War in the Middle East

Syria Government Sets Up Security Cordon as Rebels Advance on Damascus

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 22:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria's embattled government said Saturday it was setting up a military cordon around Damascus, state media reported, as rebels on a lightning advance said they were bearing down on the city. "There is a very strong security and military cordon on the far edges of Damascus and its countryside, and no one... can penetrate this defensive line that ...

Assad Ally Russia Says 'Terrorist Group' Cannot Be Allowed to Govern Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russia Sergei Lavrov Syria HTS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday that Syria must not be allowed to fall into the hands of a "terrorist group" as Islamist-led rebels advance on President Bashar al-Assad's seat of power. Lavrov spoke after talks in the Gulf state of Qatar on Saturday with fellow Assad ally Iran and opposition supporter Turkey aimed at ...

Trump Says US Should ‘Not Get Involved’ in Syria War

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 18:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Syria Donald Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States should "not get involved" in the situation in Syria, where fast-moving rebel forces say they have begun to encircle the capital Damascus. "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO ...

Islamist-Led Rebels Advance Towards Damascus

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 17:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Damascus Syria HTS Bashar al-Assad

Rebels on a lightning advance through Syria said they were nearing Damascus on Saturday, although Bashar al-Assad's government denied that the army had withdrawn from areas around the capital. "Our forces have begun the final phase of encircling the capital," said rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani, with the Islamist-led alliance ...

Turkey, Russia and Iran Meet in Doha Seeking Exit From Syria Chaos

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 15:26 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Doha Russia Turkey Iran Syria meeting

The top diplomats from Iran, Turkey and Russia met in Qatar on Saturday for talks on Syria, where rebel forces have taken parts of the country in a lightning offensive. After the discussions in Doha with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Hakan Fidan, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the parties agreed on the ...

Hochstein: Hezbollah Has Been Weakened

This Is Beirut 2024-12-07 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Israel Lebanon Syria

The US special envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hochstein, believes that “the war in Syria is not directly related to Lebanon, but it will have an impact on the country.” He declared, “I don't think we've eliminated or defeated Hezbollah, but it may no longer be strong enough to attack Israel or support President Bashar al-Assad.” In fact, he ...

Mawlawi: Draft Law to Rebuild the Country Has Been Approved

This Is Beirut 2024-12-07 13:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Tyre Government

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced that “a draft law for the reconstruction of the country has been approved by the Council of Ministers,” before specifying that this draft will be submitted to Parliament for approval. Speaking from the city of Tyre, where the Council of Ministers meeting was being held, Mawlawi added, “We ...

SpotlightMilitary Activity at the Eastern Borders

Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-07 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Borders

With the escalation of the war in Syria and the expansion of areas controlled by opposition forces reaching the outskirts of the Homs area, concerns in Lebanon have grown about the possibility of the conflict spreading to its territory, particularly through the eastern borders in Arsal and Hermel. These concerns are heightened by Hezbollah’s ...

Qatar: Assad 'Didn't Seize Opportunity' to Engage with Syrian People

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 11:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Qatar Syria HTS war

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad failed to engage with his people and address issues like the return of refugees during a period of calm in the country's war, Qatar's prime minister said Saturday. "Assad didn't seize these opportunities to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people, and we didn't see any serious movement, ...

Syria Islamist Rebel Commander Says no Place for 'Sectarianism'

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 11:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria war minorities HTS religious

Syrian rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani sought to reassure religious minorities on Saturday, after Islamist-led fighters snatched key cities and swathes of territory from government control. His comments come as rebels sought to advance into Syria's third city of Homs, after their alliance led by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ...

Violent Explosions in Khiam on Saturday

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 10:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Israel Hezbollah

On Friday night, several houses and buildings were destroyed in the village of Khiam, which was rocked by violent explosions. On Saturday morning, columns of smoke continued to rise near a mosque in the heart of the village. In the southern suburb of Beirut, a low-flying Israeli drone was reported overhead. Shortly afterward, a thud sounded, ...

Syria Army Says 'Redeploying' in Southern Daraa, Sweida Provinces

This is Beirut 2024-12-07 09:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria army war HTS

Syria's army said it was redeploying in two southern provinces on Saturday, after a war monitor reported government forces had lost control of most of Daraa province, the cradle of the country's 2011 uprising. "Our forces operating in Daraa and Sweida are redeploying and repositioning, and establishing a... security cordon in that direction after ...