Arab World

FocusTensions Rise Between Israel’s Military and Government, Netanyahu Accused of Dodging Responsibility

This is Beirut 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Tensions are rising in Israel between the political leadership and the military over investigations into October 7, 2023, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused of shirking responsibility for the authorities’ failure to anticipate and prevent the deadliest attack in the country’s history. Weekly protests, reflecting public anger, ...

Syria: Explosion of Unknown Origin Injures Civilians in Idlib

This is Beirut 14:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Idlib Syria Explosion Rockets

An explosion of unknown origin shook the town of Kafr Takharim in western Idlib on Wednesday, injuring several civilians, according to local sources. A correspondent on the ground reported that the blast—likely linked to an ammunition depot containing rockets—sent a large plume of smoke into the air and caused significant damage in an ...

Iran Condemns US 'Bullying Approach' Towards Venezuela

This is Beirut 10:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States Venezuela Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, slammed what he called the United States' "bullying approach" towards Venezuela, a statement said Wednesday, as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela. The United States has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, accompanied by a flotilla of warships, officially for ...

Body of One of Last Three Hostages Held in Gaza Identified

This is Beirut 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas Israel Hostages

Israel announced Wednesday that a body handed over by Gaza militants was that of Dror Or, one of the last three deceased hostages held in the Palestinian territory. The Islamic Jihad militant group located the body on Monday in the central Gaza Strip and on Tuesday transferred it to the Red Cross, acting as a neutral intermediary. The coffin was ...

Israeli Army Announces New Operation in Northern West Bank

This is Beirut 08:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

West Bank Hamas Israel Palestine Israeli Army Israel

The Israeli military on Wednesday announced a new "counterterrorism" operation in the north of the occupied West Bank. The military and internal security service said in a joint statement that they "began operating as part of a broad counterterrorism operation in the area of northern Samaria", using the Israeli biblical term for part of the West ...

Israel Army Says Red Cross Received Body of Gaza Hostage

This is Beirut 25/11 21:47 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gaza Hamas Israel Israeli Hostages Red Cross

Israel said the Red Cross had on Tuesday handed over the coffin of a hostage held in Gaza, adding that the remains would soon be taken for forensic identification. Prior to this latest handover, the remains of three deceased hostages were still being held in the Gaza Strip, two Israelis and one Thai national. Hamas and its allies have been ...

Op-edKurds at a Crossroads as Middle East Shifts

Seth J. Frantzman 25/11 21:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Kurds Middle East Syria ISIS Iraq

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi’s November 19 trip to the autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq was an important moment, underscoring that Kurdish leaders now appear to understand the importance of cooperation amid sweeping changes in the region. Abdi—a close partner of the US military in Syria who spent ...

Syrians Protest After Violence Against Alawite Minority

This is Beirut 25/11 14:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Conflict Alawite Protest

Several hundred people protested on Tuesday in Syria's coastal city of Latakia in the country's Alawite heartland against recent attacks targeting the minority community, AFP correspondents said. Protesters in Latakia shouted slogans including "The Syrian people are one" and "To the whole world, listen to us, the Alawites ...

Israel Says Islamic Jihad's Delay of Hostage Body Handover a Ceasefire 'Violation'

This is Beirut 25/11 13:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Ceasefire Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas Palestine

Israel said on Tuesday that a delay by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in handing over a hostage body, which the group said it had located on Monday during search operations in central Gaza, constituted a "violation" of the fragile ceasefire. A source in Islamic Jihad, who requested anonymity, confirmed the body belonged to one of ...

Israel Says Killed Man Responsible for West Bank Ramming Attack

This is Beirut 25/11 09:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel West Bank Hamas Palestine

Israel's armed forces announced late Monday that its personnel had killed a man they held responsible for a ramming attack in the occupied West Bank last year. "After a pursuit of a year and a half," the officers killed Ala Raouf Shetiyya, Israel's army, police, intelligence, and counterterrorism forces said in a joint statement. "The terrorist ...

AnalysisIs Peace Now Possible Amid Collapse of Iran’s Imperialism?

Charles Chartouni 25/11 09:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Peace Hezbollah Israel Hamas Iran Lebanon United States

The epilogue of the cascading wars that have taken place since October 7, 2023, was quite promising since the destruction of Iran’s regional proxy network was a good omen. For the first time, the region was able to imagine the possibility of extracting itself from the tight clasp of Iranian Shiite imperialism. Nonetheless, however bright the ...

Syrian ISF Arrest Members of a Dangerous ISIS-Affiliated Cell in Latakia

This is Beirut 24/11 23:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria ISIS Latakia

The Syrian ISF command in Latakia announced on Monday that security units had apprehended members of one of the most dangerous ISIS-aligned cells during a precision operation in the al-Badrusiya area of northern Latakia countryside, as reported by SANA. Brigadier General Abdulaziz Hilal al-Ahmad, Commander of Internal Security in Latakia ...