War in the Middle East

UNIFIL Stays in Place to Prevent ‘Occupation’ of Its Positions
UNIFIL Stays in Place to Prevent ‘Occupation’ of Its Positions

UN peacekeeping operations head Jean-Pierre Lacroix reaffirmed that UNIFIL peacekeepers would “remain in place” in Lebanon, warning that withdrawing from their positions could lead to them being occupied by the Israeli Army or Hezbollah. He made these remarks in an interview with the UN news service, according to a statement issued on ...

What Naim Qassem Still Hasn’t Grasped
ChronicleWhat Naim Qassem Still Hasn’t Grasped

It is a fact: naivety, egocentrism and various underestimations are among the unpredictable elements that shape the course of history. A clear example of this can be seen in the speech delivered this week by the new Secretary General of Hezbollah. What Naim Qassem has yet to grasp is that he is not alone in Lebanon, and many Lebanese do not share ...

 Imad Amhaz, Kidnapped by Israeli Commando for suspected arms smuggling for Hezbollah
 Imad Amhaz, Kidnapped by Israeli Commando for suspected arms smuggling for Hezbollah

Imad Fadel Amhaz, who was abducted at dawn on Friday from his chalet in Batroun by an Israeli naval commando, is not believed to be a member of Hezbollah, but has links with the pro-Iranian group, on whose behalf he was transporting weapons by sea from Syria to Lebanon. This information has yet to be confirmed, as the Lebanese army is still ...

Khamenei Pledges \
PoliticsKhamenei Pledges "Crushing Response" to Hostile Actions

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed on Saturday to retaliate against attacks by Israel and its ally the United States targeting Tehran and groups it supports in the region. "The enemies, both the USA and the Zionist regime, should know that they will definitely receive a tooth-breaking response to what they are doing ...

How Credible Is Iran-Israel's War of Words?
How Credible Is Iran-Israel's War of Words?

Listening to the reverberating rhetoric between the key players in the Middle Eastern conflict feels akin to witnessing a trivial quarrel. However, when words become the currency of fools, how can we gauge the credibility of the threats exchanged between Iran and Israel? A Volatile Rhetoric In the aftermath of the attack launched by Israel last ...

US Not Convinced by Lebanon’s Ability to Implement Resolution 1701
Behind the ScenesUS Not Convinced by Lebanon’s Ability to Implement Resolution 1701

The US is not convinced that Lebanon is capable of enforcing Resolution 1701. Washington did not receive any assurance from parliament Speaker and Amal Movement leader Nabih Berri or caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati indicating that Hezbollah would accept keeping the area south of the Litani River free of weapons and militants. All they heard ...

Israeli Army Kills Senior Hamas Member in Khan Younes
Israeli Army Kills Senior Hamas Member in Khan Younes

The Israeli army and Shin Bet announced on Friday the killing of Izz al-Din Kassab, a key figure in Hamas' political bureau and head of its national relations, in an airstrike on Khan Younes. As the head of national relations, Kassab coordinated connections between Hamas and other militant organizations in Gaza, wielding influence over the ...

Iran Hints at Expanding Missile Range, Potential Shift in Nuclear Policy
Iran Hints at Expanding Missile Range, Potential Shift in Nuclear Policy

Kamal Kharrazi, chairman of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, told the Al-Mayadeen news agency, which is close to Hezbollah, that Tehran is likely to increase the range of its ballistic missiles. He added that Iran currently has the ability to produce nuclear weapons. “We now have the technical ...

Hamas Official Says Group Rejected New Gaza Truce Proposal
PoliticsHamas Official Says Group Rejected New Gaza Truce Proposal

A Hamas official said Friday the group received a proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar for a short-term truce in Gaza and rejected it for not including a lasting ceasefire. "The proposals do not include a permanent cessation of aggression, nor do they entail the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip or the return of displaced ...

A Powerless and Toothless Lebanese State
A Powerless and Toothless Lebanese State

Those in power need to act as statesmen, and the de facto powers need to show realism and courageously acknowledge that their actions have never been in the interest of Lebanon or the Lebanese people. It is inconceivable for a country to witness this ongoing destructive war for over a year while the state remains incapable of taking serious steps ...

War Diary: Day 392
VideosWar Diary: Day 392

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for November 1, 2024.

Israel Cabinet Approves 2025 Wartime Budget
PoliticsIsrael Cabinet Approves 2025 Wartime Budget

Israel's cabinet on Friday approved a 2025 national budget, a wartime financial package that far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said supported the country's ongoing wars and encouraged economic growth. For more than a year, Israel has been locked in a war with Hamas in Gaza, and since September it has been fighting Hezbollah in ...