War in the Middle East

Israel Army Retrieves Body Of One Hostage in Gaza

This is Beirut 08/01 19:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Gaza Hostages Israel Army Israel Katz

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that its troops had recovered the body of a hostage in Gaza and brought it back to Israel following a "complex and difficult operation". In a statement, the military said: "The troops located and recovered the body of hostage Youssef al-Zayadna from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip ...

Blinken Hopes for “Lasting Peace” in Lebanon as Israeli Troops Withdraw

This is Beirut 08/01 19:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Antony Blinken Hezbollah United Nations United States

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed optimism on Wednesday for a “lasting peace” as Israeli troops begin withdrawing from southern Lebanon. Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Blinken confirmed that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in place for nearly a month, continues to hold. “The ceasefire is ...

Blinken says Gaza ceasefire deal remains 'very close'

This is Beirut 08/01 18:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Antony Blinken United States Gaza

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?

Élie-Joe Kamel 08/01 16:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ceasefire Amos Hochstein Lebanese Army UN Security Council Hezbollah

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 ...

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

Soumia Benmerzoug 08/01 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Gaza Hamas Qatar USA

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 ...

International Flights Resume at Damascus Airport

This is Beirut 07/01 19:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Damascus Syria Airport

International flights resumed at Syria's main airport in Damascus on Tuesday for the first time since Islamist-led forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad last month.

Hochstein: Israel Will Withdraw From All Lebanese Territories

This is Beirut 06/01 19:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Amos Hochstein Lebanese Army United States USA

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

This is Beirut 05/01 22:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Gaza

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

This is Beirut 04/01 10:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam South Lebanon

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

This is Beirut 04/01 10:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banks 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 ...

ChronicleA Farewell to Arms

Fady Noun 04/01 08:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Iran Shiism 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

This is Beirut 02/01 20:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Ceasefire Hezbollah

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 ...