War in the Middle East

Israel Strikes Syrian Army Targets
Israel Strikes Syrian Army Targets

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that its warplanes struck Syrian army infrastructure overnight “in response” to rocket fire from the country. "Last night, a number of launches from Syria toward the southern Golan Heights were identified," the military said in a statement. "In response, the army fighter jets struck military ...

Editorial – Gaza: The Day After
Editorial – Gaza: The Day After

A (highly) cautious optimism marked the recent days of talks in Paris initiated at the end of last week by senior American, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. The sought-after objective is to achieve a ceasefire of at least one month, possibly two, in the Gaza conflict, with a particular focus on securing the release of hostages held by ...

Israel Floods Hamas' Tunnels
Israel Floods Hamas' Tunnels

Fighting persists in Khan Younis on the 117th day of the Israel-Hamas war. As the Israeli army continues to flood Hamas' tunnel networks, international calls to save UNRWA are growing. Israel's army began flooding Hamas' network of tunnels as intense fighting rages in Gaza, with the UN warning of the potential "collapse of the humanitarian ...

Houthis Target US Warship in Red Sea
Houthis Target US Warship in Red Sea

Iranian-backed Houthis fired "several" missiles at a US warship in the Red Sea, as they announced on Wednesday, hours after the US military reported shooting down a missile. "The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces (...) fired several... naval missiles at the American destroyer USS Gravely in the Red Sea," the Houthi statement said. Earlier, ...

Israel Returns Dozens of Exhumed Bodies
Israel Returns Dozens of Exhumed Bodies

In southern Gaza, Palestinians interred dozens of bodies in a mass grave on Tuesday after officials announced that Israel had returned remains it had previously exhumed from the territory. Gazans moved the bodies in blue plastic shrouds from a truck towards the newly dug mass grave east of Rafah, as witnessed by an AFP photographer. Health ...

UNSC Expresses Concern over Gaza's Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions
UNSC Expresses Concern over Gaza's Deteriorating Humanitarian Conditions

The United Nations Security Council stated on Tuesday that it is concerned over the “dire” conditions in Gaza, urging all parties to the conflict to collaborate with the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Gaza. In a statement, the body expressed concern over the “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation” in Gaza, where Israel ...

War Diary: Day 116
War Diary: Day 116

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the situation in southern Lebanon and Gaza. Here are the main highlights for January 30, 2024.

Netanyahu Caught in a Crossfire
Netanyahu Caught in a Crossfire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the war in Gaza is not "a new round" with Hamas, and that Israel will not end the war without achieving its objectives. These, he said, were to eliminate Hamas, return the hostages and ensure that Gaza no longer posed a threat to Israel. With regard to reports of a possible hostage ...

Hezb Sniper Hit and Israeli Shelling on Southern Border
Hezb Sniper Hit and Israeli Shelling on Southern Border

The Israeli army targeted the outskirts of the towns of Labbouneh and Naqoura with artillery shelling on Tuesday morning, while heavy machine gun rounds from the Birkat Risha locality were fired towards the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab. Israeli reconnaissance aircraft also flew over the western and central sectors overnight, over the villages in ...

Gaza War Rages on as Hamas 'Studies' New Truce Deal
Gaza War Rages on as Hamas 'Studies' New Truce Deal

Fighting was still devastating Khan Younis on the 116th day of the war between Israel and Hamas, on Tuesday January 30. Meanwhile, the truce agreement drafted in Paris is reportedly being "studied" by the Palestinian movement controlling Gaza. Deadly fighting and bombardment rocked Gaza on Tuesday as international mediators pushed for a new ...

Hezbollah’s Terms for a Settlement, Internally and Regionally
Hezbollah’s Terms for a Settlement, Internally and Regionally

The race is on between diplomatic initiatives and the big explosion. Messages and mediation efforts between countries that intend to prevent a catastrophic war abound. Hezbollah is being advised to excercise caution and de-escalate to spare Lebanon total destruction, one that Hezbollah alone would bear responsibility for. Israel, in turn, is being ...

New Zealand Suspends UNRWA Funding, Following Broader Trend
New Zealand Suspends UNRWA Funding, Following Broader Trend

New Zealand halts funding to UNRWA on Tuesday, January 30, amid allegations of involvement with Hamas. Aid of around 1 million NZD is on hold. New Zealand announced on Tuesday that it was suspending funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), following accusations that some of its employees were involved in the Hamas attack on ...