War in the Middle East

Blinken Denounces Gaza’s Hunger Crisis
Blinken Denounces Gaza’s Hunger Crisis

The whole population of Gaza is suffering a "situation of serious food insecurity," denounced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, March 19. He's expected to start his sixth Middle East tour since the start of the war. The entire population of Gaza is experiencing "severe levels of acute food insecurity," US Secretary of State Antony ...

Israel Hits Hezbollah Arms Depots in Syria Near Damascus
Israel Hits Hezbollah Arms Depots in Syria Near Damascus

Israeli air strikes targeted Hezbollah weapons warehouses on the outskirts of Damascus at dawn on Tuesday, March 19, for the second time in 48 hours. Israeli raids hit warehouses storing weapons for Hezbollah in Syria on Tuesday, the war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said, as a Syrian military source said air defenses had ...

Will Gaza Ceasefire Breathe Life Into the Presidential Issue?
Will Gaza Ceasefire Breathe Life Into the Presidential Issue?

Despite the failure of American, French and Arab attempts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza before the beginning of Ramadan, efforts are still underway for a truce, this time through a new US proposal that is awaiting Hamas’s response. US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf stated in this regard, "We are seeking a ...

Hamas Number Three Killed by Israeli Forces
Hamas Number Three Killed by Israeli Forces

Israel's operation last week resulted in the death of the Hamas militant group's third-in-command, as confirmed by the White House on Monday. This announcement follows Israel's earlier statement regarding a targeted airstrike in Gaza, though confirmation of the militant's death was initially withheld. Israel killed the Hamas militant group's ...

Gaza: Al Jazeera Correspondent Ismail Alghoul Released
Gaza: Al Jazeera Correspondent Ismail Alghoul Released

Al Jazeera has announced Israel’s release of their freelance correspondent who was detained during its raid on Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital. The journalist was detained and beaten by Israeli forces during their raid on the hospital. Correspondent Ismail Alghoul was detained along with other journalists early today when he was covering ...

Biden Tells Netanyahu Rafah Operation Would be 'Mistake'
Biden Tells Netanyahu Rafah Operation Would be 'Mistake'

US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday that a major ground offensive in Gaza's Rafah would be a "mistake," as the two leaders spoke for the first time in a month amid growing tensions. Netanyahu had also agreed to Biden's request to send a delegation of senior Israeli officials to Washington to discuss ...

War Diary: Day 164
War Diary: Day 164

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the situation in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Here are the main highlights for March 18th, 2024.

South Lebanon: Violence Flares Up in the Afternoon
South Lebanon: Violence Flares Up in the Afternoon

An outbreak of violence was recorded on Monday afternoon on the southern front, where exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israel resumed, targeting many villages. Mays al-Jabal in particular has been the target of several Israeli artillery strikes since early afternoon. Two people were slightly injured when a shell exploded in a house. ...

Israel Blocks UNRWA Chief From Entering Gaza
Israel Blocks UNRWA Chief From Entering Gaza

The leader of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini revealed that Israel had prevented his entry into the conflict-ridden and blockaded Gaza Strip. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Monday Israel had blocked him from entering the war-torn and besieged Gaza Strip where the UN has warned of impending ...

Israel Kills Hamas Commander in Al-Shifa Hospital
Israel Kills Hamas Commander in Al-Shifa Hospital

Israeli forces have killed Faiq Mabhouh, Hamas's internal security commander, at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital on Monday morning, according to Israeli defense sources. The Israeli army announced Monday an operation was under way in Gaza's main hospital Al-Shifa, saying the complex was being used by senior Hamas militants. Soldiers "are ...

UN: Famine Imminent in North Gaza, 'Unprecedented' Crisis
UN: Famine Imminent in North Gaza, 'Unprecedented' Crisis

Half of Gazans are experiencing "catastrophic" hunger, with famine projected to hit the territory's north by May without urgent intervention, a UN-backed food security assessment said on Monday. "To have 50% of an entire population in catastrophic, near famine levels, is unprecedented," Beth Bechdol, the deputy director-general of the UN's Food ...

Israel's Mossad Chief to Discuss Gaza Truce With Qatar
Israel's Mossad Chief to Discuss Gaza Truce With Qatar

Israel's intelligence chief, Qatar's premier and Egyptian officials are expected to hold talks in Doha on Monday regarding a potential Gaza truce and hostage exchange deal, a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP. The meeting between Mossad chief David Barnea, Qatar PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egyptian envoys "is expected to ...