Middle East

Iran Activates Air Defenses as Trump Faces Congressional Deadline

This is Beirut 07:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Gulf Iran United States

Tehran's air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday, as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war. The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that air defence systems, heard in some parts of the Iranian capital, were activated "to counter small aircraft ...

UAE Announces Travel Ban on Nationals to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq

This is Beirut 00:30 - Reading : less than a minute

United Arab Emirates Lebanon Gulf Middle East

The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry on Thursday announced a travel ban on Emirati nationals going to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, citing regional developments including the Middle East war. Iran has targeted the Gulf nation throughout the Middle East conflict sparked by a U.S.-Israeli attack before a fragile ceasefire was announced, including ...

U.S. Urges Meeting Between Lebanese President, Israeli PM

This is Beirut 00:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

The U.S. embassy in Lebanon on Thursday urged a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed at least 15 people despite an ongoing ceasefire. Israeli and Lebanese representatives this month have met twice in Washington -- the first such meetings in decades -- after ...

Trump Weighs Military Options on Iran as U.S. Drafts Strike Plans and Hormuz Strategy

This is Beirut 30/04 21:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Senior U.S. military commanders will brief President Donald Trump on Thursday on potential military action against Iran, including strike scenarios and options related to the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official told Reuters. The briefing, expected at the White House, will include Central Command chief Brad Cooper, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, ...

Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei Claims Gulf Future Requires U.S. Exit

This is Beirut 30/04 14:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gulf United States

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on Thursday asserting that the future of the Gulf would be “bright” only in the absence of the United States. He said Iran would take responsibility for securing the Gulf region and “eliminating enemy violations” of the strategic maritime corridor, ...

Op-edRubio is Right, a Vetted and Trained Lebanese Army Could be the Answer

Seth J. Frantzman 30/04 11:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Palestine

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made an important announcement when he said that Washington is developing a plan to pursue Hezbollah’s disarmament by building up trusted units within the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). “We’re working towards establishing… a system that actually works where vetted units within the Lebanese Armed Forces ...

U.S. Intercepts 42nd Vessel as Iran Port Blockade Disrupts Oil Flows

This is Beirut 30/04 09:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran United States

Late Wednesday, the U.S. military said it had intercepted another commercial vessel attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports, marking what officials described as a significant operational milestone. In a statement posted on X, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had successfully redirected the 42nd ship accused of ...

Trump Rejects Iranian Proposal, Says Naval Blockade Will Continue Until Nuclear Deal

This is Beirut 29/04 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Trump Iran USA USIranWar Negotiations Nuclear

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would maintain a naval blockade on Iran until Tehran agrees to a deal addressing Washington’s concerns over its nuclear program, rejecting a proposal that would have prioritized reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with Axios, Trump dismissed the Iranian offer, which reportedly sought ...

Trump Warns Iran Better 'Get Smart Soon' and Accept Nuclear Deal

This is Beirut 29/04 15:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran Washington

President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday that it should "get smart soon" and capitulate to Washington's demands for tight controls on its nuclear programme, as a US naval blockade turned the screws on Iran's economy. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was due to testify before Congress later in the day, but US press reports ...

Iran Has Executed 21, Arrested 4,000 since Start of Mideast War: UN

This is Beirut 29/04 12:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Middle East United Nations USA

Iran has executed at least 21 people and arrested more than 4,000 since the beginning of the Middle East war, the United Nations said on Wednesday. Since the US-Israeli strikes sparked the war in late February, at least nine people have been executed in connection with the protests that rocked Iran in January 2026, another 10 for alleged ...

IDF Unveils New Counter-Drone Measures in Classified Knesset Session

This is Beirut 29/04 09:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah

In a classified follow-up session held this week at the Knesset, representatives of the Israeli military presented a series of operational measures aimed at addressing the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly advanced drone systems that have challenged existing defenses. The details, first reported by Galei Tzahal, the ...

U.S. Warns Banks Over Sanctions Risks Linked to Chinese 'Teapot' Refineries

This is Beirut 28/04 21:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The United States has issued a fresh warning to global financial institutions over the risks of engaging with independent Chinese oil refineries—known as “teapot” refineries—amid their continued role in processing Iranian crude. In an alert published Tuesday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said these refineries, largely ...