press conference. The vague responses left observers divided, with each side interpreting the ...