This is Beirut

Syria: The New Battleground for Influence and Investment

Liliane Mokbel, 12/06 12:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Saudi Arabia Syria economy reconstruction Lebanon Qatar

The international community appears determined to reintegrate Syria both economically and politically after decades of isolation. This momentum stands in stark contrast to neighboring Lebanon, which fears that Syria’s reconstruction will monopolize international attention, pushing its own geopolitical and economic challenges into the ...

As Iran Retreats, Islamist Turkey and Qatar Surge in Lebanon

Hussain Abdul-Hussain, 03/06 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Iran Lebanon Qatar United States Saudi Arabia

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a Sunni, entered the stadium of Beirut’s Sports City to watch the classic football game between the two rival teams Nijmeh and Ansar. When the Shia supporters of Nijmeh saw Salam, they started shouting slogans in support of Hezbollah and its late chief Hassan Nasrallah. The Sunni fans of Ansar fired back, ...

Arab Ministers Condemn Israel 'Ban' on Planned West Bank Visit

This is Beirut, 31/05 17:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel Jordan Egypt Qatar UAE Saudi Arabia

The foreign ministers of five Arab countries, who had planned to visit the occupied West Bank this weekend, condemned on Saturday Israel's decision to block their trip. The ministers condemned "Israel's decision to ban the delegation's visit to Ramallah (on Sunday) to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, ...

Syria Inks $7 Bn Energy Deal With Qatari, Turkish, US Firms

This is Beirut, 29/05 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Turkey Syria Qatar Energy

Syria signed a $7 billion energy deal on Thursday with a consortium of Qatari, Turkish, and US companies as it seeks to revive the war-torn country's crippled power sector. The agreement was sealed at the presidential palace in Damascus in the presence of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US ambassador Thomas Barrack. It aims to generate ...

US Accepts Boeing Jet from Qatar for Use as Air Force One

This is Beirut, 21/05 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Pete Hegseth Qatar Air Force One Donald Trump

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted the Boeing 747 that the Gulf emirate of Qatar offered to President Donald Trump for use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Qatar's offer of the jet -- which is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars -- has raised huge constitutional and ethical questions, as well as security ...

Ortagus: Lebanon Must Do More to Disarm Hezbollah, Offers Alternative to IMF-Led Recovery Plan

This is Beirut, 21/05 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel conflict Qatar

Lebanon still has "more" to do in disarming Hezbollah following the war between the Iran-backed group and Israel, Deputy US Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday. As part of a deal agreed to end 14 months of fighting last November, Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River, while Israel was to pull all ...

Israel Recalls Senior Gaza Hostage Negotiators and Leaves Team in Doha

This is Beirut, 20/05 22:46 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas Qatar

Israel said Tuesday that it was recalling its senior Gaza hostage negotiators from Doha "for consultation", days after launching an intensified campaign in the Palestinian territory. The indirect talks in Qatar, which has played a mediating role throughout the war, began over the weekend, just as Israel's new offensive was getting ...

Qatar Says Israel Attack on Gaza 'Undermining any Chance at Peace'

This is Beirut, 20/05 10:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Israel Palestine Qatar

Qatar's prime minister Tuesday said Israel's military offensive in Gaza had undermined peace efforts after the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and amid expanded operations in the Palestinian territory. "When Israeli American soldier Aidan Alexander was released, we thought that moment would open a door to end this tragedy, but the ...

Hamas: New Gaza Talks 'Without any Preconditions' Underway in Doha

This is Beirut, 17/05 16:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Hamas Qatar Gaza

A senior Hamas official said a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel aimed at ending the war in Gaza started in Doha "without any preconditions" on Saturday. "This round of negotiations began without any preconditions from either side, and the negotiations are open to discussing all issues," Taher al-Nunu said. "Hamas will present its ...

World Bank to Restart Operations in Syria Following Saudi, Qatari Payment of Debts

This is Beirut, 16/05 17:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The World Bank on Friday said it would restart operations in Syria following a 14-year pause, after Saudi Arabia and Qatar had paid off the country's outstanding debts. The Bank's operations in Syria were halted when the civil war broke out in 2011, preventing the country from gaining access to its development loans, grants, and technical ...

Trump Lands in Abu Dhabi on Last Leg of Gulf Tour

This is Beirut, 15/05 15:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Donald Trump Qatar

US President Donald Trump arrived Thursday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates' capital, on the final stop of his multi-day Gulf tour, AFP journalists on Air Force One said. After visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week, Trump is hoping to secure billions of dollars in business deals with the oil-rich UAE that seeks to become an artificial ...

From Riyadh to Doha: Trump Nurtures His Middle East Alliances

This is Beirut, 15/05 12:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Donald Trump Middle East Saudi Arabia Qatar

Greeted with pomp in Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump then continued to Qatar, where a $200 billion contract with Boeing was announced—underscoring a tour framed by economic power and deliberate diplomatic pragmatism.

Qatar