Washington

Trump Hails Tehran's Move to Open Strait of Hormuz, Blockade on Iranian Ports to Continue

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran’s announcement that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would remain open to maritime traffic for the duration of a ceasefire, signaling a potential easing of tensions in one of the world’s most critical corridors. “THANK YOU!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding ...

Lebanon Reclaims its Diplomacy from Hezbollah

The April 14 diplomatic meeting between Lebanon and Israel in Washington signals, however partially, a reassertion of Lebanese state authority over its own decision-making, while challenging Iranian influence in the country. Most significant is the fact that the meeting took place at all, a historic step given the ongoing war between Hezbollah and ...

Israel Strikes South of Beirut as Hezbollah Launches Rockets at Israel

Two Israeli strikes on Wednesday hit vehicles south of Beirut, state media reported, while Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, soon after Lebanon and Israel agreed to continue holding direct talks.  The Israeli military also renewed its call for residents of a swathe of southern Lebanon to leave as it continues to bomb the area. Despite its ...

Antoun Sehnaoui and Morgan Ortagus Commemorate the 'Days of Remembrance' at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Businessman Antoun Sehnaoui posted photos on his social media accounts showing him alongside Morgan Ortagus. He accompanied them with the following statement: “Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Morgan and I had the honor of attending the Days of Remembrance ceremonies at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, where both of ...

Aoun Sees Israel Talks as Path to Ending Lebanon’s Suffering

Moments before direct Israel-Lebanon talks began in Washington, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Tuesday he hoped negotiations would mark “the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese in general, and of the people of the south in particular,” following weeks of war between Israel and Hezbollah. “Stability will not be ...

Israeli Ambassador to U.S.: Israel and Lebanon Moving Toward 'Complete Peace Treaty'

Lebanon and Israel engaged in the first round of United States-brokered talks in Washington DC today to discuss cooperation on Hezbollah disarmament. The talks were a major historic milestone, the first in-person meetings between Lebanese and Israeli representatives since 1993. Following two hours of talks, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel ...

Israel-Lebanon Negotiations: Who Are the Key Participants?

As Israel and Lebanon enter their first direct diplomatic talks in decades, a group of senior diplomats and officials have taken center stage in Washington. Hosted by the United States, the meeting brings together representatives from all three sides amid ongoing war and deep political tensions. Below is a profile of each key participant, their ...

Lebanon, Israel to Meet for Tough Talks in Washington

Lebanese and Israeli representatives are scheduled to meet in Washington Tuesday for US-mediated talks on ending the war in Lebanon. Lebanon was pulled into the region-wide Iran war on March 2 after Hezbollah attacked Israel.Since then Israeli strikes -- including an extremely heavy attack on Beirut on April 8 -- have killed more than 2,000 ...

Trump Announces Two-Week Pause on Iran Strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of planned military strikes on Iran on Wednesday, citing direct appeals from the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir.  “Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal ...

Inside the High-Risk U.S.-CIA Operation to Rescue a Downed Airman in Iran

The United States carried out a high-risk, coordinated operation involving both the U.S. military and the Central Intelligence Agency to rescue a missing crew member of a fighter jet shot down over Iran. The mission, described as both dramatic and politically sensitive, successfully brought the serviceman home, marking the end of a tense episode ...