War in the Middle East

Israeli Army Releases Lebanese Soldier, Continues Operations in Southern Lebanon

This is Beirut 2024-12-15 17:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army South Lebanon

The Israeli Army has released Lebanese soldier Abdo Mohammed Abdel-Al, who was detained after crossing into Israeli territory on Saturday while helping his brother herd livestock in the al-Majidiye plain, located in southern Lebanon. A military source in the Lebanese Army confirmed to a foreign media outlet that "Israeli forces arrested a ...

Israel Says to Close Embassy in Ireland Over ‘Extreme Anti-israeli Policies’

This is Beirut 2024-12-15 16:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

International Court of Justice International Criminal Court Israel Palestine Ireland Diplomacy

Israel's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it would be closing its embassy in Ireland, citing the Dublin government's "extreme anti-Israeli policies," further straining already tense relations between the two nations. Diplomatic ties between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated following a series of actions, including Ireland's ...

Iran Closes Offices, Schools Over Cold, Energy Shortage

This is Beirut 2024-12-15 16:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Saudi Arabia Tehran USA Economic Sanctions Iran

Iran announced the closure of offices and schools in many provinces across the country on Sunday due to a cold snap and energy shortages, according to state media. Iran is an energy giant, with the world's second-largest reserves of natural gas, according to the US Energy Information Administration. However, the country has been forced to ration ...

Un Envoy Urges Justice, Not Revenge in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-15 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria UN HTS

"We need to see justice and accountability for crimes, and it must go through a credible justice system. We must ensure that no acts of revenge take place," Geir Pedersen said upon his arrival in Damascus. Assad fled Syria last weekend following an 11-day rebel offensive led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), marking the ...

WindowSyria: From Euphoria to Growing Concern

Elie Ziadé 2024-12-15 15:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Turkey HTS Bashar al-Assad Syria

The fall of Bashar al-Assad took everyone by surprise, almost no one saw it coming. Yet, it was met with joy. Scenes of celebration across Syria, as well as in countries hosting millions of Syrian nationals and refugees, along with the shared joy of other populations — notably in Lebanon — reflect the harsh rule that the Assad dynasty had ...

TestimoniesSyrian Christians Who Took on the Challenge of Trust

Fady Noun 2024-12-15 10:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Damascus USA

Introduced by Vincent Gelot, L'Œuvre d'Orient's representative in Syria and Lebanon, the conference featured addresses by Archbishop Jacques Mourad, the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Homs, Hama and Debek, Sister Jihane, a member of the Soeurs de Besançon (Sisters of Besançon) and director of Damascus' largest Christian school, and Salim Safir, ...

Naim Qassem After Fall of Assad Regime: 'Hezbollah Lost Its Supply Lines Through Syria'

This is Beirut 2024-12-14 21:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

hezb israel lebeanon south lebanon syria naim qassem

In a televised speech on Friday, his first since the fall of the Assad regime in Damascus, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem acknowledged that “Hezbollah has lost its military supply route through Syria,” but emphasized that this loss was merely a minor detail and that a new supply route would be established. Qassem further ...

US Says in Contact With New Syria Rulers

This is Beirut 2024-12-14 20:35 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United States Anthony Blinken Syria HTS Ahmed al-Sharaa

The United States has made contact with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday, despite previously designating the group as terrorists. Blinken's comments, after talks on Syria in Jordan, came as Turkey reopened its embassy in Damascus, nearly a week after the Islamist-led rebels toppled ...

Turkey Reopens Embassy in Syria as Diplomats Gather for Talks

This is Beirut 2024-12-14 17:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Turkey Syria Damascus HTS

Turkey reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, nearly a week after president Bashar al-Assad was toppled by forces backed by Ankara, and 12 years after the diplomatic outpost was shuttered early in Syria's civil war. The move came as Middle Eastern and Western diplomats were meeting in Jordan for high-level talks on Syria, and a day after ...

Arab FMs Urge Support for Inclusive, 'Peaceful' Syria Transition

This is Beirut 2024-12-14 16:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Jordan Anthony Blinken HTS ISIS

Top diplomats from eight Arab countries, meeting in Jordan on Saturday, called for a peaceful transition in Syria with UN and Arab League support following Bashar al-Assad's ouster. In a final statement after the talks in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba, foreign ministers from Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, the United Arab ...

One Person Killed in Israeli Drone Strike on a Car on Khardali Road

This is Beirut 2024-12-14 13:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanese Army

A blue Mercedes vehicle was targeted by an Israeli drone on the Khardali road, connecting Nabatiyeh to Marjayoun, on Saturday morning. One person was killed and several others injured. The identity of the victim remains unknown. Two explosions were also heard Saturday morning in the village of Kfar Kila, in further Israeli violations of the ...

AnalysisUS Steps Up Support for the Lebanese Armed Forces Amid Regional Turmoil

Amal Chmouny 2024-12-14 09:27 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Washington ATFL

Lebanon is at a critical juncture as it navigates a complex regional landscape, and emphasis on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has never been more important. In Washington, there is a strong belief that empowering the LAF is essential to countering militant factions like Hezbollah and ensuring the stability of the country. In the wake of the ...