This is Beirut

UN Rights Chief: Israel’s Gaza Offensive "Tantamount to Ethnic Cleansing"

This is Beirut, 16/05 20:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The UN's rights chief on Friday denounced Israel's sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza – and an apparent push to permanently displace the population – as amounting to "ethnic cleansing." "This latest barrage of bombs... and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in ...

Two-State Solution Back on Diplomatic Agenda with UN Conference in June

This is Beirut, 16/05 18:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Palestine United Nations

A French- and Saudi-backed conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will take place from June 17 to 20 at UN headquarters in New York, a French diplomatic source told AFP. The conference will be organized by the UN General Assembly under a shared French and Saudi presidency, the diplomat told AFP on condition of ...

Trump Redraws US Diplomacy Without Israel

This is Beirut, 16/05 18:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel United States Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump's decision to skip over Israel in his Middle East tour was just the latest sign of a shifting dynamic between the historic allies. From nuclear talks with Iran to a ceasefire deal in Yemen and the announcement of lifting sanctions on Syria, Trump has pressed ahead solo with Middle East diplomacy in recent weeks, ...

Lebanon at the Baghdad Summit: A Message of Arab Reconnection

This is Beirut, 16/05 14:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel Saudi Arabia Lebanon Iraq Nawaf Salam Syria

On the eve of his departure for Baghdad to lead the Lebanese delegation at the Arab summit, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a firm message outlining his government’s intentions to reestablish Lebanon’s standing in the region. “Lebanon intends to fully reconnect with its Arab environment and regain its place on the regional scene,” Salam ...

Israel Army Says Intercepts Missile from Yemen After Air Raid Sirens Sound

This is Beirut, 15/05 21:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Hamas Houthi Palestine

The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Thursday, shortly after air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, according to AFP journalists. It was the third time in as many days that Israel said its air defenses had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen. "Following the sirens that sounded a short ...

Trump Says Getting Close to Deal to Avoid Iran Military Action

This is Beirut, 15/05 21:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United Arab Emirates Gulf Israel Iran Nuclear

US President Donald Trump said Thursday a nuclear deal with Iran was close that would avert military action, as he toured Gulf capitals, securing $1.4 trillion in 10-year investments from Abu Dhabi. Trump made the Iran remarks in Qatar before flying on to the United Arab Emirates for the third and final leg of the tour that began in Saudi ...

Ortagus Urges Full Disarmament of Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 15/05 20:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Gulf Israel Middle East Saudi Arabia Morgan Ortagus USA Lebanon

Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus delivered a strong message on Thursday, declaring that the path to peace and prosperity lies in the full disarmament of Hezbollah, not just in southern Lebanon, but across the entire country. In an interview with LBCI, Ortagus emphasized the unified stance of the US, Saudi ...

Israeli Drone Strike Kills Hezbollah Operative

This Is Beirut, 15/05 19:53 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Lebanon

One person was killed Thursday in an Israeli drone strike in the plain of Yohmor al-Shaqif, in the Nabatiyeh district (caza), the Ministry of Public Health announced. According to available information, the strike targeted a bulldozer believed to be operated by Hezbollah member Mohammad Marouni. The deadly attack was part of a wider escalation ...

Riyadh Without Beirut: Lebanon’s Omissive Absence From a Key Regional Summit

Natasha Metni Torbey, 15/05 16:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanese Army Damascus Hezbollah Israel

Riyadh, May 2025—In the heart of the Saudi desert, a private summit between US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Syrian President Ahmad el-Chareh reignited crucial conversations on the Middle East’s future. But one absence was consistently noted: that of Lebanon. While Lebanon’s persistent crises were ...

Donald Trump Reshapes the Middle East: A New Geopolitical Era

Mark Saikali, 15/05 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Saudi Arabia Middle East Lebanon

Donald Trump had promised that his visit to the Gulf would be historic — and he delivered. From the moment he stepped off the plane, a series of announcements followed swiftly. Let’s start with the numbers — and they’re staggering: $300 billion in signed deals spanning industry, research, defense, space, and even civilian nuclear energy. ...

Hezbollah-Affiliated Religious Singer Accused of Spying for Israel

This is Beirut, 15/05 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel lebanon

The Lebanese government’s commissioner at the military court, Judge Fadi Akiki, filed charges on Wednesday against Mohammad Hadi Saleh, a Shiite religious singer (mounshid) known for his close ties to Hezbollah. Saleh is accused of “collaboration with the Israeli enemy” and “complicity in acts that led to the deaths of Lebanese ...

UNIFIL Protested Israeli 'Direct Fire' on Its Lebanon Outpost

This is Beirut, 14/05 20:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon UNIFIL Israel South Lebanon

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon protested Wednesday against a "direct fire" incident by the Israeli army targeting one of its positions in southern Lebanon — the first such incident since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), part of an international committee ...

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