This is Beirut - US Secretary of State

Rubio Praises Iraq’s Detention of ISIS Members, Warns Against Iranian Influence

This is Beirut, 26/01 11:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

US Secretary of State Middle East USA Washington Marco Rubio Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani Iraq Iran ISIS

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday praised the Iraqi government’s “initiative and leadership” in accelerating the transfer and detention of ISIS terrorists to secure facilities inside Iraq. According to a U.S. Department of State press release, Rubio held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani in light of recent ...

After Maduro: The Challenge of Dismantling Hezbollah in Venezuela

Claudia Groeling, 26/01 09:35 - Reading : 9 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Donald Trump Tehran US Secretary of State

After U.S. special forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on January 3, Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed that Washington would uproot Hezbollah and Iranian influence in the South American country. “We are not going to have a country like Venezuela in our own hemisphere, in the sphere of control and the crossroads for ...

U.S. Designates Muslim Brotherhood Branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as 'Terror' Groups

This is Beirut, 13/01 21:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Donald Trump Hamas United States US Secretary of State

The United States designated three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations on Tuesday, including on the group’s Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese branches, alleging they pose a threat to U.S. interests. The State Department designated the Lebanese branch as a "foreign terrorist ...

White House Withdraws Joel Rayburn’s Nomination for Deputy Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

This is Beirut, 2025-10-28 11:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

White House Donald Trump Middle East US Secretary of State Joel Rayburn

The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Joel Rayburn for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, according to the American media outlet Axios. Rayburn’s nomination had stirred controversy over his alleged role in concealing U.S. troop levels in Syria from then-President Donald Trump during his first term, ...

Top US, India Officials Discuss Ties as Trade Rift Drags on

This is Beirut, 2025-10-27 08:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA US Secretary of State India Asean Diplomacy

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India's foreign minister on Monday, as the two countries push trade talks and ease tensions over Washington's punishing tariffs. Few details were released, but Rubio's meeting with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is the highest-level contact since the United States imposed sanctions last week on Russian oil ...

Rubio says More Countries Ready to Recognise Israel

This is Beirut, 2025-10-24 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu US Secretary of State USA Gaza Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that more countries are ready to normalize relations with Israel, but the decision would await a broader regional agreement. Rubio, who was touring a US-led multinational center in Israel aimed at coordinating a ceasefire in Gaza, said that a sustained end to the war would encourage more countries to ...

Iran Dismisses US Criticism of Missile Programme as 'Nonsense'

This is Beirut, 2025-09-17 15:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA US Secretary of State Iran Missiles Nuclear

Iran on Wednesday dismissed as "nonsense" US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's criticism this week of the Islamic republic's missile program as an "unacceptable risk". "He was speaking nonsense," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told journalists, adding the United States was "not supposed to comment on the defensive capabilities of a ...

Israel Launches Ground Assault on Gaza City

This is Beirut, 2025-09-16 19:23 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu United Nations US Secretary of State

Israel launched its long-anticipated ground assault on Gaza City at dawn Tuesday, a day after winning backing from its top ally, the United States, despite mounting international alarm. A United Nations probe charged Israel with committing "genocide" in the Palestinian territory and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior ...

U.S. and Qatar Close to Strengthening Defense Ties Following Israeli Strike

This is Beirut, 2025-09-16 16:31 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam US Secretary of State Hamas Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington and Doha are close to finalizing an enhanced defense cooperation agreement, following last week’s Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar. Qatari officials confirmed that Emir Sheikh Tamim met with Rubio, with spokesman Majed Al Ansari stating the attack “sped up the need for a ...

Rubio Promises 'Unwavering Support' for Israel in Gaza Goals

This is Beirut, 2025-09-15 16:51 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu USA Donald Trump US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Washington was steadfast in its support for its ally Israel's pursuit of the Gaza war and called for the eradication of Hamas. "The people of Gaza deserve a better future, but that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated," Rubio told reporters at a joint press ...

Arab, Muslim Leaders Hold Emergency talks After Israel's Qatar Attack

This is Beirut, 2025-09-15 12:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Joseph Aoun US Secretary of State Qatar

Leaders from Arab and Muslim countries will gather for an emergency summit in Doha on Monday, a week after Israel's unprecedented strike on Hamas in Qatar prompted widespread anger. The President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, arrived at Hamad International Airport in Doha to lead the Lebanese delegation at the summit. Foreign ...

Rubio to Discuss Qatar Aftermath, Gaza with Netanyahu

This is Beirut, 2025-09-15 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Donald Trump US Secretary of State Gaza

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to examine the aftermath of an Israeli strike in Qatar opposed by Washington and its effects on efforts for a Gaza truce. Rubio scheduled the solidarity visit a week before a French-led summit at the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state, a ...

US Secretary of State