This Is Beirut 2023-12-21 19:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II on aid to war-battered Gaza, where Israel has been fighting Hamas militants since early October. Macron is then due to visit French troops stationed in the Middle Eastern country for a traditional Christmas meeting with forces deployed overseas. The ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-21 13:56 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Israeli strikes on the town of Maroun al-Ras killed a woman in her eighties early Thursday morning and left her husband wounded. Israeli artillery shells struck "residential neighborhoods" in the town, hitting the house of the couple in their eighties. On Thursday morning, the Israeli army stepped up its attacks on localities in southern ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-21 13:17 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is calling for Israel to open an investigation into “the possible commission of a war crime” by its armed forces in Gaza. The UN received “disturbing information” regarding the death of “11 unarmed Palestinian men” in the city of Gaza on Tuesday evening during an Israeli Army ...
David Hale 2023-12-21 13:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
One of the harder things in foreign affairs, as in life, is dealing with new realities. Successful statecraft entails identifying new realities and equipping policies to protect and advance national interests in that light. An inability to adjust strategies in the face of new realities is an indicator of impending failure. The tragedy experienced ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-21 12:17 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Greece will join a US-led coalition to safeguard the Red Sea's shipping route from Houthis, as announced by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on Thursday. A Greek navy frigate, acting on orders from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will be part of the task force, according to the minister. Given Greece's status as a leading shipping nation, ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-20 23:26 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
diplomacy Egypt Gaza Hamas Humanitarian Aid Iran
Expectations grew over Israel and Hamas' move towards a new ceasefire and an agreement for the release of hostages in the Gaza conflict on Wednesday. These developments followed discussions in Europe and a visit to Egypt by the leader of the Palestinian militant group. Hopes rose that Israel and Hamas may be inching toward another truce and ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-20 22:08 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Gaza Hamas Iran Iran Proxies iraq
A senior US official stated in Baghdad on Wednesday, that the United States aims to actively collaborate with Iraq to tackle the increase in attacks on American troops in Iraq and Syria. The United States wants to actively engage with Iraq to address a surge in attacks on American troops in Iraq and Syria, a top US official said Wednesday in ...
Tylia El Helou 2023-12-20 21:34 - Reading : less than a minute
This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the situation in Gaza. Here are the main highlights for December 20, 2023.
Michel Touma 2023-12-20 17:22 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
A necessary, indeed indispensable, but not sufficient condition ... This is how one could characterize the retention of General Joseph Aoun in his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. In the context of stabilizing southern Lebanon and strictly adhering to Resolution 1701, the decision was crucial, as the army needs to be led by a commander ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-20 13:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Southern Lebanon remains under tension. Israeli reconnaissance planes flew over the Shebaa farms, Hasbaya, Upper Galilee and the border area late on Wednesday morning, while the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras, Yaroun and Mohaybib (Marjayoun) were targeted by bombardments. Earlier, Israeli drones flew over the villages of Majdel Zoun and Chamaa. At ...
This Is Beirut 2023-12-20 11:47 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Cairo Gaza Hamas hostages Iran Ismail Haniyeh
The leader of Hamas arrived in Egypt on Wednesday as hopes grew that Israel and the Palestinian militant group might be inching toward another truce and hostage release deal in the Gaza war. The Qatar-based Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Cairo for discussions on “aggression in the Gaza Strip and other matters,” the group said in a ...
2023-12-20 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Does the American-French "plan" to address the situation in southern Lebanon include the implementation of Resolution 1701 along with its overall components? And is it aimed at facilitating a regional settlement? According to a Western diplomat, the debate over a post-Gaza phase is already underway. This is especially relevant as the ...