War in the Middle East

Persistent Fighting in Khan Younis, New Mediation Efforts
Persistent Fighting in Khan Younis, New Mediation Efforts

The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 113th day on Saturday, January 27. While in Gaza, Khan Younes remains the epicenter of the fighting, the Israeli government is now lashing out at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Deadly fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas raged on Saturday in the southern Gaza Strip, where ...

US-China Meeting in Bangkok on Iran and Taiwan
US-China Meeting in Bangkok on Iran and Taiwan

US and Chinese officials met in Bangkok, the Thai capital, on Saturday, January 27, to discuss areas of friction between the two powers. At the forefront were the issues of Iran and its Houthi ally in the Red Sea, as well as Taiwan. China's top diplomat Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held "candid, substantive" talks in ...

“Jewish-Muslim Peace Initiative” Launched in Srebrenica
“Jewish-Muslim Peace Initiative” Launched in Srebrenica

Jewish and Muslim representatives signed a peace initiative in Srebrenica, Bosnia, on Saturday, January 27. The town is infamous for the genocidal campaign waged by Bosnian Serb forces in 1995, which claimed some 8,000 victims. Jewish and Muslim dignitaries launched a passionate appeal for peace on Saturday from the Bosnian town of Srebrenica on ...

War Diary: Day 113
War Diary: Day 113

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the situation in southern Lebanon and Gaza. Here are the main highlights for January 27, 2024.

Washington and Baghdad Discuss the Future of Coalition in Iraq
Washington and Baghdad Discuss the Future of Coalition in Iraq

Iraq and the United States began talks on the future of international coalition forces in Iraq on Saturday, January 27. This initiative occurs in an increasingly explosive regional climate, as coalition bases are regularly targeted by pro-Iranian armed groups. Iraq and the United States on Saturday held a first round of talks on the future of ...

New US Strikes Against Houthis After Tanker Targeted
New US Strikes Against Houthis After Tanker Targeted

US forces struck a Houthi site in West Yemen early on Saturday, January 27. Attacks by the Iranian-backed group keep disrupting shipping lines in the Red Sea. US forces struck an anti-ship missile in Houthi-held Yemen that they said was ready to fire Saturday, hours after the Iran-backed rebels caused a fire on a British tanker in the Gulf of ...

International Reactions to ICJ Ruling
International Reactions to ICJ Ruling

Reactions across the globe continued to pour in on Saturday, January 27, a day after the International Court of Justice handed down its verdict on Israel's accusations of genocide in Gaza. While Western reactions offer a mixed picture, the decision is generally well-received in the Arab world. International reactions poured in on Friday and ...

French Peacekeepers: Donations for Alma al-Shaab Firefighters
French Peacekeepers: Donations for Alma al-Shaab Firefighters

The French contingent of the Force Commander Reserve (FCR) donated on January 18, 2024, equipment to the firefighters in Alma al-Shaab, a village in southern Lebanon. As part of the FCR's civil-military cooperation (CIMIC-Civil Military Cooperation), French peacekeepers donated personal protective equipment (fire suits) and automotive equipment ...

Israel Tackles UNRWA, Which Loses Western Support
Israel Tackles UNRWA, Which Loses Western Support

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, an increasing number of western countries have announced the suspension of their funding to UNRWA. This decision follows Israeli accusations that twelve UNRWA employees were involved in the attack on October 7.  Israel vowed Saturday to stop the UN agency at the heart of ...

Southern Front Exchanges Resume
Southern Front Exchanges Resume

The fragile calm that prevailed on the southern front on Saturday morning was repeatedly interrupted throughout the day by artillery exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel, intensifying in the early evening. Israeli forces bombarded the villages of Hula, Kaakour, Hebbariyeh, Rachaya al-Foukhar, Kfar Hamam, Blida, and Naqoura, as well as the ...

Gaza Residents Trapped in War's Crosshairs
Gaza Residents Trapped in War's Crosshairs

Thousands of civilians were trapped in southern Gaza by bombardment and fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters on Saturday, a day after the top UN court ruled that Israel must prevent genocidal acts. Growing alarm has been focused on Khan Younes, the biggest city in Gaza's south, where the two main hospitals were barely functioning ...

Qatar, Netanyahu’s New Scapegoat
Qatar, Netanyahu’s New Scapegoat

In recent days, Netanyahu and his political allies have been launching attacks against Qatar. This trend is far from trivial and reveals a new aspect of the Israeli Prime Minister's uncompromising strategy, according to political analyst Karim Sader. On Wednesday January 24, Israeli Channel 12 broadcast an audio recording of Netanyahu with ...