World

Israeli-Iranian Conflict: The Strait of Hormuz as a Pressure Tactic

Liliane Mokbel 2024-10-17 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Europe Gulf Kuwait Middle East Saudi Arabia Tehran Ukraine United States

Iran may have to resort to a strategic tool: control of the Strait of Hormuz. According to several analyses, this tactic could be as devastating as a nuclear weapon. However, unlike a nuclear weapon, whose use would bring catastrophic consequences for Iran itself, the threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz serves as a form of "asymmetric ...

AnalysisThe Future of Iran: A Regime Change?

Salam Zaatari 2024-10-17 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran War

As the Middle East war intensifies, Iran’s future seems precarious, especially with the mounting international pressure and Israel’s aggressive stance following Iran’s involvement in the conflict. The question of what Israel’s retaliation will look like looms large, with potential options ranging from targeted assassinations to more ...

Kamala Harris Promises a Clean Break From Biden's Presidency

This is Beirut 2024-10-17 04:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Kamala Harris Donald Trump United States US presidential election

A combative Kamala Harris pledged a clean break from Joe Biden's presidency Wednesday in a feisty interview with right-wing Fox News aimed at reaching Republican voters wary of Donald Trump. Harris clashed with interviewer Bret Baier on hot-button issues including immigration and gender transition surgery, with the Democratic nominee repeatedly ...

Biden Announces $425 Million Ukraine Arms Package

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 22:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Joe Biden United States Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Defense

US President Joe Biden announced a $425 million arms package for Kyiv Wednesday in a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, ahead of a farewell visit to Berlin to discuss Ukraine, the White House said. The package includes air defense and armored vehicles, said a readout of the call, adding that Biden had briefed Zelensky "on ...

Blinken Weighs Presenting Gaza Post-War Plan After Presidential Election

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 20:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Antony Blinken Gaza UAE

According to US officials interviewed by Axios, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a post-war plan for Gaza, based on ideas developed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which would be presented after the US presidential election. In July, Brett McGurk, President Biden’s top Middle East advisor, and State Department ...

US Sanctions Hezbollah Finance Network and Syrian Captagon Trafficking

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 18:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States US Sanctions US Treasury Department Sanctions

The United States issued sanctions against individuals and entities on Wednesday, that it describes as part of a Lebanon-based sanctions evasion network that funnels millions of dollars to Hezbollah. The action targeted four Lebanon-based companies registered to conceal ties to Hezbollah as well as three individuals linked to the group’s ...

Gallant Insists that Lebanon Peace Talks Must Occur 'Under Fire'

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 18:15 - Reading : less than a minute

USA

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday that any negotiation to end the war on Lebanon must be conducted “under fire,” in a statement he made while overseeing a situational assessment of the northern front. During a meeting with commanders of the reservist 146th Division, Gallant said that the recent capture of Hezbollah operatives in ...

Had It Not Been for Rafsanjani…

Tarek Karam 2024-10-16 17:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Iraq Hashemi Rafsanjani

Iran, which seeks today to eliminate Israel through its regional proxies, was not always in continuous conflict with Tel Aviv. Some historical perspective could be insightful. Imam Khomeini arrived in Tehran aboard a French plane in 1979, following the overthrow of the Shah’s regime. A year later, the Iran-Iraq war broke out. Khomeini’s ...

Israel Labels Macron a 'Disgrace' Following Defense Show Ban

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Defense Euronaval France

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday slammed French President Emmanuel Macron, calling him a "disgrace" after Israeli delegations were banned from exhibiting at the Euronaval defense show. "Macron's actions are a disgrace to the French nation and the values of the free world, which he claims to uphold. The decision to discriminate ...

Brussels Summit on Middle East Tensions Brings Together Gulf and EU Leaders

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 12:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Gulf Hamas Kuwait Palestine Saudi Arabia

Gulf leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gather with EU heads of state and government in Brussels Wednesday for a summit aimed at averting a "general conflagration" in the Middle East. The 27-nation European Union is seeking to work more closely with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) -- which groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, ...

ExplainerWhat Is THAAD, the US Missile Defense System Sent to Israel?

Malo Pinatel 2024-10-16 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

USA Lebanon

Washington announced on Sunday the deployment of a powerful American missile defense system to Israel, along with one hundred soldiers to operate it. Known as THAAD, the system is intended to bolster Israel's defenses against threats from Tehran and its allies. This is not the first time Washington has deployed such a weapons system on Israeli ...

$Iran Warns of \$

Iran Warns of "Decisive" Response if Israel Strikes

This is Beirut 2024-10-16 09:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Palestine Iran

Iran's top diplomat has warned UN chief Antonio Guterres that Tehran is ready for a "decisive and regretful" response if Israel attacks his country in retaliation for a missile attack. The Islamic republic fired about 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in revenge for the killing of two of its closest allies, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and ...