War in the Middle East

Tehran Reiterates Threats of Retaliation Against Israel
Tehran Reiterates Threats of Retaliation Against Israel

Iran's new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his French and British counterparts in telephone conversations on Friday that it was his country's right to retaliate against Israel for last month's assassination of a Hamas official in Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported. Iran blames Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail ...

White House Says 'Progress Made' in Cairo Talks on Gaza truce
White House Says 'Progress Made' in Cairo Talks on Gaza truce

Talks in Cairo on reaching a Gaza truce have made progress, the White House said Friday, as it urged Israel and Hamas to move forward. The White House confirmed that CIA chief William Burns and senior official Brett McGurk were participating in discussions that began at a preliminary level on Thursday evening. "There has been progress made. We ...

3 Questions for General Maroun Hitti: 'Wars Begin When You Will, but Do Not End When You Please'
3 Questions for General Maroun Hitti: 'Wars Begin When You Will, but Do Not End When You Please'

Since the beginning of the confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes have increasingly targeted deeper into Lebanese territory, reaching the Beirut southern suburbs and even the Bekaa Valley. Amid growing concerns about these developments and the possibility that the attacks may herald a new phase in the war, ...

War Diary: Day 321
War Diary: Day 321

From Gaza to Lebanon, This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war between Hamas and Israel and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for August 22, 2024.

Southern Front: Phosphorus Shells, Fires, and Hezb Retaliation
Southern Front: Phosphorus Shells, Fires, and Hezb Retaliation

The southern front was cautiously calm on Thursday afternoon, following heavy Israeli bombardment from dawn onward. [readmore url="https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/lebanon/283981"] Late in the day, a large fire broke out in Wadi Hamoul, on the outskirts of Naqoura in the caza of Tyre, and forest fires flared up in Yaroun after the Israeli Army fired ...

Once-Eradicated Polio Haunts a War-Torn Gaza
Once-Eradicated Polio Haunts a War-Torn Gaza

Gaza's first polio case in 25 years has sparked a challenging vaccination campaign amid ongoing conflict, with UN agencies preparing to vaccinate 640,000 children despite severe logistical obstacles. The Gaza Strip's first recorded polio case in 25 years has health workers and aid agencies grappling with the steep obstacles to conducting mass ...

Spotlight on UNIFIL: Everything You Need to Know
Spotlight on UNIFIL: Everything You Need to Know

With the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate set for August 29, This is Beirut provides a comprehensive overview of this international force governed by UN resolutions. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate is due for renewal on August 29, 2024. This annual process involves the Security Council voting to extend UNIFIL's mission ...

Biden Urges Netanyahu to Reach a Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Biden Urges Netanyahu to Reach a Gaza Ceasefire Deal

President Joe Biden on Wednesday pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas as talks on a truce faltered. The US and Israeli leaders spoke hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ended a tour of the Middle East aimed at reaching an accord as tensions rise in the region. In a statement on ...

Netanyahu Asserts 'Readiness' for War with Hezbollah
Netanyahu Asserts 'Readiness' for War with Hezbollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Wednesday his "readiness for any scenario" amid the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah and its backer, Iran, against the backdrop of the Gaza war. United States President Joe Biden is expected to urge Netanyahu to ease his demands in the ceasefire deal in a phone call later tonight, an unnamed ...

War Diary: Day 320
War Diary: Day 320

From Gaza to Lebanon, This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war between Hamas and Israel and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for August 21, 2024.