Shaken by Instability, Will Erdoğan Choose the Path to Damascus?
Paul Guillot 25/03 18:35 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Damascus European Union Middle East Turkey United States
The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and Erdoğan’s main political rival, has triggered an unprecedented wave of protests across Turkey. Accused of corruption, İmamoğlu denounces what he describes as a politically motivated attempt to sideline him ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Since his detention, tens of thousands ...
UNIFIL Celebrates 47th Anniversary Amid Fragile Ceasefire in Southern Lebanon
Paul Guillot 20/03 17:10 - Reading : less than a minute
Ceasefire Hezbollah South Lebanon United Nations UNIFIL
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) marked on Wednesday the 47th anniversary of its establishment, amidst a fragile truce in southern Lebanon. Since its inception in 1978, UNIFIL's mandate has included overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the South and aiding the Lebanese government in restoring its authority in the ...
The Ben Gurion Canal Project: A Viable Alternative to the Suez Canal?
Paul Guillot 13/03 10:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Gulf Israel Middle East Palestine
As geopolitical and economic issues in the Middle East continue to dominate global discussions, a concept from the 1960s is resurfacing: the Ben Gurion Canal project. Named after David Ben Gurion, Israel's first prime minister and a key figure in the creation of the Jewish state, this ambitious initiative proposes linking the Gulf of Aqaba at ...
Gaza: $53 Billion for a Fresh Start
Paul Guillot 07/03 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The estimated cost to implement the reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, which was presented by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab leaders’ summit in Cairo on Tuesday, is $53 billion. This staggering figure – if someone earned $1 million per day, it would take them 145 years to accumulate $53 billion – reflects a comprehensive assessment of ...
PKK Declares Ceasefire with Turkey after 40 Years of Armed Struggle
Paul Guillot 01/03 17:08 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Damascus Middle East Turkey United States
Outlawed Kurdish militants on Saturday declared a ceasefire with Turkey following a landmark call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband and end more than four decades of armed struggle. It was the first reaction from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after Ocalan this week called for the dissolution of the group ...
Tariff Crisis: Trump Redefines Global Trade
Paul Guillot 05/02 12:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Canada Mexico China Trade Tariffs
The Trump administration has disrupted the global economy with a series of dramatic announcements and last-minute negotiations, imposing new tariffs on key trading partners – Canada, Mexico and China. While Canada and Mexico secured temporary reprieves through emergency agreements, China remains entrenched in a fierce tariff standoff. Amid ...
60 Days of Tensions: Recap of the Ceasefire Between Hezbollah and Israel
Paul Guillot 26/01 11:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel Lebanon
Two months after the announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, tensions remain palpable. Despite an international monitoring mechanism, repeated violations of the agreement have been reported, and discussions on a complete Israeli withdrawal are struggling to conclude. A look back at a decisive period for regional stability.
Syria: A Powerful Armed Group Demands Military Autonomy
Paul Guillot 08/01 19:25 - Reading : less than a minute
In southern Syria, the “Southern Operations Room” rejects the disbandment of armed groups imposed by the new authorities. With thousands of fighters and heavy weaponry, the group insists on maintaining its military autonomy within the Ministry of Defense.
Syria: Another Captagon Lab Discovered in Damascus
Paul Guillot 08/01 18:05 - Reading : less than a minute
A newly uncovered Captagon production facility in Damascus showcases the scale of Syria’s drug trade. With an estimated annual revenue of over $10 billion, this drug has become the country’s top export, fueling a shadow economy and criminal networks to the benefit of the Assad clan.
Lebanese Predictions for 2025: Uncertainty and Shy Hope
Marilyne Jallad 2024-12-31 18:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army New Year
As we wander through the bustling streets of Basta al-Tahta, lined with small shops, it is easy to forget that this neighborhood paid a heavy price before the ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27. Yet, the harsh reality quickly reasserts itself. Illegal Weapons: A Persistent Wound That Dims Hope With graying hair and ...
Christmas in Beirut: The Long-Awaited Return of Expats
Paul Guillot 2024-12-23 18:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Will Post-War Debris End Up in the Sea?
Paul Guillot 2024-12-17 13:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
AUB South Lebanon rubble environment
On Tuesday, December 17, the pressing matter of managing post-war debris will be discussed at the Council of Ministers. Among the key agenda items is the monumental task of handling millions of tons of rubble, and the unclear stance of the Caretaker Minister of Public Works, Ali Hamiyeh. Despite a request for clarification from his media advisor, ...
The Deadly Legacy of the Assad Regime
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, ...
Syrians in Lebanon: A Pivotal Moment of Hope and a Political Deadlock
Paul Guillot 2024-12-11 17:10 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
United Nations Syria refugees Assad repatriation\
Following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a new chapter is unfolding in Lebanon, where the large-scale presence of Syrian refugees has disrupted the demographic balance since the onset of the 2011 Syrian conflict. Lebanon initially absorbed a significant influx of refugees, who now make up over a third of the country's ...
War in Syria: 13 Years of Conflict
Paul Guillot 2024-12-10 11:13 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Syria Bachar al-Assad HTS Civil War Iran Turkey Russia
2011: The winds of the Arab Spring reach Syria. Peaceful protests erupt in Deraa, as the people call for reforms and justice. Bashar al-Assad's regime responds swiftly and brutally. The crackdown is bloody, and anger becomes the driving force of the protesters. The demonstrations spread across the country like wildfire. This marks the beginning of ...
Syria at the Center of Negotiations Between Israel and Lebanon for a Ceasefire
Paul Guillot 2024-11-27 08:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Israel Syria Lebanon Hezbollah Hamas
Syria, which has maintained a low profile since October 7, 2023, now appears to be emerging as a key player in the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon. Though these talks remain behind closed doors, multiple sources suggest that international diplomatic envoys are positioning Damascus as a central figure in the discussions. A Shifting ...
War Diary: Day 401
Paul Guillot 2024-11-10 19:35 - Reading : less than a minute
This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for November 10, 2024.
Amidst the War, Migrant Domestic Workers Face a New battle
2024-10-18 13:00 - Reading : less than a minute
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Hezbollah’s Unexpected Vulnerabilities from Syrian Conflict Involvement
Paul Guillot 2024-10-11 10:24 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hassan Nasrallah Benjamin Netanyahu
After decades of unresolved military confrontations, Israel seems to have gained the upper hand over Hezbollah since September 1. The killing of prominent leaders within the pro-Iranian militia, with the most high-profile being the assassination of Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, signals a major shift in Israel's strategy and the power ...
A Revival of Resolution 1559 to Restore Lebanon's Sovereignty?
Paul Guillot 2024-10-03 11:35 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Exactly twenty years and one month after its adoption, UN Security Council Resolution 1559 is back on the agenda, and with urgency, given the deluge of iron and fire raining down on Lebanon due to a war triggered by the armed group Hezbollah in support of Hamas. While the resolution facilitated the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in ...
Anxiety, Solidarity, and Powerlessness: Lebanese Diaspora Reacts to Israeli Airstrikes
Paul Guillot 2024-09-25 19:59 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
The recent Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, especially in the south and in Beirut, have stirred deep emotions within the Lebanese diaspora. Present in many countries worldwide, Lebanese expatriates are anxiously monitoring the escalating tensions and violence in their homeland. As they witness this new crisis gripping Lebanon, they voice not only ...