War in the Middle East

Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Kills Nearly 100
Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Kills Nearly 100

An Israeli air strike on a single residential block killed nearly 100 people on Tuesday, Gaza's civil defense agency said, leaving rescuers scrambling for survivors as Israel pursued its offensives in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel's key ally and backer the United States called the strike – which killed a large number of children ...

Israel-US: Approaching Washington’s Presidential Transition
Op-edIsrael-US: Approaching Washington’s Presidential Transition

Expecting a permanent ceasefire in Gaza or Lebanon just days before the end of President Joe Biden’s term is overly optimistic, if not entirely unrealistic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to offer a “gift” he withheld for over a year to a president on the brink of departure. Naturally, Netanyahu will be eagerly ...

War Diary: Day 389
War Diary: Day 389

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for October 29, 2024.

Thousands of Lebanese Seek Refuge in Iraq
Thousands of Lebanese Seek Refuge in Iraq

Israeli bombardments have driven over 22,000 Lebanese to seek refuge in Iraq, leaving behind homes and loved ones. As conditions worsen, the future remains uncertain for these displaced families.

Iran Moves to Triple Military Budget Amid Israel Tensions
PoliticsIran Moves to Triple Military Budget Amid Israel Tensions

Iran's government has proposed to triple its military budget, its spokeswoman said Tuesday, as tensions with arch-rival Israel rise following recent tit-for-tat missile strikes. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani outlined the move that would see "a significant increase of more than 200 percent in the country's military budget" at a news ...

CIA Chief Suggests Gaza 28-Day Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange in Qatar Meeting
PoliticsCIA Chief Suggests Gaza 28-Day Ceasefire and Hostage Exchange in Qatar Meeting

CIA Director William Burns discussed a potential agreement during a meeting in Doha on Sunday that would entail a 28-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, according to Israeli sources reported by the American media outlet Axios on Tuesday. The proposed ...

Gaza Rescuers Say Almost 100 People Killed in Israel Air Strike in North
Gaza Rescuers Say Almost 100 People Killed in Israel Air Strike in North

Gaza's civil defence agency said Tuesday that an overnight Israeli air strike killed at least 93 people in a residential building in the northern district of Beit Lahia. "More than 55 people have been martyred and dozens more wounded are under the rubble of a five-storey residential building belonging to the Abu Nasr family that was hit ...

Naim Qassem in Nasrallah's Shoes
SpotlightNaim Qassem in Nasrallah's Shoes

Hezbollah announced in a press release on Tuesday that it had elected Naim Qassem to head the pro-Iranian group. Qassem succeeds Hassan Nasrallah, killed on September 27 by an Israeli strikeon Beirut's southern suburbs. Just after Nasrallah’s death was confirmed, the group announced that the Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem would ...

International Outcry as Israel Bans UNRWA
PoliticsInternational Outcry as Israel Bans UNRWA

Israel's parliament on Monday approved a bill banning the main UN aid agency for the war-devastated Gaza Strip, sparking international outcry. Despite objections from the United States and warnings from the UN Security Council, Israeli lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the bill banning the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, ...

All Eyes on the White House
Op-edAll Eyes on the White House

Many Lebanese are pinning their hopes on the United States presidential election to bring clarity to the ongoing war in Lebanon and broader regional tensions from Gaza to Iran. While there is some truth to this perspective, the tendency among Lebanese to overanalyze and speculate often outpaces the reality on the ground. Historically, the US has ...

Will Israel’s ‘Symbolic’ Response to Iran Ease Lebanon’s Crisis?
SpotlightWill Israel’s ‘Symbolic’ Response to Iran Ease Lebanon’s Crisis?

Israel’s response to Iran’s Oct.1 missile attack signals a marked shift from the previous phase, easing widespread concerns in Lebanon and internationally that Tel Aviv might push the region toward a broader conflict. Reports indicate that a US-brokered arrangement between the two sides has defused the immediate threat of war, with further ...

War Diary: Day 388
VideosWar Diary: Day 388

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for October 28, 2024.