Nawaf Salam

Nawaf Salam Commits to Building a Reform Government Devoid of Internal Gridlock

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam vowed on Wednesday to form a reformist government that will operate without internal gridlock, pledging transparency and unity as Lebanon faces pressing national challenges. Speaking at a press conference at Baabda Palace following his meeting with President General Joseph Aoun, Salam outlined his strategy for ...

Israel Says to Boycott UN Rights Body over 'Anti-Semitism'

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday accused the UN Human Rights Council of anti-Semitism as he announced Israel would boycott of the United Nations body. "This body has focused on attacking a democratic country and propagating anti-Semitism, instead of promoting human rights," Saar said in a post on X. The minister cited Israel ...

Trump Wants US to Take Over Gaza and Rebuild it

President Donald Trump revealed an extraordinary plan Tuesday for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip, resettle Palestinians in other countries – seemingly whether they wanted to leave or not – and turn the territory into "the Riviera of the Middle East." Trump made the stunning proposal to audible gasps during a ...

Iran's Khamenei names Hezbollah leader as Lebanon 'representative'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem as his "representative" in Lebanon, Iranian media reported Wednesday. "The leader of the revolution, in a decree, introduced Sheikh Naim Qassem, secretary general of Hezbollah, as his representative in Lebanon," Tasnim news agency said. Tasnim carried a copy of ...

Saudi Arabia Says no Israel Normalization Without Palestinian State

Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it will not formalize ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established, after Israel's prime minister remarked that he thought normalisation with the Gulf kingdom was "going to happen". "Saudi Arabia will continue its relentless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its ...

Lebanon Reconnects with the World: Airlines Resuming Flights

From the onset of the escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, all international airlines suspended their flights to Lebanon. Among them, major carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines halted their routes to Beirut, citing security concerns for passengers and crew amid ongoing bombardments and the inability to guarantee ...

To What Extent Does Nawaf Salam Adopt a Common Criteria?

A quick assessment of the current situation shows that among the majority of MPs who nominated Nawaf Salam to form the new government, only a few remain satisfied with the prime minister-designate’s performance. So far, Salam has managed to infuriate most of those who were on his side, while satisfying his opponents, particularly Amal and ...

Erdogan Hails Syria Leader's 'Strong Commitment' to Fighting Terror

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday hailed Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa for his "strong commitment" to fighting terror as the newly installed interim president made his first visit to Turkey. Sharaa flew to Ankara from Saudi Arabia where he had sought Riyadh's support to fund Syria's reconstruction and revive its economy after 13 years of civil ...

Mapping Forces in South Lebanon

South Lebanon remains a focal point of tension, with Israeli forces holding positions along the border, Hezbollah active across strategic areas, and the Lebanese Army bolstering its presence. With the ceasefire deadline extended till February 18, the region faces heightened uncertainty, underscoring the fragile security situation and the potential ...

Who Is Morgan Ortagus, Trump's Envoy Expected in Beirut on Thursday?

On January 3, 2025, US President Donald Trump appointed Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East. Ortagus, who served as spokesperson for the US State Department during Trump’s first term (2017-2021), will be part of the team headed by Steve Witkoff, a close friend and trusted confidant of Trump. Morgan Ortagus, ...

New Hezbollah Network Dismantled in Germany

Hezbollah is reportedly operating secret bases across northern Germany, using them to expand its influence throughout Europe. This covert network is believed to serve as a platform for fundraising, weapons procurement and bolstering the group’s presence within the Lebanese community. These revelations were published by The National on February ...

The Lebanese Armed Forces Deploy in Taybeh

The Lebanese armed forces deployed in the entire town of Taybeh up to the road leading to Rab al-Thalathin on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reinforced its surveillance measures along the border. Israel started installing new observation posts on mountainous hills within its territory to monitor neighboring Lebanese towns. The Israeli ...