lebanon

Israel Strikes Palestinian Camp and Southern Beirut Suburbs

An Israeli strike on Thursday targeting a car on the Zahle–Karak highway in the central Bekaa killed two people and wounded two others, Lebanon’s Public Health Ministry said in a statement. Beirut’s southern suburbs An Israeli drone strike targeted two cars late Wednesday at the southern entrance of the city along the Ziad ...

Qassem: ‘As Long as Occupation Exists, Resistance and its Weapons Retain a Legitimate Right’

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem delivered televised remarks amid Israeli strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Qassem’s speech marked his first appearance since Hezbollah opened fire on Israel on Monday morning. He spoke on issues including the ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes in the region, the internal displacement of ...

Lebanon Bans Hezbollah’s Military Activities, But Stops Short of Terrorism Label

In an unprecedented move, Lebanon’s government on March 2 banned all Hezbollah’s military and security activities and instructed the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to immediately move forward with its plan to disarm the militia. The decision came hours after a Hezbollah rocket barrage into Israel, which triggered a widescale military ...

Hezbollah and Iran Strike Israel as Israel Continues Attacks

Hezbollah and Iran carry out further strikes in Israel as Israel continues to expand its operations in Lebanon. Hezbollah struck two Israeli military vehicles in the town of Houla in southern Lebanon, saying that it hit with “appropriate weapons, achieving a direct hit.” The organization also stated that it hit an Israeli Merkava ...

Israel Is Preparing a Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon

The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam informed the ambassadors of the Quintet that the government’s decision banning all military and security activities of Hezbollah will be fully implemented. According to diplomatic sources, including U.S. ambassador Michel Issa, there will be no cessation of Israeli ...

Syria Strengthens Military Presence on Borders with Lebanon, Iraq

The Syrian army reinforced its presence along the borders with Lebanon and Iraq on Wednesday, both of which have been dragged into the regional war with Iran. A Syrian government source told AFP that the Syrian army had sent reinforcements to the border with Lebanon. "Syrian military forces are heading toward the Lebanese-Syrian border near Homs ...

Cyprus Closes Larnaca Airspace After Suspicious Object Detected from Lebanon

Cyprus declared Wednesday the closure of its airspace above Larnaca International Airport after a suspicious object was detected coming from Lebanon. The Cypriot government’s spokesperson said that “a suspicious object” was spotted in the airspace near Lebanon and that authorities had “taken the appropriate measures,” without providing ...

Crackdown on Unlicensed Weapons Amid Displacement Wave

A decision issued Wednesday following coordination between Adel Nassar and Public Prosecutor Judge Jamal Hajjar warned that any Lebanese citizen found in possession of an unlicensed firearm, regardless of its type, will be immediately arrested, referred to the military court, and have the weapon confiscated. The Public Prosecutor at the Court of ...

Caught in Escalation: Lebanon's Displaced Say They Want Peace

Rockets fired from Hezbollah into Israel triggered Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and nearby villages. As the violence escalated, residents from predominantly Shia neighborhoods fled their homes. Many had a common message: they want peace.  By Claudia Groeling and Kaline Antoun

Israeli Strikes Resume Across Lebanon as Hezbollah Fires Rockets Toward Israel

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon resumed Wednesday morning, hitting Beirut’s southern suburbs, including Haret Hreik, Hadath, and Laylaki. The army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, described the targets as Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons depots. The blasts were reportedly felt across the capital. Later on Wednesday, ...

The Moment of Decision: Will Lebanon Choose Peace?

The return of war to Lebanon was neither sudden nor unexpected. On the contrary, it appeared almost inevitable, a consequence of Hezbollah’s rigidity and denial on one hand, and the Lebanese state’s hesitation and accommodation on the other. It followed the trajectory of the political and security developments since the ceasefire that ended ...