This is Beirut - United States

Kassem rejects disarmament, opposes the appointment of a civilian to the "mechanism"

This is Beirut, 05/12 17:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem reaffirmed his militia’s categorical refusal to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese state and criticized the appointment of a civilian—former ambassador Simon Karam—to the ceasefire supervision mechanism. He described the decision as “illegal,” “baseless,” and “another mistake,” ...

Iran Guards Warn US Vessels During Drill in Gulf

This is Beirut, 04/12 16:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps on Thursday kicked off naval wargames in the Gulf, issuing warnings to US warships in the area, more than five months after the 12-day war with Israel that briefly drew in American forces. State TV said the drill showcases the "sacrifice and spirit of resistance" of the IRGC's naval forces ...

Ambassador Issa Commends Lebanon’s Progress Toward Peaceful Regional Engagement

This is Beirut, 04/12 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The United States’ Ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, issued a statement Thursday praising Lebanon and Israel for opening a channel of dialogue at a sensitive moment, signaling “a sincere willingness to pursue peaceful, responsible solutions grounded in good faith.” Ambassador Issa emphasized that durable progress can only be achieved ...

Netanyahu Invited to White House in 'Near Future'

This is Beirut, 01/12 20:15 - Reading : less than a minute

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to visit the White House "in the near future" during a phone call on Monday, his office said. "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump," the premier's office said in a statement. "Trump has invited Prime Minister ...

Iraq Invites U.S. Companies to Bid on Oil Field Run by Russia's Lukoil

This is Beirut, 01/12 17:30 - Reading : less than a minute

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Iraq's oil ministry announced on Monday that it had invited U.S. companies to bid on an oil field that had been operated by the now American-sanctioned Russian company Lukoil for years. The oil ministry said in a statement it had taken "all necessary measures to directly and exclusively invite several major American oil companies... to submit ...

Iran Reportedly Transfers Hundreds of Millions to Hezbollah via Dubai

This is Beirut, 27/11 22:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Iran has reportedly transferred hundreds of millions of dollars to Hezbollah over the past year via currency exchange offices and private companies in Dubai, raising concerns in the United States, according to a Wall Street Journal article published on Thursday. According to the report, disruptions through traditional smuggling routes in Syria ...

Iran Condemns US 'Bullying Approach' Towards Venezuela

This is Beirut, 26/11 10:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, slammed what he called the United States' "bullying approach" towards Venezuela, a statement said Wednesday, as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela. The United States has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, accompanied by a flotilla of warships, officially for ...

Is Peace Now Possible Amid Collapse of Iran’s Imperialism?

Charles Chartouni, 25/11 09:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

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The epilogue of the cascading wars that have taken place since October 7, 2023, was quite promising since the destruction of Iran’s regional proxy network was a good omen. For the first time, the region was able to imagine the possibility of extracting itself from the tight clasp of Iranian Shiite imperialism. Nonetheless, however bright the ...

“Embargo”: When Economics Becomes a Weapon

Sana Richa Choucair, 23/11 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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On January 1, 2025, the United States tightened its technological embargo on China, doubling tariffs on a wide range of strategic goods, from semiconductors to industrial equipment. Beijing retaliated ten days later with countermeasures targeting American agricultural products, adding a new chapter to the escalating economic confrontation between ...

Iran Warns of Attempts to Target Supreme Leader Khamenei

This is Beirut, 23/11 13:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran's intelligence ministry has warned of attempts by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel, to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and destabilize the Islamic republic. The country's ISNA news agency reported on Saturday that Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib cautioned, "The enemy seeks to target the supreme ...

Washington Sends Warning with Cancellation of LAF Chief’s Trip

Amal Chmouny, 20/11 23:55 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

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Washington's abrupt cancellation of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) chief General Rodolphe Haykal's planned visit earlier this week signals deepening U.S. dissatisfaction with both Lebanon's approach to Hezbollah's disarmament and the LAF’s public stances on ongoing Israeli border incursions. Haykal, appointed to his post in March, was poised for ...

The F-35: Cutting-Edge Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter

Paul Guillot, 20/11 17:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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On November 17, 2025, just ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's visit to Washington, the United States announced the imminent sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a pivotal moment in their strategic alliance. But what is the F-35, and what makes it one of the most sought-after combat aircraft in the ...

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