This is Beirut

The Politics of Frozen Conflicts and Their Antidotes

Charles Chartouni, 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Iran Israel Yemen Lebanon Hezbollah United States Syria

Paradoxically enough, the strategic contexts throughout the Middle and Near East extending between Iran and Gaza are in a state of volatility, and none of the security issues at stake have been addressed in a conclusive manner — or were ever meant to be. After the consecutive defeats that have unraveled the strategic and political realms of ...

Syria Sets Date for Selection of New Transitional Parliament

This is Beirut, 27/07 21:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Parliament

Syrian authorities announced on Sunday that a new transitional parliament would be selected in September, with local electoral bodies picking two-thirds of the lawmakers and the country's interim president naming the rest. After toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after nearly 14 years of civil war, Syria's new authorities -- led ...

Syria Says Meeting with Israeli Officials Sought to 'Contain Escalation'

This is Beirut, 26/07 18:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Israel Sweida

A Syrian diplomatic source said Saturday that a US-mediated meeting with Israeli officials in Paris this week sought to "contain the escalation" after recent sectarian violence in southern Syria prompted Israeli intervention. Israel launched strikes this month on Damascus and the Druze-majority Sweida province, saying it was acting both ...

Macron Calls for Preventing Renewed Violence after Talks with Syria's al-Sharaa

This is Beirut, 26/07 18:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Emmanuel Macron Ahmad al-Sharaa France Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday it was “imperative to prevent a recurrence of violence” in Syria, calling for those responsible for recent unrest to be held accountable, following talks with Syria's interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa. “The recent violence in Syria highlights the extreme fragility of the transition. Civilian ...

Syria, France, and US Agree to Relaunch Kurdish Integration Talks in Paris

This is Beirut, 25/07 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria France Kurds Ahmad al-Sharaa

Syria, France, and the United States said they agreed Friday to convene "as soon as possible" talks in Paris to integrate the autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state. The Kurds, who control large swathes of northeast Syria, are negotiating with the central government in Damascus on the integration of their civil and military ...

Senior ISIS Leader Killed in US Raid in Syria's Aleppo Province

This is Beirut, 25/07 17:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States ISIS Syria

American forces killed an Islamic State group leader in a raid in Syria's Aleppo province on Friday, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The raid resulted "in the death of senior ISIS leader, Dhiya Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons," CENTCOM said in a statement, using an acronym for the jihadist ...

France Lifts Arrest Warrant Against Assad Over Immunity, but Probe Continues After His Fall

This is Beirut, 25/07 17:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Bashar al-Assad Syria France

France's highest court Friday annulled a French arrest warrant against Syria's ex-president Bashar al-Assad – issued before his ouster – over 2013 deadly chemical attacks. The Court of Cassation ruled there were no exceptions to presidential immunity, even for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. But its presiding judge, ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers to Attend US-Brokered Meeting in Paris

This is Beirut, 24/07 22:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Syria United States

Damascus's top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani is set to meet an Israeli minister on Thursday in Paris to discuss recent sectarian violence in Syria's south that had drawn in Israel's military, a senior diplomat told AFP. The US-brokered talks would be the first ministerial meeting between the new Syrian authorities and Israel. The two ...

Syria’s Economy Reportedly Rebuilt in Shadows by President’s Brother

This is Beirut, 24/07 16:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria Economy Sanctions Reconstruction

A Reuters investigation uncovered a covert campaign to restructure Syria’s shattered economy, led by the new president’s brother, Hazem al-Sharaa, and an Australian of Lebanese descent, Abraham Succarieh, who is under international sanctions for alleged terrorism financing. Operating through an unannounced “shadow committee,” the pair has ...

Sami Abi el-Mona Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Mobilization in Sweida

This is Beirut, 24/07 13:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Sweida Druze Syria Sami Abi al-Mona

Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abi al-Mona called on Thursday for urgent humanitarian action to support the people of Sweida, who have been deeply affected by recent violent clashes. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Abi al-Mona described a dire situation in the Syrian governorate, pointing to significant civilian casualties and ...

The Middle East: Recalibrations, Fractures and a Coming Storm

Salam El Zaatari, 24/07 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Lebanon Syria Hezbollah Israel

By now, we should know that when the Middle East falls silent, it’s rarely a good sign. As if history itself were pausing for breath, the region today is locked in what I call a “violent pause”—not peace, not war, but something infinitely more dangerous: indecision. The past six months have redrawn the map of alliances and threats, but ...

Saudi Announces $5 Billion in Syria Investments

This is Beirut, 23/07 20:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Syria Saudi Arabia

A Saudi delegation visiting Damascus on Wednesday inked investment and partnership deals valued at $5 billion to help rebuild war-battered Syria, the oil-rich Gulf kingdom announced. Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of the new Syrian government, which seized power after Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December ...

Syria