War in the Middle East

Iraqi Cleric Sadr, Rebel Leader Jolani Call for Iraq's Non-Intervention in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 20:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Abu Mohammad al Jolani Syria HTS Iraq Moqtada Sadr

Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr urged his country Thursday to stay out of the fighting in neighbouring Syria triggered by a lightning rebel offensive launched last week. Sadr stressed in a post on X the "necessity of Iraq's government, people, parties, militias, and security forces not getting involved in the Syrian issue," urging ...

Hezbollah's Chief Pledges Support to Damascus Amid Rebels' Offensive

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 19:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel Syria ceasefire Bachar el-Assad

In his first address in the wake of the rebel offensive in Syria, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem affirmed that the Iran-backed group will be backing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in foiling “the scheme to topple it.” “The aggression against Syria is sponsored by America and Israel, which are trying to achieve ...

Syrian Rebels Capture Strategic City of Hama, Vow to Target Homs Next

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 17:52 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Rebels Hama Bashar al Assad

Islamist-led rebel forces captured the central Syrian city of Hama on Thursday, days after seizing the country's commercial hub Aleppo in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Rebel forces spokesman Hassan Abdel Ghani was quick to announce on Telegram that, after the fall of Hama, Homs was now the new target of ...

Doha to Resume Its Role as Mediator in Israel-Hamas Talks

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Qatar

President-elect Donald Trump's new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Qatar and Israel to relaunch efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and an agreement on the release of hostages from Hamas, two Israeli media outlets, Haaretz and Times of Israel, reported on Thursday, citing sources close to the negotiators. This effort is being ...

New Amnesty Report Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 02:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Amnesty International Gaza Israel Genocide

Amnesty International on Thursday accused Israel of "committing genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza since the start of the war last year, saying its new report was a "wake-up call" for the international community. The London-based rights organisation said its findings were based on "dehumanising and genocidal ...

ExclusiveCost of Treating Pager Victims Exceeds $4 Million

Maurice Matta 2024-12-04 20:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel Hezbollah Lebanon Waar

Since the first day of its implementation at dawn on Wednesday, November 27, the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah has faced widespread violations, putting the agreement to a real test regarding its ability to hold. Lebanon is currently in the phase of tallying losses and assessing damages and costs, and if we look at the figures ...

Trump Names Adam Boehler Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel United States

President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Adam Boehler as his Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. In a post on Truth Social Wednesday. Trump expressed confidence in Boehler's abilities, stating that the newly appointed envoy will hold the personal rank of Ambassador. The announcement comes as Trump prepares for his ...

UN Reports Over 115,000 Newly Displaced in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:05 - Reading : less than a minute

United Nations Syria

More than 115,000 people have been "newly displaced" in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces, a UN official said Wednesday, following a major rebel offensive in the north. "It's been one week since the conflict escalated in Syria. More than 115,000 people have now been newly displaced across Idlib and northern Aleppo," UN deputy regional ...

Syrian War Photographer Killed in Air Strike Near Hama

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:02 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Journalist

Award-winning Syrian photographer Anas Alkharboutli, who worked for German press agency DPA, was killed Wednesday in an air strike near the Syrian city of Hama, his employer said. "Our photographer Anas Alkharboutli, who documented the civil war in Syria in a unique visual language, has been killed in an air strike near the Syrian city of Hama. ...

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Ceasefire Monitoring Committee: An "Enhanced Complaint Bureau"

Nidal Ayoub 2024-12-04 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Amos Hochstein Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army

This international monitoring committee has not yet been formed, yet the violations of the ceasefire cast doubt on the rationale for its establishment and the validity of its functioning, especially as many fear a resumption of confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel. However, contrary to the wishes of many Lebanese, it is not within the ...

"We’re Starting from Scratch": Shops Reopen in Southern Beirut Suburbs

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 17:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Israel ceasefire shops

Despite the massive destruction, shopkeepers in the southern suburbs of Beirut are trying to reopen their stores following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Credit: AFP

AnalysisAleppo Loss Marks a Turning Point for Assad’s Regime

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 17:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Middle East Tehran Syria

The ease with which rebel groups captured Aleppo (North) and advanced toward central Syria has shaken Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy, fueling the ambitions of his opponents, analysts unanimously say. The capital remains well-defended, with the army launching a counteroffensive on Wednesday, aided by Russian airstrikes. However, the blow dealt in ...