Washington

Who Was Haitham Tabatabai, the Hezbollah No. 2 Targeted by Israel?

Born in Lebanon in 1968, Haitham Ali Tabatabai, also known as Abu Ali, is believed to be of an Iranian father and a Lebanese mother. He reportedly grew up in southern Lebanon and joined Hezbollah at a young age. A former commander of the Radwan Force, Hezbollah’s elite unit, Tabatabai operated in both Syria and Yemen, where he provided ...

Washington Sends Warning with Cancellation of LAF Chief’s Trip

Washington's abrupt cancellation of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) chief General Rodolphe Haykal's planned visit earlier this week signals deepening U.S. dissatisfaction with both Lebanon's approach to Hezbollah's disarmament and the LAF’s public stances on ongoing Israeli border incursions. Haykal, appointed to his post in March, was poised for ...

The F-35: Cutting-Edge Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter

On November 17, 2025, just ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's visit to Washington, the United States announced the imminent sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking a pivotal moment in their strategic alliance. But what is the F-35, and what makes it one of the most sought-after combat aircraft in the ...

Washington Cancels General Rodolphe Haykal's Visit

Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal’s planned visit to the United States on Tuesday was cancelled at the last minute, after Washington notified Beirut that the program would not be maintained. The cancellation of the visit was reportedly due to the Lebanese army's statement regarding the Israeli army's shooting of two UNIFIL soldiers, in ...

U.S. to Label Maduro-Led Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Organization

The United States plans to classify a cartel that it says Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro runs as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday, as tensions soar between the two countries. "Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible ...

Defense and Israel at the Heart of MBS’s Washington Visit

The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is expected in Washington on Tuesday November 18 for a meeting with United States President Donald Trump. The visit is seen as crucial for the US administration and is meant to revive and broaden the Abraham Accords while strengthening strategic and economic ties between Washington and ...

US Museums Reopen as Tourists Celebrate Washington’s Cultural Revival

Nick Adams couldn't help but smile as he showed his son the planes hanging in Washington's Air and Space Museum, which reopened Friday after a month closed due to the US government shutdown. "We had been planning this trip for a little while and were nervous with everything shut down, but were excited to see everything open up again," said the ...

France’s far-Reaching Focus: From Naqoura to Damascus

France’s focus on Lebanon is closely aligned with that of its American and Saudi partners. French envoys in Beirut highlight active coordination with Washington and Riyadh on a range of critical issues, most notably the military situation in the south, Hezbollah’s disarmament, financial reforms—particularly the proposed fiscal gap law—and ...

Caesar Act Suspended: Can Lebanon Ride Syria’s Recovery?

For the first time since 2019, Washington has eased sanctions on Damascus, granting a 180-day exemption under the Caesar Act to allow certain “humanitarian” and “civilian” transactions. The move, though temporary, carries clear political weight. It appears to be a test to see how far neighboring countries can reconnect with the Syrian ...

Sharaa in Washington: A Turning Point for Syria

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited the White House on Monday for a historic meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump that capped a year in which Damascus has rapidly come in from the cold and reintegrated into the international community. Sharaa has helped steer Syria through this complex path, beginning with pushing the Assad regime out of ...

Qassem: “We Will Not Surrender our Arms”

Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, on Tuesday affirmed the group’s support for the Lebanese Army, saying it “is part of our people, our families, and our nation” and that Hezbollah “supports anyone who wants to defend this country.” Speaking on the occasion of Hezbollah’s Martyrs’ Day, Qassem said the movement ...