Middle East

Israeli FM Says Keen to Reach 'Peace and Normalization' with Lebanon

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

Israel Lebanon Hezbollah Iran USIranWar Negotiations

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country is seeking "peace and normalization" with Lebanon, ahead of talks between officials from both nations in Washington on Tuesday. "We want to reach peace and normalization with the state of Lebanon... Israel and Lebanon don't have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah," Saar ...

Iraq Says Has 'Understandings' to Bypass Hormuz Blockade

This is Beirut 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq USA Iran USIranWar StraitofHormuz

Baghdad's oil ministry said Tuesday it has "understandings" with the United States and Iran to reduce the impact of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Iraqi oil exports. The ministry did not elaborate or say when these reported understandings were reached. But Iran announced earlier this month before the fragile ceasefire was reached last ...

U.S. Says Ball in Iran's Court as Push Grows to End War

This is Beirut 12:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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The United States said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the Mideast war, as diplomats accelerated efforts on Tuesday towards a new round of peace talks after weekend negotiations failed to produce a deal. US Vice President JD Vance had left talks hosted by Pakistan on Sunday, saying he had handed Tehran the "final and best offer".Iran ...

Lebanon, Israel to Meet for Tough Talks in Washington

This is Beirut 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Lebanese and Israeli representatives are scheduled to meet in Washington Tuesday for US-mediated talks on ending the war in Lebanon. Lebanon was pulled into the region-wide Iran war on March 2 after Hezbollah attacked Israel.Since then Israeli strikes -- including an extremely heavy attack on Beirut on April 8 -- have killed more than 2,000 ...

AnalysisLebanon Charts a Separate Path from Tehran in Israel Talks

Samar El-Kadi 09:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Tehran Benjamin Netanyahu Nawaf Salam

Lebanon is set to begin talks with Israel in Washington on Tuesday, the first direct negotiations since 1983, as Beirut seeks to reassert its role in regional affairs and prevent the country from becoming a bargaining chip in broader international negotiations. Political activist and former MP Fares Souaid described the move as a historic break. ...

Exclusive Kiryat Shmona Mayor Tells This Is Beirut Israel Wants Peace With Lebanon

Selena Ryan 08:25 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Israel

In an exclusive interview with This Is Beirut, Avichai Stern, mayor of the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, said Israel seeks peace with Lebanon.

Hezbollah Resumes Attacks After Short Lull, Report Says

This is Beirut 13/04 15:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon

After a brief lull in fire following the April 8 ceasefire with Iran, Hezbollah has resumed attacks on Israeli territory, according to an assessment by the Alma Research and Education Center. According to the report, a total of 1,310 Hezbollah attack waves targeting Israel have been recorded since March 2, with an average of around 30 attacks per ...

Israeli Foreign Minister Calls for “Severing Iran’s Influence” Over Lebanon Ahead of Talks

This is Beirut 13/04 12:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Tehran

Israel’s Foreign Minister said on Monday that Iran must be cut off from Lebanon, arguing that Tehran exerts effective control over the country through Hezbollah, ahead of anticipated diplomatic discussions between Israel and Lebanon set to begin in the coming days. In a statement, the Israeli minister said the upcoming talks “are ...

IDF Says It Has Encircled Bint Jbeil, Expands Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon

This is Beirut 13/04 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Palestine South Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces said over the past week its troops “completed the encirclement and began an offensive in the town of Bint Jbeil,” a locality long considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. The IDF announced on Monday that its forces have intensified ground operations in southern Lebanon, particularly around ...

Op-edAfter Islamabad

David Hale 13/04 10:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Tehran United States

Whatever different people may think about the Trump Administration's approach to Iran, 21 hours of talks led by the American vice president demonstrated a seriousness of diplomatic purpose. However, it was never likely that the wide gap between the goals of Washington and those of Tehran would be bridged in a day. Eight American presidents ...

U.S. Oil Benchmark Jumps 8%, Surpasses $100 After Failed U.S.-Iran Talks

This is Beirut 13/04 10:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Israel United States USA

The US oil benchmark rebounded above $100 a barrel on Monday after peace talks between the United States and Iran failed to make a breakthrough, and with US President Donald Trump ordering a blockade of Iranian ports. Shortly after trading began, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery rose around eight percent to $104.50, ...

Iran Executes Over 1,639 People in 2025: Report

This is Beirut 13/04 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest number since 1989, two NGOs said Monday, warning it risked using capital punishment even more extensively after protests in January and the war against Israel and the US. The number of executions represented an increase of 68 percent on the 975 people Iran put to death in ...