'Maximum Pressure 2.0' on Iran: The First Step Toward the Regime's Collapse?

For several months now, international political discourse has largely centered around one key issue: Iran. More specifically, the repeated statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President-elect Donald Trump suggest that the main focus of the two allies is to apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime. On one side, Trump ...

The King Is Dead, Long Live the King

The 54-year-old Assad regime collapsed following an 11-day swift rebel offensive, launched without bloodshed. The country seems to be surfing the waves of change like a sailboat that has suddenly changed course. "Free elections," "the will of the people," "cooperation"—a political discourse at odds with that of the man who was overthrown. On ...

Return of Displaced Persons and Reconstruction Prospects: Lingering Uncertainty

“This return is nothing like 2006.” This phrase echoes across regions where residents are cautiously returning to their homes on the second day of the ceasefire. After 14 months of conflict, marked by two months of brutal escalation, the displaced face their return with uncertainty and unease. The scale of destruction is far greater than in ...

What Is a Ceasefire Agreement?

As negotiations to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah advance, terms like truce, ceasefire and withdrawal are at the forefront. This is Beirut offers a comprehensive guide to clarify these concepts, which intersect both military and political realms. Tuesday saw significant developments on the battlefield between Hezbollah and Israel. ...

Using Rubble to Rebuild Lebanon Post-War

For nearly two months, Israel’s intensified offensive against Hezbollah has seen entire villages in southern Lebanon, neighborhoods in Beirut’s southern suburb, and towns in the Beqaa Valley nearly obliterated. The ongoing air raids have left huge mounds of rubble, though there is still no concrete estimate of the volume, given that Israeli ...

Qatar’s Diplomacy: Strengths and Limitations

For over a year now, Qatar has been acting as the principal mediator, alongside the United States and Egypt, in negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023. However, this is not the first time this oil-rich Gulf emirate has emerged on the international stage. Qatar has established itself ...

Hochstein Set to Present a New Proposal for a Solution in Lebanon

The US envoy for the Middle East, Amos Hochstein, is reportedly set to present a detailed proposal to Tel Aviv aimed at resolving the conflict with Hezbollah, as reported by multiple media sources. Hochstein, who is expected in Israel, is pursuing his diplomatic efforts focused on securing a ceasefire and implementing UN Security Council ...