War in the Middle East

Qataris 'Strike Back' at Gaza Mediation Critics
Qataris 'Strike Back' at Gaza Mediation Critics

Criticism of Qatar over its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas has prompted a rare pushback by the Gulf state against its detractors, analysts have said. Qatar, which has hosted Hamas' political leadership since 2012 with the blessing of the United States, has been engaged in months of behind-the-scenes talks on a possible truce in Gaza ...

Iran Ally Syria Strives to Stay Out of Gaza War
Iran Ally Syria Strives to Stay Out of Gaza War

Syria has avoided getting embroiled in the Gaza war, experts said, despite a strike on Iran's Damascus consulate, blamed on Israel, that threatened to ignite a regional conflagration. The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is seeking to strike a delicate balancing act between Russia and Iran, which have propped it up during 13 years ...

Southern Front: Kfarchouba-Shebaa Heavily Bombed Overnight
Southern Front: Kfarchouba-Shebaa Heavily Bombed Overnight

Tensions and risks of escalation are increasing on the southern border as an Israeli civilian was killed in a Hezbollah ambush on Thursday night in the Shebaa farms area. The Israeli army responded by heavy shelling that targeted the villages of Shebaa and Kfarchouba. It said that it targeted a military truck which led to the death of the ...

US Begins Construction of Gaza Pier
US Begins Construction of Gaza Pier

The United States military has begun construction on a pier meant to boost deliveries of desperately needed aid to Gaza, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The small coastal territory has been devastated by more than six months of Israeli bombardment and ground operations against Hamas, leaving the civilian population in need of humanitarian ...

Southern Lebanon: Fires Ignited by Phosphorus Bombs and Heat Wave
Southern Lebanon: Fires Ignited by Phosphorus Bombs and Heat Wave

As cross-border clashes continued between Hezbollah and Israel, the Israeli army fired flares and phosphorus shells on Thursday afternoon starting a fire at the Yaroun forest, while other areas that were bombarded on Wednesday, including Labbouneh, were again in flames on Thursday, due to the heat wave sweeping the country. An air strike ...

War Diary: Day 202
War Diary: Day 202

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 April 25th, 2024.

Israeli Land Confiscations on the Rise in Jordan Valley
Israeli Land Confiscations on the Rise in Jordan Valley

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, hectares of land have been confiscated by Israel in the occupied West Bank, while all eyes are on Gaza. As he fed his sheep costly fodder, Palestinian farmer Talib Edais looked wistfully at the hills where his herd had grazed for free until an Israeli decision last month. "Do you see these ...

US and Greek Navies Down Houthi Missile and Drone Attack
US and Greek Navies Down Houthi Missile and Drone Attack

US and Greek vessels have shot down a number of drones and missiles sent from Houthi-controlled Yemen, in the latest red sea attack. US-led coalition forces shot down four drones and an anti-ship missile launched by Yemen's Houthis, American authorities said Thursday. A Greek vessel deployed in the Gulf of Aden as part of an EU naval coalition ...

Southern Front: Washington Warns of High Risk of Escalation
Southern Front: Washington Warns of High Risk of Escalation

United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf warned Wednesday of  "high degree of volatility" on the border between Lebanon and Israel, commenting that "the potential for escalation is acute". "We have of course cautioned Israel regarding its response to the attacks that Hezbollah initiated in the initial ...

War Diary: Day 201
War Diary: Day 201

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 April 24th, 2024.

Israel 'Moving Ahead' with Rafah Operation in Gaza
Israel 'Moving Ahead' with Rafah Operation in Gaza

Israel said Wednesday it is "moving ahead" with its planned operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite international outcry over fears for the 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering there. "Israel is moving ahead with our operation to target Hamas in Rafah," government spokesman David Mencer told a press briefing. "The four battalions ...

Biden Signs Bill to Provide Military Aid to Ukraine
Biden Signs Bill to Provide Military Aid to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden signed legislation on Wednesday authorizing desperately needed military aid for Ukraine, saying that Washington would begin sending new assistance to Kyiv within hours. The passage of the $95 billion package also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan and a measure to potentially ban TikTok in the United States. This comes ...