Middle East

Lebanon and Syria Agree to Tighten Border Control Amid Rising Regional Tensions

This is Beirut 16:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa agreed Tuesday to strengthen coordination between their countries and tighten security along the Lebanese-Syrian border, as the escalating regional war raises fears of spillover instability. The agreement came during a telephone conversation between the two leaders in which they ...

Pentagon Chief Says U.S. Intensifying Strikes on Iran

This is Beirut 15:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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U.S. attacks on Iran will hit a new intensity Tuesday, and the war will continue as long as President Donald Trump decides, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said. "Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran," Hegseth told a news conference at the Pentagon more than 10 days into the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic ...

Israel Prepares for Extended Campaign Against Hezbollah as Iran War Continues

This is Beirut 13:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Israeli officials are preparing for a potentially prolonged military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon that could continue even after the current war with Iran ends, according to officials and diplomatic sources familiar with internal discussions. The planning reflects a growing view within Israel’s security establishment that the ...

Qatar Says Iran Pressing Attacks on Its Civilian Infrastructure

This is Beirut 13:20 - Reading : less than a minute

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Iran has pressed its attacks against Qatar's infrastructure, the Gulf state's foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, over a week after Iranian drone strikes forced a halt to Qatari gas production. "The targeting of civilian infrastructure continues... and we rebuke any justification that the Iranians are offering for these attacks," Qatar's ...

Oil Giant Saudi Aramco Says Annual Profits Down 12pct

This is Beirut 12:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Saudi Aramco on Tuesday reported a 12.1 percent decline in net income in 2025 as higher supply, U.S. tariffs, and other economic headwinds weighed on revenues. The Middle East war could be disastrous for oil markets, and it is vital to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping route, Saudi Aramco's CEO and president Amin H. Nasser said on ...

U.S. Moves Missile Defense Components From South Korea to Middle East Amid Escalating Iran War

This is Beirut 12:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The United States has begun transferring components of its advanced Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system from military bases in South Korea to the Middle East, according to a report published Tuesday by The Washington Post, citing two U.S. officials familiar with the operation. The move comes as Washington seeks to ...

Iran Says Missile Attacks to Continue, U.S. Talks 'Not on Agenda'

This is Beirut 10:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iran's foreign minister said Tuesday that talks with the United States were not on the agenda as their war entered its 11th day. "I don't think talking with the Americans would be on our agenda anymore," Abbas Araghchi told PBS News, saying Tehran had a "very bitter experience" during previous negotiations with the U.S. On February 28, the U.S. ...

Iraq PM Tells U.S. Rubio Iraqi Airspace Must Not Be Used Against Neighbors

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

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Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Tuesday that Iraq should not be used as a launchpad for attacks in the Middle East war. Iraq neighbors Iran, against which the United States and Israel launched massive strikes on February 28, as well as the Gulf, which the Islamic republic has hit with missile ...

Ankara Says Patriot Defenses Being Deployed in Central Turkey After Latest Iran Missile

This is Beirut 09:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Turkey said Tuesday a Patriot missile defense system was being deployed in the country's center, a day after NATO intercepted a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace. "Necessary measures are being taken for the security of our borders and airspace, and consultations are being held with NATO and our allies. In addition to ...

Strike Blamed on U.S. Kills Four Iran-Backed Fighters in Iraq: Armed Group

This is Beirut 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Four fighters from the Tehran-backed Kataeb Imam Ali group were killed on Tuesday in air strikes blamed on the US in northern Iraq, the armed faction announced. The group said its fighters were killed in "American aggression" against their position in the Debs district of Kirkuk province. The bombing targeted a position that belongs to ...

One Week of Escalation between Israel and Hezbollah

This is Beirut 08:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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On the morning of Monday March 2, Hezbollah opened fire against Israel, reigniting the Israel-Hezbollah front in support of Iran. Israel Strikes Targets in Lebanon The Lebanese Health Ministry’s casualties toll for the week totaled at least 486 people killed and at least 1313 people injured since last Monday’s escalation. The Israeli ...

War in the Middle East: Casualty Figures from Across the Region

This is Beirut 05:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Since the US and Israel unleashed strikes on Iran on February 28, war has spread across the region and casualties have been reported in countries across the Middle East. Due to reporting restrictions, AFP has not been able to independently verify all of the following tolls. The figures are based on numbers released by governments, militaries, ...