This is Beirut

The Fall of Assad: Another Major Setback for Hezbollah and Its Allies

Elie Ziadé, 2024-12-08 15:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime delivers a major blow to the Iranian axis in the region, with Hezbollah bearing the brunt of the impact. Assad's departure signals the disintegration of the once-aspired "Shia Crescent," which aimed to connect Tehran to Beirut via Baghdad and Damascus. As a new Middle East takes shape ...

Iranian Embassy in Syria "Attacked" After Assad's Fall

This is Beirut, 2024-12-08 13:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran's embassy in Syria was "attacked" on Sunday, Iranian state TV said, after Islamist-led rebels declared the fall of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad following a sweeping offensive that culminated in Damascus. "Unknown individuals have attacked the Iranian embassy, as you can see in these images shared by various networks," a state TV broadcaster ...

The Assad Dynasty in Syria: Autocratic Legacy, Repression and Challenges

Alissar Boulos, 2024-12-08 10:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Syria has been under the rule of the Assad dynasty for more than half a century. Hafez al-Assad, the founder, seized power in 1970, followed by his son Bashar, who took control in 2000 after his father's death. Belonging to the Alawite minority, the Assads established an autocratic regime over a predominantly Sunni population, portraying ...

Before vs. Now…

Marc Saikali, 2024-12-05 20:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Before, the people of southern Lebanon lived peacefully in their homes. Now, some sixty villages lie destroyed and out of reach. Before, negotiations with Israel centered on 13 disputed points along the border. Today, it is uncertain whether Lebanon will regain any of its territory. Before, sectarian tensions were kept in check. Today, the ...

Aleppo Loss Marks a Turning Point for Assad’s Regime

This is Beirut, 2024-12-04 17:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The ease with which rebel groups captured Aleppo (North) and advanced toward central Syria has shaken Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy, fueling the ambitions of his opponents, analysts unanimously say. The capital remains well-defended, with the army launching a counteroffensive on Wednesday, aided by Russian airstrikes. However, the blow dealt in ...

Syria: A Confounding Chessboard of Escalating Tensions

Mario Chartouni, 2024-12-03 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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The situation in Syria is marked by an escalation of tensions, with major clashes on multiple fronts and increased international intervention. From US airstrikes to reinforcements arriving from Iraq and statements from Tehran, the chaos continues to deepen, painting an increasingly complex picture of the ongoing conflict. US strikes on ...

Araghchi in Ankara: Iran and Turkey Advocate Syrian Sovereignty

This is Beirut, 2024-12-02 13:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, continued his regional tour on monday, in Ankara, by meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, following a visit to Damascus. In a joint press conference, Aragchi emphasized the agreement between Tehran and Ankara on a key principle: "The unity and sovereignty of Syrian territories must be ...

Embattled Assad Seeks Support Amid Aleppo Setback

This is Beirut, 2024-12-02 12:44 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sought to shore up support from his allies Sunday, after a monitor said a shock rebel offensive saw government forces lose control of Aleppo for the first time since the start of the country's civil war. The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and allied factions now "control Aleppo city, except the ...

Iran to Maintain Military Advisers in Syria After Aleppo Loss

This is Beirut, 2024-12-02 12:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Iran said on Monday that it plans to keep military advisers in Syria after its ally's second city Aleppo was overrun by rebels in a surprise offensive. The Islamic republic, which has backed President Bashar al-Assad since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, says it only deploys military advisers in the country at the invitation of ...

Syria and the Domino Effect

Marc Saikali, 2024-12-01 15:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Benjamin Netanyahu has warned in his speech announcing the ceasefire in Lebanon: "Assad is playing with fire." Less than a week later, the Syrian regime is collapsing on all fronts. This time, Turkey is taking the lead. Erdogan has successfully brought together a diverse coalition of militias, from Islamists to Kurds, for the operation. His goal: ...

Iran's Foreign Minister to Visit Damascus in Support of Assad

This is Beirut, 2024-12-01 11:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi said Sunday he will leave Tehran for Damascus to deliver a message of support for Syria's government and armed forces, state media said, after a lighting advance by rebels. Araghchi will head afterwards to Ankara for consultations with Turkish officials. Tehran has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar ...

What’s Behind the Syrian Rebels' Push to Retake Aleppo ?

This is Beirut, 2024-11-30 17:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad have launched their biggest offensive in years this week, controlling a majority of Syria's second city of Aleppo according to a monitor. Government forces offered little resistance, the war monitor said, and the army admitted that rebels had entered "large parts" of the city. Syrian ...

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