War in the Middle East

Israel Hits Back at “Distorted” Accusation of Genocide
Israel Hits Back at “Distorted” Accusation of Genocide

Israel defended itself against any accusation of genocide on the second day of the Israel-South Africa Affair at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday, January 12. Pretoria initiated legal action against Israel over its actions in Gaza. Israel said on Friday that it was not seeking to destroy the Palestinian people, as it hit back at ...

Dozens Die in Israeli Bombardment of Central and Southern Gaza
Dozens Die in Israeli Bombardment of Central and Southern Gaza

Israeli airstrikes cause dozens of fatalities in central and southern Gaza overnight on Thursday-Friday. Concerns grow over civilian casualties and international response in the 98-day conflict. Oxfam notes a record daily death toll, impacting communities on both sides. Israeli strikes killed dozens in Gaza overnight on Thursday-Friday, sources on ...

Southern Front: Israel Targets a House and Vicinity of Hospital
Southern Front: Israel Targets a House and Vicinity of Hospital

After a relatively calm night, the Israeli army bombarded Tallet el-Hamames on Friday morning. Additionally, Israeli artillery shelling targeted the towns of Dhayra and the outskirts of the towns of Tayr Harfa, Mays al-Jabal and the Shendibeh area near the Mays al-Jabal Governmental Hospital, north of the town. Moreover, the Trach area, southeast ...

Mikati: We Informed All Envoys That a Ceasefire in Lebanon Alone Is 'Illogical'
Mikati: We Informed All Envoys That a Ceasefire in Lebanon Alone Is 'Illogical'

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired the first Cabinet meeting of the year 2024 on Friday morning. At the start of the session, Mikati stated that all international decisions have not been implemented by Israel, while we “continue to affirm our compliance with international legitimacy, our ministerial statement emphasized respect for ...

Hochstein’s Proposals Met with Silence
Hochstein’s Proposals Met with Silence

US envoy Amos Hochstein received no indication from Beirut that calm in southern Lebanon would be reinstated before a ceasefire in Gaza. Hochstein realized that his counterparts within the Lebanese government were nothing more than mere messengers for Hezbollah. The Shiite formation is adamant about pursuing its assaults against the Israeli army, ...

Southern Front: Tensions Continue to Escalate
Southern Front: Tensions Continue to Escalate

Escalation on the southern front continued throughout the day on Thursday despite diplomatic efforts to call for restraint in South Lebanon, notably by US envoy Amos Hochstein, who was on a short visit to Lebanon. In response to Israel’s earlier strike on the volunteer Civil Defense Center in Hanine, which resulted in the death of two rescue ...

Houthis Warn US Forces in Red Sea Against Any Action
Houthis Warn US Forces in Red Sea Against Any Action

Houthi leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi threatened to retaliate against any attack by the United States in the Red Sea on Thursday, January 11. The Iran-backed group continues to attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea, in a show of solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. The leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis threatened the United States and Britain on ...

War Diary : Day 97
War Diary : Day 97

This Is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the situation in Gaza. Here are the main highlights for January 11, 2024.

Two Drones Targeting US-Led Coalition at Erbil Airport Shot Down
Two Drones Targeting US-Led Coalition at Erbil Airport Shot Down

Iraqi Kurdistan authorities announced that they had shot down two drones that attacked Erbil airport, home to coalition forces, on Thursday January 11. Since October 7, there have been more than a hundred such attacks against the coalition, according to Washington. Iraqi Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service said an "explosive drone" targeting ...

Bou Habib: Implementation of 1701 Key to Stability in the South
Bou Habib: Implementation of 1701 Key to Stability in the South

Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called for "the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 as the means to ensure lasting stability in South Lebanon." The Foreign Minister spoke after a meeting on Thursday with the ambassadors of the Netherlands, Belgium and Argentina. Speaking before the diplomats, Bou Habib also ...

Arab-Israeli Rapprochement Would Isolate Iran, Says Blinken
Arab-Israeli Rapprochement Would Isolate Iran, Says Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that a closer relationship between Israel and the Arab states would bring about lasting isolation of Iran, during his visit to Cairo on Thursday January 11. Mr Blinken was speaking at the end of a tour of the Middle East aimed at calming tensions between Israel and Iran's allies. Closer ties between ...

Why Does Lebanon's History Keep Repeating Itself?
Why Does Lebanon's History Keep Repeating Itself?

As the situation grows more dire in South Lebanon, with almost 80,000 residents displaced and over 20 citizen deaths, the entire country is worried about a repeat of the July 2006 war scenario. In the last two decades, Lebanon has repeatedly served as the backdrop for aggressions, bombings and wars. Lebanese people ought to ask themselves why ...