This is Beirut

Dr. Al-Sharaa, Mr. Al-Jolani: The Metamorphosis Illusion

Marc Saikali, 17/07 08:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Soueida Al-Jolani Ahmad el-Chareh Hezbollah

For two days, the Israeli Army has bombed Syrian militias now acting as auxiliaries to the regular army. On Wednesday, Israeli jets struck the outskirts of Syria’s military headquarters in Damascus—a clear political and military message: ongoing attacks on Syria’s Druze minority will not be tolerated. Yet on the ground, confusion reigns. ...

Syrian Forces Begin Withdrawal from Sweida Following Ceasefire

This is Beirut, 16/07 23:32 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Sweida Israel

The Syrian army began withdrawing from the Druze-majority city of Sweida on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defense announced, following the conclusion of a ceasefire aimed at ending deadly intercommunal violence. "The army forces have started to withdraw from the city of Sweida in implementation of the terms of the agreement, following the ...

Salam Calls on the Lebanese to Avoid Any Discord

This is Beirut, 16/07 23:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Sweida Nawaf Salam Druzes

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged the Lebanese people, on Wednesday evening, to "avoid discord and prioritize the national interest above all else." In a message posted on his X account, Salam said he had held a series of discussions with the relevant ministers and heads of security agencies, asking them to "take the necessary measures to protect ...

Syria: Agreement Reached to End Violence, Says Rubio

This is Beirut, 16/07 23:08 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Marco Rubio United States Syria Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that an agreement had been reached to restore calm in Syria by the end of the day, describing the current situation as a “misunderstanding” following Israeli strikes on Damascus and southern Syria. “We have agreed on specific measures that will put an end to this troubling and ...

International Community Reacts to Israeli Strikes in Syria

This is Beirut, 16/07 22:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Israel Tom Barrack United States

The United States' special envoy for Syria on Wednesday called on all parties to step back and engage in dialogue for a lasting ceasefire in Syria following clashes with Druze factions in the south and Israeli strikes in Damascus. "We unequivocally condemn violence against civilians in Sweida... All parties must step back and engage in ...

Syria: Israeli Strikes Hit Presidential Palace and Syrian Army HQ in Damascus

This is Beirut, 16/07 19:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Syria Israel

Israel bombed the Syrian army's headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday after warning the Islamist-led government to leave the country's Druze minority alone, as authorities announced a ceasefire in the community's southern heartland after deadly sectarian clashes. Syrian government forces entered the majority-Druze city of Sweida on ...

Sweida Caught Between Damascus and Israel

Mario Chartouni, 16/07 19:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Syria Sweida Druzes

The majority-Druze city of Sweida in southern Syria has been thrust into an unprecedented spiral of violence since Sunday, as fierce clashes between the Syrian army, backed by Bedouin militias, and local Druze armed groups have escalated dramatically. The fighting has been marked by intense combat, summary executions, a deepening humanitarian ...

Lebanese Officials Condemn Israeli Strikes on Damascus

This is Beirut, 16/07 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Sweida Syria Walid Jumblatt Israel Joseph Aoun Lebanon

Israeli strikes on Damascus and escalating sectarian violence in Sweida on Wednesday drew sharp reactions from top Lebanese officials, who voiced strong condemnation and urged de-escalation. President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel’s strikes as "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a sister Arab state" and warned that continued aggression ...

Renewed Violence in Sweida Raises Concerns for Druze Civilians

This is Beirut, 16/07 13:43 - Reading : less than a minute

Israel Syria NGO Sweida

In southern Syria, the city of Sweida has descended into chaos. An NGO accuses government forces of executing Druze civilians following their deployment in the region. Fighting broke out after intercommunal violence that left over 200 people dead. Israel responded with airstrikes on Syrian forces, claiming to protect the Druze population. Despite ...

Southern Syria: Israeli Strikes Continue Despite U.S. Calls for De-escalation

This is Beirut, 16/07 11:14 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel United States Syria

Despite repeated calls from the United States to reduce tensions, Israeli warplanes carried out new airstrikes in southern Syria on Wednesday. According to Al-Hadath and Al-Arabiya, Israeli jets conducted three strikes near the outskirts of Sweida province, followed by a fourth targeting the 52nd Brigade in eastern Daraa. This escalation comes ...

Efforts in Congress to Repeal the Caesar Act Amid Shifts in Syria

Amal Chmouny, 16/07 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria United States Sanctions Caesar Act Donald Trump

In a significant shift in US foreign policy, a growing bipartisan movement in Congress is pushing to repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. This push follows President Trump's recent executive order that lifted several longstanding US sanctions on Syria, coinciding with a transformative political climate in the region, ...

US Envoy Says Working to Restore Calm in Syria, Calls Clashes 'Worrisome'

This is Beirut, 15/07 20:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Syria United States Tom Barrack

US diplomat Tom Barrack said Tuesday that deadly violence in Syria's southern province of Sweida was "worrisome" and that his government was working to restore calm in the country. "The recent skirmishes in Sweida are worrisome on all sides, and we are attempting to come to a peaceful, inclusive outcome for Druze, Bedouin ...

Syria