Middle East

How Would Hezbollah Respond to U.S.-Iran Escalation?
AnalysisHow Would Hezbollah Respond to U.S.-Iran Escalation?

On Tuesday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in an address that the pro-Iranian militant group would not remain neutral in the event of any aggression against Iran, stressing that Hezbollah is prepared to defend itself and would determine the timing and nature of any response. Hezbollah “will not remain silent about ...

Hezbollah Faces Internal Divisions as Qassem Moves to Reshape Leadership
Hezbollah Faces Internal Divisions as Qassem Moves to Reshape Leadership

Internal divisions have developed within Hezbollah’s ranks as the organization reels from tactical and operational setbacks, sources reveal. According to Al Arabiya, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has been curbing the authority of Wafiq Sala, the head of Hezbollah’s liaison and coordination unit. Sala’s role focuses ...

Trump Says Diplomacy With Iran Still Possible
Trump Says Diplomacy With Iran Still Possible

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday diplomacy remains an option with Iran, even as Washington ramps up its military presence in the Middle East and warns that the situation remains volatile. In an interview with Axios published Monday, President Trump said Tehran has signaled a desire to engage in talks, describing repeated outreach from ...

Israel Prepares to Seek New Security Pact With U.S., Report Says
Israel Prepares to Seek New Security Pact With U.S., Report Says

Israel is preparing to enter talks with the administration of President Donald Trump on a new decade-long security agreement, signaling a strategic shift in how it seeks to secure American support, one that prioritizes joint military projects over direct financial aid, according to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday.  The discussions, ...

U.S. Intelligence Assesses Iran’s Leadership at Its Weakest Point Since 1979
U.S. Intelligence Assesses Iran’s Leadership at Its Weakest Point Since 1979

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran’s ruling establishment is facing its most fragile moment in decades, as President Donald Trump receives multiple intelligence briefings indicating that the government’s grip on power has reached its weakest point since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to reports cited by the New York ...

London Based Persian TV to Air 'Truth' About Iran Protests Despite Threats
London Based Persian TV to Air 'Truth' About Iran Protests Despite Threats

Journalists at the Persian-language TV station Iran International in London have been working flat out, vowing to "show the truth" about the protests in Iran, despite threats against them and their families. The private broadcaster, housed in a heavily secured building in west London, was labeled a "terrorist" organization by Tehran in 2022, ...

U.S. Delegations Meet in Jordan on Lebanon-Israel Relations as Karam Floats Tel Aviv Talks
U.S. Delegations Meet in Jordan on Lebanon-Israel Relations as Karam Floats Tel Aviv Talks

The U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee convened in Jordan on Monday to discuss the steps needed for a sustainable peace between the two countries as former ambassador Simon Karam expresses further willingness for direct talks between Lebanon and Israel.  On Sunday, Simon Karam, Lebanon’s ...

Qassem Warns Hezbollah May Intervene If Iran Is Attacked
Qassem Warns Hezbollah May Intervene If Iran Is Attacked

Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, delivered a speech amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran on Monday, stating that any attack on Iran would also target his group, and warned that any new war on the Islamic Republic would ignite the region. On the question of Hezbollah’s engagement in a conflict scenario, Qassem left ...

Khamenei Issued No Mercy, 'Shoot to Kill' Orders
Khamenei Issued No Mercy, 'Shoot to Kill' Orders

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered Iran's Supreme National Security Council to suppress the protests on January 9 by using "any means necessary," The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing two officials familiar with the matter.  According to the officials, security forces were then deployed to the streets with ...