This is Beirut

Trump Sends Mixed Signals, Urges Restraint from Israel Ahead of Nuclear Talks

This is Beirut, 20:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump on Thursday urged Israel to exercise restraint toward Iran, reiterating his preference for a diplomatic solution as crucial nuclear talks are set to take place Sunday in Muscat. However, he did not rule out an Israeli strike, with U.S. approval, on Tehran, urging it to make concessions on its nuclear program. “We're quite close to ...

Syria Says Israeli Overnight Incursion Killed One, Abducted Seven

This is Beirut, 19:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Syria

Syria's interior ministry said an Israeli overnight incursion killed one civilian and abducted seven people on Thursday, with the Israeli army saying it seized members of Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Israeli army said on X that its soldiers seized several suspected members of Palestinian militant group Hamas in a "targeted" ...

Iran Defies US on Enrichment Ahead of Nuclear Talks

This is Beirut, 18:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Israel Middle East Iran Nuclear

Iran on Thursday vowed to significantly increase its output of enriched uranium in defiance of US demands ahead of a round of nuclear talks overshadowed by fears of an imminent Israeli attack. The announcement came after the UN nuclear watchdog—the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—accused Iran of non-compliance with its obligations, ...

Rights Group Says Israel Deporting Six Gaza Aid Boat Activists

This is Beirut, 18:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Palestine United Nations Madleen

An Israeli NGO representing activists detained aboard a boat attempting to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza said Thursday that six were being deported, including two who were already on planes. "After more than 72 hours in Israeli custody following the unlawful interception of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla in international waters... six volunteers ...

Israeli Drone Attack Leaves One Dead in Nabatiyeh al-Fowqa, South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 15:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanese Army South Lebanon Israël Lebanon

A drone strike targeted a motorcycle on Thursday evening in the Al-Deir neighborhood in Nabatiyeh al-Fowqa, killing one person. Earlier, one person was injured in an Israeli drone attack targeting as well motorcycle in the southern Lebanese town of Deir Siryan, in the caza of Marjayoun. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) made a ...

US Embassy in Jerusalem Restricts Staff Movement Amid Regional Tensions

This is Beirut, 15:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel United States Embassy

The US embassy in Jerusalem announced on Thursday it was restricting staff movements after President Donald Trump said US personnel were being moved from the potentially "dangerous" Middle East. "Due to the increased regional tensions, US government employees and their family members are restricted from travel outside the greater Tel Aviv area, ...

UNIFIL Dismisses Termination Rumors, Reaffirms Commitment to South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 12:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

UNIFIL Lebanon Israel Mandate Naqoura Peacekeeping

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti on Thursday denied rumors about an alleged agreement to end the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. In an interview with Al-Jadeed TV, Tenenti said, “There is no agreement between the United States and Israel to end UNIFIL’s mission in southern Lebanon – what is being said on the matter is merely ...

Internet Down in Gaza Following Attack on Last Fiber Optic Cable

This is Beirut, 12:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gaza Internet Israel Fiber optic

The Palestinian Authority said internet and fixed-line communication services were down in Gaza on Thursday following an attack on the territory's last fiber optic cable it blamed on Israel. "All internet and fixed-line communication services in the Gaza Strip have been cut following the targeting of the last remaining main fiber optic line in ...

Israeli Forces Arrest Hamas Members in Operation in Southern Syria

This is Beirut, 11:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Hamas Israel Syria

Israeli soldiers arrested several Hamas members during a nighttime operation in southern Syria, the Israeli army announced Thursday, as reported by Israeli media. The Hamas members were captured by reservists from the Alexandroni Brigade in the village of Beit Jinn, located about 6 kilometers from the Israeli border, outside the buffer zone ...

Netanyahu Dodges Snap Election Threat as Dissolution Bill Fails in Knesset

This is Beirut, 09:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel Haredim Knesset Opposition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government survived an opposition bid to dissolve parliament on Thursday, as lawmakers rejected a bill that could have paved the way for snap elections. Out of the Knesset's 120 members, 61 voted against the proposal, with 53 in favor. The opposition had introduced the bill hoping to force ...

Hamas Accused of Killing Gaza Aid Workers Backed by US and Israel

This is Beirut, 08:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gaza Israel Hamas Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

A US - and Israeli-backed charity operating in Gaza accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of attacking aid workers en route to a distribution centre on Wednesday, saying at least five people were killed. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said a bus carrying its staff to a distribution site near Khan Younes in the south was "brutally attacked by ...

Special Space ‘Shuttles’ Bound for Disaster

Marc Saikali, 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Israel

Three... two... one... Touchdown! Each week, the Rafic Hariri International Airport runway hums with the arrival of diplomatic missions. On Monday, France’s special envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian touched down. American envoys Tom Barrack and Massaad Boulos are expected soon. But so far, each mission has taken off again before Lebanon’s ...

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