War in the Middle East

Blinken says Gaza ceasefire deal remains 'very close'
Blinken says Gaza ceasefire deal remains 'very close'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that a Gaza ceasefire remained close, but reiterated that it may not happen before President Joe Biden hands over to Donald Trump. "In the Middle East, we're very close to a ceasefire and hostage deal," Blinken told reporters in Paris. "I hope that we can get it over the line ...

What About the Ceasefire?
What About the Ceasefire?

The future of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel remains uncertain. Despite a flurry of diplomatic negotiations and recent statements by US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein calling for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, progress toward lasting calm remains minimal. Both sides continue to accuse each other of repeated ...

Gaza: Between Truce Hopes and Deadly Escalation, Doha Leads Talks
ExplainerGaza: Between Truce Hopes and Deadly Escalation, Doha Leads Talks

As indirect talks between Israel and Hamas unfold in Doha, violence escalates in the Gaza Strip, with at least 31 killed in 24 hours. Facilitated by Qatar and backed by the United States and Egypt, these negotiations falter in securing a lasting truce, deepening the Palestinian enclave's plight. As the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its ...

Hochstein: Israel Will Withdraw From All Lebanese Territories
Hochstein: Israel Will Withdraw From All Lebanese Territories

US envoy to Lebanon Amos Hochstein announced on Monday the start of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Naqoura. Following his meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the Grand Serail, Hochstein reiterated Washington's support for the Lebanese army. “Israeli forces ...

Hamas Announces Readiness to Free 34 Hostages in 'First Phase' of Potential Deal
Hamas Announces Readiness to Free 34 Hostages in 'First Phase' of Potential Deal

A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the Palestinian militant group was ready to release 34 Israeli hostages in the "first phase" of a potential prisoner exchange deal. "Hamas has agreed to release 34 Israeli prisoners from a list presented by Israel as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal," the official said. The ...

Israeli Incursion on the Outskirts of Southern Border Villages
Israeli Incursion on the Outskirts of Southern Border Villages

The Israeli Army conducted an incursion on Saturday morning from the outskirts of Odaisseh towards the town of Taybeh, where a wide sweep was carried out using medium and heavy machine guns. Simultaneously, Israeli helicopters conducted low-altitude flights over the area. An Israeli Army motorized force also advanced between the Bastra and ...

1 Dead and 9 Injured in Israeli Raid on Refugee Camp in West Bank
1 Dead and 9 Injured in Israeli Raid on Refugee Camp in West Bank

The health ministry in the occupied West Bank said one person was killed and nine injured in an Israeli raid on a refugee camp, with the Israeli military saying Saturday it had opened fire at "terrorists". An 18-year-old man, Muhammad Medhat Amin Amer, "was killed by bullets from the (Israeli) occupation in the Balata camp" in the territory's ...

A Farewell to Arms
ChronicleA Farewell to Arms

A farewell to arms is the essential condition for a return to normal political life in Lebanon, whether or not a new president is elected on January 9. Hezbollah must reinvent itself and relinquish all military autonomy. After everything that has happened, a return to the status quo ante is out of the question, and the Speaker of Parliament must ...

Israel Raids Iqlim al-Tuffah for First Time Since Ceasefire Agreement
Israel Raids Iqlim al-Tuffah for First Time Since Ceasefire Agreement

For the first time since the ceasefire, Israeli fighter jets launched two successive attacks on Thursday, targeting the heights of Iqlim al-Tuffah and Rihan–Jabal al-Zaghreen. Shortly thereafter, the Israeli army took responsibility for targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers, claiming that the Lebanese army “did not respond” to its request to ...

Israeli Military Confirms Destruction of Iranian-funded Missile Factory in Syria
Israeli Military Confirms Destruction of Iranian-funded Missile Factory in Syria

The Israeli military confirmed on Thursday that dozens of its troops were flown into Syria in September to destroy an underground missile factory funded by Iran. The military, which rarely comments on its activities inside Syria, said in a statement that the September 8 raid involved more than 100 Israeli commando soldiers who dismantled the ...