This is Beirut 2024-12-13 11:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia hosted a high-profile event on Thursday evening to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and explore pathways for reconstruction and sustainable economic development, with the participation of Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock. Lebanon, a country deeply affected by ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-13 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Israel Benjamin Netanyahu United Nations Syria
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday instructed the army to “prepare to stay” throughout the winter in the buffer zone between Israel and Syria, located atop the Golan Heights. Israel captured part of this strategic plateau during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Israel seized control of the demilitarized zone on Sunday, just hours after ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-13 10:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
G7 leaders will attempt Friday to forge a common approach to the new government of Syria, which has pledged to protect the rule of law after years of abuses under ousted president Bashar al-Assad. Assad fled Syria after a lightning offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and its allies, which brought a sudden end to ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-13 10:01 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Antony Blinken Middle East USA Syria
Mr. Blinken started his meeting with Mr. Fidan at 9:40 a.m. (6:40 GMT) on Friday, according to a U.S. official. He arrived in the Turkish capital on Thursday evening and held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a lounge at Ankara's airport. "Turkey will never show weakness in the fight against ISIS," President Erdogan told ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-12 22:40 - Reading : less than a minute
Turkey has named a new chief-of-mission to its long-closed embassy in Damascus, which it has pledged to reopen following the overthrow of strongman Bashar al-Assad, the Anadolou news agency said Thursday. Burhan Koroglu was named as Turkey's temporary charge d'affaires at its embassy, Anadolou said, quoting foreign ministry sources who did not ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-12 22:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Israel United Nations Syria Guterres
UN chief Antonio Guterres is "deeply concerned" over "extensive violations" of Syrian sovereignty, and by Israeli strikes on the country, his spokesman said Thursday. Guterres "is deeply concerned by the recent and extensive violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Secretary-General is particularly concerned over the ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-12 21:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hamas Hezbollah Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that a series of blows by Israel against arch-foe Iran and its allies had triggered a "chain reaction" poised to transform the entire Middle East. "The historic events that we witness today are a chain reaction," Netanyahu declared in a video address directed at the Iranian people. He ...
Elie Ziadé 2024-12-12 20:19 - Reading : less than a minute
Damascus Economy Syria Businesses
Commercial activity is picking up vigorously in the central markets of Damascus, where shops have reopened and are once again attracting customers. However, the recovery remains more hesitant in Christian neighborhoods like Bab Touma. Political uncertainty and a fragile economic situation are holding back merchants, who are still reluctant to ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-12 19:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Damascus HTS Baath Syria Bashar al-Assad
Maher Semsmieh turned in his rifle on Thursday at an office of Syria's Baath party, more than 60 years after its oppressive rule in Syria began, and days after it ended. "We are no longer Baathists," Semsmieh, 43, said with a smile of relief, four days after Islamist-led rebels toppled the Baathist government of president Bashar al-Assad. "We ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-12 19:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hamas Israel Benjamin Netanyahu USA Hostages
Visiting US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared prepared to negotiate a deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire. "We're now looking to close a hostage release deal and a ceasefire (in Gaza). It's time to finish the job and bring all of the hostages ...
Paul Guillot 2024-12-12 19:04 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Bashar el-Assad Syria Chemical weapons Israel
More than a decade after the start of the Syrian conflict, concerns about chemical weapons remain. Despite Damascus officially joining the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 2013 and efforts to destroy its arsenal, multiple indicators suggest the presence of undeclared residual stockpiles. Recent developments — including Israeli airstrikes, ...
This is Beirut 2024-12-12 17:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Europe Ukraine United States Nato Russia
NATO chief Mark Rutte issued a stark warning Thursday to "turbo-charge" defense spending, saying European nations were not prepared for the threat of future war with Russia. "We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years," Rutte said in a keynote address in Brussels, his first major speech since taking office as NATO ...