israel

Lebanon Must Answer the Pope’s Call for Peace

From the heart of Lebanon—a biblical land living under Hezbollah’s shadow—Pope Leo XIV issued a clarion call for genuine peace, not merely a ceasefire, between longstanding adversaries. Although he refrained from naming Israel directly, the implication was unmistakable: the pontiff was urging Lebanon to pursue normalization with its southern ...

A Historic Day: Lebanon and Israel Hold First Direct Talks in Decades

Lebanon and Israel held their first civilian-led direct talks in decades on Wednesday, in a meeting hosted by UNIFIL in Naqura as part of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism established in November 2024. The shift from military to political dialogue marks a historic rupture in Lebanese policy—driven by President Joseph Aoun’s bold ...

A Historic Decision by Joseph Aoun… Lebanon on the Path to Joining the Abraham Accords

The news of appointing former ambassador Simon Karam to head the Lebanese delegation to the “Mechanism” meetings—and the Presidency’s confirmation of his participation in today’s session in Naqoura—can only be understood within the context of the bold steps President Joseph Aoun is taking to move toward direct negotiations to resolve ...

Port Explosion: Israeli Army Claims Hezbollah Eliminated Four Key Witnesses

The Israeli army accused on Tuesday a Hezbollah unit of assassinating four Lebanese figures who allegedly possessed information implicating the Shiite movement in the Beirut port explosion of August 2020, according to its Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, on X (formerly Twitter). According to the Israeli army, Hezbollah’s Unit 121 ...

Israel Police Say Received Presumed Remains of One of Last Two Gaza Hostages

Israeli police said Tuesday they had received the presumed remains of one of the last two deceased hostages in the Gaza Strip and were transporting them to the morgue for identification. In a brief statement, the police said they were "currently escorting, with reverence, the coffin of the fallen hostage to the National Centre of Forensic ...

Israel Army Says Killed Two Palestinians After West Bank Attacks

The Israeli military said Tuesday it had killed two assailants it said attacked soldiers in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank. The army said the first attack took place Monday evening near Hebron, in the south of the Palestinian territory, where a female soldier was lightly injured in a car ramming attack. In a statement, it said that ...

Beirut Readies for a Historic Papal Mass

More than 120,000 people are expected to attend Pope Leo XIV's mass in Beirut on Tuesday, the final day of his Lebanon visit and a chance to pay his respects at the site of the huge 2020 port explosion. The pontiff arrived from Turkey on Sunday on his inaugural visit abroad as pope and brought a message of hope, particularly to young people in ...

Trump Warns Israel Not to ‘Interfere’ in Syria

US President Donald Trump told Israel on Monday to avoid destabilizing Syria and its new leadership, days after a deadly operation by Israeli forces killed 13 people. Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invited him for another White House visit, Netanyahu's office said shortly after Trump issued the warning. "It ...

Netanyahu Invited to White House in 'Near Future'

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 ...

Barrack Warns Iraq of Imminent Escalation in Lebanon

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack delivered a stark warning to the Iraqi government about a looming escalation in Lebanon, Saudi Television Al Hadath reported Monday, citing informed sources. Barrack reportedly told Iraqi officials that an Israeli operation targeting Hezbollah is imminent, cautioning that any ...

"Iron Beam": Israel’s Laser Defense System Ready for Deployment

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that the laser defense system “Iron Beam” will officially enter service on December 30. According to The Jerusalem Post, already tested in the field, the laser has demonstrated its ability to neutralize drones, and authorities now say it will also be able to intercept missiles, rockets, and ...

Israel Says Killed 40 Fighters over Past Week in Gaza Tunnels Operation

The Israeli army said Sunday that it had killed more than 40 Palestinian militants over the past week in operations targeting tunnels near Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Earlier in the day, the army announced it had killed four militants emerging from underground in the territory's southernmost city overnight. Dozens of Hamas fighters are holed up in ...