Middle East

Israel FM Calls on Lebanon to 'Work Together' with Israel Against Hezbollah

This is Beirut 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Beirut to make joint efforts with Israel to counter Hezbollah on the eve of talks between the two countries set to resume in Washington. It will be the second preparatory meeting paving the way for direct negotiations. "Tomorrow the direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will resume in Washington, DC. ...

U.S. Reportedly Blocked $500m Cash Shipment to Iraq Over Pro-Iran Attacks

This is Beirut 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to Iraq and frozen funding for security programs following ...

NATO 'Will Always Defend' Turkey: Chief Says

This is Beirut 12:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the alliance would do "what's necessary to defend" its members, including Turkey, after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and heading into Turkish airspace over the past weeks. A member of the U.S.-led defense alliance, Turkey, which borders Iran, has been largely spared the sort of retaliation ...

Israeli Strike on Lebanon's Bekaa Kills One

This is Beirut 09:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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An Israeli strike on Lebanon's Bekaa region killed one person and wounded two others on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported, despite an ongoing truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. "One person was killed and two others were wounded as a result of an attack carried out by an enemy drone at dawn on the outskirts of Al-Jabur in West ...

Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire While Maintaining Blockade

This is Beirut 21/04 23:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ceasefire Tehran United States

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would hold off on new strikes against Iran at the request of Pakistani officials, effectively extending the ceasefire as diplomatic efforts continue. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the United States agreed to delay further attacks on Iran following a request from Pakistan’s ...

Exclusive Sarit Zehavi: We Need a Lasting Peace Agreement, Not Just Ceasefire

This is Beirut 21/04 18:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel

In an exclusive interview with This Is Beirut, Sarit Zehavi, president of the Alma Research and Education Center, said Israel’s actions against Hezbollah are driven by security concerns. She emphasized the need to establish a peace agreement rather than repeated ceasefires, arguing that lasting stability depends on building Lebanese state ...

Op-edWhen Aoun Meets Netanyahu

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 21/04 14:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanese Army Palestine Lebanon Banks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in the coming weeks, according to President Trump, who said he would invite both leaders. However, Aoun appears poised to follow a political path that will be rejected by Israel. Lebanon has vilified Israel for so long that a Lebanese ...

UN Maritime Agency Urges Help for Seafarers Stranded in Hormuz

This is Beirut 21/04 13:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The head of the UN maritime agency appealed on Tuesday for help for thousands of seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as the Middle East war paralyzes the vital shipping route. Around 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships have been stranded in the waterway since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 that triggered the war, according to the ...

Seized Iranian Ship Likely Carrying Equipment Deemed Dual-Use by Washington

This is Beirut 21/04 10:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday said U.S. forces intercepted a ship carrying a "gift" to Iran from China as Tehran. The ship had "a gift from China" which "wasn't very nice," Trump told CNBC. "I was a little surprised," he added, saying he thought he had an "understanding" with China's ...

U.S., Iran Warn Ready for War as Talks in Limbo

This is Beirut 21/04 07:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump UN Security Council Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

The United States and Iran each warned they were ready for war as the clock ticked down Tuesday on a ceasefire, with uncertainty on talks that President Donald Trump had announced would resume in Pakistan. The White House said Vice President JD Vance was ready to fly back to the Pakistani capital Islamabad, which was preparing for a second round ...

Hezbollah MP Says Group Will Break Israel's 'Yellow Line' in South Lebanon

This is Beirut 20/04 19:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Monday that his group would work to break the "Yellow Line" that Israel established in southern Lebanon, adding that no one could disarm the Iran-backed group. Still, he also maintained that his group wanted to see the current ceasefire last, even as he slammed Lebanese efforts to engage Israel ...

U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Issues Security Warning Over Iran-Linked Threats

This is Beirut 20/04 15:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Washington

The U.S. Embassy Baghdad issued a security alert on Monday warning of continued threats against American citizens and interests in Iraq, citing ongoing plans by Iran-aligned armed groups to carry out attacks. The U.S. embassy said that “terrorist militias allied with Iran” are continuing to plan attacks targeting U.S. nationals and ...