Israël

Israeli Strikes Kill Hezbollah Commander and Islamist Group Leader

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified on Tuesday following a series of Israeli drone and artillery strikes that killed two high-ranking militants, including a Hezbollah commander and a senior figure in the Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, confirmed that the strike ...

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Says Syria Detaining Two Group Officials

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad's armed wing said Tuesday that Syria's new authorities had detained two of the group's officials and called for their release. A statement from the Al-Quds Brigades said Islamic Jihad's Syria official Khaled Khaled and organising committee member Yasser al-Zafri had been detained in Syria for five days "without ...

FM Reportedly Summoned Iranian Ambassador Over Hezbollah Arms Remarks

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has reportedly summoned Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, following controversial statements made by the diplomat on social media, according to the al-Markazia news agency. The Iranian ambassador’s remarks, posted on X (formerly Twitter), were viewed as politically sensitive in Lebanon’s ...

Gaza Rescuers Say 25 Killed in Israeli Air Strikes

Gaza's civil defense agency said that a spate of Israeli air strikes since dawn on Tuesday killed at least 25 people across the Hamas-run territory. Israel resumed an intense air and ground offensive on Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had largely halted the fighting in the besieged Palestinian territory. "The total number of ...

Israeli Strike Near Damour Kills Jamaa Islamiya Leader

An Israeli drone strike on Tuesday morning targeted a vehicle in the Baawarta area near Damour, resulting in the death of Hussein Izzat Atwi, a senior figure in the Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya. The vehicle, which was struck near a Lebanese army barracks, caught fire upon impact. Atwi, born in 1968 and originally from Hebbariyeh in the ...

Hezbollah’s 'Populist' Posturing and the Call for Army Control of Weapons

Hezbollah appears divided over its stance on handing over its weapons to the state. On one hand, senior figures such as Wafiq Safa, Mahmoud Komati and Naim Qassem—who declared, “We will not allow anyone to disarm us”—maintain a hardline position. On the other, President Joseph Aoun signaled a potential shift in the group’s approach, ...

Netanyahu Warns of "Expanded Israeli Response”, says "Lebanon Will Not Be Spared"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday issued a series of pointed threats against Iran and its regional allies, warning of an “expanded Israeli response” that could reach beyond the borders of Yemen. “Israel’s response will not be confined to Yemen,” Netanyahu declared. “It will extend to Lebanon and every other front.” ...

New U.S. Ambassador in Israel Urges Hamas to Accept Hostage Deal

The new US ambassador to Israel on Monday called on Palestinian militant group Hamas to accept a deal that would secure the release of hostages, in exchange for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. "We call upon Hamas to sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it," Mike Huckabee said in ...

“A True Friend of Palestine”: The Arab World’s Grief After Pope Francis’s Death

Middle Eastern leaders and Arab movements praised Pope Francis, who died on Monday, for criticizing Israel's offensive on Gaza, his calls for a ceasefire and his commitment to interfaith dialogue. "We lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said, according to the official ...

Pope Francis: "Providence Will Never Forsake Lebanon"

Pope Francis has always kept Lebanon close to his heart. According to those close to him and many of his visitors, the Holy Father has remained closely informed about developments in the country. While he has not visited Lebanon—due to both health concerns and the political vacuum created by the absence of a president and a fully functioning ...

Israel Security Chief Accuses PM of Demanding Personal Loyalty

Israel's internal security chief, whom the government is trying to sack, on Monday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of demanding his personal loyalty and ordering him to spy on anti-government protesters. The accusations, made in a sworn statement to the Supreme Court, are the latest twist in a legal and political saga pitting ...

Southern Lebanon: Is Israel Answering Qassem with Fire?

Sunday marked one of the most violent days since the February ceasefire. Through a series of targeted strikes on alleged Hezbollah positions, the Israeli army raised the level of confrontation. This offensive came just days after Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, reaffirmed the group’s categorical rejection of disarmament, declaring ...