This is Beirut

Lebanon-Cyprus Maritime Border Talks Reach Critical Stage

Bassam Abou Zeid, 18/07 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cyprus Lebanon Syria Oil economy exploration gas maritime borders

Lebanon’s push to revive oil and gas exploration in its Exclusive Economic Zone remains stuck in limbo. Political gridlock and regional volatility have stalled progress, and even French energy giant TotalEnergies – holder of the license for Block 9 – has yet to take any operational steps or issue public statements. The only current movement ...

Erdogan Accuses Israel of Using Druze as Pretext to Expand Into Syria

This is Beirut, 17/07 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Erdogan Druze Syria Sweida

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday accused Israel of using the Druze minority in Syria as a pretext for expanding into the war-torn country. "Israel, using the Druze as an excuse, has been expanding its banditry into neighboring Syria over the past two days," Erdogan said in a televised speech after the weekly cabinet meeting. "I ...

Kurdish Official Urges Damascus to 'Review' Minorities Approach

This is Beirut, 17/07 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Syria Minorities

A Kurdish official on Thursday urged Syria's new authorities to rethink their approach to the country's minorities following deadly clashes with Druze fighters in the south. Syrian government forces withdrew from the Sweida province overnight on Wednesday following deadly clashes with Druze militants. Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in ...

Lebanese Leaders Call for Calm Amid Syria’s Deepening Crisis

This is Beirut, 17/07 15:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Walid Jumblatt Nawaf Salam Sheikh Sami Abil-Mona Marwan Hamadeh

Lebanese leaders voiced out their concerns again on Thursday, in light of the ongoing developments in Syria between the Druze of Sweida and the Syrian regime forces. As they fear a spillover into Lebanon, they called for calm and caution to protect Lebanon from further instability. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam spoke by phone with former Progressive ...

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 ...

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