Middle East

U.S. Official to TIB: Thursday’s Geneva Talks with Iran to Focus on De-Escalation

This is Beirut 23/02 21:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

In a statement to This is Beirut, a senior U.S. official expressed that the U.S. seeks de-escalation in Thursday’s Geneva talks with Iranian officials, as the State Department orders the departure of non-essential personnel from the U.S. embassy in Beirut. The official stated that “the United States will meet Iran in Geneva this Thursday with ...

U.S. and Iran Set to Hold Talks in Geneva on Thursday Amid Mounting Tensions

This is Beirut 23/02 20:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Iran Nuclear Talks Escalation

U.S. and Iranian officials are set to hold another round of nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva while President Donald Trump continues to deliberate on striking Iran. Iran is expected to provide a comprehensive plan for U.S. officials to review ahead of the talks as gaps persist over the status of Iranian enrichment capacity. Trump has ...

Four Syrian Security Personnel Killed in IS Attack: State Media

This is Beirut 23/02 18:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Islamic State Syria

Four Syrian security personnel were killed in an Islamic State (IS) group attack in the northern city of Raqqa, which was recently taken by Damascus from Kurdish forces, state media reported on Monday. The attack, the second against security forces in as many days per Syria's interior ministry, comes after IS called on its fighters to ...

Netanyahu Says If Iran Attacks, ‘We Will Respond With a Force They Cannot Even Imagine’

This is Beirut 23/02 18:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Lebanon Hamas Hezbollah Israel

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates Israel’s position towards a conflict scenario with Iran, stating that the country is ready to use heavy force against Iran if it attacks. In a speech at the Knesset, he remarked that “if Iran makes a mistake–perhaps the most serious mistake in its history–and ...

Israeli Minister Says Army to Occupy All Gaza if Hamas Does Not Disarm

This is Beirut 23/02 17:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that Palestinian Islamist group Hamas may soon be given a deadline to lay down its weapons. "We estimate that in the coming days, Hamas will be given an ultimatum to disarm and completely demilitarise Gaza," Smotrich said in an interview with public broadcaster Kan. "If it does not ...

Nouri al-Maliki Says He Will Not Withdraw Bid for Iraq's Premiership

This is Beirut 23/02 15:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Iraq's candidate for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP on Monday that he will not withdraw his candidacy after US threats to cut all support if he returns to the post. But Maliki sought to reassure Washington by saying he backed a state monopoly on arms, claiming an understanding is possible with pro-Iran armed factions that have long ...

Student Protests Enter Third Day at Tehran Universities

This is Beirut 23/02 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Student demonstrations continued for a third consecutive day across several universities in Iran’s capital on Monday, coinciding with the start of the new academic semester on February 21, according to local media reports. In parallel, Iran warned the United States on Monday that any attack would be met "ferociously" in response ...

Iran Denies Reports of Interim Agreement with U.S., Says Talks Remain Preliminary

This is Beirut 23/02 11:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Iran on Monday rejected reports suggesting that it has reached an interim agreement with the United States, describing such claims as unfounded and premature. During a weekly press briefing in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed circulating rumors about a provisional deal between Tehran and Washington, saying ...

U.S. Forces to Complete Withdrawal From Syria Within a Month

This is Beirut 23/02 11:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States

US forces that led the coalition against the Islamic State group will complete their withdrawal from Syria within a month, three sources told AFP on Monday, as they began leaving a major base. The withdrawal comes as Syria's government expanded its control to the country's northeast, previously controlled by US-allied Kurdish forces, and ...

Iran May Activate Regional Allies if U.S. Launches Major Strikes

This is Beirut 23/02 10:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Iran could direct allied armed groups to target U.S. interests worldwide if President Donald Trump authorizes large-scale military action against Tehran, according to U.S. and Western officials cited by The New York Times. The newspaper reported that while no specific attack plans have been identified, intelligence services have detected an ...

Iran Reshuffles Command Structure as Nuclear Talks with U.S. Set for Thursday

This is Beirut 23/02 09:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The next round of talks between the United States and Iran will be Thursday in Geneva, Oman’s foreign minister said Sunday. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said on social media that he was pleased to confirm the development “with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas ...

Iraq-Based Kurdish Iranian Parties Unite to Defy Islamic Republic

This is Beirut 23/02 09:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Tehran

Several Iraq-based Kurdish-Iranian groups announced on Sunday a political coalition to seek the overthrow of Iran's Islamic republic and ultimately to secure Kurdish self-determination. Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region hosts camps and rear bases operated by several Kurdish-Iranian factions, which have repeatedly faced cross-border strikes from ...